Hello from a new distiller

[Shiner_Co]

I have just recently started this hobby. Although a starter in distilling, I have been brewing for near 15 years. So getting the mash to the point of distillation is not a problem. Learning about getting the alcohol out of the wash... that is the new thing.

As stated, I have been brewing for a long time. I started off with the mash tun cooler gravity feed. Then progressed to a keggle gravity system. I was in the process of about to convert my three keggles to a RIMS system. Instead I bought the Grainfather. I still use my keggle system with propane burner during the summer for big batches. However, I have become accustomed to using the Grainfather in the basement because of its ease and it is efficiency for 5 gallon batches.

Every so often when brewing one gets a bad batch. Most of the time it is from funky yeast. Instead of pouring the bad batch down the drain, I would would give it to someone who would distill it. Well I had a batch of a dubbel that didn't go so well this past fall... very hot but no characteristics for a good beer. This had aged for 6 months and I didn't see it getting any better. My acquaintance no longer distills... so after reading this forum over and over and over... I have taken up the hobby.

I was intending on purchasing the T500 or the Alembic pot since I have the Grainfather... but after reading the board and watching the videos I decided that I wanted more than what those two systems have to offer. Instead of building my own system with the little time that I do have, I purchased the dual purpose still from Mile Hi Distilling. I use the grainfather as my kettle. Found a triclamp adapter on ebay for the lid and the still connects beautifully... works pretty darned good.

Of course my Grainfather controller was an older model so that is the first hiccup that I ran into. With the old controller it works well for stripping runs. However, on my first vodka run I was only getting 82%. So I forked a few dollars more and bought the updated controller that allows for heat settings. All has been great since then. First vodka run after new controller was 95%. (thanks for Prairiepiss for his sticky - used some of those mods to help as well) Hope to have my first spirt run of 5 gallons of faints of UJSMM in the next week or so. Still learning my system and enjoying the hobby.

Yes... I still brew...

[Bushman]

Welcome, sounds like you are already knee deep into the hobby.

[Shiner_Co]

Welcome, sounds like you are already knee deep into the hobby.

Thanks! But I am just a puppy in this dog kennel. So much to learn...

[SmokyMtn]

Welcome to HD. Sounds like you're well on your way. Good luck

[Durhommer]

Welcome aboard from Missouri