First sugar wash

[pointhunter75]

I'm ready to start my first sugar wash. I bought5gallons of great value distilled water, fleishmanns instant active dry yeast, yeast nutrient, 16quart stew pot, 5gallon bucket with twist on gamma lid and3 piece airlock. I guess I need some hand holding here on my first try. I'm apprehensive...I'm gonna use 1.5 lbs of table sugar per gallon. How much yeast nutrient and yeast do I add? I'm thinking I can add a couple gallons of water to the16 quart pot and get it to about115 degrees to melt my sugar, add nutrient then bring it down to about 80and add my yeast? The package says mix with warm liquid(120-130) that's a little confusing as I see people saying add yeast at 80f or so. I did add some water and a few spoons of sugar and a little nutrient and yeast to a sauce pan last night just to see and it fermented to just under 5% overnight. Can somebody walk me through some measurements to get about 4 or 5 gallons going please? The bucket says 5.5 gallons to the top so I'm not sure if 5 gallons will leave enough head space for the head. Thanks I'm so excited to get this going. Just seeing that sauce pan ferment tickled me to death!! Smells so good!!!

[still_stirrin]

I recommend starting with a Tried & True recipe...especially for a homebrew virgin like you. The Birdwatchers (sometimes called “tomato paste wash”) is easy and predictable. If you don’t know what you’re doing, like it sounds like you don’t, then following a T&T recipe will help you get your feet wet.

Another sugar wash recipe (my favorite) is Rad’s All Bran. You can find it also in the T&T forum.

But one thing to remember....your first run through your still will be a series of cleaning runs, 1st a good water/steam run, then a 50/50 vinegar and water run, followed by a sacrificial alcohol run. Yep...your first produced alcohol will be dumped down the drain. If you read a while in the Novice forum, you’ll find many discussions for the cleaning protocol.

So, while you’re excited to get started, the first step is education.

Be safe, responsible, and discrete.
ss

[pointhunter75]

Thanks for the info, I've been reading off and on fit a few years but I have problems remembering. I'm more of a hands on learner. I have already done a vinegar run and this will be my sacrificial run. I figured a sugar wash would be simpler and more fool proof than the bird watchers. No?

[pointhunter75]

I'm familiar with all the dos and don'ts pretty much I just need to get in there and actually do it. I'm not worried about wasting anything if i mess it up

[pointhunter75]

I'm getting about 1 bubble per second today.

[Yummyrum]

I figured a sugar wash would be simpler and more fool proof than the bird watchers. No?

Birdwatchers tomatoe paste would also be my recommendation . Its simple , cheap and works .

I am concerned that you are using distilled water . That could let you down . Now I’m not in the pH bashing club club but you most likely will have an issue here .
You would be better off with plain o’l drinking tap water . .... especially on a sugar wash with only nuetrient salts added .

[pointhunter75]

I figured a sugar wash would be simpler and more fool proof than the bird watchers. No?

Birdwatchers tomatoe paste would also be my recommendation . Its simple , cheap and works .

I am concerned that you are using distilled water . That could let you down . Now I’m not in the pH bashing club club but you most likely will have an issue here .
You would be better off with plain o’l drinking tap water . .... especially on a sugar wash with only nuetrient salts added .

Yeah I've since learned that from some YouTube water videos. I'll use the other next time. I've gotta get some ph strips... I'm not concerned with wasting any batches right now. I'm learning hands on and this stuff is dirt cheap. I've already gotten my money's worth just seeing the first bubble from my air lock. I'm doing this purely for the tradition and hobby aspect. I dont even hardly drink. What ph strips do you recommend?

[pointhunter75]

Something I learned from the video is that great value water ph varies greatly in different areas. Different people get very different levels from the same stuff and apparently it's regional.

[still_stirrin]

...What ph strips do you recommend?

Well obviously you need strips to cover pH 3-7 for the ferment. If you're checking the water only, then pH 4-9 would be OK. If you want some degree of measurement for both, then you'll need something for the range pH 3-9. But know that the degree of accuracy on the wide range of papers is less than for a narrower range of papers.

There are some economical pH meters available online (try Amazon) which will work great for this purpose. Although a little more investment than a few test strips, the meter will last a lot longer. And they typically have calibration liquids for both the acid range and the basic range, as well as neutral range. Periodic calibration will give you an accurate reading to 0.1pH. I've seen meters for under $20USD, so a little searching should find you one. In the long run, depending on how serious your are in this (or the homebrewing) hobby, the pH meter may be the best tool for the job.
ss

[pointhunter75]

...What ph strips do you recommend?

Well obviously you need strips to cover pH 3-7 for the ferment. If you're checking the water only, then pH 4-9 would be OK. If you want some degree of measurement for both, then you'll need something for the range pH 3-9. But know that the degree of accuracy on the wide range of papers is less than for a narrower range of papers.

There are some economical pH meters available online (try Amazon) which will work great for this purpose. Although a little more investment than a few test strips, the meter will last a lot longer. And they typically have calibration liquids for both the acid range and the basic range, as well as neutral range. Periodic calibration will give you an accurate reading to 0.1pH. I've seen meters for under $20USD, so a little searching should find you one. In the long run, depending on how serious your are in this (or the homebrewing) hobby, the pH meter may be the best tool for the job.
ss

I ordered a digital one today. Thanks for your help

[pointhunter75]

Ferment has slowed a little to about a bubble every 1.5 second. Should I do a stir today? Ferment started at midnight Sat night.

[Yummyrum]

Taste your wash and see if its still sweet .If it is , its not done yet .

Regarding pH meters .
They will last several years if looked after . But all digital pH probes eventually die .
You must always keep the glass tip moist. Most require you keep it stored in a 4 molar strength Potassium chloride solution .
Never store it in distilled water as it will pull all of the ions out of the internal solution inside the tip .

Always rinse the tip with fresh water between and after use and before storage .
As mentioned , they do need regular calabration . Some are simple one point , some are two and some are three and will need appropriate buffer solutions for calibrating .

Eventually though , they all die . Its a slow death , they just take longer and longer to stabalize on a reading .
But for the price , now days , its worth replacing them every couple of years .

[pointhunter75]

Thanks so I need to order some of this potassium chloride?

[still_stirrin]

Thanks so I need to order some of this potassium chloride?

Do a Youtube search for “how to use a pH meter”. Save us the need to spoon feed you.

[pointhunter75]

Down to about 1 bubble every 3 seconda. I'll taste it for sweetness in a little while.

[pointhunter75]

Thanks so I need to order some of this potassium chloride?

Do a Youtube search for “how to use a pH meter”. Save us the need to spoon feed you.

Sorry I'm old school I guess and thought forums are for activity. Pretty much everything is already on forums. They might as well just turn off posts. I'm sorry but I guess this is part of the experience for me. To interact with people that know what they're doing. I appreciate your help. I'm not trying to be smart but I see comments like that on forums and I'm like if nobody asked what has been asked and answered a million times then there's no need for any new posts. Everything you need to know about anything is already on the internet. I'm too logical for modern times. Lol

[pointhunter75]

Oh and I thought I had posted this in the beginner section. Just realized that I didn't.

[Saltbush Bill]

One bubble every 3 seconds is far from done.

[Yummyrum]

Thanks so I need to order some of this potassium chloride?

Some come with a small amount . Some don’t . You can buy the solution made up but its usually quite expensive for a tiny amount . You can make your own by dissolving 7.45grams of Potassium Chloride in 100mls of distilled water .You can buy it readily from Chemical suppliers and it’s not classed as dangerous goods so no worries in the post .

One bubble every 3 seconds is far from done.

Agree Salty