HELLO FROM LONG ISLAND, NY

[crash001]

Hey guys,
this is my first time here on the cite and i wanted to say hello and a bit about myself and the predicament that I'm in.
i first got interested in trying to make my own spirit was when i saw an episode on the history channel of Armageddon PA. i said to myself, why not I? so i got a bunch of books and i found out that i know a lot of people that make there own spirit but they just dont talk about it much or at all. I asked questions and they've helped me out a lot, now looking to make my own. im really interested in making rum.
i went to restaurant depot and i picked up 6gal of grade A molasses. boiled water and poured about 3 1/2 gal of molasses into the pot of water. added a multi vitamin and poured everything into a food grade bucket. added my yeast and stirred. put the lid on with the air lock and now nothing is happening. its been about two days and i would think that this thing would be perking by now. i dont know what i did wrong and i really dont know if this is the place to be posting this, but how can i fix this? what can i add to get this thing going?

again, i am sorry if this isnt the place to be posting this question.


thanks

Cash001

[LWTCS]

What kind of yeast are you using?

How much yeast did you use?

Did you aerate?
What was your pitching temp?
Who is your favorite band?

Be specific.

[rtalbigr]

Who is your favorite band?

LW you're a funny guy

Mine's Eric Sardinas and Big Motor

Crash - sound ta me right off ya probably killed all your yeast right of the bat. Yeasties are picky buggers, they like ta have things just so-so or thay ain't happy. Ta do their thing they need sugar, nutrients, and oxygen, and then they need temps to be right; too cool and they go dormant, too hot ya kill 'em. Some yeast can stand it up to 95F, most aren't happy above 85F, and some don't even like it above 75F, so ya gotta know what your yeast wants. As for oxygen an aquarium bubbler is best; yeast needs 8-10 ppm to be really healthy and ya can almost get 8 ppm w/ the aquarium pump. If nothing else pour between buckets or shake the hell out a it to incorporate some air. Ya can get 4-5ppm that way. Molasses has lots a good stuff for yeast but ya might want to add a little nitrogen (urea or diammonium phosphate) ta help 'em along.

Also I would suggest some readin' here, new distiller's readin lounge is a good start.

Well good luck, and like LW says be specific when asking questions and don't be surprised if someone don't tell ya ta do a little research instead a answerin ur question.

Big R

[crash001]

I'm using a full bag of 48 hour turbo yeast that I got from my local brew shop. Idk what pitching really is nor do I know what temp I should put the yeast in.

Fav bands are: the offspring, might mighty bosstones, Zeppelin, the cult, John Mellencamp, ect.

[Dnderhead]

what was the sugar content of molasses?
yeast is best pitched (added) to wash/mash/must at or below 80f /176c
if dry yeast it should be re hydrated or just sprinkle on top.if rehydrated you may stir in if you want, if dry what a bit before you do.
liquid yeast you should make a starter.
you also should aerate before pitching if you boiled the wash.

[crash001]

so tomorrow after work I am going to get more yeast because I might have killed it. And I'm going to stir the wash before I pitch the yeast. Now whats this I hear about adding tomato paste? What exactly does it do? Tomato paste is something that I've never herd of and neither as anyone that I know does this.

[Dnderhead]

""I hear about adding tomato paste? What exactly does it do?""
some use it as nutrients.

[crash001]

Do I heat it up with some water and just throw it in there?

[Dnderhead]

dont forget the sugar..i thank they use a couple big spoons full
many things can be used,fortified cereal,tomato paste,fertilizer,
vitamin tabs and many others.

[rtalbigr]

Crash - tomato paste is a source of nitrogen for the yeast. It is an important nutrient that they need. Yes, thin it down w/some water and add it to your molasses wash. You already added a vitamin tab so that should be enough because the molasses provides nutrients as well. I hope you didn't get more tubro yeast cuz you don't want to use that AT ALL! For now just use some bread yeast, Fleshmans or Red Star. Put 1 teaspoon in some cool water (80F max), about 1 cup, with about a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. When ya see it start foaming stir it up and put in your molasses wash. Make sure your wash is 75-80F. BTW, if ya haves oxygenated your mash do that first. Pour it back and forth between buckets several times to get oxygen incorporated into the wash. O2 is a main nutrient that yeast need to grow the colony.

Now start doing some research so you actually know what you're doin'.

Big R

[crash001]

Thanks guys, I'm going to get rite on it

[LWTCS]

Have you read the Hook Rum thread. That is a really good overview for your rum production.