What'd ya'll make today?

[cuginosgrizzo]

And so yesterday I stripped the third batch of HBB. I got 5L at 32%ABV from 24L strained wash. Gonna do a couple more and then a long slow spirit run: I hope to be able to get 10L oaking proof to age with Appalachia-Shiner white oak!

[tzzler44]

mashed 20 pounds of 2-row last night, ended up with about 13 gallons of wash I plan to still nice and slow for aging with some toasted oak. Pitched a starter of US-05 yeast

[cuginosgrizzo]

Yesterday night I mashed a weissbier. 50% barley malt, 50% wheat malt, three step mashing. One hour boil with Hllertau Mittelfruh hop. OG was spot on 1050. Pitched wyeast 3333. This morning when I left for work fermentation had not started yet. I have some backup wb-06 dry yeast if needed.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Made this today. 55 gallon wort chiller. Gonna get mash down to pitching temp alot quicker.

Annnnnd... when I'm fermenting, gonna hook it up to a pump with water barrel and a heater, so I can recirc hot water through it to keep temps up. No more scorching, hot spots, or cold beds.

Ain't pretty, but she should be functional. 2 purposes, 1 build. No soft copper was used in the making of this wort chiller

[yakattack]

Very nice. You now also have a preheater for doing back to back stripping runs. Run your condensor water through it on its way out, and it will pUT its heat into the mash. Cut down on energy use and waste as well as time ;p.

Good job scd. Must have been a bitch to bend hard copper like that...

[bentstick]

Macerated Gin!

[Badmotivator]

Very nice. You now also have a preheater for doing back to back stripping runs. Run your condensor water through it on its way out, and it will pUT its heat into the mash. Cut down on energy use and waste as well as time.

Totally. I have been doing 40 gallons (3 charges) strip days on my heavy panela rum, and my simple copper coil preheater has really helped. The first boil takes 80 minutes and the next two take 40 each.

[Rain Distillate]

FIREBALL
From my whitedog corn/barley likker, I proofed to about 110 (tried to account for angels share ) I nuked 1.5 gallons with medium toasted oak cubes and heavy toasted oak shavings. After 3 passes through the microwave I had desired flavor/color. I then added homemade simple syrup and tossed in 20-25 ceylon cinnamon sticks (THE BEST cinnamon) per half gallon jar. She's tucked away in the dark and will do my daily shakes as necessary until I'm ready to add the chilies. Very excited about this one!

Rain

WILL POST PICS UPON COMPLETION!

[Oldvine Zin]

I then added homemade simple syrup and tossed in 20-25 ceylon cinnamon sticks (THE BEST cinnamon) per half gallon jar.

Careful- that's a lot of cinnamon per half gal

OVZ

[Rain Distillate]

I then added homemade simple syrup and tossed in 20-25 ceylon cinnamon sticks (THE BEST cinnamon) per half gallon jar.

Careful- that's a lot of cinnamon per half gal

OVZ

You reckon i should take some out tonight?

[Rain Distillate]

I just double checked the recipe. said about 8 sticks per 750ml. Should I cut it back to the recipe specs to 16 sticks instead of the 25?

Rain

[DSM Loki]

I'd pull it out if I were you. It's a lot easier to put them back in to add flavor than it is to take out flavor if it's too much.

[Rain Distillate]

pulled em

[Oldvine Zin]

A while back I made an apple pie and used 1 stick of cinnamon per gal soaked for a week, for my taste that small amount was way too much.
Just my taste buds - others are probably different.

OVZ

[sltm1]

Rye and corn mash distilled.....yummm!

[Jimbo]

I just double checked the recipe. said about 8 sticks per 750ml. Should I cut it back to the recipe specs to 16 sticks instead of the 25?

Rain

8 sticks of cinnamon per fifth might make something they shot at each other in WW1 at Verdon.

[Rain Distillate]

Still too much?

[Oldvine Zin]

Still too much?

It's easy to add more after you taste it ---- not so easy removing it


OVZ

[OtisT]

I made this insulated fermentation box today. No more space heating a room for me. I finished this just in time to start a new batch of Birdwatchers Sugar Wash.

The box is made from a single 4' x 8' sheet of 2" thick foam insulation board and a big roll of duct tape. I had just enough material to fit my two 10g ferment barrels with some room for a heater. I have a small bulb fixture with a 15w bulb for when I need it. I had to be very precise on the cuts and taping to ensure a good seal, and am happy with the results. This should hold a temp for some time.

[OtisT]

Two 8 gallon batches of Birdwatchers Sugar Wash. I'm very happy with the results of this ferment. Less work than any I have tried, and damn good results. Took 6 days to ferment, from 10 85 down to 9 96, just over 13% ABV. I'm also happy with the performance of my new ferment box ( previous post). I had to leave the lid off for the first 24-36 hours, until my ferment stopped heating itself up. Then it was covered for three days with no external heat needed. I used my 15 watt bulb to keep things warm for the last two days.

[Tomc]

1, 5 gallon batch of plum wine for my wife and 1, 5 gallon batch of plum wash for me. There has to be a better way of pitting plums...
Cheers,

[BayouShine]

Lots of panty dropper variations and the start of a batch of limoncello.

Blackberry, Raspberry, Blueberry and Strawberry in the back.

[The Booze Pipe]

I just double checked the recipe. said about 8 sticks per 750ml. Should I cut it back to the recipe specs to 16 sticks instead of the 25?

Rain

8 sticks of cinnamon per fifth might make something they shot at each other in WW1 at Verdon.

My experience has been 2-3 sticks of Cassia cinnamon 3-4" long per quart gives a decent strong flavor.

[Rain Distillate]

maybe you use less because cassia's are the strongest cinnamon you can buy. I bought Ceylon "the purest" but didn't realize how sweet/mild of a flavor it gives. Its so sweet its being mistaken for apples. I'm trying Saigon cinnamon next. This should probably be in flavor development not mashing and fermenting lol.
cheers

[smoCha]

Went out for morels withe little success so the wife and I decided to pick something since we were out. Sat down in the park and picked 3lb of dandelion flowers. I steeped them for an hour or so and added a bit of sugar to hit 1.09. Two weeks and she's finally done. Damn delicious at 99 proof.

[Jimbo]

Went out for morels withe little success so the wife and I decided to pick something since we were out. Sat down in the park and picked 3lb of dandelion flowers. I steeped them for an hour or so and added a bit of sugar to hit 1.09. Two weeks and she's finally done. Damn delicious at 99 proof.

I drove by a huge field that was solid yellow yesterday and almost stopped to do exactly as you did. Now that you say its damn delicious, its gonna be harder to drive by it today on the way home. How long did it take to pick 3 lbs? Did you pluck the yellow flowers off the head or steep the whole enchilada? 1 pass through a straight potstill? Havent seen anything like that in recipe development, if its that good write up a post, you may be destined for T&T

[Pikey]

AH - Dandelion is it ?

Over here St George's day (April 23) is reckoned to be "dandelion day" - I've done dandelion wine many times and it's good

Don't fret with picking the yellow out Jimbo - just get 'em off th stalks. Pour v hot water over the heads and leave to infuse 24 hours like makin tea. Heat it up again and strain over the sugar. A little citric acid and nutrient and away she goes.

Never stilled it myself - damn looks like I might make the effort now ! - Actually I might cut the steepin time to 1 hour as per smoCha's post - this time.

[Rockhead]

Just ran up the 10 gallons of Odins All Bran that was fermenting for the last 8 days. Made a nice batch sitting out on back porch in this wonderful southeast Texas weather. Gonna be a good weekend..I can feel it!

[Rockhead]

Heading out to a big crawfish boil with a couple of bottles of my best....Mango-Agave Brandy, Peach Brandy, Corn Shine, and Cornflakes Whiskey.

[smoCha]

I drove by a huge field that was solid yellow yesterday and almost stopped to do exactly as you did. Now that you say its damn delicious, its gonna be harder to drive by it today on the way home. How long did it take to pick 3 lbs? Did you pluck the yellow flowers off the head or steep the whole enchilada? 1 pass through a straight potstill? Havent seen anything like that in recipe development, if its that good write up a post, you may be destined for T&T[/quote]

Hey Jimbo, been a while....

We picked till our fingers were sticky, about an hour I guess. I did pick only the heads but didn't bother with separating the petals. 3 lbs of dandelion heads is about 2 plastic grocery bags full

Yes, I pass in my rig. It has 2 cooling tubes in the vapor path, but only a small amount of reflux. Ran way into the tails for flavor.

If anyone else uses idea I'd be honored.