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ok all, looking for a little help (Im new), ran my first run today, done as per Taters recipe, fermented it a week, carboyed it to clear, ran it today, after 3hrs of running, had 32oz collected, with the highest proof of 80, after that it went downhill to 60 and I quit there as it was getting late and it was dropping off.. what went wrong? I never tested the OG, but the FG was 1.0 on my hydrometer, 2 drips per min on the run, thoughts?

I have a second batch I started a couple days ago, it just tested at 1.3 and 4% abv... is this in the right spot?

Thanks

the highest proof of 80, after that

At5 least you can st5ill drink it? Right?

Just picked up 250 lbs creacked corn.....now what

Well, yes. I'm letting it air out to see how it goes. Just like to figure out why I didn't get much product, and low proof.

I'm considering doing a corn run next to see if that works better.

I'm on my third gen. of SF and have been using BSG Distillers yeast. Was thinking about trying the Prestige w/AG that alot seem to like. My question is, should I start all over with new feed or on my next batch just pour in my sugar mix and backset hot to kill existing yeast and continue with new yeast ? Thanks

Deezil wrote:ok all, looking for a little help (Im new), ran my first run today, done as per Taters recipe, fermented it a week, carboyed it to clear, ran it today, after 3hrs of running, had 32oz collected, with the highest proof of 80, after that it went downhill to 60 and I quit there as it was getting late and it was dropping off.. what went wrong? I never tested the OG, but the FG was 1.0 on my hydrometer, 2 drips per min on the run, thoughts?

I have a second batch I started a couple days ago, it just tested at 1.3 and 4% abv... is this in the right spot?

Thanks

Why did you stop so early? 60% there is still a lot of alcohol in there. I don't know what the problem is? What were you expecting?

I'm assuming its a pot still? 2 drips a second. Is just way to slow. It's a pot still for gods sake. Run it like one. You want a broken stream to a twisted stream.

And your second batch? 1.3 SG? That's just way to high. And doesn't equal 4% potential ABV? Sl is this a typo? I will assuming the SG is a typo and the potential ABV is right. 4% potential is low. I recommend fermenting to a lower ABV all the time. But even 4% on a sugarhead is to low for me. I would get it up to 8% potential or so.

And if you used the same amounts of ingredients. For the first one. You wouldn't get much and it would be lower ABV. That's basic distilling 101.

Deezil, I would respectfully suggest you may be off on your method of reading your hydrometer. That is one of the things youtube actually does well, there are many videos on reading your hydrometer.

MrP... he said proof not %

just to add, your output proof is directly related to your input proof on a pot still.

Now I'm so glad I spent over 37 years brewing beer, it really has been paying dividends now I've started this hobby.
To be accurate and to know what you are doing at any given point in this process you ought to approach it a bit more like a scientist.
I'm not saying you should run right out and get a clipboard and a bunch of graph paper, but that might not be a bad starting place.

How I approached my first keeper run was like this:

Read a lot here, built my still from ideas I saw and read here, got a Tried & True recipe here.

What I did wrong: Thought I could improve on the T&T recipe - shoulda just followed it, turned out ok with the help of the recipe man (Rad you know who you are!)

What I did right:
Took the OG of the wash once it achieved the right temperature, wrote it down on my clipboard.
Sought advice here when things were not going well due to my own fault.
Worked with it until it fermented out, according to my hydrometer.
Got my still in 100% working order before trying to run the goods.
Transferred all 9 to 10 gallons into my keg and lit her up, when appropriate time came turned water on my Liebig.
Watched while distillate streamed into my foreshots container - love that curlycue stream it produces!
Tossed about the first 75Ml out then started on quart jar #1 (marked all jar lids with indelible black marker).
Ran 16 OZ into jars #1 - #10. ran 32oz into jars #11 - #14 as they were starting to the tails and only 20% - 35% alcohol.
I used my alcoholometer and measured each pint after gathering it and starting the next one and wrote down my findings so I would know what was going on during my run.
When the run was finished I placed all 14 jars in a big plastic container that has a locking top and left them there, so I could figure out just how I want to mix them for my final keep.
This also allows me to collect heads and tails I don't want to drink and save them to add to a future run.
Now that I have the data I can learn from it,all because I took a little time to document the process.

Here is the breakdown of how my run went:
Started, collected forshots in a special container unlike any of those I would be collecting the good stuff.

Collected as follows (Please read % as "percent" not "proof"):
Jar ID#...%... amount
1 ........ 57....16oz
2 ........ 56....16oz
3 ........ 54....16oz
4 ........ 50....16oz
5 ........ 48....16oz
6 ........ 45....16oz
7 ........ 43....16oz
8 ........ 42....16oz
9 ........ 41....16oz
10........38....16oz
11........35....32oz
12........28....32oz
13........20....32oz
14........20....32oz

I have much to learn, I don't know if the way I did it above was best but I presume I can and will improve on my methods.
What I have is the data, so I don't have to try and remember what I did to get the results.
I can learn more this way than by just shooting from the hip and hoping it all works out.
I am sure that every day I read something on this forum I will learn something new and I look forward to that.
Oh and the stuff in the middle jars tastes really good and is very smooth even though it just ran in there when I tried it.

bellybuster wrote:Deezil, I would respectfully suggest you may be off on your method of reading your hydrometer. That is one of the things youtube actually does well, there are many videos on reading your hydrometer.

MrP... he said proof not %

just to add, your output proof is directly related to your input proof on a pot still.

I see that now. But still. If his first wash was 4% like this one. 40% ABV in on.

And it didn't need to be so technical. I put a piece of masking tape on the side of the fermenter. With the date it was started staring SG temp and what it is. When ever I check it. I add whatever I checked. Add another piece of tape if need be. When it done I pull it off and add it to a note book. I just stick it on a page. If its a multi generation ferment. I add another piece of tape for each generation.

Mr. PP,
How long have you been doing it this way?
What I mean is, how long does the tape and what's written on it last?

I worked as an electrician until it got to be too much for my body.
Can't tell you the number of times I've found someone before me wrote something on masking tape with a marker and then some years later I show up to make changes or repairs and find the bits of tape with some illegible ink stains. Pissed me off something fierce.
It no doubt lasts longer if it's closed up in a notebook though, I like this idea so I'll steal it and maybe use white vinyl tape and a sharpie.

Every wire in my house is like that.

Probably 3 years or so. The tape holds up better if placed in a note book. It not like I'm gona keep it in the fermenter for 10 years or so. And if it does start deteriorating. I can always transcribe it. If I really feel the need. If a particular batch does turn out good. I do transcribe it.

A good fine point sharpi. And I use one of the better painters tapes. That can be removed. And doesn't leave behind half the tape.

I have done my share of things I've looked back on and wished I had been smarter at the time.
Growth, being willing to learn, things that should come with age.

Figured you were smart and experienced enough to use better quality stuff when available, I agree though sometimes data is just data - too bad we never know in advance the difference between the toads and the princes.

Nerdy brewer-use to and still sometimes take notes just like you. The cool thing is after awhile of running your still, driving her properly, you kinda know what the output should be like. Comes in time, but nothing like having the old data when ya need it later on...

Prairiepiss wrote: Why did you stop so early? 60% there is still a lot of alcohol in there. I don't know what the problem is? What were you expecting?

I'm assuming its a pot still? 2 drips a second. Is just way to slow. It's a pot still for gods sake. Run it like one. You want a broken stream to a twisted stream.

And your second batch? 1.3 SG? That's just way to high. And doesn't equal 4% potential ABV? Sl is this a typo? I will assuming the SG is a typo and the potential ABV is right. 4% potential is low. I recommend fermenting to a lower ABV all the time. But even 4% on a sugarhead is to low for me. I would get it up to 8% potential or so.

And if you used the same amounts of ingredients. For the first one. You wouldn't get much and it would be lower ABV. That's basic distilling 101.

Stuff you buy in a store is 80%+, and I was 3hrs into this run already, so I called it quits, it was a long day already. I was expencing double the output and proof.

Yes pot still, everything I read was 2 drips per second, that's why I was running it that way.

I don't know if Im reading they hydrometer wrong, those are the marks it floats to, unless I need to do a math formula after that or something?

Im just trying to figure out why Im not getting the 180proof output, as stated in post 2, I don't think Im screwing up anywhere...

you will never.... ever get 180 proof from a pot still without stilling already high proof spirit (dangerous). And 2 drops per second??? you read that here??? You must be confusing pot stilling with reflux stills.


"I have a second batch I started a couple days ago, it just tested at 1.3 and 4% abv..."
this is why I suggest researching the use of a hydrometer. Unless I'm misunderstanding that statement makes little sense

haha, give him hell Belly. Close tho. when I loaded 40% i got 85% out for a few quarts before it dropped. But I never do that, I like the filtering effect of watering down to 30, or just stripping straight down to 30% avg

bellybuster wrote:you will never.... ever get 180 proof from a pot still without stilling already high proof spirit (dangerous). And 2 drops per second??? you read that here??? You must be confusing pot stilling with reflux stills.


"I have a second batch I started a couple days ago, it just tested at 1.3 and 4% abv..."
this is why I suggest researching the use of a hydrometer. Unless I'm misunderstanding that statement makes little sense

Oh, I guess Tater doesn't specify what still he is using to get that 170-190 proof in post 2.

Looking for where I got the 2 drip per second, that's what they say on youtube vids, I have yet to find any info on this site for how fast to run the pot still. But Im still searching.

1.03, typo, I did research it.

Appreciate the help.

with a 1.030 wash you'll be lucky to get much better than 50 proof 1st run

erase youtube from your research library there are few exceptions..... very few

Deezil wrote: I have yet to find any info on this site for how fast to run the pot still. But Im still searching.

This has been discussed ad nauseum around here. Run a potstill like a potstill, Ive commented probably 6 times on here myself in the last few months since going electric that I run my 15.5g half barrel still, with a 12 gal 8% charge at 4000W for strippers pulling a quart every 8 minutes, and at 1800W for spirit runs pulling a quart every `18 minutes. This is for all grain brews. Others can correct if best differently for sugarheads

Jimbo wrote:

Deezil wrote: I have yet to find any info on this site for how fast to run the pot still. But Im still searching.

This has been discussed ad nauseum around here. Run a potstill like a potstill, Ive commented probably 6 times on here myself in the last few months since going electric that I run my 15.5g half barrel still, with a 12 gal 8% charge at 4000W for strippers pulling a quart every 8 minutes, and at 1800W for spirit runs pulling a quart every `18 minutes. This is for all grain brews. Others can correct if best differently for sugarheads

Ive seen stripping runs talked about, but I don't believe that's what Im trying to do. I apparently suck at searches.

Our search tool isint stellar, just gotta read everything new every day for while, and after a while you get a feel where everything hides on here.

HD Google search works very well, remember to customize the search like you can with any google search AKA search within last day, week, month, year etc...

Thanks guys!

bellybuster wrote: And 2 drops per second??? you read that here??? You must be confusing pot stilling with reflux stills.

Found one

Uncle Jesse wrote: Pot distill your wash, being careful to keep things running slowly. For beginners, 2-3 drops of distillate exiting the worm every second is just about the perfect speed.

ok thats one. put that up against the easy 500- 1000 posts of twisted stream, pencil lead sized stream, broken stream.......

its all good, I just only seemed to have found the wrong info I guess.. Either way, enjoying some sweet feed whiskey right now, I think I can grow a liking for this Definitely different taste than store bought whiskey, obviously, but that's all Im used to.

Had a buddy try some last night, he said it has a black liquorice flavor to it? Is that normal? Maybe I need to try a different yeast?

Thanks

Corn, wheat, oats and molasses. I have a mill that does custom grinding/mixing, is there anything else I should ask for?

Usually the grains are corn, oats, barley and molasses.. Wheat might be good though..

Stainless dude wrote:Usually the grains are corn, oats, barley and molasses.. Wheat might be good though..

Sounds good thanks dude, I read the tractor supply bag and it had OTHER STUFF in it,hoping I get a cleaner mix from the mill