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Phuckin Newbs.. GeezI've done it both with and without rye and I like with rye much better. Picked up 40 lbs of rye last week. Nice and plump grains, looks just about like brewers barley. Should last me all summer, if I can find some corn that is worth a crap. Last stuff I bought was all dust and cob. Cooked up a batch 3 weeks ago and got a nasty infection that I never had before. I cooked it but am keeping it out of my allgrain barrel because the infection smell came through in the distillate.NcHooch wrote:Damn, last night, I tried some 1 year old that had a pound to rye (in addition to the 7# corm, and 3# barley) ...it was exceptional ....had that nice spicey rye taste ...had to have another just to make sure i wasn't imagining things. wow.
Last I heard, you were doing a 20 gallon mash, if that's the case, I'd say you did well to get 2.5 gallons.DFitz wrote:
I strained off the wort and filled the boiler. The wine smell was strong throughout the straining and had high hopes. Things looked real promising until at 2-1/2 gallons my abv started dropping. I stopped gathering low wines at 40% and put two half gallon jars of tails aside down to 20% for my next run.
I'm not sure why the low yield. I thought the conversion was complete. I was away during the last of the fermenting and cant figure why it completed so quickly. The aroma and flavor of the low wines collected were exactly what I was looking for in a bourbon I just didn't pull as much low wines as expected. I was hoping for close to 5 gallons.
I did think all went well with the process. Just expected more low wines from stripping. Thats a lot of work for 2.5 gallons but no problem, I'll keep running this recipe for the collection till they quit sending me grain. I brought another 100lbs of corn and have more rye and barley yet. If need be I'll order more. It's a fine smelling and tasting bourbon so far straight off the spout.NcHooch wrote:Last I heard, you were doing a 20 gallon mash, if that's the case, I'd say you did well to get 2.5 gallons.
I was just going to dump the tails into my next stripping run.eworthin wrote:You're definitely on track, DFitz. I go deeper into my tails on a stripping run, but that's just personal choice. You also don't necessarily have to collect your tails separately if you're going to have room for them in the pot for the spirit run, although you will see some small energy savings by not re-running the tails in the spirit run.
I hear ya there!eworthin wrote: I think when you shift gears from a quick and easy sugar ferment and run to an arduous grain cook, mash, ferment, strain, and run, that it just seems like all the extra work should somehow result in more product. Fortunately while the hard work is not rewarded in quantity, nothing holds a candle to handmade all-grain bourbon.
If you can pull 5-6% out of an allgrain wash you are right on track. I am happy with 5% Potential ABV and estatic when I hit 6%. I am not greedy with allgrain. Don't care if I get full conversion, but usually do. Even when I don't, It is just grain that would normally be fed to my animals even if I didn't try to get any alcohol out of it. Nothing goes to waste.DFitz wrote:Well then I'm just not getting enough conversion. I lowered my water content as low as I'd care to @ over 2lb. per gallon. This mixing was too tough for the trusty drill and I had to mix by hand. That was one tight mix I tell yah.. I'll take the suggestions you offered regarding step temps and go at it again.
Thanks.
Also, you can use the grain bed for some sugar head on top.Nothing goes to waste.
X2 here .....when I do this, it's not about the quantityFastill wrote: If you can pull 5-6% out of an allgrain wash you are right on track. I am happy with 5% Potential ABV and estatic when I hit 6%. I am not greedy with allgrain. Don't care if I get full conversion, but usually do. Even when I don't, It is just grain that would normally be fed to my animals even if I didn't try to get any alcohol out of it. Nothing goes to waste.
Living in an area surrounded by cornfields I think that my marginal extraction results can get better eventually. Let me do some reading and find out where I can find a better/fresher corn supply. Its all around me I just need to find it and get it. even if I have to dry it myself (this could be part of the problem) I'll get better results,,, eventually.Barney Fife wrote:Keep in mind that feed corn isn't fresh, and it doesn't have the sugar content potential of fresh corn, so you're not going to see high ABV mashes. Like the others, I think you're doing great already; don't try to 'push' for more, because it isn't there.
And definitely start a sugarhead over the spent grains! Mmmmm....
Ya, the hearts are pretty tasty white, eh?rgarry wrote:I ran a double recipe and was able to get a 1/2 gallon of finished product that is oaking now. I let it clear before running and know this wasn't necessary but I needed the extra time to run it. I ran it really quick through my flute hopeing to get some extra flavor. It taste great before oaking, and I can't wait till it finishes. I think the next batch I will do a triple run (I have a good 20 gallon pot). It's a lot of work for 5 gallons but well worth it for 15-20 gallons.
.Hey BD, I've done that before, and it works pretty well, but i've been using a 3" flute for about a year, and that works better. Single run, low n slow.blind drunk wrote:Hey NChooch, sounds like you do a single run through your detuned bok. Am I right? Curious.
We pretty much all use feed corn (dent) and don't have problems... Remember, any amounts of preservatives would be minimal because it could potentially end up in the human food chain... Any mold inhibitor will be diluted in enough water to not effect the yeast colony during the fermentation process...Exem wrote:I am planning to make some bourbon following this recipe. I think I will have to use corn flakes as the only cracked corn avalable for me is feed corn, i am not sure if this will work. It might contain preservatives.
