Welch's Grape

[jgodd]

Started this on tuesday.

10 lbs sugar, 10 (11.5 oz) containers of Welch's grape concentrate, and water to 5 gallons.

Used 100g Liquor Quick distillers yeast.

It is SUPER purple and I really hope it turns out well. Initial specific gravity was 1.146 so it should turn out to be about 18% alcohol.

Have any of you guys tried this before?

[WV Shine]

That starting gravity is way too high jgodd, I'm not sure what the max ABV is on Liquor Quick, but that's probably at it, or above. Taking a yeast to its max is never a good thing as you'll get loads of off flavors and the ferment will take forever. Why not split that batch into two, add some water to each, and give the yeasties a break? A SG of ~12% is the most commonly recommended around here, for good reason.

Also, why the grape juice? Are you specifically wanting some sort of faux brandy? Tons of good recipes for all kinds of drink in the "Tried and True" section of the forum. I suggest ya take a look there and see if ya can't find something that sounds good

[MDH]

Yes dock 10% off the ABV potential and use another yeast, like Lalvin 71B. High ABV washes take a long time to ferment, longer than it's worth considering you could ferment 3 or 4 weaker washes and distill them all in the time it takes to reach 18% dry. "Quick Yeast" strains are usually derived from commercial distiller's yeast like MAURI and should only be used with Whisky.

[rad14701]

[jgodd]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm still kind of a noob at this so it's really my own experimenting.

I have previously used a sugar wash that has a starting SG of 1.100 and used this same distillers yeast and it worked fine. Why grape? I found this recipe on the internet somewhere and it sounded like a good idea, and relatively easy for me to do in my free time without having to do too much thinking.

[jgodd]

This is the kind of yeast I use. I don't see why I wouldn't be able to produce a 20% ABV wash...


http://www.homebrewing.org/Super-Yeast- ... _1946.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[jholmz]

This is the kind of yeast I use. I don't see why I wouldn't be able to produce a 20% ABV wash...


http://www.homebrewing.org/Super-Yeast- ... _1946.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

a little research would show that we dont recommend washes that high due to the fact that it stresses the yeast and causes off flavors, the turbos are made to be stressed on purpose and thats why they are not recommended here. we try to keep the yeast happy for better product ( the point of the hobby) for this reason we try to keep washes under 14%, and some of us dont like to go over 8%. its about quality not quantity.

[jgodd]

Believe me when I say I've read A LOT. However, from as much reading as I have done, it has never occurred to me that the lower % alcohol the wash (Or at least around 8-10%) produces a better quality liquor.

I guess I know that now.

[Truckinbutch]

So now you got a good start . What you do with it is up to you .

[Schmicter]

I use a Welch's frozen grape concentrate as a basic go to, more neutral. Essentially use the frozen concentrate as nutrient, although it does carry some flavor over in a pot still. But I only use one can 11.5 oz per about 2 gallons of wash, then adjust with sugar to 1.080. Unless you really want a lot of brandy flavor and don't plan an making wine to age. You don't need all that concentrate.

[WV Shine]

If you don't want to believe the advice from the "old timers" just do what you're doin, you'll come around soon enough But try this for a cheap and easy experiment... mix up 1 gallon of your recipe at 1.080 or less, ferment it with cheap bakers yeast, and see how it compares to your 20% turbo crack wash.

[Jimbo]

Started this on tuesday.

10 lbs sugar, 10 (11.5 oz) containers of Welch's grape concentrate, and water to 5 gallons.

Used 100g Liquor Quick distillers yeast.

It is SUPER purple and I really hope it turns out well. Initial specific gravity was 1.146 so it should turn out to be about 18% alcohol.

Have any of you guys tried this before?

The guys have said this below but Ill say it again for posterity, and reiterating good practice. Cut that wash to 10 gallons. And use a wine yeast thats designed for fructose/glucose (what you have). Distillers yeast is designed for maltose.

[Highrisen]

Started this on tuesday.

10 lbs sugar, 10 (11.5 oz) containers of Welch's grape concentrate, and water to 5 gallons.

Used 100g Liquor Quick distillers yeast.

It is SUPER purple and I really hope it turns out well. Initial specific gravity was 1.146 so it should turn out to be about 18% alcohol.

Have any of you guys tried this before?

jgodd, Is your real name Sparkle Johnson? You finna go ape on some Welch's grape moonshine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMg8_EPZmOI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[jgodd]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I really am listening to what you're saying. Not much I can do about it right now because my stuff has been fermenting for a few days, but in the future I will give it a shot.

I really LOL'd at the turbo crack was comment hahaha!

My problem is patience. There are very few days I can distill because it requires almost a whole days time and so I have trouble waiting for my goods to ferment. I will have to buy another fermentation bucket so I can cut my washes in half. By doing this, does it speed the fermentation process up?

[rad14701]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I really am listening to what you're saying. Not much I can do about it right now because my stuff has been fermenting for a few days, but in the future I will give it a shot.

I really LOL'd at the turbo crack was comment hahaha!

My problem is patience. There are very few days I can distill because it requires almost a whole days time and so I have trouble waiting for my goods to ferment. I will have to buy another fermentation bucket so I can cut my washes in half. By doing this, does it speed the fermentation process up?

It probably isn't too late to split the wash, depending on the SG... Yes, splitting speeds the ferment because the yeast colony isn't stressed... That stress is what causes the off tastes, smells, and the accumulation of more foreshots, heads, and tails, proportionately, in comparison to less hearts, proportionately...

[Copperpot85]

Mine always clears out just fine. I use the liquor quick super yeast and love it. But I use one big pack to 45 gallons of wash. Seems to work good. Clean tasting and works fast

[TDS]

That starting gravity is way too high jgodd, I'm not sure what the max ABV is on Liquor Quick, but that's probably at it, or above. Taking a yeast to its max is never a good thing as you'll get loads of off flavors and the ferment will take forever. Why not split that batch into two, add some water to each, and give the yeasties a break? A SG of ~12% is the most commonly recommended around here, for good reason.

Also, why the grape juice? Are you specifically wanting some sort of faux brandy? Tons of good recipes for all kinds of drink in the "Tried and True" section of the forum. I suggest ya take a look there and see if ya can't find something that sounds good

Ummmmm....
I actually max my yeasts out on a regular basis. I find that when they kill themselsves with ethanol.... (like me, but they do it faster!)
Anyways, they give off a lot of bad flavors. But as they die, and after they die, I let them sit, and they reabsorb all that, and make me and my liver very very happy. If I run them right after the bubbling stops, my liver (and head and tummy) get hurt.
Am I making a fundamental mistake? My results are very good. I measure myy progress at neutrals against "SVEDKA" vodka, it's cheap but delicous, and distilled 5x. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting damn close.

[Kravenhed]

Believe me when I say I've read A LOT. However, from as much reading as I have done, it has never occurred to me that the lower % alcohol the wash (Or at least around 8-10%) produces a better quality liquor.

I guess I know that now.

Never was about how fast or how high or how much, it was always about how good, my name rests on this my boy.....well it was what PePaw always said.

[Koula]

Of course the turbo yeast trash concept is mentioned in almost every beginners thread, but I'm still confused about a few of the veterans comments about it taking longer. Used a turbo yeast for my first batch and fermentation was rapid with an instant end after 3.5 days. (original ABV potential was 16%). My next batch was identical but with 78g (20%) from a pack of the giant "power" (390g) turbo yeast. It's going half as fast by comparison.

[rad14701]

Of course the turbo yeast trash concept is mentioned in almost every beginners thread, but I'm still confused about a few of the veterans comments about it taking longer. Used a turbo yeast for my first batch and fermentation was rapid with an instant end after 3.5 days. (original ABV potential was 16%). My next batch was identical but with 78g (20%) from a pack of the giant "power" (390g) turbo yeast. It's going half as fast by comparison.

Maybe the yeast colony is dying from osmotic stress... Are you taking hydrometer and temperature readings or flying by the seat of your pants...???