Gerber

304SHINER · Post by **304SHINER** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:55 pm

Bought a new pot so I had to try something easy/fast just to get the hang of it. I used a turkey fryer as a heat source and was worried that it was not going to put out enough heat when I bought it. Trukey fryer was best option for me since it can serve a dual purpose (food and booze). After starting my first batch of this recipe, I wish I could find a turkey fryer that would turn down enough because right off the bat i boiled it over and ran a little mash through my pipes..lol.. Oh well, cleaned it all out real good I guess.

First run of this is as follows:
Fermented mash(multigrain instead of barley, 4 cups cereal, 16 cups sugar, 3/12 oz fleishmans yeast, 1/2 tsp epsom salts) for 3 1/2 days and could have probably went a little longer since it still had a few bubbles while I was potting it up
Collected and disposed of my first 150ml or so as foreshot
Collected 1 pint as a head
Collected around 1 1/2 quarts as hearts
Collected 1 pint as tail
For a total of 3 quarts (unproffed)

Since this is my first ever run of any recipe I have never cut or tried to cut anything, so this is all trial and error for me. I read the article on how to cut but it makes no real sense to me so im trying it as a 20/60/20%. My still is a 5 gallon pot still with a condensor (not a worm). The guy I bought it from said that it should produce at least 2 quarts of very high % alcohol and the rest would be tails suitable for mixed drinks. Heads taste pretty much like I had expected (extremely strong). The hearts (or at least I called hearts) was still plenty strong but managable to sip not drink. Tails tasted pretty much like what I had read about, weaker, slight aftertaste but good enough for mixing with oj or gingerale for company..lol..

Pretty much just wonering if I am on the right track with all of this before I start trying anything different. Also wondering if there is any ideas on how I did my cuts and how much to dilute it for straight sipping? The first quart of what I called hearts is rather strong, but OH MY GOD good and it only takes around 2 shots to feel the kick in the ass.

Post by **rad14701** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:38 pm

304SHINER, you'll have far better luck if you slow down a bit... It can be hard to sit on your hands and wait, but it's worth it in the end...

If you didn't wait for the wash to finish fermenting then the wash also didn't have a chance to clear... What that means is that you potentially ended up with unfermented sugar as well as yeast in the boiler... The unfermented sugar contributes to foaming... The yeast contributes to off smells and flavors...

As for cuts, you can't go by volumes or percentages, you have to go by smell, taste, and feel, with smell being the primary indicator... Collecting in multiple small jars, allowing them to air for 24 - 48 hours, and then blending by smell and taste, is the preferred method at least until you have a good grasp of how a specific recipe performs for you...

You're well on your way and it sounds like you had a relatively successful first run... And now that you've done this run I'd suggest going back and re-reading everything and I'm sure some portions will make a lot more sense... The learning process is ongoing for all of us, regardless of how many times we've been through the practical application...

I've had the itch to do another Gerber wash for a while now and hope to get one going soon...

304SHINER · Post by **304SHINER** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:54 pm

I am going to start another batch fermenting tomorrow to hopefully be ready by next monday. this batch came out clear as water but does have a little bit of smell to it. Not bad but not odorless. I will go back and read the cut pages again and may be able to get a little more out of it this time..lol.. Im just glad that what I got was drinkable. and as far as sitting on my hands, I didnt mind it at all today, because when I started it was 42 degrees and when I quit almost 4 hours later it was 47 so I did a lot of sitting on my hands..lol.. But I know what you are talking about and I plan on slowing my pot down a bit more next time and going to wait until all the little bubbles quit on my mash. The mash I used this time I left open to air with the lid of my bucket just sitting on top of it, is an airlock a must or is that just the easiest way of telling when the mash is ready for potting?

ShovelHead · Post by **ShovelHead** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:22 am

Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?

Post by **rad14701** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:32 am

ShovelHead wrote:Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?

I've done from 5 to 15 minutes but 5 or so should be more than enough... Just a low simmer, not a hard rolling boil... Can't say for certain if it makes any real difference or not, I just like thinking that it does...

ShovelHead · Post by **ShovelHead** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:16 pm

Awesome. Thank you, Sir!

RedTopMtn · Post by **RedTopMtn** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:12 pm

rad14701 wrote:
ShovelHead wrote:Rad

A few pages back, you mentioned that you boiled your Gerber baby cereal first in order to release the nutrients. How long did you boil it?
I've done from 5 to 15 minutes but 5 or so should be more than enough... Just a low simmer, not a hard rolling boil... Can't say for certain if it makes any real difference or not, I just like thinking that it does...

I have tried to take it slow while getting started in this new hobby.
I did an experimental mash a week ago and played around with doing 3 runs. Product was fair at best. I did learn a lot.

Now to a bigger project which I think I have totally messed up.
Started with 3 gls of water in a pot.
-Added 12 cups of Gerber barley, yeah I know to much
-Added 12 cups of brown sugar.

Brought everything to a boil about 10 minutes.

Took contents to fermenter with two additional gals of water.
Added 5 camden tablets
-1 1/2 tbsp of lime juice
tblsp of nutruient

Let cool to around 90 degrees. Air temp about 85 degrees. sg reading of 1.060
Then put 5 cups of bakers yeast......sealed it. vent lock on.
It was purring real nice that night. Sunday.
Yesterday Moring purring like a cat.

Last night came home nothing.........Popped the top stirred with ss spoon and started fizzing a little.
Added about a quart of water, some nutrient and a little more yeast.........stirred it up, sg reading was lower 1.01 . sealed it
This morning nothing. Before I got home last night that if you use camden tablets, crush them and wait 24 hours before adding yeast.

How bad did I screw this up? Anyway to get it restarted? I am thinking no way it has finished in 2 days?
Should I cook some of it.

Sorry for the long note, I am sure there are some who can help me.
Thanks in advance for any help.

JERSEYSHINER · Post by **JERSEYSHINER** » Mon May 07, 2012 6:21 am

Looking to do two 5gal buckets of this recipe. I want to do a cracked corn, barley and wheat any suggestions on amounts of each and how much sugar. THANKS.

JS.

Post by **rad14701** » Mon May 07, 2012 10:57 am

JERSEYSHINER wrote:Looking to do two 5gal buckets of this recipe. I want to do a cracked corn, barley and wheat any suggestions on amounts of each and how much sugar. THANKS.

Are you referring to doing a combination wash using Gerber or something altogether different...??? I'm not quite following what it is you want to do so I can't give much guidance without more information...

JERSEYSHINER · Post by **JERSEYSHINER** » Mon May 07, 2012 12:35 pm

Appologies rad. I am wanting to use cracked corn and the Gerber barley and the Gerber wheat with sugar. Just needed some guidence on using these ingredients in two seperate 5gal buckets. Trying to get some sort of Bourbon and do not want to use rye. Hope this helps

Post by **rad14701** » Mon May 07, 2012 2:27 pm

JERSEYSHINER wrote:Appologies rad. I am wanting to use cracked corn and the Gerber barley and the Gerber wheat with sugar. Just needed some guidence on using these ingredients in two seperate 5gal buckets. Trying to get some sort of Bourbon and do not want to use rye. Hope this helps

Ok... That clears things up... Don't rely on much flavor out of Gerber unless you use a lot... The Gerber is used more for the fortification of vitamins and minerals that yeast need... You'd have to play with ingredient ratios if you're looking for a mixed grain type of bourbonesque...

JERSEYSHINER · Post by **JERSEYSHINER** » Mon May 07, 2012 3:41 pm

I'm pretty new so I'll just get me some sweet feed. Thanks rad

Kidnapper2 · Post by **Kidnapper2** » Sat May 12, 2012 2:40 pm

going to give this a shot with the backset from the birdwatchers i am running now. i got the gerber wheat cereal. so we will see how it goes.

*Edit
Took 20l of birdwatchers backset, added 3lbs of sugar and 1 box of gerber wheat. Starting SG 1.090. Pitched the yeast at 80 f. Active within the first hour.

Let you know what the results are.

Kidnapper2 · Post by **Kidnapper2** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:53 pm

Adjust that last post. 2 boxes of gerber wheat and about 3 lbs of sugar. I was guesstimating on the amount of sugar.

Kidnapper2 · Post by **Kidnapper2** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:11 am

I finally stored up enough of this to do a spirit run last night. I have to say, very impressed with the amount of "hearts" I got out this recipe. Ran it low and slow on my baby 3 gallon pot still (took forever) started out at 82%. Collected it in 8 oz jelly jars. When it dropped to 75% this stuff smelled and tasted wonderful, and it produced 80 oz at 75% before dipping even a little.

For a "neutral" wash, this stuff has a great character. I think I am going to put a fifth of this on oak, while using the rest for some of that pantydropper recipe, and maybe one little jar as is.

Excellent and easy recipe. Thanks for all those who contributed to this.

Post by **pfshine** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:46 pm

I did a 12.5 gal was of this it was easy fast and has a great taste to boot. I mixed it up a bit I used half and half barley and mixed grain. Even at 95 % it tastes and smells like whiskey.

XFABCALGARY · Post by **XFABCALGARY** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 12:58 am

wow loooooooong read lol.

but worth it i think, boiled 8 liters water added i cup lemon juice and added 14 cups sugar. let simmer, mean while i go to garage and measure and mark my carboy at 4 liter increments and realize i have head space left so plan is now for 20 liter batch instead of 16. so back inside the house and timer is beeping simmer is done but i add 3.5 cups for a total of 17.5cups. i only bought 2 boxes of Gerber... shit is 4 bucks a box every where i went. works out to 2 cups per box, means i am one cup short so i toss in 5 multi vitamins (i dunno) and use the Cuisinart whipper spinner ninja blade stick to mulch any solids in batch...

move to the garage; i add 4 liters cold water to glass carboy then siphon off hot stock pot into carboy ( doing this all while hot makes things easier to clean as i go) comes to 14 liters. rinse pot clean and dump in through funnel, top of with water to 20 liters. sg hard to read 175??? in between 169 and 182 on my hydrometer. carboy is warm but not hot this works for me. so i use the wash from the hydrometer and add 10 tbl spoons of fleishman's baking active yeast and mix, add water to smooth out lumps and dump in carboy total volume 20.5 liters. so i tilt the carboy on an angle and cover top with my hand so i can rock and roll every thing nice and good. next i attach cutting torch to oxy bottle and blast 100% oxygen through a clear hose 30 psi into carboy for about 30 seconds. sit carboy on stool and install old Adidas winter jacket, zip up install bubbler and pull hoodie over top. total elapsed time from boil start to bubbler 50 minutes... take dog for a walk.

upon return shoot video elapsed time 90 minutes from boil start 40 minutes from yeast pitch
http://youtu.be/Dtr1CYIl5wA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

9 hours since yeast pitch
http://youtu.be/xoJg3v8D8Nc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

edit upon stirring and taking sample to do current specific gravity, i realize i read the hydrometer wrong. the 175 i read was sugar per liter scale and now looks like i will have 9% abv wash. but 20 hour in i am @ 1.025 from a corrected sg 1.070 as i also read the meniscus wrong . but i am glad to see it continue to rattle the airlock with rapid secession bubbles .

48 hours = dry, air lock still bubbles 3-4 times a minute. it was doing that at 36 hours as well, i was too lazy not wanting to clean any thing so i just left it. fg .95> and took the time to confirm water @ 1.00 so every thing works .

Thanks for the time you spent on this Rad + every one else

Post by **Hawk_** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:10 am

I was just checking the gerber website and noticed they have multiple types of grain and flavor. Could you use the Oatmeal and Banana flavor and come out with something good to drink? This recipie kinda has me thinking.

dingoberry · Post by **dingoberry** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:57 am

How clear will this get? Finished in 3 days or less. Racked into a carboy. Most solids settled, but color is still yellow.

Post by **rad14701** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:16 am

dingoberry wrote:How clear will this get? Finished in 3 days or less. Racked into a carboy. Most solids settled, but color is still yellow.

It'll remain yellowish green and only somewhat translucent... If you're seeing a decent trub bed at the bottom then it's probably about as clear as it's going to get... I let mine clear for 24 - 48 hours and then run it if I have the time, otherwise I run it whenever I get the chance...

Post by **Hawk_** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:14 pm

How Bad is the cap on this recipe? I may want to try it in the carboy from the beginning.

Post by **rad14701** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:41 am

HawkingRage wrote:How Bad is the cap on this recipe? I may want to try it in the carboy from the beginning.

Not much of a cap and it drops quickly... At least that's been my experience...

Post by **Hawk_** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:22 am

Thanks rad

XFABCALGARY · Post by **XFABCALGARY** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:32 pm

I had zero yeast cap, and i started in a carboy....

no issues there was maybe 3 inches of head space.

here is a video of the run well 1 minute of it with my rig.

http://youtu.be/4lEZSsuqEbw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Post by **Hawk_** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:29 am

I am running my first Gerber batch right now. Been fermenting for 2 days and the airlock is going nuts! I decided to try the oat and banana batch. My buddy wants me to make him a barley batch and after distilling he wants me to infuse with cherry. This sounds good too.

Just a thought, Has any one tried doing a sour batch? Using the same lees and yeast for a second batch? I used a whole box of cerial with mine and am wondering if that will be enough nutrients for multiple batches.

Post by **rad14701** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:15 pm

HawkingRage wrote:I am running my first Gerber batch right now. Been fermenting for 2 days and the airlock is going nuts! I decided to try the oat and banana batch. My buddy wants me to make him a barley batch and after distilling he wants me to infuse with cherry. This sounds good too.

Just a thought, Has any one tried doing a sour batch? Using the same lees and yeast for a second batch? I used a whole box of cerial with mine and am wondering if that will be enough nutrients for multiple batches.

Good luck with the wash...

Yes, using backset in subsequent washes has been tried there is at least one topic about it here in the forums...

Kidnapper2 · Post by **Kidnapper2** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:39 pm

HawkingRage wrote:
Just a thought, Has any one tried doing a sour batch? Using the same lees and yeast for a second batch? I used a whole box of cerial with mine and am wondering if that will be enough nutrients for multiple batches.

I did for 3 batches.

I gotta say I liked it better than the UJSSM. Just a tad smoother.

Post by **Hawk_** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:11 am

Kidnapper2 wrote:
HawkingRage wrote:
Just a thought, Has any one tried doing a sour batch? Using the same lees and yeast for a second batch? I used a whole box of cerial with mine and am wondering if that will be enough nutrients for multiple batches.
I did for 3 batches.

I gotta say I liked it better than the UJSSM. Just a tad smoother.

Ill try it then. Thank You!

gicts · Post by **gicts** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:12 am

Last night I was picking a few things up at a superstore and thought about this thread. I bought a pack and tossed it into a stuck sugar wash. Twas bubbling away this morning

. I appreciate it, seems to have worked great!!

Post by **Hawk_** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:43 am

Kidnapper2 wrote:
HawkingRage wrote:
Just a thought, Has any one tried doing a sour batch? Using the same lees and yeast for a second batch? I used a whole box of cerial with mine and am wondering if that will be enough nutrients for multiple batches.
I did for 3 batches.

I gotta say I liked it better than the UJSSM. Just a tad smoother.

Did you add any more Gerber to the subsequent batches? Or was the first dose plenty of nutrient? I'm hoping to run my batch next Wednesday or Thursday.

Home Distiller

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