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Kentucky shinner wrote:Hey rad check out the 30 gallon I mixed up and see if you think it is about right. check th sg today and it is 1.06 seems to be slowing quite a bit. When I do the sweet feed it works pretty hard up until about the 10th.
KS

I added another 8oz box of cereal last night and she is really sizzling this morning...

Kentucky shinner wrote:

Kentucky shinner wrote:Hey rad check out the 30 gallon I mixed up and see if you think it is about right. check th sg today and it is 1.06 seems to be slowing quite a bit. When I do the sweet feed it works pretty hard up until about the 10th.
KS

I added another 8oz box of cereal last night and she is really sizzling this morning...

Glad to hear it... I PM'd you before I checked here, but it sounds like you're good to go...

Having read thru all the posts a couple times I have a question. A number of different variants of the original recipe have been tried. Is there a group consensus or does Rad have an opinion on which of the recipes produced the fastest ferment?

Thank you

In my opinion rads original opinion is the best. I have used it many times and it always worked great for me.
I am sure rad will be along shortly to better answer your question. My experience has been great with this recipe.
KS

I either use the original or the one in this post... The trick to this recipe, as members have discovered, is using enough Gerber to supply nutrients for the entire ferment...

If I can get past the All Bran recipe I want to do a few more Gerber washes... I'm like a robot with All Bran, to the point where I almost don't have to think about what I'm doing... Every time I go to mix up a wash the next thing I know there's a batch of All Bran bubbling away... Really gotta get back to this Gerber...

Thanks KS and Rad. I understand the purpose of the 20-20-20, but I don't understand the purpose of the Epsom Salt, do you throw it in with the the yeast or later?

I have my first batch brewing now, no measurements, still waiting for parts and accessories to show up, guess my order got screwed up.

Thank you

Stilly wrote:Thanks KS and Rad. I understand the purpose of the 20-20-20, but I don't understand the purpose of the Epsom Salt, do you throw it in with the the yeast or later?

Epsom Salt is actually Magnesium Sulfate which is used as a yeast nutrient... A little goes a long way so it shouldn't be added at a rate of more than ~1/2 teaspoon per gallon but 1/4 teaspoon per gallon is plenty... Boiled Yeast, Epsom Salt, and 20-20-20, when added in correct proportions, will increase yeast activity and shorten fermentation times... I used to boil it but have since started adding it into the wash just prior to pitching my yeast... I have even read on other sites that adding several hours to a day after pitching works fine as well... I add when I do so I don't have to open the fermenter again until the wash is done fermenting...

Kentucky shinner wrote:

Kentucky shinner wrote:Hey rad check out the 30 gallon I mixed up and see if you think it is about right. check th sg today and it is 1.06 seems to be slowing quite a bit. When I do the sweet feed it works pretty hard up until about the 10th.
KS

I added another 8oz box of cereal last night and she is really sizzling this morning...

still working down to 1.04 sg, I have used 32 oz of cereal so far.

Kentucky shinner wrote:still working down to 1.04 sg, I have used 32 oz of cereal so far.

I only measure by volume, in cups, because that is how the nutritional value is calculated... 30 gallons = 30 cups of cereal... I don't know if there is a practical way of measuring by weight...

im with ya now.. was thinking in terms of 8oz to the cup.. volume hell ya the cereal is sold be weight... There I go my brain is kickin out on me again..
Thanks Rad.

My package of goodies arrived today, including meters so I was able to measure the brew. Finished up .990 and read between 10 and 12% alcohol. Smells sweet. All I need to do is make up a gasket for the tri clover clamp and I will run it as a cleaning run. If a bumbler like me can cook this up anyone can. I brewed it in a cool room with a space heater pointed at it from a distance of 3' running on low. It finished ( I think) in 2.5 days. I saw no activity for the next couple days, today was able to take measurements and as suspected its done.

Thank you for recipe, I mixed it original style, no epsom salt or fertilizer.

She is still working rad.. sg is down to 1.02 today. couple of more days and I think she will be ready to go... The weather has really cooled off here and the wash is in my garage so it has slowed some but its still sizzling on top. It has only been 8 days so I think it is right on track for a 30 gallon wash..

Sounds good, Kentucky shinner... Keep us posted...

Well she's still chugging along.. sg today 1.01.. almost home now..

almost there now.. sg is down to 1.00 . it is still working a little so I'm just going to leave alone for a few more days. It pretty much basically done. I don't really have time to run it right now so we will just see if it goes any lower. This is day 14, but the garage has been getting a little cool at night so for a 30 gallon wash I think it has done pretty well.
KS

finished yesterday 10/06/10 at fg.999 I feel sure it would have finished sooner had the weather not turned cooler. Nothing wrong with a slow ferment though.
Thanks Rad,
KS

Nice!

Doubled ingredients in this 1 Gallon recipe for a total 2 Gallons.
Store was out of Barley Grain so I had to get Mixed Grain
It started chugging away 20 minutes after pitching yeast.
Will be back later to update....

Rad,
Just finished reading the entire thread, what a great read. Sounds like you really have it nailed Thanks to you and all the other contributors for sharing.

Have one question, can someone tell me who makes 20-20-20. I am in the UK and am struggling to find it. Baby Bio do one by the same name, but a Number 3 variant, I don't think this is the right thing? Obviously I am concerned about sticking fertiliser, especially the wrong one, in something that will be drunk

Thanks!!

gwgw45 wrote:Rad,
Just finished reading the entire thread, what a great read. Sounds like you really have it nailed Thanks to you and all the other contributors for sharing.

Have one question, can someone tell me who makes 20-20-20. I am in the UK and am struggling to find it. Baby Bio do one by the same name, but a Number 3 variant, I don't think this is the right thing? Obviously I am concerned about sticking fertiliser, especially the wrong one, in something that will be drunk

Thanks!!

Glad you found the read interesting... It's a simple recipe... Not sure but Gerber may have discontinued the Barley based cereal... Any of them will work... I've also used Mixed Grain and Rice with equal results...

The 20-20-20 around here can be found under the brands Peters and Miracle Gro... Just about any fertilizer that is approved for vegetables and/or hydroponics will be fine just as long as you don't drink the fermented wash... I strongly recommend only drinking the distilled spirits if fertilizer is used...

The Gerber recipe, as well as the All Bran recipe, will perform adequately without additional nutrients if properly aerated at the start and the temperature is maintained in the 75F - 85F range... Or just use Epsom Salts and/or boiled yeast for a bit more nutrients...

Made a 2 Gallon test batch about a week ago
I just got done running it.

From 2 gallons I collected 2.2 cups. at 80%
I then added 1 cup water to make 3 cups @ 55 - 60 proof
Nice little recipe, I love how flat it finished. The sugar / water / yeast
ratio is optimized nicely. Everything works, no stuck ferms, no bact. infections.
Nothing but a good all around recipe.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Simple to follow Recipe
• Neutral Flavor

Cons:

• None that I've found

Thanks for the positive feedback, 0re0... I've been wanting to do another run of this one myself... Kinda been in a rut with the All Bran for a while and need a change...

personally RAD this is my favorite recipe for neutral spirit.
KS

I went ahead and started another 2 gallon test batch.
After the this , I might start a 10 or 15 gallon batch

OK,
2 cups gerbers barley
2 cups malt o meal
1 cup corn meal
14 cups of sugar
8 tsps bread yeast
2 squirts of leamon juice
for just short of a 5gal wash.
Boiled all the above for 30 min, minus the yeast.
Added yeast after cool down and sitting in bathtub awaiting lift off.

Hoping that the corn will give it some flavor.

ArkyJ, that recipe sounds like it should work well and ferment out to ~10% ABV... If you keep the temperature in the 75F - 85F range it should ferment to dry in short order...

Good luck with it... Keep us posted on your progress...

ArkyJ wrote:OK,
2 cups gerbers barley
2 cups malt o meal
1 cup corn meal
14 cups of sugar
8 tsps bread yeast
2 squirts of leamon juice
for just short of a 5gal wash.
Boiled all the above for 30 min, minus the yeast.
Added yeast after cool down and sitting in bathtub awaiting lift off.

Hoping that the corn will give it some flavor.

It is cool to have a drink while you're in a bathtub or in a swimming pool. It feels you relax especially when you are alone and lonely. Anyway, I'd like to try mixing the ingredients you mentioned, I really love experimenting too.

Just started 3, 5 gallon washes of this last night.
I found 10 boxes of gerber oatmeal on sale at the local (store-butcher shop-gas station-diner) for $1.00 a box ,yeah it has anything you need and is only 2 miles from the house and I couldn't pass up the price even though it was out of date by 2 months.
the recipe I used is 1 box of gerber,
14 cups of sugar ,
8 tbs. of rapid rise yeast,
2 tbs. of brewers yeast for even more nutrients ,
2 tbs. lemon juice,
and enough water to top off to the 5 gallon mark.
This wash is boiling right along after 24 hours and is just rolling ,those little yeast are moving it doubletime right now.
I can't wait to see how this turns out.

I started a batch of this Gerber Barley on the 23rd of Dec. I followed Rad14701's directions and it sure took off within 20-30 minutes. I did stir it once today and it sure smells strong of alcohol. LOL I only made a 2 gal. batch this run cuz I thought it might bubble over like some of the other posts side it foamed up. My wife will kill me if I made a mess. It should be ready on the 30, that is 7 days. Then in my 3gal. stock pot still to run. I hope all goes well. Thanks Rad. By the way, the Gerber cereal was 1.99 for a 28 oz. box. at my store. They have a complete line of flavors and I am sure that I will try them all. My sp.gr. floted at 1.072 right at 10% so this should get me about two pints or one ltr. so. EASY RECIPE Thanks. Will post more leter as things go on.
Cannonman

I don't know about you all, but after I mix some of these tried and true or for that matter what ever I add to the mix reciepies. I now days put the fermentor in the bath tub. I have had too many of these concoctions blow airlock or at least bubble up thru the air lock. A whole lot easier to run the shower head and clean up the mess than having it bubbling all over the floor.
ArkyJ

Yeah I learned my lesson a while back and I allways leave at lleast 4 inches of room in my jugs for foaming,and I also make sure my rubber bungs are in real tight to hold my airlocks in place.
Knock on wood I have not had any issues since my early endeavors with sugar washes in the mid 90's.