Home Distiller

Run the winos first, then add the stripped winos to the SW to spirit run - the higher alcohol will stabilize the run and pull more flavour than if you mix the wash per say.

I agree with running them separately and then experiment with blending the two in the end and see what flavor comes out and in what proportions of each taste best.
If you like a 50/50 blend id charge my thumper with the smaller batch after its been threw the stripping process and even then you will need to blend a bit to keep a most consistent taste as the thumper will dump the smaller batch the strongest in the first few pints/quarts and weaken the taste of Wino's liquor the longer the still is run.

Hello All.

First post on this forum!

I have read, read and read some more and I have decided to make SF my first attemt with a Samohon style pot still. I have read all 96 pages of this thread and feel I have a very good understanding of what to do and what not to do. I do have a quick question about ingredients...

I have not yet actually checked, but being close to a major metropolis I am going to assume that I will not be able to get the All Grain version of Producer's Pride from my local Tractor Supply and I really do not have ANY experience with buying grains from an actual feed store/mill. That being said, does Tractor Supply sell the individual ingredients to make Sweet Feed (cord, oats, barley)? If so, can someone tell me exactly what it is that I would need to buy (i.s. cracked corn, rolled this, shaved that...)? Would the molasses need to be any particular type or can I just buy that at the local super market?

TIA for the help...can't wait to get started!

John

John, try your local feed store. That's where I eventually found mine.

On another note. I made my first fermenting mash of this recipe. I used EC1118 though (4) packets instead of shiner's recommended tablespoons of bakers yeast. Is that okay? I also through in a 6oz can of tomatoe paste and I have a brew belt on keeping it a consistent 75-80. This morning it's bubbling. 1 a second I would say. Did I use enough yeast?

Well surprise surprise!!!

I called my local TS with the sku # for the All Grain Producer's Pride (SKU Number: 5021132) and was told that they have 8 bags in stock.

Happy days!

midnightmaraude wrote:John, try your local feed store. That's where I eventually found mine.

On another note. I made my first fermenting mash of this recipe. I used EC1118 though (4) packets instead of shiner's recommended tablespoons of bakers yeast. Is that okay? I also through in a 6oz can of tomatoe paste and I have a brew belt on keeping it a consistent 75-80. This morning it's bubbling. 1 a second I would say. Did I use enough yeast?

1 pkg of EC-1118 is good for 5 gallons. So you used more then enough. Adding more will decrease the lag time.making a starter will also decrease the lag time. And take less yeast. EC-1118 is a little slower and likes cooler temps. So you will need to fallow recommendations for that yeast not the bread yeast.

And there was no need in adding the tomato paste. The sweetfeed provides the needed nutrients in this recipe.

How cool does the ec118 like? I'll unplug the belt when I get home. It's 70 in my place

If I'm not mistaken 70 to 75 deg f range?

Long Time AG beer man making his first post here. Just been researching and acquiring info for the past several months. Looking to start soon and a FYI to anyone using Producer Pride SF. Tractor supply does carry the all grain and if they do not stock it locally mine in WI had no problem ordering it in. Technically they have a 4 bag minnium but mine said they would order the four and charge me for one. Then again the manger thinks I'm feeding racoons and squirrels......Being an AG brewer I could have just built the grain bill from the HB shop but I like the ease of just getting a bag.

Thanks for the advice on running the Wineos sugar wash with the SweetFeed . I'll be running them seperately as planned, just curious.

None of my tractor supplies have the producers pride all grain.
They have switched to all pellet or a hybrid with like 10 % all grain.
They acted like I was crazy for wanting all grain. Guy said they don't get very many requests for that. I thought that was kind of odd. I can't imagine everyone only wants to feed pellets to their animals.
Anybody know of a place you can order online? Kind of running out of local options for getting all grain feed.

Battman wrote:None of my tractor supplies have the producers pride all grain.
They have switched to all pellet or a hybrid with like 10 % all grain.
They acted like I was crazy for wanting all grain. Guy said they don't get very many requests for that. I thought that was kind of odd. I can't imagine everyone only wants to feed pellets to their animals.
Anybody know of a place you can order online? Kind of running out of local options for getting all grain feed.

I get mine from hillbilly stills.com. It's great.

Battman wrote:None of my tractor supplies have the producers pride all grain.
They have switched to all pellet or a hybrid with like 10 % all grain.
They acted like I was crazy for wanting all grain. Guy said they don't get very many requests for that. I thought that was kind of odd. I can't imagine everyone only wants to feed pellets to their animals.
Anybody know of a place you can order online? Kind of running out of local options for getting all grain feed.

Did you give them the actual SKU #? http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 0#p7027407

Here is a link to the actual product: http://www.tractorsupply.com/-5021132" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
John

Also, Tractor supply stores can check the inventory of other stores on the computer system. Just because the one closest to you doesn't carry it doesn't mean the next on doesn't.

Also do a google search for feed stores or organic farm supply stores. I found a local supplier and a nearby tractor supply. When my producers pride runs out Im gonna try the local stuff.

Or go buy another fermenter.....

midnightmaraude wrote:How cool does the ec118 like? I'll unplug the belt when I get home. It's 70 in my place

Day 3 fermentation. Still pumping away. Ugh, I think I'm going to have to get a second fermentor bucket so I don't have to wait as long in between ferments. This is how it all starts isn't it?

Just put my first bucket in the corner to ferment. SG came in just a hair shy of the expected 1.060 @ 1.058. This is probably because I went over the 6 gallon mark by a tad. No worries. I used 5 packets of Fleischmann's Active Dry yeast and was lucky enough to score Producer's Pride 10% All Grain Sweet Feed. Man does that stuff smell good! Hopefully tomorrow morning I will see some happy yeasties doing their thing.

Now I have 7 - 10 days to build my pot still. LOL

John

johnodon wrote:Just put my first bucket in the corner to ferment. SG came in just a hair shy of the expected 1.060 @ 1.058. This is probably because I went over the 6 gallon mark by a tad. No worries. I used 5 packets of Fleischmann's Active Dry yeast and was lucky enough to score Producer's Pride 10% All Grain Sweet Feed. Man does that stuff smell good! Hopefully tomorrow morning I will see some happy yeasties doing their thing.

Now I have 7 - 10 days to build my pot still. LOL

John

Holy crud! Only 2 hours later it is already bubbling away! I never saw yeast go to work that fast in my beer brewing days.

Now I have 7 - 10 days to build my pot still. LOL

It will keep longer then that. So don't let it rush you. That one reason I try to get people to build their still first. Before starting a wash.

I have all the materials...just a matter of putting her together and doing test and cleaning runs. Should be completed before the weekend is over.

I said the same thing for 2 or 3 months. Things happen.

So I need a little clarification and guidance. I have fermented my sweetfeed, run it, and come up with several quarts of liquor and several of feints. I added 25% backset back to fermenter along with more sugar and water. Now I'm ready to distill again. Do I add my previous liquor to the still and ferment or do I ferment the second round and mix the liquor from second run with the liquor from the first distillation? Just trying to figure out the process. Thanks so much for the help!

Prairiepiss wrote:I said the same thing for 2 or 3 months. Things happen.

I have a natural ability to ignore my usual responsilbilities when I have a project laying in front of me.

PNWnewbie wrote:So I need a little clarification and guidance. I have fermented my sweetfeed, run it, and come up with several quarts of liquor and several of feints. I added 25% backset back to fermenter along with more sugar and water. Now I'm ready to distill again. Do I add my previous liquor to the still and ferment or do I ferment the second round and mix the liquor from second run with the liquor from the first distillation? Just trying to figure out the process. Thanks so much for the help!

I would say you mix it in with your second wash (into the pot still).

Well we're on day 4 and it's still pumping about 1 beat a second. Is the whole fermenting time 5-6 days or do we wait 5-6 days after it's done fermenting?


Another question. If we are going to use some of the back set to do a second generation how do we add the sweetfeed back that we need to replace? Before we poured the boiling hot water over it but if we do that it's going to kill the yeast left in the bucket?

midnightmaraude wrote:Well we're on day 4 and it's still pumping about 1 beat a second. Is the whole fermenting time 5-6 days or do we wait 5-6 days after it's done fermenting?


Another question. If we are going to use some of the back set to do a second generation how do we add the sweetfeed back that we need to replace? Before we poured the boiling hot water over it but if we do that it's going to kill the yeast left in the bucket?

Fo additonal generations you don't need to use boiling water. It does help to dissolvethe sugar but it will dissolve in room temp water with just a little more effort. So, just scoop out the spent grain (25% or so) and replace with the same amount of fresh grain. Add sugar and enough water to cover everything. Still it up really good. Add more water to bring you back to the 6 gallon mark (or whatever size batch you are doing). Once last stir and let 'er sit.

John

johnodon wrote:

midnightmaraude wrote:Well we're on day 4 and it's still pumping about 1 beat a second. Is the whole fermenting time 5-6 days or do we wait 5-6 days after it's done fermenting?


Another question. If we are going to use some of the back set to do a second generation how do we add the sweetfeed back that we need to replace? Before we poured the boiling hot water over it but if we do that it's going to kill the yeast left in the bucket?

Fo additonal generations you don't need to use boiling water. It does help to dissolvethe sugar but it will dissolve in room temp water with just a little more effort. So, just scoop out the spent grain (25% or so) and replace with the same amount of fresh grain. Add sugar and enough water to cover everything. Still it up really good. Add more water to bring you back to the 6 gallon mark (or whatever size batch you are doing). Once last stir and let 'er sit.

John

I was wondering this also, as I plan to make several generations of this recipe to start. I was thinking I would just boil up another 2-3 gallons of water on the stove, and add my sugar to that to dissolve, and then pour this into another 2 inches of SF in another separate bucket. Let it "cook" for a bit and cool to yeast friendly temp and then dump that back to my original batch fermentor. Takes more boiling and an extra bucket, but I have plenty of buckets. I scored a bunch of 5 gallon food grade buckets with lids for $2 anyway.

Is it entirely necessary to remove the spent grains.......if it is all just sitting in the bucket with the yeast, how do you remove it without removing your yeast also. Or, is there so much yeast it does not matter?

Anyone have a rough idea of how many lbs. of PP 10% AG sweetfeed there is in 4" bucket portion? How many batches can one get out of a 50 lb bag?

Thanks,

Smokindave

Anyone have a rough idea of how many lbs. of PP 10% AG sweetfeed there is in 4" bucket portion? How many batches can one get out of a 50 lb bag?

A LOT!!!

Especially if you're just going to be replacing the spent portion of sweetfeed that bag will last you a LONG time!

I need more buckets!

So I have been doing 50 gallon ferments and distilling through a reflux column with great results. I started using a pot still head going for more flavor and lower proof. I have noticed a beer like after taste and it's not very pleasant... I am using red star yeast. My question is, is it possible that I used to much yeast? For a 50 gallon ferment how much yeast should I use? Or what may this taste be? Any tips would be great

midnightmaraude wrote:Well we're on day 4 and it's still pumping about 1 beat a second. Is the whole fermenting time 5-6 days or do we wait 5-6 days after it's done fermenting?


Another question. If we are going to use some of the back set to do a second generation how do we add the sweetfeed back that we need to replace? Before we poured the boiling hot water over it but if we do that it's going to kill the yeast left in the bucket?

Just a bump here. Is it a 6 day total wait or 5-6 after its done fermenting. This is the end of 4th day and its done pumping



Also, would it do harm to add a packet of EC1118 to the 2nd generation or is really not needed at all??

When using the sweet feed it absorbs Alot of the liquid. Do I need to squeeze the mushy sweet feed in a pillow case to get the rest of the liquid or leave it?