The Book of Dnderhead

[HolyBear]

Re: Some questions from a newbie

there is not enough "methanol" in the wash to kill you,that's a meth . but there is enough to give you head aches,hangovers ,bad taste etc.

by Dnderhead Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:18 amounts

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Some questions from a
newbie Replies: 2 Views: 80

[HolyBear]

Re: acetonemia

acetone is a An acetate is a derivative of acetic acid.good clean ferments,and no bacteria is the key.

by Dnderhead Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:39 pm

Forum: Off-Topic Discussion Topic: acetonemia Replies: 2 Views: 110

[HolyBear]

Re: Baking Soda

when you use baking soda or other you are neutralizing the acids this in turn makes things like ethyl acetate turn back into ethanol and acidic acid,so how much you use depends on how much acid is in your product. you could try mixing the base (baking soda etc.)in warm water first,then add to product.

by Dnderhead Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:15 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Baking Soda Replies: 96 Views: 28508

[HolyBear]

Re: Do Parrots Smear The Product?

unless you parrot is attached just take off fores then sit the parrot under the dick. if attached then you need a drain on the parrot.

by Dnderhead Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:45 am

Forum: Related Hardware and Appurtenances Topic: Do Parrots Smear The Product? Replies: 5 Views: 182

[HolyBear]

Re: Someone Help Start Me Off!

a tall riser on a pot still does little.a thumper acts as a secant still.most would say to run a straight pot still first then if you want add a thumper/doubler later.

by Dnderhead Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:31 am

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Someone Help Start Me Off! Replies: 19

[HolyBear]

Re: Rum oils - please explain by Dnderhead » Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:18 am

its what we used to call "backins'' the tales can be bitter and bite these was saved to rerun but if you kept running after awhile it looses almost all flavor , then your into the "backins" witch some used in the next ferment or even cutting.this sort of taste like "sweet water" i dont thank many do this today as most pay for fuel and when you was stoking with wood you had to wait for the coals to die anyway.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11840 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: Mash "Overflowed"

with a sugar head,the amount of sugar used will determine the ABV of wash and if using a pot still this will determine at what percent you end up with.if you want it higher proof product , you either need to run twice or make a higher ABV wash.the latter is not always a good choice.

by Dnderhead Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:52 pm

Forum: Mashing and Fermenting Topic: Mash "Overflowed" Replies: 6 Views: 241

[HolyBear]

Re: sugar wash trials by Dnderhead » Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:55 am

the best yeast is that is active,say from the top of active ferment. the yeast that falls out last will be the most alcohol tolerant. if you harvest yeast from bottom of ferment,it will fall out in layers,if you have a glass fermenter you will see this. the top or last to fall is the best,this has fallen out do to lack of food and not because of "old age" i have most stuff you need ,from stir plates , microscopes,and incubator.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11840 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: Leftovers Wash

boiling fruit will "set" the pectin,this makes a cloudy wash.(that may never settle) using pectic enzymes makes methanol,and is used in most processed fruit drinks so you have nice clear drink.

by Dnderhead Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:38 am

Forum: My First ..... Topic: Leftovers Wash Replies: 12 Views: 321

[HolyBear]

Re: Storing your product?

"glycerine as a smoothing agent " that's a type of sugar and used as thickening agent..gives "mouth feel"

by Dnderhead Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:01 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Storing your product? Replies: 13 Views: 282

[HolyBear]

Re: Storing your product?

if i read something questionable i do follow up research.no mater where i read it.. this is one of the better forums....but.....

by Dnderhead Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:26 am

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Storing your product? Replies: 13 Views: 282

[HolyBear]

Re: Burn taste in final spirit by Dnderhead » Sat Dec 01, 2012 8:32 pm

amyl alcohol slightly soluble in water, easily soluble in organic solvents. It possesses a characteristic strong smell and a sharp burning taste. this is one of the main things in fusols ( tales) how your getting it i have no idea,,running "hot" improper cuts? improper ferments can create more by stressing yeast. use proper nutrients..good yeast...medium temperature(for what yeast your using)..and not to high of ABV..(just because a yeast says its good for 17% or what ever that dont mean you should go that high.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11841 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: Burn taste in final spirit

let me add ethyl acetate that has been blamed for "bite " has a "fruity tooty" smell ( the nail polish remover)and its some times wanted in wine.but to much is bad..

by Dnderhead Fri Nov 30, 2012 7:21 pm

Forum: Sugar Topic: Burn taste in final spirit Replies: 31 Views: 733

[HolyBear]

Re: Burn taste in final spirit by Dnderhead » Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:45 pm

i just went threw this,,"hot" taste is caused by higher alcohols,,these are created by stressed yeast,bacteria,hi temps,to much sugar,low nutrients,competition with other things like bacteria,wild yeast,toxins , that mite be in water...this is why most including me thought it was caused by refiend sugar is that when making "sugar head" most tend to make a high SG wash. this stresses the yeast.so if you make a sugar wash at say 5%? alcohol then you should not have the "hot taste" ethanol has 2 carbon molecules,,these higher alcohols have 3..

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11841 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: neutral/vodka help

the HOT taste in alcohol is not ethanol acetate..but it is alcohols other than ethanol. these are created by stressing the yeast,wiled yeast ,,bacteria,, so to start if you want "mild"alcohol make a mild mash/wash.say 5-7%

by Dnderhead Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:28 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: neutral/vo

[HolyBear]

Re: Cloudy after diluting (after barrel aging)

adding alcohol to water or adding water to alcohol makes little diferance,yes this does create a thermal reaction but it only Temperary.if thats the problem the it should clear with in a few minutes.

by Dnderhead Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:38 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Cloudy after diluting (after barrel aging) Replies: 5 Views: 113

[HolyBear]

practice is/will be your best teacher,if you take your time and learn as you go.

by Dnderhead Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:17 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Dimensions? Replies: 8 Views: 84

[HolyBear]

Re: New to this forum and distilling

Aluminum is amphoteric. It is oxidized by both acids and bases. In acid it forms a salt and liberates H2 gas (hydrogen). The salt is water soluble. (alum/sodium,aluminum sulphate(baking powder) others..depending on acid)

by Dnderhead Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:34 pm

Forum: My First ..... Topic: New to this forum and distilling Replies: 12 Views: 356

[HolyBear]

Re: Thinking of moving...any free states left? by Dnderhead » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:24 am

as soon as you associate with others your not going to be "free".. I'm not saying to be anti social just be independent.the more you "take"/expect from society the more is expected of you and they will expect you to "conform" to there "standards" .you cant have it both ways. their is sights on the net about this. search for "living fugal" or "living cheep" most places that are "cheep" to live in has a reason , like little or no work, or low wages.no one there has much,and no/little services..then you sort of "fall threw the cracks" and then no one pays attention to you.much like many say on here "dont sale dont tell" the more you keep to yourself the more "free" you will be and the more you will git away with. if you want that new flashy car,that big house , the big pay,then your back into the rat race.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11841 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: condensed mash

I take it your using a pot still? what comes out depends on what you put in..so as you "boil off" the alcohol from the wash,the product coming also lowers.the oil you see is fusel oils thats in the tales.

by Dnderhead Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:44 pm

Forum: Mashing and Fermenting Topic: condensed mash Replies: 6 Views: 253

[HolyBear]

Re: Still problems.

Kick it in the ass until you git product,,then turn it down a bit to a simmer.

by Dnderhead Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:30 pm

Forum: Novice Distillers Topic: Still problems. Replies: 14 Views: 289

[HolyBear]

Re: Buffalo Trace small barrel failed experiment

by Dnderhead » Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:28 pm

heat ages faster,,in the tropics "rum"ages much faster than in cold climates .in the north (US) aging comes to a halt in winter.so it has to be "kept "much longer for the same outcome. so putting you spirits in/out of refrigerator or cold/hot is just prolonging what your trying to do.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11847 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: Buffalo Trace small barrel failed experiment by Dnderhead » Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:04 pm

you'd better fiend better information..it takes very little pressur in a wood barrel and it will start sprouting leaks all over. iv had many years of experience with them..so dont give me that horse s#@$..and even if it did that whould NOT be aging. that if anything whould be flavoring,wood flavoring..aging is a chemical proses,between the different alcohols and different acids. these make "esters" or the flavors that the connoisseurs look for.also alcohols become "oily".this can take up to 10 years.after witch little happens.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11847 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: How similar is sugarcane to sugar? General rum advice. by Dnderhead » Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:25 pm

they are using sugar because they are using low grade molasses. also to cut the cost for some. there is first run/second run/thurd run/and black strap that is the "scrap" used for feed. now if using the lower grades you will most likely need to add sugar.now at one time "straight" black strap could be used but now the extracting proses is more efishent its not as good and some has very little fermentable sugars.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11848 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: im back guys..and i raided the cornfield for 100bs haha

many try to sparg corn like beer,it just dont work..let it settle and rack it off.

by Dnderhead Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:00 pm

Forum: Recipe Development Topic: im back guys..and i raided the cornfield for 100bs haha Replies: 9 Views: 365

[HolyBear]

Re: Hydrometer Not Floating Straight ""Hydrometer Not Floating Straight""

what the hell do you expect? its been in the alcohol and is drunk

by Dnderhead Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:20 am

Forum: Related Hardware and Appurtenances Topic: Hydrometer Not Floating Straight Replies: 9 Views: 269

[HolyBear]

Re: newbie question.... angels share"

is loss do to evaporation.this is 2% or more per year and happens faster in small barrels than large.

by Dnderhead Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:53 pm

Forum: Flavoring and Aging Topic: newbie question.... Replies: 6 Views: 217

[HolyBear]

Re: How do they measure ABV and Proof in England ? by Dnderhead » Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:56 pm

simply put ,if you pore alcohol on black gunpowder, it will ignite if its over 57% it seems quite accurate.below 57% it wont.. but anyway that is what was considered "proof" ..i guess it was "proof" it was high enough in alcohol. they thought it was 50% so considered 50% as "proof" they never knew until the hydrometer was invented ,therefor you have two "proofs" one with gunpowder (was used by British)and one with a hydrometer. to alleviate the confusion most use percent by volume..

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11850 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: skunk in my distilling shed by Dnderhead » Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:45 am

they wont hurt a thing..spraying is their last defence. but most likely their something in there they wanted like mice/bugs.skunks can only see about 10 ft so if you come upon them speak softly so they know your there.they love cooked chicken so if you want entice them out with scraps.they were my "guard dogs" and made good friends with them for many years.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11854 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north

[HolyBear]

Re: skunk in my distilling shed by Dnderhead » Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:53 am

they weren't "pets",, quit fighting nature, you dont have to control everything and just learn to live along with it.

Dnderhead Master Distiller

Posts: 11854 Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 pm Location: up north