New fermenter question.

Production methods from starch to sugars.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
Tabucowboy
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 153
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:11 am
Location: By God WV

New fermenter question.

Post by Tabucowboy »

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.
20201017_145601.jpg
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
User avatar
Demy
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3084
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:45 pm

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Demy »

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
User avatar
dieselduo
Rumrunner
Posts: 714
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:36 am
Location: Florida

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by dieselduo »

PBW in hot water should do the trick
User avatar
zed255
Distiller
Posts: 1021
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:06 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by zed255 »

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.
User avatar
Corsaire
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1131
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:20 pm
Location: Belgium

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Corsaire »

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.
CopperFiend
Swill Maker
Posts: 291
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:19 am

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by CopperFiend »

Corsaire wrote: Sun Oct 18, 2020 11:08 am 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.
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?
User avatar
Corsaire
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 1131
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:20 pm
Location: Belgium

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Corsaire »

Added capsaicin maybe? It's colorless according to wikipedia.
Or were the gins colored?
CopperFiend
Swill Maker
Posts: 291
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:19 am

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by CopperFiend »

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.
User avatar
TXChiliMayo
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:53 pm
Location: HTX

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by TXChiliMayo »

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.
User avatar
LWTCS
Site Mod
Posts: 12835
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: North Palm Beach

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by LWTCS »

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.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
User avatar
Deplorable
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3984
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:10 pm
Location: In the East, (IYKYK)

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Deplorable »

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.
User avatar
kpex72
Novice
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:10 pm
Location: Down by the River

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by kpex72 »

dieselduo wrote: Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:48 am PBW in hot water should do the trick
I second this. Great advice!
User avatar
jonnys_spirit
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 3629
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:58 am
Location: The Milky Way

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by jonnys_spirit »

Fill it with corn mash and infected backset a couple times and it'll smell real good!

Cheers,
jonny
————
i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
User avatar
Durhommer
Distiller
Posts: 2399
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:23 am

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Durhommer »

As Jonny suggests just ferment in it it'll be ok
You have two ears and one mouth for a reason....
User avatar
Fredistiller
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 253
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:48 am
Location: Somewhere in Europe

Re: New fermenter question.

Post by Fredistiller »

I use washing soda (+ vinegar) in hot water to remove smells. Works wonderful.
Post Reply