Hello From NW Florida (Panhandle)

[OldCoonDick]

Hello gents and ladies...I started my endevors in Feb...so far so good...after watching the Moonshiners show on TV I just knew I would screw the pooch...but thanks to this site I did all my learning while waiting on my still....I did encounter one problem this week, but Ill direct that to the correct thread...I am glad to be a part of this fine board and look forward to even furthering my education and will be willing to help when I can...Thanks

[Mikey-moo]

Welcome to the forum!

What do you like to drink and what do you think you'll make first?

[OldCoonDick]

Well sir I drank top self scotch until I started making my own and my recipe is simple...1 pound of sugar per gallon of water and a 1/2 pound of manually hand ground yellow corn....I boil my water...then turn off...melt sugar....add ground corn...let steep til cool....fill my 50 gallon barrel with water...add melted sugar and corn....ariate....pitch EC 1118 yeast....and I do rehydrate the yeast in a little sugar water to get them going...wait....and that sir is the only thing Ill drink now....while holding a glass of 100 proof you smell no liquior but you do smell like someone is holding a bowl of creamed sweet corn under your nose....ah you gotta love that corn smelll....lol

[Mikey-moo]

Sounds a lot like the UJSSM recipe in the tried and true section here. Do you keep your generations of yeast going or do you use a fresh batch each time?

[OldCoonDick]

keep on keeping on with same yeast...how ever one of my 30 gal barrells started fine on third regen but has now stalled and I cant get it going again...tried it all as far as I know...guess a bacteria got it...

[Mikey-moo]

From what I've read that can happen with successive generations. Do you add backset from the previous run to the new ferment? Most often I read that people's pH crashes and that causes the stall. Apparently adding a couple of handfuls of crushed oyster shells can buffer the solution...

[OldCoonDick]

Ten four...I do add all my back set right back to same barrel so I dont have to take my barrels out to my buddies to get well water....well i am 2 miles to the gulf and 1 mile to the bay...Im right in the middle so oyster shell is no problem to get...we used to crush them and feed the chickens to make the egg shells harder...lol...I do most of my stuff like the old timers...i dont do a SG or FG....i mash in and when it stops and its bitter or near bitter I know all sugars have converted...I do proof each qt after it sits in 70 temps with hydrometer...but I about got the shaking and looking at bubbles down....I dont use air locks...I simply screw my pickle barrel lid on tight to keep bad stuff out but when u mash the lid in center down u can hear air escaping so it allows the carbon dioxide to escape...along the way i just put my ear to the barrel and if it sounds like grease frying i know its still working....I have a 20 gal but have a 50 on way.

[HDNB]

Hi Richard! if you are adding all your backset back in, you are likely low on Ph. 20% max of total new wash after gen 3 should reduce the chance of a stall.
all that extra heat and work of the front end of the ferment don't do much either, have a look at the UJSSM recipe. It will lower your workload and reduce the chance of the stall too.

[The G]

Hi to you sunshine state, Nice forum her And hope u the best with your shine.

[rrhino00]

Hi Richard! if you are adding all your backset back in, you are likely low on Ph. 20% max of total new wash after gen 3 should reduce the chance of a stall.
all that extra heat and work of the front end of the ferment don't do much either, have a look at the UJSSM recipe. It will lower your workload and reduce the chance of the stall too.

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[rrhino00]

Hi Richard! if you are adding all your backset back in, you are likely low on Ph. 20% max of total new wash after gen 3 should reduce the chance of a stall.
all that extra heat and work of the front end of the ferment don't do much either, have a look at the UJSSM recipe. It will lower your workload and reduce the chance of the stall too.

. Yep adding way too much backset.


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[OldCoonDick]

Yeah...one thing I didnt know before hand...but put oyster shells and it was working next morn

[Mikey-moo]

Yeah...one thing I didnt know before hand...but put oyster shells and it was working next morn

Woo hoo!