Fun at the Brew Shop

[Ftero]

So,
Today, I had the day off, and decided to go buy some supplies for my first wash...

On the up side, I found some good Molasses and Sugar cheap at a local Cash & Carry store. $8 for 1 gallon of Barkman's Molasses and $17.81 for 50 pounds of sugar.

If you are in the PNW (USA) check em out:http://www.smartfoodservice.com

Next, I went to a local brew shop. Man, I felt like a fish out of water! I didn't know the secret hand-shake or password or anything! I still managed to get the right hydrometers etc.
The funny part came when I went to get my yeast. I vapor-locked!
I forgot which yeast I wanted. I did ask them for distillers yeast, and they looked at me like cows look at trains, then tried to sell me Turbo Yeast.

I managed to get out of the 1st store without buying the wrong yeast. I wasn't so lucky at the 2nd one though.

They didn't have distillers yeast either, or baker's yeast. So.... I remembered, vaguely, a recipe of Possums, that used Crosby yeast, and the store had some Cooper's Brewers Ale yeast. Let's see, it starts with a C......yeah, this must be the one. So I bought 3 of em just in case!

So it doesn't look as if I'm going to get my first wash going this weekend after all

Anyway, it was fun, in an uncomfortable frustrating way I guess. I hope some of you can crack a smile at my clumbsiness!

[rad14701]

Geez... You make it sound like your first trip to an adult book store, or whatever they call the "novelty" shops... You could have asked for some "generic" help and made it sound like you wanted to dabble with trying to make wine, which would get more pertinent help than beer... Even though I doubt anyone would ever put two and two together I never buy all of my supplies in one place at the same time, just to be on the safe side...

[punkin]

and they looked at me like cows look at trains,

Been keeping an eye out for a sig round here for a while. Thanks for that, first laugh i've had on these boards for a week or two


What a mental image









ISeemToGetAlotOfThatWhenITalkToPeoplePunkin

[19Kilo]

Reminds me of the time I went to the LHBS and asked about a sight glass for my boiler. I asked about the way the glass was joined to the fitting. Once I said rubber was unnaceptable, because there might be hot alchohol vapor around, our conversation was ended quickly! I guess he put 2+2 tgether...lol

[theholymackerel]

Hey Ftero, the yeast ya got was an ale yeast and it will work fine to ferment rum if ya keep it down below 12% abv (the same as bakers yeast).

Bakers yeast is bought at a grocery store...it's usually in the bakin' asile. Bakers yeast works fine for rum and is probably the cheapest and easiest yeast to get ahold of.





I wish ya luck.

[showrguy]

yea, "the way a cow looks at trains" had me rolling too !!
nice story ftero, good luck with your 1st run.
you will be VERY suprised how much you learn/absorb about this hobby after only your 1st run..
things will be much more clearer after that...

[Ftero]

I enjoy the comments!

I have spent at least another 6 hours on the internet since posting last night.... you'd get the feeling I'm somewhat obsessive wouldn't you?

Let's see, I've got a list of 8 possible, simple Rum recipes. 4 of them use EC1118, 2 use Brewhaus' Turbo Rum yeast, 1 uses Ale yeast and the last by Mr. Smiley uses Brewhaus' whiskey yeast.

It's been good exercise, calculating abv etc, with the various amounts etc.


I'm as happy as an idiot with a pencil with my new hobby, and I haven't even done anything yet!

I won't be using the Turbo yeast, as I get the impression it's too easy.....
I've been married too many years to be looking for the easiest way to do things now!

I think that I will use the one calling for Ale yeast, since I seem to have about 45 grams of the stuff staring me in the face!
The local grocery stores charge @ $1 for 5 grams for baker's yeast. I haven't haunted the bakers' supply stores yet... 'Course, I could always make a starter and grow some..... Too many options for my pea-brain.

Of course, I have found a wine shop open today that I haven't seen yet. Who knows what I'll get?!

Maybe they will have those stick on fermometers in Centigrade by accident. I bought a Fahrenheit one yesterday. Duh!

The fun continues...

[Jetzon]

Sure wish I had a brew shop close by. Vapor locked Now thats funny, Sounds like what I would do.
I have a little note pad like Rain Man so's I dont forget what I need lol.

I learned something last night.
When you mix up a batch of UJSM and use a 18V "Dewalt" cordless drill and a paint stirir to mix corn and sugar up good. Make sure its on 1 speed. Using speed 3 is Bad Bad! Had a Tornado of mash shoot str8 up dam near to the drill! Lucky most dropped str8 down back into the bucket

[punkin]

Sure wish I had a brew shop close by. Vapor locked Now thats funny, Sounds like what I would do.
I have a little note pad like Rain Man so's I dont forget what I need lol.

I learned something last night.
When you mix up a batch of UJSM and use a 18V "Dewalt" cordless drill and a paint stirir to mix corn and sugar up good. Make sure its on 1 speed. Using speed 3 is Bad Bad! Had a Tornado of mash shoot str8 up dam near to the drill! Lucky most dropped str8 down back into the bucket

I learn't the same thing. You need a variable speed drill to mash peaches

[BW Redneck]

Gawd, I wish I had a brew shop nearby. It'd make this hobby a sh--tload easier to do. I have to buy everything through the internet, and I have to make all of my malt from scratch. On the upside, I have a near infinite supply of fermentable grains on hand.

$17.81 for 50 lbs of sugar is nearly unbelievable. I pay about double that!

[arkansas]

$17.81 for 50 lbs of sugar is nearly unbelievable. I pay about double that!

I have to pay 12.90 or so for 25#, what am I doing wrong?? sounds like we in same boat, your turn with the pail

[big worm]

sam's club so i beeen tolt

[Ftero]

So, the wife cut me loose this morning to go do the food shopping, since she wasn't feeling well...
I got the shopping done, but not before checking out another local brew shop.

I left the store with one of those long plastic spoons....nothing else. Honest!

Yes, this area of the country is great for my hobbies. But, we still live in a small, rented apartment, and have to put up with my brainless, hyper-active upstairs neighbor. We all have to pay our price eh?

I cobbled together my first wash. It was fun, sort of like cooking using garden tools. We'll see if it works out.

I'm grateful for the comments about the paint mixer......I made sure that I had the drill on low speed before I started!

I took some pictures of the process for those who might be interested:

http://picasaweb.google.com/fitero64/Fi ... m-3-0fjUtI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow




.....and they looked at me like cows look at trains, God, i get a lot of that.... Welcome to my world Punkin!

[Old_Blue]

Looks like you're on the way. Good job.

I love that copper pot..beautiful.


What is that white substance in the air lock? Or is that just some reflection from the photography? Foam is not stopping it up, is it?

You said the top was distending

[mbasketcase13]

sam's club so i beeen tolt

sam's club 18.90 for 50# bought some saturday woman wanted to know if i was makin liker i just smiled

[Ftero]

Thanks for the complements Old Blue.

I brought that pot, and a bunch of others like it back with me from Turkey in a duffel bag about 25 years ago! You can't imagine what that lump of a bag weighed!
It's the last one I have left. Divorce got the rest.

The cheapest sugar that I have been able to find, other than what is at the Cash & Carry store, is sold through local Costco stores. I think around $18 for 50 lbs.

The wash is bubbling away energetically behind me, and is keeping a steady 24 degrees. I just wrapped a couple of towels around the fermenter last night, and that seems to work fine. No heat in this room at night.

Like Dunderhead said " keep it simple and have more fun"

[Jetzon]

If woman asked me if I was making likker when buying sugar
I'd tell'r I barely even knows ya