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natureboy68 wrote:Collecting the ingredients, and am confused about what sweet feed to get, can anyone give a brand name? What should I get at tractor supply? Pellets or no pellets??
Thanks!

smokindave wrote:Ran my first sweetfeed last night on my 2" boka......in detuned mode. No packing on a 5' column...

Then, I collected about 8 jars of 250 ml each.......The 8th jar was really getting pretty smelly towards the end......ABV was around 30%, so I switched to my last jar, #9, and refluxed a while, and then collected another 750mls or so.......this last jar of 750ml was just a hair over 12.5% ABV and is very wet cardboardy, buttery sweet, smelling. Yuck.

Sparhawk wrote:

smokindave wrote:Ran my first sweetfeed last night on my 2" boka......in detuned mode. No packing on a 5' column...

Then, I collected about 8 jars of 250 ml each.......The 8th jar was really getting pretty smelly towards the end......ABV was around 30%, so I switched to my last jar, #9, and refluxed a while, and then collected another 750mls or so.......this last jar of 750ml was just a hair over 12.5% ABV and is very wet cardboardy, buttery sweet, smelling. Yuck.

The bigger issue is, how do you reflux with no packing???

smokindave wrote:Ran my first sweetfeed last night on my 2" boka......in detuned mode. No packing on a 5' column with a wide open output. Most of the time I was getting really fast drips or a pencil lead sized stream.

I had a little over a 4 gallon batch of wash around 7-8% I am guessing. Not sure what to make of my results. I am airing it now with coffee filters over the jars, and hope to make a fresh attempt at smelling/sampling this run in a couple days. If can get a little hearts out of it above 40% I will keep those, and rerun the rest as low wines along with my next batches.

Here is what I got:

150ml Foreshots into a test cylinger, and tossed away.......very strong acetone smell.

Then, I collected about 8 jars of 250 ml each.......The 8th jar was really getting pretty smelly towards the end......ABV was around 30%, so I switched to my last jar, #9, and refluxed a while, and then collected another 750mls or so.......this last jar of 750ml was just a hair over 12.5% ABV and is very wet cardboardy, buttery sweet, smelling. Yuck.

I realize that all of this differs from person to person with a lot of variables, but would anyone like to give me a hint about where my hearts would be based on my stats?????

I am pretty sure jars 1 and 2 are pretty much all heads. Both were in the 60-65% ABV Range. Jars 3,4,5 were more neutral smelling, and starting to approach the 50% ABV range at the end. 6 and 7 were each still above 40%, but getting a little sweeter smelling, and a hint of the tails smell. #8, I am pretty sure is mostly tails, and was around 25-30%. Still head temp was just a hair under 200*F. I thought about stopping here, but there seemed to still be a lot of alcohol left in the still, so I kept going........got that 9th jar about 4/5th full, and it was still 12.5% at the end. Had to stop here because I had to do some other chores, and I couldn't babysit the still anymore. Still head temp was about 208 *F at this point, so I figured it was almost done anyway.

My guess is that jars 3, 4, and 5 will be my best chance at a single run drinkable product should I have them, but quite honestly, what I tasted was not at all whiskey like. I am hoping that airing and aging will smooth these out. I am thinking about buying some commercial white dog just to do a comparison on on what white dog should taste like.

I will most likely just take all the jars and run as low wines later on. Maybe keep jar 4 and 5, and see what I get on some oak in a few days. Not sure yet, what will yield me the best results.

Thanks,

SmokinDave

FloridaShine wrote:

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I will be using Producers Pride All Grain, No Pellets!
Same recipes as posted for Sweet Feed,
Has anyone Distilled this in a 2" Boka Still? Was going to try and run as a Pot Still, This will be my first attempt. Since I just finished My Boka Reflux.
I have a detachable Head, I do have copper packing? So not sure what the best way to run this, Any help would be appreciated
I am starting the Wash in the morning 6 Gallons. I have included a few images of the Boka head and Boiler top I have a 48 inch column for the reflux setup.
I bought a pound of Copper Packing and a bag of 1/4 inch rashig rings. So I should have every thing to go, Also have a detachable needle valve on the output, to run as a Pot Still
Dennis

wannaB1 wrote:I ran a little sweetfeed last year and never had a chance to run multiple generations and that's the plan this time.

Hope y'all will clarify a few things for me. I've read a lot on these and never can seem to come away thinking I have my answer.

1. I'm fermenting in a 32 gallon open container and will rack off and let clear for a couple of days once it finishes. Since my racking can will only reach down to right above my sweet feed should I still add some water to keep the yeast happy? Water will keep yeast alive for a temperary solution but if left for too long infection will take over as yeast goes dormant. I'd just add sugar and add backset and more sugar after you do your run

2. I have the container covered with a sheet and wasn't sure what precautions I should take to keep from growing a web for a couple of days.Not much you can do in an open ferment, just keep your yeast happy and working and it will reduce chances of anything else taking over.

3. Removing & replacing sweetfeed. I have a hard time telling what is "spent" by just scrapping off the top. Will the spent float if I add water before adding backset with sugar? I've read some say remove and replace 25%....Nothing will be spent in 1 ferment except for the mollassas. You add more sweetfeed to keep the rum flavors with future gererations.

4. Should I add new grain to the hot backset to kill off any nasties that might be in it? I've only read one person specifically say he did this and no other comments on the subject after. It won't hurt and might add to flavor by softening up the grain and pulling out more of the flavors into your wash.

Hopefully that will get me back going. Thanks!!