Quick question on my rum wash

[W.S.C.beachman]

I bought 5 gallons molasses from feed store and there is no label or nothing. They said that there was no preservatives so I figured I was good. I did a cleaning heat up to 185 deg. and there was a bit of crap at the bottom of the pot. I used 1 gallon molasses to 2 gallons water. After adding 2 more gallons water the SG was 11%. My question is since i cleaned it up a bit would this SG be fairly reliable??

[Dnderhead]

"" i cleaned it up a bit would this SG be fairly reliable??"
NO there is still "unfermentables" as long as your wash has these a hydrometer wont be accurate.
but what you can do is make a wash,keep tract of what it finishes at.this will give you what is left
that did not ferment,and the next time you will know.

now what you can do take a SG then FG subtract ,, then then divide difference by 7.55=%

[W.S.C.beachman]

Damn!!!
My ferment is not...fermenting!
I got some info on my Molasses and it has 43% sugars with a brix value of 79.5 and 11.7 lbs/gal. I did not add any sugar to the batch and I was going to add 5lbs. The Hydro meter tricked me. Not sure how to do the math hear to finde out what the SG is. How do you tell the PH of the wash? I use the test strips but as I figured they are about pointless in this kinda wash...they turn brown.
Thanks for the tip on the Hydro readings Ill definitely be checking my FG.

[Dnderhead]

your molasses is 43% so each gallon=5.16lb of sugar.
in metric> 43% of 1 kg=.43kg of sugar.
so 2 gallons in 5gallon wash would make a wash of 18%
molasses lacks a bit in the nitrogen department so you
mite want to add something for that.aerating is a must do
if you boiled the water.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Cool on it,
Still no bubbles today out the air lock. Maybe aeration will get'er going. My PH is off for sure just not sure how much. Frustration!!!

[Dnderhead]

I would aerate good then, Id make a large starter, or you can just use a bunch of yeast.
check for loose/leaking lids etc.some have a active ferment and do not know it.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Aerated the hell out of it!!! 30 min. vigorously with air stone and big air pump. Its sealed really well. Off to Walmart and Ill c if they have some nitrogen fert.

[W.S.C.beachman]

I got some Mirical Grow 24-8-16. Any one have any suggestions on amount.

[rad14701]

I got some Mirical Grow 24-8-16. Any one have any suggestions on amount.

Use sparingly... If it's in granular form then about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon... I use the rule of thumb of cutting the per gallon amount in half for the daily use mix...

[W.S.C.beachman]

Ok I used 1.5 tsp per 5 gallon wash, I also added a super b complex and a tsp epsom salt. It looked like I got it going...slowwwwwwllllllyyyyy. I only put in 3TBS of Red Star yeast...That just might be my problem. Except I cant check the PH. I think its time to drop a couple bucks on a digital PH reader!!

[myles]

Although it is not neccesary I always make a starter in a 1 gallon demijohn. 1/2 wash 1/2 water, let it get going for a day or two and then dump it into the fermenter.

Yes to the epsom and B vitamins, but I never use the fertiliser. I just boil up some fresh yeast instead, as my nutrients. I get the yeast free from the bakery in the supermarket (a few ounces each visit) and just freeze it till it is needed.

I use fancy treacle instead of the molasses (so I don't do this), but it has been recommended that you clarify the molasses before you use it. That is supposed to help a bit. EDIT just re-read and you did clean it.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Thanks Myles,
I got super nutrients from the brew shop and it also has DAP in it. I used the fert. only because of the Nitrogen. It still is not taking off. I will be able to check the PH today hopefully and see how far off it is. I think though that I did not put near enough yeast in there as well. I used Red Star, but cant find any more at the stores so I think Ill just get that Fleischmens bread maker yeast and do a starter.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Ok so stopped by a local brew shop and bought 4 packets of EC-1118. I boiled 4 cups water and 1 cup sugar with a 1/2 tsp of super food with DAP. Cooled it to 90deg. and pitched yeast. Wholly cow it took off like a bat out of hell. Thank god I put this in a half gallon jug cause it got a 3 inch head on'er in less then 30min to 1hr. That lasted for 3-4hrs. Now I'm just waiting for it to Finnish and settle so I can drain the wine and pitch my yeast in to the molasses.
In regards to saving yeast can I just take a vile of it and store it in the freezer? I know I know there is a lot of info out there and I just need to read it.
My ferment though is at least giving me a bubble every min. or so.....maybe 2 min. hahaha My yeast starter would have blown my air lock cap right off!!! LOL

[Dnderhead]

""can I just take a vile of it and store it in the freezer""
not in freezer but you can keep it a week or so in refrigerator.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Thanks DNDER,
Well my crack head fermenter decided to kick. Iam getting bubbles out the air lock about 3-6sec. appart. I guess the yeast needed time to acclimate. Musta shocked them a bit.
Now I have a 1/4 gallon of EC clearing/finishing up as a starter and I am thinking of just getting another Molasses ferment going in my carboy. If I through it in the fermenter that is going now it would probably get it finished up a lot quicker.
Decisions...decisions If I put the starter in the fridge with the tinfoil on top will the yeast be ok till this coming weekend?

[Dnderhead]

"If I put the starter in the fridge with the tinfoil on top will the yeast be ok till this coming weekend?"

yes should be fine, I usually just set the lid on but if others in the household you run the chance of someone tightening it,,,,and,,,,,
if this is going to be a ongoing thing make up a dedicated jar with air lock.

[W.S.C.beachman]

LOL You mean that I don't want my daughter to tighten a lid on a glass starter jar. LOL
I got battery's for my digital meter. Now I can check my PH,EC,TDS.

[W.S.C.beachman]

Well my wash decided to take off pretty darn good. It took a week to get going, but it did. If any one is reading this that is wondering hmmm how much yeast should I use in a molasses wash??? A lot...do a starter get that yeast happy before throwing it in the bucket.

[W.S.C.beachman]

So my wash has stopped finished up at 1.035. So I got 7.5%. Well that is a guess cause of the unfermentabales. Question should it taste salty? I put a tsp of Epsom salt for 5 gallons. I'm guessing that is because of the crap that did not ferment and not because of the salt. LOL I believe if some one said that to me I would thing they were a complete bone head!! LOL LOL
I'm shooting for 10% wash so I'm thinking of adding 4lbs white sugar. I know I know brown right, but that is what I got.