Hi, New to Site...

[kent.golding]

Hi!

Been lurking for about a month or so and finally became a member today.

I've never distilled before, but have been a rabid homebrewer for about 20-years until it got out of control and I turned pro. Learned a lot on the pro side, but came to dislike the industry. Thing is, I can't be bothered doing 5-gal batches anymore so I'm in the process of building a 1.5-hL home brewery based on 55-gal SS drums, gas-fired and automated from a control panel. Strong Belgian-style beers only with the ultimate goal of being able to make geuze of the caliber of Hanson's, Boon, etc., an Orval clone, and a La Chouffe clone. I like playing with yeast and I'm particularly fond of Brettanomyces...

My basic reason for wanting to learn distillation is to make pre-ban Absinthe using traditional recipes and methods. Right now I'm prepping some new garden beds so I can plant Grande and Petite Wormwood, Green Anise, Florence Fennel, Hyssop, and Lemon Balm next spring.

I'm an anal control freak and the still I'm looking to build is some species of Riku's E-ARC using 2-in. tri-clamp so I can experiment by "plugging" in different components easily. I've got a bunch of sanitary 2-in SS pipe in my stainless pile, some of which already has T/C flanges as well as others with DIN. Since the brewery is going to be entirely T/C, I'll be able to share parts between the two systems and they can also share the electronic controls--I love temperature controllers!

That's about it, I think, and hope that I can be of some value to the group.

harlan.

[LWTCS]

Welcome Kent.

Hope you post your progress.

[Samohon]

Hello to you kent.golding.
+1 Keep us posted....

[kiwistiller]

Sounds like you are well on your way there. Please document your ARC build, we don't really have much on this site about them

[ScottishBoy]

Wow...he was doomed be fore he even joined the site...

Welcome to the last hobby you'll ever want!