First Sweet Feed Mash

[Yaakmt]

Lots of reading, built a clawhammer still and here we go! 4 inches sweet feed in five gallon bucket, 6 tablespoons baking yeast and 11 cups of sugar. OG 1.070

After two hours its going crazy! What do you guys think? OG too high?

Thanks!

[Bushman]

11 cups of sugar equals about .6 pounds where I believe the recipe calls for 7 lbs?

[Yaakmt]

Put the grain in the bucket, then sugar then 3/4 bucket hot water, stirred. Let sit overnight. Topped off with warm water this am, pitched yeast, stirred slightly.

Thanks!

[Yaakmt]

11 cups of sugar equals about .6 pounds where I believe the recipe calls for 7 lbs?

I put six in because recipe is for six gallons. With room for expansion I figured I have maybe 4.6 gallons water. Did I figure wrong? 5 gallon hardware buckets (white hdpe or whatever it is)

Thanks!

[Yaakmt]

Hey guys, how do you get all of the liquid out? In my ferment bucket I have (measured on the side) 11 inches high total, looks like 2 3/4 inch of yeast and 3 inches of grain sitting on top of that. About 6 inches of liquid. I have auto siphons, etc. was planning on draining into another bucket with cheesecloth strainer.

Thank you!

[BoisBlancBoy]

I've always just siphoned out of my buckets right into a funnel with a filter. Not always the fastest process but it works.

[Bigbob]

I usally leave a bit just covering the grain. Don't like getting too much yeast in the still. When it time to add back set I dump out as much as I can. Best not to get greedy.

[ericrichards420]

Yeah, what Bigbob said, You plan on re using your yeast don't you? I usually add another gallon or 2 of water after I siphon to the grain bed. later add about 2 gallons of dunder sugar, more water and go again!

[Yaakmt]

Thanks guys! Will the yeast bed get bigger and bigger each time I ferment on it? How many ferments could you get? I have one eight gallon bucket and two five gallon buckets that look to be done.

Thanks again!

[GrassHopper]

Thanks guys! Will the yeast bed get bigger and bigger each time I ferment on it? How many ferments could you get? I have one eight gallon bucket and two five gallon buckets that look to be done.

Thanks again!

Yes, the yeast bed will continue to grow. You can always scrape off the grains and then remove some of the yeast bed (not all) and then add your grains back and then continue with your next ferment.
As far as how many times you can ferment? Theoretically, indefinitely. But, after x number of times you start having PH issues that need to be controlled. I ferment in a 30 gal barrel. Way easier IMHO.

[Yaakmt]

Thanks guys! Will the yeast bed get bigger and bigger each time I ferment on it? How many ferments could you get? I have one eight gallon bucket and two five gallon buckets that look to be done.

Thanks again!

Yes, the yeast bed will continue to grow. You can always scrape off the grains and then remove some of the yeast bed (not all) and then add your grains back and then continue with your next ferment.
As far as how many times you can ferment? Theoretically, indefinitely. But, after x number of times you start having PH issues that need to be controlled. I ferment in a 30 gal barrel. Way easier IMHO.

Thank you. That is what I will do next summer for sure. 30 gallons would be way easier for sure! It's 35-40 at night here now so the garage is too cold.

My OG is .996 / .998

[Bushman]

11 cups of sugar equals about .6 pounds where I believe the recipe calls for 7 lbs?

I put six in because recipe is for six gallons. With room for expansion I figured I have maybe 4.6 gallons water. Did I figure wrong? 5 gallon hardware buckets (white hdpe or whatever it is)

Thanks!

Here is the recipe in the Tried & True for a six gallon wash.

for 6 gallon wash

4" of sweet feed in the bottom of the bucket
7 pounds of white sugar
5 packets of bakers yeast or 8 tablespoons

So your 11 cups of sugar is way off!

[rad14701]

11 cups of sugar equals about .6 pounds where I believe the recipe calls for 7 lbs?

I put six in because recipe is for six gallons. With room for expansion I figured I have maybe 4.6 gallons water. Did I figure wrong? 5 gallon hardware buckets (white hdpe or whatever it is)

Thanks!

Here is the recipe in the Tried & True for a six gallon wash.

for 6 gallon wash

4" of sweet feed in the bottom of the bucket
7 pounds of white sugar
5 packets of bakers yeast or 8 tablespoons

So your 11 cups of sugar is way off!

11 cups of sugar should equate to 5.5 pounds, depending on how fine or course the granules are... 1 cup weighs a half pound...

[Bushman]

Good catch, when I used my online calculator I went from cups to US liquid gallons not pounds thanks for catching that!

[Yaakmt]

11 cups of sugar equals about .6 pounds where I believe the recipe calls for 7 lbs?

I put six in because recipe is for six gallons. With room for expansion I figured I have maybe 4.6 gallons water. Did I figure wrong? 5 gallon hardware buckets (white hdpe or whatever it is)

Thanks!

Here is the recipe in the Tried & True for a six gallon wash.

for 6 gallon wash

4" of sweet feed in the bottom of the bucket
7 pounds of white sugar
5 packets of bakers yeast or 8 tablespoons

So your 11 cups of sugar is way off!

That's what I followed but I have two five gallon buckets.

Thank you!

[rager]

My OG is .996 / .998

specific gravity, ( SG) , original gravity (OG) are interchangeable. your .996 would be final gravity (FG) . . just a little FYI on the terms.


cheers

[Yaakmt]

Ok. Thank you!

[rager]

Ok. Thank you!

happy to help. took me a while to figure out all the terms. its like learning a new language.