Gerber

[Kidnapper2]

Didn't have to wait long, yeasties were at work in less than an hour

[Hawk_]

Didn't have to wait long, yeasties were at work in less than an hour

I also learned that a box of gerber is only good for about 2 generations. Then it's backset and a new box of gerber.

[rad14701]

I'm glad to see that members are trying to utilize the Gerber recipe in a multi-generation manner... I'm hoping to be in a situation where I can do multi-generation experiments in the near future...

[Kidnapper2]

I'm glad to see that members are trying to utilize the Gerber recipe in a multi-generation manner... I'm hoping to be in a situation where I can do multi-generation experiments in the near future...

*************************

Rad, I gotta say it again. I have tried a few of these 'tried and true' and this one is consistently easy and IMO the best tasting. I have aged this on oak and gotten Makers Mark comparison from a few friends. Unflavored it has a caramel type taste (hard to describe) which is very good.

The simplicity of this recipe has helped me understand more about nutrients and yeast. It has inspired me to look at a lot more labels and I actually have a couple ideas that I am going to put into action this weekend

[spider]

Finally finished reading all the posts in this thread ,
Ok gerber is not in the stores in the uk so what are the other uk members using with success as an alternative ?

[rad14701]

Finally finished reading all the posts in this thread ,
Ok gerber is not in the stores in the uk so what are the other uk members using with success as an alternative ?

In 43 pages of posts you didn't see any reference to what brands members are using in countries outside the US...??? I'm fairly certain a viable alternative is available in the UK...

[Durace11]

Finally finished reading all the posts in this thread,
Ok gerber is not in the stores in the uk so what are the other uk members using with success as an alternative ?

Not sure if this has a brick & motor location:
http://www.dvah.co.uk/index.php?route=p ... t_id=18880

Amazon UK only has oatmeal, wheat & rice versions:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gerber-Cereal-T ... 751&sr=1-7

Amazon US sells a 3 pack 8 oz boxes, which is perfect for doing three 5-6 gallon ferments for stripping into a larger spirit run. BTW, love this recipe. MY Gerbers came out really clean when stripped in the pot and spirit run in the flute. Made half into vodka and half into a gin that gets rave reviews everytime it comes out.

[Hawk_]

Sure does come out clean in a flute. Almost have to sour mash to get the best flavor.

[spider]

Finally finished reading all the posts in this thread ,
Ok gerber is not in the stores in the uk so what are the other uk members using with success as an alternative ?

In 43 pages of posts you didn't see any reference to what brands members are using in countries outside the US...??? I'm fairly certain a viable alternative is available in the UK...

sorry for asking rad14701 but no , that is why i asked and thanks for your reply , very helpful !

[spider]

Finally finished reading all the posts in this thread,
Ok gerber is not in the stores in the uk so what are the other uk members using with success as an alternative ?

Not sure if this has a brick & motor location:
http://www.dvah.co.uk/index.php?route=p ... t_id=18880

Amazon UK only has oatmeal, wheat & rice versions:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gerber-Cereal-T ... 751&sr=1-7

Amazon US sells a 3 pack 8 oz boxes, which is perfect for doing three 5-6 gallon ferments for stripping into a larger spirit run. BTW, love this recipe. MY Gerbers came out really clean when stripped in the pot and spirit run in the flute. Made half into vodka and half into a gin that gets rave reviews everytime it comes out.

Cheers Durace11 , ill have a look at getting some from Amazon

[holliday]

I was figuring up to make a 20 liter batch of this recipe and figured for that much according to your recipe it would take 10 tbsp of yeast. On my packets of wine yeast it says that one packet is good up to 6gal. So my question is, Why so much yeast and will my one packet be enough?

[warp1]

Running my first fermented batch as I type. This is my first run that isn't UJSSM. Was surprised that even the heads/fores aren't as biting as the UJSSM....can't wait for airing and making my cuts tomorrow.

Usint the 3" relux tower I built, but afraid to push the speed. Staying patient with this first run and see if I can finally make some good, quality, vodka...without any bite. If early tastes/smells are any indication....this is going to be my smoothest effort yet Can work on take off speed later

[rad14701]

I was figuring up to make a 20 liter batch of this recipe and figured for that much according to your recipe it would take 10 tbsp of yeast. On my packets of wine yeast it says that one packet is good up to 6gal. So my question is, Why so much yeast and will my one packet be enough?

You can use whatever amount of whatever strain of yeast you desire... The high pitch rate of bakers yeast is to help reduce lag time between aerobic and anaerobic phases... Bakers yeast is cheap so cost isn't an issue... Lower pitch rates will just extend fermentation times and "might" result in cleaner wash and/or spirits... Your call...

[Hawk_]

I only use the 3 pack of fleishmanns or red star. Even when I sour mash a gerber I only need that original 3 pack. All my runs come out with small amounts of heads and tails. Maybe it's as rad says, let it take its time, you will get a better product. It will be easier after you get a little stock built and you aren't drinking it faster than you make it.

[fooznfool]

I couldnt find the gerber shown in the origional post so i used the one here I posted. Everything else I did is the same at in the first post, Turned out very well if I say so myself. Thanks for the great tried and true!!

[OBG]

Guess I can't expect much more than a neutral with a T500. One box gerber, 10 lbs sugar and citric acid inverted, 4 ounces fleishman's yeast...basic recipe. I modified the copper saddles in the top by using copper mesh about half way, then the copper and ceramics saddles to fill the reflux tower. I Just finished a 25l at 88% running it at 50-60C. Got two solid quarts, but even cut to 110 proof it still bites like a mangy hound. I did not use a carbon filter. Last run I did, I ended with a similarly clean 90% and made apple pie...no problems, you know? I was hoping for a neutral vodka with some after sweetness, not the raw stick in the throat I got today. I ran the still for 6 hours. Any suggestions to smooth it out?

[rad14701]

Guess I can't expect much more than a neutral with a T500. One box gerber, 10 lbs sugar and citric acid inverted, 4 ounces fleishman's yeast...basic recipe. I modified the copper saddles in the top by using copper mesh about half way, then the copper and ceramics saddles to fill the reflux tower. I Just finished a 25l at 88% running it at 50-60C. Got two solid quarts, but even cut to 110 proof it still bites like a mangy hound. I did not use a carbon filter. Last run I did, I ended with a similarly clean 90% and made apple pie...no problems, you know? I was hoping for a neutral vodka with some after sweetness, not the raw stick in the throat I got today. I ran the still for 6 hours. Any suggestions to smooth it out?

This sounds like carry-over due to smearing at the lower %ABV alcohol levels... At 95% I can assure you the spirits would be virtually tasteless...

[jjsg12084]

I started a 7 Gal batch of gerber 7 days ago. Seems to have stalled. I have had excellent luck with this recipe so I decided to play with it a little. I used 4 cups sugar per gallon, 1 cup gerber per gallon substituted 2 cups gerber with 2 cups of wheat germ. inverted sugar for 1 hour. I normally use fleischmanns regular bakers yeast, this time I pitched two packs of red star champagne yeast at 95 deg. Did not take any SG measurements before starting but it is currently stuck at 1.06 for the 3rd or fourth day. is there anything I can do? Should I just run it and get what I can out of it?

[Redeye]

Just got done inverting my sugar. I am going 14 cups of sugar 4 gallons of distilled water one box of the gerber barley and 8 tbsp of bakers yeast. It is in my basement airating and cooling down still sitting at about 110 degrees after adding the cool water. Once it cools I will take a sg pitch it and let it airate for an hour. This is super simple I am going to run this in between my sweet feed runs. Can't wait to see what I get out of it thanks for the recipe.

[Durace11]

for 4-5 gallon 1-2 tablespoons yeast should be fine.

[Redeye]

I will do that. I was just doing x4 the original recipe. I am still waiting for it to cool my basement is very warm with the fireplace running. It's down to 98 degrees. While I wait I am running my sweet feed lol.

[Kouba71]

How many lavlin ec-1118 packets should I use per gallon??

[Durace11]

One packet should cover you for 5-6 gallons.

[Kouba71]

Thank you!

[bigworm]

First of all I would like to start off by saying thank you to all of you on here! I have been reading, building, and distilling with you guys for well over a year now. And I absolutely couldn’t have done it without you all and all of your knowledge you have shared here. Now on to my question.


I made my first Gerber wash, my recipe was 10 pounds of white sugar, just shy of a full box of rice cereal, 6 packs of quick rise red star baking yeast, 1 lemon and filled to 5 gallons. I did boil the sugar to invert, followed the general consensus on prep from this post, it started bubbling almost instantly!! I made this dec. 2nd. It bubbled strong for 2 weeks, and I can’t understand why my washes always go for so long. (Usually I use lavlin 1118, assumed that was the reason so tried bakers this time) at the 2 week mark it was still bubbling but had slowed, I did some reading and thought it may be a temp issue. So I dropped in a fish tank heater to warm it up a bit. It did, and now it is 78 degrees and still bubbling…. It is December 27th, can anybody help explain to me why my washes take so loooong so I can make some adjustments. P.S. at the 2 week mark I checked the SG, it was about 1.016 last night it was about 1.000-1.002, so it is still working just in seriously slow motion! Anybody have any ideas?

[Hawk_]

My ferments take a couple weeks too. Dont worry, as long as it is doing its job just let it take its time.

[bigworm]

hmm i just dont understand why some posts here say there batch was done in a few days then some take a month. every batch ive run has been several weeks. guess im just impatient haha

[Dnderhead]

" batch was done in a few days then some take a month"
the temperature
the amount and type of sugar
the type and amount of nutrients.. (including whats in the water)
the type and amount of yeast
last but not least how you hold your ..........................head?

[Durace11]

I have a feeling some people just run it without checking to see if it's done. They read it should finish in 7 days so on day 8 they are running it finished or not. Hell, there are almost daily posts about "is it done yet?" or "how do I know if it's done?" so there are probably 10X that many just thinking it's done and running it without asking or checking.

I let my Gerber go a month or more, I don't even shake the bucket or open it at all, just let it sit and forget it's even there. Mead has given me this level of patience! If you make mead or wine you know quality = time so you learn quickly to wait OR the best bottle you drink will always be your last. If you want to run it sooner you probably can but why, why risk having a scortched or puking run. Just relax and start another ferment, then when you decide it's time to run the first you already have another ferment halfway done.

[Brownegg]

Well started my wash bout a week ago and seems to be goin a lil slower than some folks but not worried about that. My starting sg was a lil high. I can't wait to get this and the 5 gal bran complete. Will be first runs. I have completed vinegar and cheap wine cleaning run through brewhaus 8 gal high capacity. I love the still got a few adjustments that was recommended here. My clean run wit wine was good but has strong smell. It burns clean and u can't see flames but has strong smell. Although I reckon I never smelt shine. Although read it should not smell. Also just a note I didn't drink was just smelling rubbin n tastin to try to get idea of good n bad etc.