A completely normal introduction

[lowandslow]

Hi there!

I live in a country that speaks Celsius, so sorry about that in advance to all the new-world folk here!

I'm a bit of a skinny nerd, fairly autistic, and I like long intricate sciency tasks. I'm a big fan of the scientific method, and making verifiable improvements based on observed results makes me a happy camper.

I watched a technical-channel youtuber ferment some Alcotec turbo and throw it though a water distiller. I had been looking to find some Everclear for awhile, but they don't sell it in my country. Hell, I can make my own!

Raspberry PI hooked up to a water distiller

Raspberry PI hooked up to a water distiller

A quick modification

A quick modification...

more digits

I like numbers

I like numbers. I use this same setup to simultaneously control my fermentation, it seemed logical to just set it all up at the same time. I have no brewing or distilling experience.

Stir

SWAG Thermowell constructed with layers of foil and epoxy for insulation, and heatsink compound on the inside.

b7d31dfb1920cf8adc94750b1d3ee602.png (152.56 KiB) Viewed 862 times

SWAG Thermowell constructed with layers of foil and epoxy for insulation, and heatsink compound on the inside.

And it seems I can only add 6 pictures. Do I delete stuff in order to show how I have got it set up? 6 images seems restrictive. I wanted to show my power monitoring and control, fermentation temperature control, a few other things. Bah.
Is my 4L distiller even interesting?

Anyway I just finished running 25L of 19.1% abv simple wash, which familiarised me a little with the process of distilling a ethanol/water solution. I have performed olfactory analysis on all of the cuts, and learned a lot about heads and hearts.
Out of a 25L wash, I took 32 cuts so I could study the progression of heads and tails.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

I am reading: "Nixon & McCaw - The Compleat Distiller" and "John J. Palmer - How to brew"
I know Turbo Yeasts are bad, and do not plan on using them again. I have everything I need for a Birdwatcher TPW except for bakers yeast. I have "Young's Super Wine Compound for High Alcohol" and it seems pretty dead to my inexperienced eyes

[Bushman]

Welcome, you can follow up with another post with pictures.

[Twisted Brick]

Welcome lowandslow.

I like your method as it is efficient and promotes continuous improvement. As questions arise, search for answers here. There should be many, but as you progress, do not be surprised when you get to a point there is no scientific data to back up claims, just observations and experience.

Continue with Celsius. It's forcing me to learn its relationship to Fahrenheit.

[fizzix]

Abacus speaker here. Nice introduction and you'll have fun here with graphs and charts and quadruple blind studies.
Welcome to Home Distiller!

[lowandslow]

Thanks guys!

Ok Bushman, I will. Thanks.

Notes are important!

A gallon of 19% abv fermented sugar wash. Seven more to go afterwards.

My first setup. Complete with unrelated sack of grain. Honest.

I quickly found out that the bad taste that puts me off of drinking so many vodkas is a combination of acetone and fusel alcohols, but mostly the heads. I'm already a more educated drinker and all it took was a single batch and 30 cuts!

[TDick]

I'm not sure I understood anything you said.
But Welcome Down The Rabbit Hole!

[nuntius01]

welcome