All Bran Recipe

[MattyRich]

So day three first all bran ferment. Got some @ 8 bubbles/ min, some 15/m.... When its done ,(probly gonna wait at least the 7 days) what would be the desired sg or abv, and does letting it sit longer or shorter effect that?

should ferment out below zero, trust your hydrometer instead of

So, one of my buckets was hitting one bubble 90 seconds... I popped the lid, and tried for the 0% sugar. Well my wash temp is 80, and I got 0 on the balling and then I abv'd it w the alcoholmeter and it said 0 on that too... What's goin on there? Is it cause its 80 degrees still

[Gaztops]

Using your hydrometer is far more accurate than going off bubbles in my opinion. If i start my wash off at around the 1.070 starting SG, i know that my final SG is going to be at 0.992 or 0.990 even. This will give me 10.3 % abv in my wash which is ideal according to the mentors of this site which i am truly appreciative for the information. It is advised not to push your yeasts to far as an off taste will come out in the final product.

[MattyRich]

Damn, well I just thought if its bubbling then its not done fermenting. But what I need to do is pop the lid n check sg from time to time? Also the wash is still warm, over 60 deg (what the hydro says is ideal) is that ok and how do I get it 60 if it need to be.. just when u think u kinda get the idea, after reading, turns out I still don't know shit! Haha... First batch tho

[rad14701]

If anyone is in a hurry, once the hydrometer shows 1.000 or lower you can open the fermenter and give the wash a good stir to help it off-gas and have the heavier trub carry the yeast to the bottom... This should speed the clearing process substantially...

[MattyRich]

Wasn't expecting it so soon but it only took 4 days for mine to ferment out. Racked it today. Gonna do my vinegar then sacrificial tomorrow then first liquor run... I'm so thirsty! Haa

[MattyRich]

Ran the bran! Came out nice.. even the heads aren't as harsh as some of my buddies shit he jars up. Great neutral, but kinda lil sweet hints to it. Was my first run on this alchemist still so im still in need of practice. Let it reflux a bit, took out fore's, refluxed a while again but only got up to 75%... I think I ran it too fast or hot. The distillate was comin out @ like 80/ sometimes 90f even tho I was pumping in ice water... Which pissed me off cause for the sacrificial I had it up to round 85abv n was cool comin out, with just hose water... But anyway, made a bunch of Apple pie. It's a creeper, can't tell there's any in there till it gets ya! Came out nice

[MrMuffin]

I ran a batch of this slowly through my pot still, and while I appreciate the simplicity and fast fermentation time, I have to say that even the hearts came out tasting like a multivitamin. I only made 2 gallons of wash, and used 2 cups of generic Total Bran Flakes (not crushed), so I'm wondering if using a smaller amount of flakes can moderate the flavor while still providing sufficient nutrients for the yeast.

I'm also intrigued by the honey smacks idea.

[hikfromstik]

Did you use heat to speed ferment time. If so that will cause a funky taste if it gets too warm. Those mall vitamin stores sell some really good whole food vitamins that from my experience cause no bad flavors or smell and have all the required nutrients including amylase

[rad14701]

You will notice that some vitamins impart more off flavors than others... I no longer use them... I'm kinda stuck on 30-10-10, Epsom Salt, and baking soda at 1/2 tsp each, per gallon, instead... No need for the additional nutrients the vitamin provides...

[MrMuffin]

Yes, I did use an aquarium heater to keep the wash around 75-78 F. Not warm enough, I think, to stress the yeast to cause off flavors.

Just so I'm clear, though, I did not actually use a vitamin in the wash. I'm just saying that contrary to the wheat flavor other members in this thread have described in their distillate, mine tastes like a multivitamin. I'm attributing that taste to the amount of cereal used in the recipe, and I guess I'm wondering if I can use less cereal. Enough for the yeast to get the nutrients they need, but not so much that I get the multivitamin flavor. I suppose more experimentation is needed, but I'm just wondering if others feel the same way about the taste of the distillate. That's also why I like Honey Smacks idea, because that seems like it might impart a more pleasant flavor.

[likkerluvver]

You will notice that some vitamins impart more off flavors than others... I no longer use them... I'm kinda stuck on 30-10-10, Epsom Salt, and baking soda at 1/2 tsp each, per gallon, instead... No need for the additional nutrients the vitamin provides...

Rad, I haven't made this in a while, but I want to brew up a "wheat vodka" wash. Might also brew up more "wheat whiskey" wash.

I know you're always tweaking/improving your recipes. What are your latest versions of this recipe for:

1 - minimum All Bran content/flavour?
2 - maximum All Bran content/flavour?

[5thElement]

If using fresh yeast, how much would be required for a one gallon batch? i did a conversion on a calculator and 2 tbsp of active dried yeast seems to equal 34g of fresh, but this seems alot? other calculators throw up slightly different results.

Im going to go with 60g cereal, 1 kilo sugar (inverted), and water to 5L. How much fresh yeast would be recommended?

[Andy Capp]

Thanx for the recipe Rad.
About 14 months ago I used Weet-bix instead of Allbran simply because of the cost difference in Australia. Weetbix is cheap as chips here. I found that 4 biscuits equals 1 cup. I used 24 biscuits and followed the recipe for a 28lt wash. The ferment was very fast compared to ujssm. I pot stilled a single run usual thin steam, then aged on charred oak cubes @ 52 ABV. Wasn't anything special as a white dog but changed for the better after aging. The taste took us by surprise actually. It is smooth and not overbearing like wheat germ is. I intend to experiment more with a series of batches at a later date when my current ujssm batches have finished.

[rad14701]

It is smooth and not overbearing like wheat germ is.

Wheat Germ is a harsher part of the wheat seed than bran...

[shornomovie]

Hi all

Just completed my spirit run on my first all bran wash. This is the first time I've actually made cuts to my spirits. I tasted what i believed to be my hearts and it was smooth and had an awesome flavour. I then tasted the heads to see if i could tell the difference. Man the heads nearly blew my head off , it burnt my mouth and tasted awful. Thanks rad for the recipe and thanks everyone for the useful tips on this thread. Who new that a little extra care would make a big difference, even though i only have an airstill .

[ezlle71]

I have a 10 gallon batch of all bran running right now in a 15 gal crock. It is just a sizzlin' away! I used miracle gro tomato plant food. But after I read further into this thread I found out that was the wrong thing to do. Is the mash still useable or salvageable? It seems to be working really well. Let me know what I gotta do. Thanks
ez

[Brian Griffin]

You will notice that some vitamins impart more off flavors than others... I no longer use them... I'm kinda stuck on 30-10-10, Epsom Salt, and baking soda at 1/2 tsp each, per gallon, instead... No need for the additional nutrients the vitamin provides...

What page (or could I get a copy and paste) is the latest revised Recipe?

I ran with this
* 22 litres water
* 4 Kg white sugar
* 175 g All-Bran Flakes cereal
* 6 tbsp (100g) dry active yeast
* 0.75 tsp 2-1-2 (3.5 ml)
* Pitched @ 29C
* 1.070 - 1.000 = 9.4% in 7days

Now
* 22 litres water
* 4 Kg white sugar
* 175 g All-Bran Flakes cereal
* 6 tbsp (100g) dry active yeast
* Pitched @ 27.5C
* 1.070 - TBA =

If I drop the plant fertilizer nutrients (coz I can't find 20-20-20)
How much DAP, Epson's Salts or All-Bran do I substitute with?

[Dnderhead]

"How much DAP, Epson's Salts"
i have 1oz or 3 table spoons per 6 gal of DAP.
epson's salt a pinch will do.its a "micro nutrient" and a lot of water has it all ready.

[Brian Griffin]

[grainhopper]

Starting another batch. been a while sincethe last ferment of anything.

[Hound Dog]

Well I have to say, this is a winner recipe! My first run was Wino's Sugar Wash and it came out OK in my pot still after triple distilling. I made a batch of this up and stripped it then ran the low wines and i think it is very good. I am just making infused drinks right now (panty dropper) but they come out superb. I have another batch fermenting now while I put the finishing touches on my reflux rig so I will try it out in about a week and a half. It finishes quick but I like to let it clear for a week too. One thing I did different was that I used Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats for the cereal. Heck, Costco had them while I was getting sugar and I like them to boot. I think they come out fine. I will see how my new rig performs and learn how to use it.

[Prairiepiss]

I used mini wheats one time. Didn't care for it as much as the all bran. Although it was still good. And I'm with you. I tried Birdwatchers a few times. I like the all bran better.

[Hound Dog]

Hmmm. Well when I get a run or two out of my new set up and start to understand how it works, I guess I will have to get some Total from the regular grocery store and give it a whirl to see if I like it better too. So far everything I have done in this hobby has worked out like the advice given by the senior guys here. When I did not understand it, I just tried it and then thought "oh, damn. That's what they meant would happen" . I guessI will see with this recipe too. None the less it is easy and good.

[bigbobo_69]

i kicked one off yesterday at 3:45 pm i used the E salt and equal amounts of baking soda instead of 20 20 20.It sounds like rice krispies right now with a great cap as well.i plan to strip and then reflux in my new boka.. i am like a kid waiting for santa to get here!! thanks again for sharing..

[rad14701]

I just checked my records and haven't run off a batch of All Bran since late January so I guess I'm overdue... When I do I think I'll go higher on the cereal and then try a couple generations, reusing the trub and just adding sugar and water...

[bigbobo_69]

i just checked in on mine and @ 50 hours it is bubbling all over at 87.5F and a dark brown slime on top.. the smell is great it should impart some good flavor i might have to hold back a lil out of the stripping run. HA Ha. i dropped my meter so now i am gonna have to guess at the numbers if it is finished before i can get to the brew shop for another..

[Odin]

I think All Bran is great. Maybe the best recipe to make a vodka from with some mouth feel left. And a great sugar head light whiskey.

But ... I always had problems while fermenting it. Took weeks and weeks.

Now I looked at the package again. Had some All Bran, because the kids like it. In their milk, for breakfast. Turns out there are preservatives in there. Could they be hampering my ferments?

Regards, Odin.

[Hound Dog]

I don't know Odin, I fermented three batches of this now, about 17 gallon each and they all went right to zero in 4-5 days. I racked off into 5 gallon buckets to let it sit in the house and clear for a few days and the stuff looks clear as apple juice. One batch I only let clear for a day and it still stripped nice. The first batch I triple pot distilled and it came out great. These second two batches I just stripped down in my pot still and now that I have a few bugs worked out of my new reflux set up and it is clean, I am going to run it this weekend and see how it works. The only thing I did different was I used Kellog's Frosted Mini Wheats. Just because they had them at Costco (the super warehouse store here where I get sugar and yeast).

[rad14701]

Odin, I have never had issues with any preservatives because the amounts are very low for dry storage... Those preservatives get diluted by the water, just as with sweet feed...

I will be doing another batch in the very near future and will post my results... I will be using my most recent nutrient regimen to see how it works with All Bran...

[bigbobo_69]

96 hours now and she is dry so i plan on racking tomorrow and let it clear for two days or so. Rad i have a question if she turns out the way i hope then i plan to save 5 gallons of back set and re pitch it with 40 pounds of sugar and 15 gal. of water because i am doing 20 gal.do u think i should add anything else or just let her do her thing again.