Hello from South Texas

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:22 am

Hello I just picked up a New Mighty Mini Dual Purpose 3 gallon Distiler from Mile High. I am excited to start distilling as a hobby. I have about 5 years of home brewing experience. I used to brew as a hobby with my dad. Unfortunately all of the equipment he had was destroyed after he died, but now I am finally in a place where I can start up. I had plans to use the turbo yeast and make some neutral spirits then I wanted to try some corn whiskey and grain alcohol.

Post by **blind drunk** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:26 am

Welcome to the boards, FOxtrOt.

I had plans to use the turbo yeast and make some neutral spirits then I wanted to try some corn whiskey and grain alcohol.

My first wash was a turbo and it wasn't great. Have a look at these -

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =14&t=9879
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =14&t=9981

Also, go to the Tried and True section for a couple more neutral spirits recipes. See what you think.

Good luck.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:23 pm

Ok I am going to try the turbo whiskey yeast with ag. It's got a lower abv so it shouldn't fall victim to some of the bad traits that I have been reading about the turbo yeast. If after I use up what I get in the starter kit I'll switch to the simple washes or cereal washes. Does any have any good reference material in book form or do you suggest just printing out pages from the Internet.

Post by **blind drunk** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:58 pm

The Compleat Distiller and Making Pure Corn Whiskey are good books.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:00 pm

Well I upgraded to an 8 gal boiler. After doing research I think I would want that 8 gal the first time I tried to run the still. I honestly did not take in consideration time for aging. So I know I want to produce a few bottles for family this christmas and I thinking should start on them now. I have settled on an apple cinnamon recipe. You use pure neutral spirits and place apple meat and cinnamon in the jar and age them together. I also know that I want to try the UJSSM. So my question is should I do different wash recipe for the neutral and start a new batch for SM? Or just run the UJSSM wash and run the reflux high and collect pure hearts. Then I would have backset and feignts for when I started the true production on UJSSM?

Also I picked up both of those books. The complete distiller I honestly didn't like. Making pure corn whiskey on the other is full of the stuff I wanted.

Post by **Bushman** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:03 pm

F0xtr0t wrote:Ok I am going to try the turbo whiskey yeast with ag. It's got a lower abv so it shouldn't fall victim to some of the bad traits that I have been reading about the turbo yeast. If after I use up what I get in the starter kit I'll switch to the simple washes or cereal washes. Does any have any good reference material in book form or do you suggest just printing out pages from the Internet.

We have all the information you need right here, supplimental reading is encouraged however and there are some good books. I would suggest that rather than just print pages this site has a wealth of info but at times you need to dig a bit to find it so I would cut and paste and start folders on your computer. I have catagorized a lot of great info here at HD.

Post by **WalkingWolf** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:12 pm

Welcome to HD FOxtrOt -- Nice catch on the boiler upgrade. Keep us posted on your progress.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:58 pm

Just waiting on shipping. I've been casing stores on where to get cracked corn and sugar cheap. The nearest brew supply store is about 3 hours away. I want to try something other then baker's yeast. Since there is an average temp of 100 F and now the temp spikes to 110 F I am worried about yeast dieing during shipping. If it is dry will it be fine? But the liquid type I should worry about it?

Post by **Dnderhead** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:59 pm

dont worry about dry yeast it will be fine

Post by **blind drunk** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:34 pm

Also I picked up both of those books. The complete distiller I honestly didn't like. Making pure corn whiskey on the other is full of the stuff I wanted.

I felt a bit like you do re The Compleat Distiller, but it did grow on me the more I read it. Might happen to you as well.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:49 pm

I'll reread it after I do a few runs. Maybe once I try things the book will probably make more sense then I could relate to it from personal experience.

Post by **blind drunk** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:32 am

Here's one you might like -

http://www.aec.msu.edu/product/document ... 1.0.01.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Post by **yankeeclear** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:10 am

Good read, thanks BD. This one will go in my virtual library.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:31 pm

I got everything today. I sanitized my fermenter bucket and tools. Whipped up a batch of UJSSM and it's bubbling away. The only problem I have is with the milk can boiler there is a rolled edge. I am using a glasstop stove for a heat source so this isn't going to work. I need to get a hot plate or propane burner. I have a propane tank but no burner. Advice?

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:43 pm

I went with the bayou classic sp10. The wash is bubbling away. All is good I'll let you know how the run turns out.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:59 pm

I am tickled pink right now. I've been trying to get a half barrel keg for a week now. I've queried everyone at work and the best I came up with is some guy was gonna get his brothers keg from his garage and sell it to me for 75 bucks. The local distributor told me to go pound sand. Well, I tried one of the metal recyclers and he had a mountain of about 25 just stacked up waiting to be crushed and shredded. I found one that was in real good shape and 25 dollars later I got a 15 gal boiler. I am thinking of getting a second to make a keggle so I can try all grain beer again.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:00 pm

I did a run of of some wine yesterday. I got my demijohns now. I think I have a problem. My home water supply temp is about 100-110 F. Its affecting my reflux. I would think my only work around would be using a pump and icing down water?

Post by **yankeeclear** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 6:40 am

Ouch, that's hot! I hear the heat in Texas has been relentless!

Would it help to fill a 20-35 gal trash can or tub with water and allow it to cool overnight? Suppose with your heat it still won't get much lower than 90F or so... and you would need a pump to feed the water...

Many of us use re-circulation pumps in a closed water system for cooling. Might be enough, but extreme conditions may require extreme measures and you may need to cool the water with ice, at least initially. Frozen gal jugs of water introduced to the water source as necessary would help as well.

Post by **F0xtr0t** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:46 pm

I have a swimming pool pump I'm going to try and adapt. I'll see how it goes I'm going to run when round two of my UJSSM is done.

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