Gerber

[mystakilla]

Sounds like you have to much sugar and to much barley for only a 2 gallon wash.

What was your SG?

[Bubbashine]

Its 5 gallon. And I don't know how to do SG???

[Bubbashine]

Also, it is bubbling, they are just very small and constant. Probably 2 or 3 popping at 1 time. But very small.

[rad14701]

I need a little help. This is my first attempt at a mash. This is what I did. 5 gallon water dispenser containe, I heated abot 2 gallon to approx 140F. I added 5lbs of sugar and a box of Gerber Barley. Stir it pretty good.

If you only used 5 pounds of sugar in 5 gallons of water I'd venture to guess that the fermentation is done... You have a 7% yield and that will happen fairly fast... I regularly have 14% washes finish in as little as 3 - 4 days...

[Bubbashine]

How much sugar should I have used for a 4.5-5 gallon wash?

[rad14701]

How much sugar should I have used for a 4.5-5 gallon wash?

See page one of this topic... Or use the sugar wash calculator on the parent site... Or remember that 1 pound of sugar (or 2 cups) in a one gallon wash has a potential yield of 7% and go from there...

[Bubbashine]

UUpdate. I just went down and check it. I installed your cheap airlock (BTW ingenious) and it is still bubbling. This is day 5. So I guess I'm gonna keep going. I also figured out that my hydrometer won't work for a SG less than 1.000. So thats why I don't have a reading yet.

[19angus]

First ferment ever attempted, and it has worked perfectly so far! Made a 10 gallon batch. Followed the recipe exactly, just expanded it for 10 gallons. I did not have a hydrometer when I started, but have one now. Today is 3 1/2 days on the ferment, and it appears to be done. Checked and both 5 gal pails are at .996. Decent smell of alcohol in the containers also. Thanks for the fast and easy recipe! Was a real help for a first timer! Now hopefully I can make it in to something worth tipping back

[mystakilla]

Sounds done to me

[rad14701]

Hey ya'll
I got a question. I started some gerber 6 days ago. Only thing I did different was that I used the multigrain type. I made 5 gallons worth. I've been trying to check the abv of the last few batches of other wash I've done. This one started out at 1.066. I just checked it and my tester didn't go all the way down cause it hit the bottom of the bucket which at that point read .996. Could that be right at 9.3% or better? It's not bubbling at all and seems to have cleared up. Am I ready to run?

If the wash is at 0.996 and the bubbling has ceased just let it clear and then rack it into a secondary or directly into your boiler... Just make sure it's cleared or you could end up with yeasty tasting spirits...

[Bubbashine]

I just finished with my first batch ever. 5 gallon worth of Barley. Had a little problem here and there, but it went fine. Got 2 quarts. I did throw a very conservative amount away for the head. About 350cc Nice and clear. Proofed when mixed together ended around 90 total. The only problem I have now is that it taste like rubbing alcohol. What did I do wrong?

[rad14701]

I just finished with my first batch ever. 5 gallon worth of Barley. Had a little problem here and there, but it went fine. Got 2 quarts. I did throw a very conservative amount away for the head. About 350cc Nice and clear. Proofed when mixed together ended around 90 total. The only problem I have now is that it taste like rubbing alcohol. What did I do wrong?

That's about all it's going to taste like on the white... You may have gotten some extra heads into the blend...

[Bubbashine]

Thanks Rad.

I was using 80cc cups and didn't mix until the end. I stopped because of time restraints. I tasted everyone and they were all strong. Is there anything I can do? I was hoping for a more neutral flavor. BTW I have 5 gal of Barley, and 5 gallon of multi wheat brewing now.

[Chefkeyes]

I started this mash recipe on Wednesday of last week and I is finished and ready to run. So 6 days for a 5 gal. Not to shabby!

[rad14701]

i did two 3 gallon batches with the mixed grain two weeks ago. after i was done distilling i used 2 gallons backset with more sugar and replaced one gallon of the mixture back into each bucket. this stuff was off and bubbling again in no time. that was 7 days ago and it is still bubblin. came home early from work today thinking it would be done but no. ive never done a batch with bacset. will it be as good as the first run? i used distillers yeast in this wash and also in my batch of ujssm. it seems to be producing more product and working the mash alot longer. also how many batches can i get off the gerber before its no good?

If generations start to slow then that would indicate lack of nutrients or low pH... At some point you would need to remove some trub...

[Skyraider2012]

You mention aerating it? How do you aerate your wash?

[rad14701]

You mention aerating it? How do you aerate your wash?

Stir vigorously or shake the heck out of it... Can be kinda tricky shaking anything bigger than a 6.5 gallon carboy, but it can be done...

[Skyraider2012]

You mention aerating it? How do you aerate your wash?

Stir vigorously or shake the heck out of it... Can be kinda tricky shaking anything bigger than a 6.5 gallon carboy, but it can be done...

ahh duh.. ignoring the obvious hahahah

[mbz250sl]

Ok followed the recipe for a 20 liter wash - 20 cups of sugar with equal amount plus a little water- heated til sugar inverted - squeeze or two of lemon - mixed box of rice with some water and added to the mix - added water to 20 liters - used 1118 that was started - woke up expecting machine gun like bubbling and nothing. WTF - did I add yeast when still too hot? Ok, sprinkled a pack of 1118 over the top - next day still nothing - made a Yeast bomb of bread yeast - still nothing? Any guesses or info on why nothing? I tasted and still sweet so not like it went quick - no I didn't check SG but I know my yeast didn't take off - thanks in advance

[mbz250sl]

Since I know someone will ask - just checked and it is at 1.090 after 3 attempts to start the yeast

[mystakilla]

That's odd, did you happen to check the temp of wash?

[F6Hawk]

I'm curious... does anyone aerate with an air stone and aquarium pump? Seems like this would not only add oxygen, but also gently keep the wash stirred for as long as it is bubbling.

[rad14701]

mbz250sl, what is the ambient temperature where the wash is sitting and what is the temperature of the wash itself...??? There is something fundamentally wrong if neither bakers yeast or EC1118 took off... Temperature and pH would be the two biggest reasons... You may have dropped the pH with the lemon juice, which I never use...

I just ran off a batch of Gerber Barley last night that had finished in 60 hours... Here is the exact recipe I used... The carboy was wrapped in an old comforter and remained quite warm throughout the entire ferment... I pitched the yeast and waited one hour before inserting the airlock...

Recipe

4 gallons warm water (full measure, not total wash)
8 pounds white sugar (not inverted)
3.5 cups Gerber Barley Cereal (an entire box)
3 tbsp Fleischmanns dry active yeast
2 tsp Epsom Salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp Peters 30-10-10

[mbz250sl]

Temp has been between 65-75 - only thing I didn't really do is aerate that well - going to shake it up good and try it one last time - otherwise I'll start all over without the lemon

[mbz250sl]

Ok - calling this one a complete failure - tried a major aeration and still nothing - made an all grain scotch and the yeast is working away nicely - cant understand hon I screwed up a sugar wash - will try again next week after I run the scotch - the limoncello is fine for non without the extra neutral - thanks all for the input

[kmanj]

hi, i started my first fermentation using the gerber recipe as it appears originally for 6 gallons. however i made the mistake of throwing a random amount of lemon juice, probably about 2 tablespoons or so :/ the fermentation went on for close to 4 weeks :p it seems to have stopped...is it possible its ok or do you think i ruined it?

edit: actually i think i might have added more than 2 tablespoons, i just sort of poured the bottle of lemon juice in for a couple seconds.

anyway heres some numbers:

when i started the fermentation it was on 3/23/13 temp of the mash was 95f, the hygrometer read 1.084

today its 4/24/13...i think the fermentation has stopped because i saw no bubbling for the last two days.

i opened the bucket and the temp of the mash is 72 f the hygrometer read 1.04

it had a cloudy appearance, lemony smell and an alcoholic taste.

is it ruined?

[mystakilla]

I wouldnt say its ruined but 4 weeks is pretty long for a gerber recipe.

I would run it!!!

[aknewb1s]

So I followed the recipe in post #1 exactly for a 2 gallon run and measured the S.G. before pitching the yeast. The hydrometer read 1.034 which seems extremely low. Did I read it wrong, is the hydrometer malfunctioning (plain water reads 1.000 or am I misunderstanding what the S.G. should be?

[ipee7ABV]

temp affects readings but i would add a little sugar if you want to bring it up

[aknewb1s]

I read it precisely at 60F which is what the default calibration called for.

How much sugar is a little sugar? Dump it in or sprinkle on top?