Greetings from Alaska

[Grishnakh]

Hello all! I have been lurking on and off for a couple years, now. After years of putting off building a still, I finally bought a 5-gal pot still from Mile-Hi Distilling. What got me started into this was the desire to be more self-sufficient, and to not spend so much for a single bottle of good sipping whiskey.

My first couple still runs were vinegar, a sugar wash, and then a bottle of terrible white whiskey that my brother in law bought and couldn't stand (he also tried using it in a steak marinade, and it ruined the steak). I currently have 5 gallons of beer lagering in the garage until the day comes that it isn't 20 below or colder outside. I made it from 4 lbs 2-row malted barley, 6 lbs local grown cracked corn (I didn't find a source of wheat grain (malted or otherwise) until after I had already started). It tastes and smells good right out of the carboy, and I can't wait to taste it after distilling and sitting it on oak for a while. I have the good people on this forum, as well as Charlie Papazian's "Joy of Homebrewing" to thank.

My future goal is to experiment with cask aging, and grow enough strawberries to make strawberry brandy.

[acfixer69]

Welcome to HD Grishnakh. Nice introduction. You will find it all here. And lots of folks to help.

[just sayin]

Welcome! It looks like you off to a great start! Enjoy!

[nerdybrewer]

Hello all! I have been lurking on and off for a couple years, now. After years of putting off building a still, I finally bought a 5-gal pot still from Mile-Hi Distilling. What got me started into this was the desire to be more self-sufficient, and to not spend so much for a single bottle of good sipping whiskey.

My first couple still runs were vinegar, a sugar wash, and then a bottle of terrible white whiskey that my brother in law bought and couldn't stand (he also tried using it in a steak marinade, and it ruined the steak). I currently have 5 gallons of beer lagering in the garage until the day comes that it isn't 20 below or colder outside. I made it from 4 lbs 2-row malted barley, 6 lbs local grown cracked corn (I didn't find a source of wheat grain (malted or otherwise) until after I had already started). It tastes and smells good right out of the carboy, and I can't wait to taste it after distilling and sitting it on oak for a while. I have the good people on this forum, as well as Charlie Papazian's "Joy of Homebrewing" to thank.

My future goal is to experiment with cask aging, and grow enough strawberries to make strawberry brandy.

Welcome, I used to live in Anchorage and travelled all over the state from the northermost to the sounthern and side to side.
I love it, just about every bit of it!
Still going back in the summers to fish, can't keep me away for long.

Concerning your beer, no hops right?

[Grishnakh]

Oh yes, no hops. Just corn, 2-row, water, and yeast. Surprisingly, for having no hops, it actually tasted like a Coors right out of the carboy.

[Bushman]

Welcome its been a few years since I’ve been up to Alaska. I spent 8 summers commercial fishing in Bristol Bay in the 70’s & 80’s.