Heads and Tail help

Putting older posts here. Going to try to keep the novice forum pruned about 90 days work. The 'good' old stuff is going to be put into appropriate forums.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
leob2
Novice
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:02 am
Location: Rlght under their noses

Heads and Tail help

Post by leob2 »

I think I've got the heads figured out but I'm having trouble figuring out when the run is over. I know there is lots of info written about this subject but I need someone to spell it out in english,ABC,123. I have tried the "oily thumbnail trick" It still feels the same as in begining. I have stopped running at 202 degrees (I read that some where).
Just for example I set my 1st. quart aside. The next qt. was 180 proof and so was the next. after that the next 2 was 160 then the next 2 was about 140 and so on I stopped collecting at 120 proof should I have kept going or did I go to far or not far enough. How much hooch should I be able to get from a 15 gal keg
I hope that I feel better when I'm ridin' in that hearse.
User avatar
Tater
Admin
Posts: 9807
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:19 am
Location: occupied south

Re: Heads and Tail help

Post by Tater »

Seems most in a pot still quit catchin around 80-90 proof others higher.Uts really a matter of taste.As to how much hootch you should get out of a 15 gallon keg would be determined by several factors you failed to mention .Like how much wash was used proof of wash going in .What you really need to do is more reading. Would save you lots of trouble down the road if ya studied a little more. Good luck to ya
I use a pot still.Sometimes with a thumper
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: Heads and Tail help

Post by rad14701 »

Here's how I determine when to stop collecting... I'm not greedy so I stop collecting as soon as I can no longer get a sample of a few drips, about 1/8 tsp, to burn... Not scientific, but it works for me... With my small experimental runs, about 8 liters, I'll usually start getting off smells and oils from the tails shortly thereafter anyway... For larger batches it might be worth collecting more but like I said, I'm not greedy...
Hack
retired
Posts: 904
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:45 pm

Re: Heads and Tail help

Post by Hack »

I also use the "will it still burn?" method as a general guide. I'll hold a stick in the output stream for a second and then see if it will burn. I collect in pint jars when I know I'm getting close to the end of the run I'll start holding them up to the light. I usually get one that has small floating particles in it. That or a couple samples before is usually where I end up making cuts. Sometimes the jar will be cloudy looking, or I will get a series of jars that get gradually cloudy over two or three samples. That's how I'll decide to stop collecting. Making the tails cut is a different process.
goose eye
Master of Distillation
Posts: 2846
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:19 am

Re: Heads and Tail help

Post by goose eye »

aint sure what kinda outfit you got but you got one runin a stream you can here it changein to backins. dont no the sound go to your spicket an get bout the same size stream an listen to water hitin water. liker aint gonna make that sound til it start changein. that aint the point of backins but theres about. ole boys no they here water that brandy dont make it in the likker barel but if they here it on corn they aint got long. best learn backins taste or it gonna give you a bad name

so im tole
Post Reply