New to the hobby - Upstate SC

[fullofdays]

Hey home distillers -

I've been lurking for about a month and finally broke down and created an account. I've already learned a ton and am going to learn and unlearn a lot as I go. I've been home roasting coffee (http://www.homeroasters.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow) for about 3 years now and built my own turbo oven roaster never really got into beer making but small batch distilling is really interesting and I'm diving in head first! I've got a 4 inch flute coming from EG and have 2 months to research Mashing, and Fermentation and Electric elements for a boiler before I get hands on.

Any mentoring from SC/NC folk would be a welcome sight.

Safe distilling everyone.

Cheers

FOD

[Bushman]

Welcome to HD, roasting coffee is something I would also be interested in. We usually don't allow first time posters to add links but yours did not appear to be trying to sell something. Enjoy the hobby!

PS: We have a distillery in our state that his wife also buys coffee beens from around the world and they roast and sell coffee as well. Seems like a successful combination for them.

[MichiganCornhusker]

small batch distilling is really interesting and I'm diving in head first! I've got a 4 inch flute coming

Mmmm, coffee...
I don't know too much about flutes, I'm a pot stiller, but 4" sounds like diving in head first to me.
As you probably already know, everything you need to run it is here at HD. Good luck with your adventure.

[cranky]

Welcome. Maybe I'm just having an old age moment but I can't think of a still MFG with initials EG, but most of the still makers in the U. S. are required to hand over your info to the TTB. Those that currently aren't required to are required to hang onto it for 2(?) years and hand it over if requested. Read this thread
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 35&t=39678
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=90
and be aware that you may be getting a letter and a 4" flute might put you at the top of the list to receive a visit.
If you haven't already you need to begin by reading here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=35
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =35&t=5090
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=15
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=33
and here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=89
before going any further. Then pick a recipe or 2 from tried and true for your first 2 runs, 1st is cleaning after vinegar and water and then a keeper run. I know it's a lot to get through but it's all important and is worth the effort.

[S-Cackalacky]

Welcome to HD. I live in VA now, but grew up in your region of SC. Got lots of kin around there.

The most important thing about being a member here is the reading. Everything you need to know to get started in this hobby can be found in these forums.

Good luck to you and stay safe.

[fullofdays]

I've done my fair share of reading the past 3 weeks. I'm curious if a milk can boiler with a 5500 electric element can double for heating/mashing corn and using enzymes. This would probably make a mighty fine tasting product from my flute.



A few corn mashing questions: Are fellow homedistillers using separate vessels for cooking and distilling or are they using the same vessel? I can heat my water in the boiler no problem most likely but do I need to mash in a separate vessel? I'm looking at a single phase electric 15 gallon soup kettle that heats from 175-450 and am trying to determine if I need to get a Brew in a Bag (BIAB) made for my boiler/tun or maybe even figure out if I can mash and distill on the grain with this soup kettle. Steam sounds interesting but it might be overkill for fun/hobby.

For fermentation, I'm thinking about using a plastic food grade 30 gallon barrel from Home Depot or something I can chill fairly easily