sweetfeed whisky

[rad14701]

Been waiting on this sweetfeed ferment to be done its been 14 days yesterday and it has slowed way down in the last dayand is standing at a SG of around .996 . Is it normal for a 30 gal wash to take this long? I used a little more than a table spoon of bakers yeast per gallon and its been kept at 79 80 deg F the whole time and working hard. I dont mind waiting I just wondered if this is normal? Thanks I cant wait to run this wash!

I wouldn't consider 14 days excessively long for any ferment... Your yeast, the initial specific gravity, potential preservatives in the feed, etc., all factor into realistic fermentation times... If it finished at .996 then it was worth the wait...

[roadrunner]

thanks Rad The starting SG was 1.092 so without much experiance that seems like a fairly good drop. I forgot where I saw the formula to figure out the percent of your wash, ill have to look for it and book mark it but it seemed like it was the amount it droped from start to finish devided by something = your percent I forgot lol

Also I have been keeping it to temp with a fish tank heater, when do I want to take the heat off? I was under the impression I should leave it go untill there are zero bubbles showing. Is this about right or am I off base? The wash at this point is pretty bitter and very dry, but still a bubble every few seconds here and there. Thanks again

[blind drunk]

I would take it off the heat now and rack the wash off of the trub. After racking you'll get a better picture of what's going on. It does sound ready, though. Sometimes a wash can fart for a long time without actually accomplishing much. Good luck.

[roadrunner]

Thanks BD ill do that then

[rad14701]

roadrunner, that 1.092 OG is what caused the extra time... The Alcohol Content calculator on the parent site states a theoretical yield of ~12.4% ABV for your wash based on OG and FG... But remember, beyond the sweet spot for your yeast, every additional 1% potential ABV of your wash can add up to 3 days to the fermentation time... So an 8% - 10% wash would have finished in roughly a weeks time and lower yet would have been quicker... It's a trade-off you have to weigh...

[roadrunner]

Ok thanks that explains it, I really appretiate the help!

[MAD AL]

Did a stripping run on me first batch last night only had 18 ltrs so kept just over 4.1/2ltrs, used most of the back set to melt 7lb a sugar an restart me second mash, I need to get a bigger ferment-er. I don't have room for more than one Iv"e seen a 60 ltr on flea bay so might get one this week.
AL.

[Kentucky shinner]

30 gallon food grade plastic drum works really well if you can find one.

[Chris2626]

just mixed this all up tonight so interested to see how it goes

[roadrunner]

Havent ever done anything other than this sweet feed yet but it is a really good drink! stripped 25 gallons in two runs then did a slow spirit run, kept a jar of hearts from the first strip it was great and made cuts on the spirit run and it was even better, the later tales before the dirty sock was really grainy tasteing and the hearts were great! thanks allot KS

[Kentucky shinner]

Thanks for the report.. I am glad you like it..

[Rargh]

after the first generation (or few) do you ever add any extra molasses? You mention swapping out some of the 'spent' grain but what about the molasses?

Cheres

[Kentucky shinner]

I have never added any molasses back in. You surely could though if you like. I scoop the spent grain that is floating on top and then add back the same amount.

[Rargh]

Thanks KS
Well i have my first batch bubbling away now.
I am guessing with future generations the molasses flavour will get washed out slightly if no more is added. Will do a couple of generations and then decide.

Cheers

[yankeeclear]

Got my first batch of UJSSM bubbling away and thought I'd start a SF ferment going as well. Plan is to do six generations of each (3 stripping runs, then a spirit run, three more stripping runs then a second spirit run for each) and do a side-by-side comparison of the spirit runs.

Thanks for the recipe.

[yankeeclear]

Well, just got back from Tractor Supply, empty handed. The local outlet had two types of "Producer's Pride" Sweet Feed available, branded as "Sweet Feed" and "12% Sweet Feed". I compared the grain bills (didn't have my phone to snap pics) and bother were comparable. What made me a bit gun shy were the number of secondary ingredients, preservatives and the stamp "TEXTURED" across the grain bill. They also have an "All Grain" product but do not carry it locally.

I recall several folks posting pics of grain bills with similar ingredients, but I was hoping to get something a little more wholesome with just grains and molasses. I may use Samohon's grain bill of CC, Oats, barley and molasses and roll my own.

Has anyone used either of the textured Producer's Pride products? What were the results?

[Fastill]

Has anyone used either of the textured Producer's Pride products? What were the results?

Can't remember what the brand was but at my local Tractor Supply all I could get was pelletized sweetfeed. I tried to ferment it but it smelled like sulpher (rotten eggs) and was so gooey I could have never been able to strain out to distill.
I use cracked corn, barley, and rye, and add brown sugar to each additional ferment. 2 bags,-4 lbs to each 5 gallons of liquid fermented, and a 4 pound bag of white sugar. This way I keep getting the mollassas effect of the sweetfeed wash.

[fhhobbies]

OK just mixed up my first 12 gallon batch, 14lb sugar and 8" of feed..... first time using my hydro but the readings I get adjusted to my temp were....

Potential 6.5ish
Sugar by weight 12%
Grav. 1.051

1.051 seems a bit lower then the usual 1.060, should I add sugar befor I pitch or....
What does the sugar by weight mean? Important? 6.5% Alc seems low or is this OK? Just wondering if I should use more sugar on the next batch or keep going like this.

[Kentucky shinner]

I would add another 5 pounds of sugar if It were me. You will be fine with it just like it is.

[fhhobbies]

Should I put mote sugar after it's been working a couple days or should I just run this one out and adjust it next time?

[Kentucky shinner]

you can add more while it is working. It should be just fine. I would convert the sugar before I added it though.

[fhhobbies]

I decided to leave this one as is and ran the stripping run tonight as it was finished, very pleased with the turnout considering. I will do the spirit run afer I collect off the second stripping run which I used 14lb sugar then topped off to 12 liters with the hot basket, melted the sugar and let it sit for a bit then added water to cool, added that to my first batch of grain and yeast poo, added water to 14gal, sg is 1.062. I did taste a bit of the stripping run and its very earthy and grainy, actually tastes very much like the feed smells lol. Im sure after the spirit run and on oak for a while it will be great. Gonna try the sour mash with cracked corn after a couple runs of this. What fun!

[Rargh]

Mine is being really slow :-(

Its been 10 days now and its still only 1028, SG was 1065. Yeast was S04, 30g in 35l
It kicked off ok but then after about 3 days pretty much stopped, i thought it was done but the SG was still 1055.
Re aerated, pH was just about 4 and pitched some more yeast (this time i pitched some youngs all purpose yeast [25 g in 35l], just in case 1065 was too much for S04)
Checked last night and its 1028 and pH just under 4. Fermenting at 23C
What do you think should I aerate again and bring the pH up a bit?
It is still bubbling but very slowly.

[Kentucky shinner]

I think you should try to bring the PH up a little.

[Rargh]

Will do it this evening. How far up would you take it? Would you aerate again or not? There should be plenty of yeast in there so more growth shouldn't be needed.

Around here we have very soft water so that's probably the reason for the sharp drop in pH.
Thanks

[Kentucky shinner]

sorry to be so late getting back to you. I have been really busy here in the shop. I know its is too late but I would take it back up to around 4.5

[Rargh]

No worries, thanks.

I took the pH up to about 5.3 (was aiming for 5). Ferment still really slow. Its down to 1010 now and its been 23 days. I think i am just going to run this batch then start again (or rather reuse the grain/yeast left in the fermenter and add more water/sugar) or would you just start totally again?

When i make beer (all grain) since i live in a really soft water area i add back some hardness and salts (I use Brupaks Dry liquor salts http://www.brupaks.com/water%20treatment.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow). Would adding some of this help with the fermentation of a wash like this?
With my beer I add 1 g/l of water used.

Cheers

[Kentucky shinner]

No worries, thanks.

I took the pH up to about 5.3 (was aiming for 5). Ferment still really slow. Its down to 1010 now and its been 23 days. I think i am just going to run this batch then start again (or rather reuse the grain/yeast left in the fermenter and add more water/sugar) or would you just start totally again?

When i make beer (all grain) since i live in a really soft water area i add back some hardness and salts (I use Brupaks Dry liquor salts http://www.brupaks.com/water%20treatment.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow). Would adding some of this help with the fermentation of a wash like this?
With my beer I add 1 g/l of water used.

Cheers

I would restart the ferment using the grain you have I think that would be fine. I have not had any experience fermenting with soft water but I would think anything you can do to help that would really be good. Be sure when you mix it up you stir really well to get plenty of oxygen in the water also.
Good luck and keep us updated on your ferment.

[Rargh]

Cheers KS

I will run what i have (pointless wasting what alcohol is there i suppose) in the next couple of days then restart.
I will add some salts into the ferment to hopefully help. Will keep you posted.

Cheers

[Kentucky shinner]

remember lots of aeration also. I think that can help soft water also.