Wash longevity

[Xnerd]

I set up a few 20l wash carboys like 5 weeks ago and: (UJSM)

First I had to much sugar and at 7 days they were still sweet. Stupid mistake I know.
So I remedied this by removing 15%, adding 15% more water to each. It took almost 3 days for the ferment to start again so I put them in about a 80 to 90F environment. The fermented real slow but then started to get strong and eat off that sugar.

I had to leave town for a couple of weeks and now they have been sitting for about 5 to 6 weeks!

They are still bubbling a tiny bit but have settled out!

Can these washes go bad? Can they get nasty and dangerous?

If so is there a way to tell or should I just run them and see what comes out?

Thanks for your help!

[Dnderhead]

no problem ---------run it as long as o2- and contaminants cant git to it ,its ok much like wine

[Xnerd]

Thanks for the fast response!

The carboys are only covered with plastic wrap that I have used rubber bands around.
I found this will allow pressure to leak out while not allowing anything to enter.

It somewhat amplifies the sound or the ferment too. Its real odd that it is still bubbling though. I guess it could be due to the fact that the corn is braking down slowly without malt? Some small amounts of starches being eaten?

[Oaty]

They can go bad. They can go nasty. They won't go dangerous. Worst case scenario you run it and it doesn't taste good. Then, just run it neutral. If it's sanitary with a good abv, it can keep indefinately.
If it's still bubbling it could still be going. Taste it if it's sweet it not done. After 5 weeks it should be so I'd guess you still have too much sugar, too much nutrient if you added any contrary to the recipe, or too much alc.- because of the excess sugar . Then, water it down and let it ferment a while longer. I can't say how much water because you never gave your bill. You might add some yeast to jump start it.If not sweet it's about done . Just run it. I've had wash bubble slowly forever when they were about done. That last little bit of ferment isn't worth the wait after 5 weeks.

Get two hydrometers a sugar and an alcoholometer. The sugar will give you the sg- an indication of the potential abv and the og - an indication of the ending. The difference will tell you the abv of the wash. The og will also tell you when a wash is about done.The alcoholometer will tell your abv of the run product.

[runingkind]

I have a friend who let two 55gall. of sugar wash sit for almost a year we ran it and it was fine
have a good day.

[Xnerd]

Thank you got all of your help guys.

I recently got laid off (company moved away) so I’m trying to fill my time with this new hobby.
This is a very helpful community

[HookLine]

I have a friend who let two 55gall. of sugar wash sit for almost a year we ran it and it was fine
have a good day.

Was it racked off from the yeast before it was left to sit?

[runingkind]

Yes it was racked of about 4 or five days after it finished.It took it about a month to ferment.
I would not let mine sit that long ,but he wasn't very bright.He let to many people know what
he was doing.The gangbusters found his still but no hooch.But they did not bust him made him
get rid of his still.