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Hey All!

I've been reading this thread for the past 2 weeks and finally tried it last saturday. I did everything word for word but scaled it down to 5 gallon buckets rather than the 6 originally posted. once everything was mixed in my buckets I took an SG of 1.060. for the first 2 days it went crazy, bubbling like a sinking ship. On day 3 and 4 it slowed down considerably. yesterday and today (days 5 and 6) it has hardly done anything at all. Figuring it was done,I checked the SG and it is now reading 1.020.

Is this a stalled ferment or is there something that I didn't do quite right? I'm using Nutrena Stock and Stable Sweetfeed 12. Everything sits in food grade containers at a constant temperature of 80 deg. F (27 deg C.). I can't think of anything that I did off or differently that I do my other ferments.

Anyone got any ideas or should I chuck it and start over or...????

Thanks in advance for your help

Just because you don't see bubbles. Doesn't mean its not working. Check it in a day or two. See if the SG has dropped any.

Don't toss it out. It's fermented some and has alcohol in it. Why would you not run it?

PP, I see your point. I guess I was thinking that since it wasn't under 1.000 that it would be bad/not worth the effort to run. Also, i'm one of those fellows that if its not close to perfect the first time then I need to do it over till I get it right, but I see your point. I'll let it sit for another day or so and check it again. Thanks for the response.

Nasty Nate, I once had a wash, not to different than SF that appeared to stall on me, really made me mad. It stopped at 1.020 just like yours, 3 days later nothing, no indication that it was working. Now I wasn't a novice when this happened, I had done many washes all with success. I was pissed for sure, so I took the wash off the grain bed and put in a near air tight container and put it in the garage and punished it by ignoring it. About a month or so later I opened it up expected to see an infected mess with all kinds of growth on it. It was clear as water, and measured .980. That is as finished as I ever saw, and this was a wash that I thought was stalled and ready for the drain. Maybe yours is playin possum too.

Let us know how it works out
cheers
stilly

Stilly,

I see your point, maybe patience is the best remedy here. I just grew a little concerned when almost all the postings on here are fermenting out in less than 6 days. I'll give it some more time and hopefully it will finally burn though. Thanks for the idea of "possum wash", in the mean time I'll start something else and see what gives first.

I’ve got 15 gal of Sweet Feed in my 32 gal fermenting vessel tucked away in a deep, dark, warm (71 F) and sanitary closet. The SG was 1.068. This stuff has been working hard now for 7 days. When I checked last night it was sitting right at 1.000. I’m thinking as I hit the sheets last night that this morning would be the day we strain it and rack it in the cold (38 F) garage… Well, I popped the lid this morning and it was still near a rolling boil. No cap to speak of anymore… just some grain floating on top. The hydrometer now says it is .996 @ 70F. Why is it still working so hard? I’m kind of pressed for time as I need to run this tomorrow. Am I doing the wash a disservice?

From what I’ve read there is little left to gain continuing the fermentation… but I just can’t believe this stuff is still so active. Maybe the yeasties are starving and pissed off.

This is my first run… not counting the two 10 gal 50/50 water and vinegar runs and a sacrificial run of sugar wash. I’m running a 15 gal keg, 2” copper 4’ tall with a 4’ Liebig. Electric 5.5k element 220v. I don’t have a controller so I just plug it in and let it go. I do have the option of using propane, but it’s too cold outside and not private enough (yet) to go that route. My question is am I wasting my time running this batch so fast?

Thanks, Modman

You need a controller. That is way too much heat for a spirit run, unless you are working outside in freezing conditions, with the wind blowing and an uninsulated rig. My guess is running a pot still you would be about 9 amps to start the spirit run. That is about 2000 watts. If you bumped the heat up as the boiler depleted its alcohol you might finish about 14 or 15 amps. 5500 watts full out will scorch your wash unless it is incredibly clean. I start out at 8amps, warm up for half hour, then bump up to 10, then 13 , then 15. When she starts dripping I usually back down to 9amps and run there threw threw the heads and then bump it a little for the hearts, and then crank it for the tails.

Get one of Mulekickers controllers or build your own.

cheers
stilly

Thanks Stilly... I was affraid you were gonna say that. I've read everything on building a controller and I'm wayyyyyy confused. They tell me I'm an Asshole, not an Idiot... but I feel pretty lame not being able to figure out the controller thing. Is it cool to just PM Mulekicker to buy one from him? I'm pretty new here and don't wanna piss anyone off. For this batch I just might have to fire up the propane burner and ventillate the hell out of my workspace (Big box fan in the window of my garage with the doors opened enough to let some air in and keep eyes out.

Modman

I used propane for my first year, it was fine in garage with door cracked, you might not need a fan, just get a carbon monoxide indicator in there with you, I suspect you will be fine, just watch out for any flamables that might be there like gasoline, get them out of there first.

I think you can do PM after you have ten posts or something like that, give it a try MK is a good man.

cheers
stilly

edit: Make sure you have fire extinguisher handy and water bucket and towels you can wet to cover up a fire. Not likely but best to be prepared.

Thanks again Stilly... I have fire surpression covered for sure. One more thing if you could... how about I run the element for a bit to help bring up the temperature, then finish it off with the controlled propane flame??? I'm gonna split the run into two loads of 7 gal each to ensure enough head space in the boiler.

Last night when I took the sample of the Sweet Feed wash to test the specific gravity I had to have a taste. Wow... tasted amazing. Strange how it was like 'Carbonated'. The wife took a taste (I cringed in anticipation of projectile vommiting as she is not much of a drinker) and she said it tasted like really expensive beer. I smiled.

Modman

Well, I went ahead and strained my sweet feed and ran it. I’m disappointed in the results. Charged the boiler with 10 gal (2/3rds capacity). Got it up to a near boil with the 5.5kw electrical element then switched it off and ran it on propane. I collected in pint jars and tossed the first 500 ml. I measured it for kicks and it was at 70%... I’m thinking “All Rightttttt”. It had a gnarly stank to it it, like they say acetone. Thinking all is going well… I tried to keep the stream at pencil lead thickness, and was able to control it pretty well with the flame.

Measured each jar as we went, 18 total not counting the foreshots. First one was 55%. Wow, what a big drop. But it had a decent nose to it so we rocked on. Jar 9 had dropped off to 40% and it continued to fall fast. Jar 18 was 25% and I shut her down. If I average all the jars I come up with 40% average. Thinking this is kinda low… not to mention that after sitting in the 40f garage all night covered with coffee filters jar 9 has a tiny bit of what looks like an oil slick on top… it gets worse working on down the line to jar 18.

I will say the the middle jars taste decent but pretty sweet. This run smells and tastes a lot like my sacrificial turbo/sugar run. As far as the cardboard smell in the tails, I’m not getting that. The last collections smell a bit off, but tasted kinda cool. I’m not really picking up much of the sweet feed flavors I expected.

So, I’m wondering if I should dilute this with water by half and re-run it. Can anyone chime in on this? I’m a bit concerned about the oil on top.

Man, I have a lot to learn as generation 2 is bubbling away.
Thanks, Modman

I would dilute it and re run it myself, but slower this time. Consider that first run your stripping run and your next one as a spirit run. If you're already down to 40%, you don't really need to dilute it for this run.

modified9v wrote: As far as the cardboard smell in the tails, I’m not getting that. The last collections smell a bit off, but tasted kinda cool. I’m not really picking up much of the sweet feed flavors I expected.

Thanks, Modman

Let see if I can help a little on the wet cardboard smell - I didnt get it for the longest time either but once I started reading more I tried something different on getting the different profile of the smell. With clean hands of course - I run a couple of fingers under the stream then smell, then rub it with my hands and the smell will come out - trust me its there. Smelling out of the jar is ok but gets your hands in it - rub it- really get your nose in it! Hope this helps.

Thanks Steve… thinking I’m with you. Gonna re-run and take it much slower. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been so hasty in dumping the boiler after I nabbed 5 gals for the next gen. Learning curve I guess.

My thoughts on diluting is that the 2 gallons I have to put in for a spirit run will barely cover the bottom of the boiler and I tend to be a bit of a safety nut and can be pretty overkill (I’m OK with that)

Modman

Thanks for the tip Ghost, I will for sure try that next go 'round.

I re-ran this after I cut it down to 35 ABV. Super slow. All I can say is what a difference it made. I could not be happier with how this came out. It was easy to make distictions between the nasties and the goodies. I blended to 100 proof with oak chips and put it in a dark cool place. I saved back some for sipping and can pick up some of the flavors I'd thought were gone.

I think the thing I learned most from this is patience. Trust the equipment will do the job and the flavors will carry over. My 2nd generation is smelling different as it rolls over... I CAN wait... Thanks.

Thanks to all that have contributed to this thread... I'm having a blast with this.

Modman.

Sounds like you are hooked! Good job on slowing it all down!

How many generations are you making before you decide the grain and flavor are all used up?? I did search and read hundreds of threads but no consensus. Thanks.

If you are replacing the spent grains and taking care of your yeast bed I dont see why you would have to give it up. I think I read somewhere that someone went on to 20 or so gens?!

Ghost wrote:If you are replacing the spent grains and taking care of your yeast bed I dont see why you would have to give it up. I think I read somewhere that someone went on to 20 or so gens?!

What is the proper care for the yeast bed? Once I rack off, what should I do to preserve the bed for say 4-5 days?

Cover the yeast bed/trub with enough water to keep them submerged.

Thanks Ghost

Thanks.

Stripping a gen 3 of some locally made sweetfeed, the top ingredient is soy husks. Will be switching to tractor supply all grain for.gen 5.

Well, I hope this isn't a stupid question... I hate to sound like an idiot... but,

My generation 2 sweet feed has been in my fermenter for 7 days now. It started at 1.072. Today when I checked it it was at 1.000. It is still very active as in big bubbles rolling every second or so. Today would be a convienient day for me to run this and I'm curious if I'd be rushing it too much. If I don't do it today it could be several weeks before I get a chance. The stupid question is "What am I missing out on if I run it" Is there a favor factor I'm gonna lose out on or is it ABV?" It smells and tastes amazing now.

Thanks, Modman

Mod,

It is still bubbling, but if the SG is 1.000, it must be close to being done. If you run it now, you would be shorting yourself a little bit of hooch.

If you wait, you run the risk of all of it spoiling. What are the odds? It depends on sanitation, temps & time.

Your choice, but I'd go for it now.

I would run it,Iv racked a wash off today that's been at 1000 for a few days i gave it a good mix 3 days ago but it still didn't go past a 1000 will strip it on Wednesday
alan

I didnt know how to start a new tread so ill ask my question here if it ok with u guys. Tell me what u think about this recipe.

10#cracked corn
7# 2row barley
5# sweetfeed
5 # brown sugar

mash in a 120gt icechest with a false bottom
mashed @ 170 for 4 hours with 10 gal
sparged @170 with 7 gal

got a 13 gal boiler that i want 10 gal of wash.

Im shooting for a decent whiskey.

modified9v wrote:Well, I hope this isn't a stupid question... I hate to sound like an idiot... but,

My generation 2 sweet feed has been in my fermenter for 7 days now. It started at 1.072. Today when I checked it it was at 1.000. It is still very active as in big bubbles rolling every second or so. Today would be a convienient day for me to run this and I'm curious if I'd be rushing it too much. If I don't do it today it could be several weeks before I get a chance. The stupid question is "What am I missing out on if I run it" Is there a favor factor I'm gonna lose out on or is it ABV?" It smells and tastes amazing now.

Thanks, Modman

You are probably safe to run it now, if it's sealed it will not spoil, ferments can be kept under airlock for years without any problems. Just keep the airlock full and it should be fine. It could go below 1.000 and likely will if it's still got a good ferment going. The bubbles could also be CO^2 gassing off from the solution and the ferment could be 99% complete. The problems you would have if you run it early are scorching sugars left in the boiler, puking from excessive sugar, or both. Other than that you are just shorting yourself alcohol which hasn't converted(which is probably very little at this point).

I normally always suggest waiting it out so you get a nice clean & clear ferment but I'd say 50/50 run it or leave it. If you decide to NOT run it I would suggest degassing it now then it will settle out real clear by the time you do run it.

Well this one took a while to read. Did I understand correctly that you can actually save your mash, add more water, sugar, and yeast, then ferment it again, like when doing sour mash with corn? Or does this turn out bad if you try to do this with sweet feed?

Save and re-use, or just start fresh each time?