New fermenter question.
Moderator: Site Moderator
- Tabucowboy
- Site Donor
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:11 am
- Location: By God WV
New fermenter question.
I got a new fermenter. I am a little worried. I know it is food safe. But what was stored in it prior to me getting it was Ghost Pepper Mash. Basically just ground up ghost pepper hot sauce it was used to ship the pepper sauce to the bottling plant. I washed the barrel 5 times and rolled 170% grain on the inside first. It still smells like peppers just worried if the spiciness will come through the distilling process. If it's only slight that would be fine I like spicy drinks. I did let water sit in it for a week and it did not taste spicy.
CM Reflux Still -- Copper mesh 16" ,column 31" tall, dia. 2",temp at boiler,top of column, power - PAC w5500w Element
Pot Still -- Copper mesh 16",column, 23" tall dia. 2", temp at boiler, power - PAC w5500w Element
Pot Still -- Copper mesh 16",column, 23" tall dia. 2", temp at boiler, power - PAC w5500w Element
Re: New fermenter question.
Once cleaned like that I don't think there can be any problems and it won't pass the spiciness to your spirits. If you still notice smells you could use a dish detergent but you have to rinse very well, I use a detergent made from ash which is great for removing odors, if you are interested this is the post on the recipe
https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=80562
https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=80562
Re: New fermenter question.
PBW in hot water should do the trick
Re: New fermenter question.
I have a barrel that a family member used to store an inflatable pool in over the winter. Smelled horribly of vinyl and chlorine when I got it and was thinking it unusable. I washed it out, let water stand in it, washed and dried. After airing for a while it still smelled a little funky but I went ahead with a rum in it and had no issues. I say if you are worried, test drive it with a cheap sugar wash and see how it goes, but I doubt you will have any issues.
----------
Zed
When the Student is ready, the Master will appear.
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Zed
When the Student is ready, the Master will appear.
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Re: New fermenter question.
The spiciness doesn't come over into distilled spirits. I added peppers to a gin run, no spice.
What was left in the boiler could've been used as pepperspray though.
What was left in the boiler could've been used as pepperspray though.
-
- Swill Maker
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:19 am
Re: New fermenter question.
I've had the same experience. I have definitely tasted gins with very peppery spicy character. They werent advertised as flavoured, in fact they were advertised as craft. How do you think they managed to get the pepperyness to carry over?
Re: New fermenter question.
Added capsaicin maybe? It's colorless according to wikipedia.
Or were the gins colored?
Or were the gins colored?
-
- Swill Maker
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:19 am
Re: New fermenter question.
No, they were colourless, hence my confusion! I've tried two gin batches, one of them even with ghost chillies and no taste in the final product.
- TXChiliMayo
- Site Donor
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:53 pm
- Location: HTX
Re: New fermenter question.
I have that same barrel, ghost pepper purée, I’ve used it several times just rinsing out and light wipe with Dawn, then rinsed and set out in the sun for a few hours to dry. It was washed when I got it and hasn’t imparted any flavor that I can tell.
Re: New fermenter question.
Kind of related,,,,I used to get 1 gallon dill pickle jars from the local deli.
I used em for finished product storage.
It took quite a bit of work to eradicate the dill pickle smell even with glass.
I used em for finished product storage.
It took quite a bit of work to eradicate the dill pickle smell even with glass.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
- Deplorable
- Site Donor
- Posts: 3984
- Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:10 pm
- Location: In the East, (IYKYK)
Re: New fermenter question.
I never could find one of these barrels for less than I could buy a Brute. Deals on them within reasonable driving distance are just nonexistent. I'd love a 30 gallon olive/pepper barrel.
Fear and ridicule are the tactics of weak-minded cowards and tyrants who have no other leadership talent from which to draw in order to persuade.
- jonnys_spirit
- Site Donor
- Posts: 3629
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
- Location: The Milky Way
Re: New fermenter question.
Fill it with corn mash and infected backset a couple times and it'll smell real good!
Cheers,
jonny
Cheers,
jonny
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
Re: New fermenter question.
As Jonny suggests just ferment in it it'll be ok
You have two ears and one mouth for a reason....
- Fredistiller
- Site Donor
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:48 am
- Location: Somewhere in Europe
Re: New fermenter question.
I use washing soda (+ vinegar) in hot water to remove smells. Works wonderful.