Getting setup, cleaned up, washed up

[TeeweezyOH]

Fire, Aim, Ready...
Been wanting to do this forever! Brewed beer, taught son now he's a head brewery locally...figured we would add this to the fold since I have his skill on tap. Now I already messed up...I started my mash and didn't do a vinegar water run but figure this 1st alcohol run is supposed to be a throw away? Really? Is that for sure...what if it tastes good!
Also, I need to install ventilation in my basement tapping into HVAC since the still is 5 yards from furnace RIGHT OR WRONG?

Still: MileHigh Dual Pro 8 gallon copper
Mash: 15 lb sugar, 5 gallon distilled water and Milehigh turbo yeast. Grav start 1.3 End 17%

[SmokyMtn]

You're already starting off in the wrong direction. Get rid of the turbo yeast. Since you already have it in the bucket, definitely use this wash for cleaning (that's about all it's
fit for). Before going further I recommend reading the mandatory reading. It will save pain and heartache

[TeeweezyOH]

in your opinion, what is difference between the yeast types? I see comments of people using RED Star yeast you use for bread. Is this true? Why is turbo bad....or see previous...go read.

[TeeweezyOH]

where is this mandatory reading section

[jonnys_spirit]

At the bottom of every page there is a "Required Reading" with four links. Good place to start but don't stop there...

Are you running on a gas burner or electric?

Cheers,
j

[Saltbush Bill]

Your beer making experience doesn't seem to be helping much so far.........distillation is a whole new learning curve

[SmokyMtn]

in your opinion, what is difference between the yeast types? I see comments of people using RED Star yeast you use for bread. Is this true? Why is turbo bad....or see previous...go read.

Red star bread yeast- active dry or any bread yeast will be an improvement. I prefer bread yeast because it's easy to source and cheap. Ferm-solutions is praised on here for another reliable source for yeast. As well as "DADY" which can found on Amazon or your local home brew store.

Turbo produces undesirable/ off flavors. Its fine for fuel but don't use it for drinking.. So if you're going to pursue a quality drop of likker. Best start with a quality yeast for a successful fermentation.

[Stonecutter]

Looks like ya got a little bit of reading ahead of you Sir. What you’ve fermented is called a wash not a mash. Yeast and fermentation environment play a crucial role in you’re final outcome. But you probably already know that if you’ve brewed beer before. The big distilleries spend big bucks securing and developing proprietary strains.

[still_stirrin]

… I started my mash and didn't do a vinegar water run but figure this 1st alcohol run is supposed to be a throw away? Really? Is that for sure...what if it tastes good!

Well, some poisons smell and taste good, but can KILL. Do you really want to risk it?

… Also, I need to install ventilation in my basement tapping into HVAC since the still is 5 yards from furnace RIGHT OR WRONG?

Well, if you’re planning to run a propane or gas fired boiler inside, then you’re gambling with your life. Don’t do it even with a vent hood to the HVAC flue. Simply, not advised here.

If your boiler is electric, then you shouldn’t need a vent to the flue because you won’t have an open flame. If you’re worried about alcohol vapors being vented, venting those into an HVAC flue could be dangerous and explosive. So, not the best way to add ventilation.

… Mash: 15 lb sugar, 5 gallon distilled water and Milehigh turbo yeast. Grav start 1.3 End 17%

Ridiculously high OG. A Turbo yeast will “fart” an “shit” in your fermenter. Turbo contains much more nutrients to “supercharge” the yeast to consume high gravity washes. But in so doing, they produce massive congeners and off flavors. I bet your son would never use a Turbo yeast in any of the beers he brews. If he did, he’d get complaints from customers, I’d bet.

You should shoot for OG = 1.064 to 1.070 maximum to avoid stressing yeast, especially bread yeasts, which incidentally work very good for cereal mash ferments and even respectfully well for sugar washes.
ss

[JakeB]

Your wash will wait while you run some vinegar through. Yes, the first run is a throw away, like for sure. The vinegar then sacrificial runs are to clear off any manufacturing residue, and get rid of anything harmful that could leach in to your product. It is well worth it to just do it. Also it will give you some experience driving your still for when you do a real run.

That turbo stuff will not taste good anyways, it is fine for a cleaning run. For most products to come out tasting like something you would enjoy, do stripping runs first, then do a spirt run from the low wines. I would suggest something from the tried and true section as a starting point. Pick a recipe, follow it exactly 2 - 3 times, collect enough to fill your boiler to the minimum level with 40% or less low wines from that, then do a spirit run.

In reality it will most likely be about 5 runs in before you have something that is good (vinegar, sacrificial, 2 x stripping, spirit). This hobby take a bit more work than it seems like at first, still well worth the effort. Nothing better than your first truly tasty drop. Once you have been at this a while, you will probably wind up with more than you can enjoy anyways, no need to rush it...

[Truckinbutch]

I see a lot of reading in your future if you are going to make it here . Good luck .

[TeeweezyOH]

Thank you to those of you who were positive, informative and helpful.
Saltbush Bill, I hope your 6000 plus posts have more encouragement and purpose than that one.

Running electric jonnys_spirit. Lot of reading for sure considering there is no bible and it feels like one things go by different names regionally.

still_stirrin - yes it's the vapors was worrying about. Are you saying they're not an issue and venting them through HVAC causes more problems because you are confining them to smaller space?

[still_stirrin]

still_stirrin - yes it's the vapors was worrying about. Are you saying they're not an issue and venting them through HVAC causes more problems because you are confining them to smaller space?

You should NOT be getting “vapors” from your still if it is running on electricity. The vapors should all be condensed in the product condenser.

If you do have vapors escaping from your still, you have a leak. You must find and fix any leaks asap. If you were to vent alcohol vapors into the furnace flue, you could set up an explosive condition in the flue. Alcohol is a fuel and the vapors are saturated in air. All you need is an ignition source to complete the “fire triangle” …. and BOOM!

Of note - I run my ginstill, a hotplate heated stock pot potstill, in my kitchen. There are no alcohol vapors escaping to cause a dangerous condition or require ventilation. The product collection jars are capped until I can cover them with a coffee filter for airing, which I do in the garage.
ss

[TeeweezyOH]

apologies Saltbush Bill. I've been corrected.

[jonnys_spirit]

On the other hand - If or when you do have a vapor leak of some sort - Exposure to an ignition source would be bad - Make sure there is no flame in the area and also check for leaks when you're running. Use a small mirror around all joints and poenings to inspect for vapor (it will cause the mirror to fog). If you don't have a mirror spit on the back of a spoon and polish it up... Also inspect around all joints (solder joints, flour paste joints, tri-clamp joints, union joints, etc) for any drops of condensate starting to collect - If vapor is leaking it will also start to condense around that leak position..

Do this actively while you run. If (or when) you find a leak - shut down, open doors & windows, and fix the leak before continuing...

As SS mentioned - "Fire Triangle" we'll add the "Explosion Pentagon". Imagine what happens in a confined room full of leaky high ABV ethanol vapor, Oxygen, and an ignition source..

Stay safe please!

Cheers,
jonny

[TeeweezyOH]

sacrificial run went well so thank you all for your help. Wasn't really prepared for the amount of activity in the sight glass...not sure if it was running right but kicked out 185-188 steady. Curious what your thoughts are. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0g5idkMwGx6JHf

Also, any recommendation on a water cooler. Changing water every couple hours is for the birds.

[greggn]

Curious what your thoughts are.

My thoughts are ... don't post links to sites containing your real name.

[still_stirrin]

… Curious what your thoughts are …

Thomas … “Thomas D”, is that you???

Ooooops!

[TeeweezyOH]

will post my address and passwords next.

[EricTheRed]

will post my address and passwords next.

For your nigerian uncle?

[TeeweezyOH]

will post my address and passwords next.

For your nigerian uncle?

As long as I get some of that Nigerian Bush Brew

[dragon9874]

… I started my mash and didn't do a vinegar water run but figure this 1st alcohol run is supposed to be a throw away? Really? Is that for sure...what if it tastes good!

Well, some poisons smell and taste good, but can KILL. Do you really want to risk it?

right on... at the very LEAST, it's 1 vinegar run + 1 sacrificial run before you produce consumable alcohol from a new still. anything less is sketch. period. it's like water in a survival situation, it's the things that you do NOT taste that can be the worst! but i don't profess to be a pro, by any stretch of the imagination.