Home Distiller

Says my first post should only go here, Introduce myself .Tell you where my interest lay. So here I am.

Im just an old cowboy too old to rodeo anymore. Back when I was rodeoing..there was always a "new kid" trying his hand at it.
If we saw that he really had "try" or was showing good potential.. there was always someone who was willing to take them "under their wing" or at least send them in the right direction for the very best help.
I know that most of you here have forgotten more about this than I know about it and im really counting on your help.

I have been distilling for a few years now and it has all been self taught.(trial and error) OK mostly error. lol
I would like to get into the grain mashing as I have been doing mostly sugar washes and some fruit mashes.

I found this website last week and now understand where I went wrong so many times, Im so glad that I can ask questions and I have a few.(hundred)

The first question I have is why does no one like turbo yeast? Is it not just distillers yeast with the nutrients already added for you? I have been using it and been getting about 16 to 18% ABV. Is it possible to get a higher % ABV without it?

Im looking forward to your replies and help.

Thanks,
Rick.
RTR.

Welcome to HD 'Bama Rick'!
Talladega is one of my favorite places on earth ..
Ok, here we go ...
You've been distilling now for 4 years, what kinda still and setup are you using?
You found this site last week, means that you have ALOT of reading, searching, reading, re-searching then tweaking your methods until they're sound ..
Turbos aren't hated ..They're not preferred for drinking likker because they're a high gravity, high tolerant, high alcohol content yeast for high abv, and ethanol production ..
All of the grain, fruit and anything other than a straight 'sugar' wash recipe require lower gravity, lower abv ferments ..These yeast strains are created just for their specific purpose and have lower tolerances ..Turbo strains are created for high gravity, high abv ONLY ..The opposite of grain, fruit, etc ..Unless you're making everclear or ethanol, don't use it ..
To understand in-depth and fully everything I wrote here, you'll have to READ! Lol
Good Luck, Use the appropriate yeast for the application, take readings on Everything, and you'll be ok ..

Thx for the reply MoonBreath,

This is Alabama and we have a few Talladega`s. The town, the race track and two national forests. I live north of the town. I go camping in the national forest because it has a place just for people to bring their horses with them while camping. I live very near the race track and used to work there when I was a kid.
After the Talladega part.... You pretty much lost me but I will do the reading. After I look it all up then I WILL get back to you and have questions about what you like or dont like and why.

I have a 2in. reflux still with a 15gal. beer-keg pot. I put Ferrule joints in my column so that I can add sections to it and make it taller if I want. I also made my own parrot.
When I first seen the plans for the condenser, the first thing I noticed that it was effective but not very efficient so I designed my own. I use about 2 1/2 gals. of water per pint.
I did have some trouble soldering the stainless Ferrule to the copper pipe and it still has a very small pin-hole leak. Im very sure that there must be a better solder than the kind I was using to solder stainless to copper but I have no idea what kind to use.

I stack up blocks to set my keg on because it is heavy, then slide my propane turkey fryer under it for the heating. I use marbles in about 6 to 8 inches of the lowest part on my column and copper mesh in all the rest. I started using marbles after I had my mash foam up into the column once.

I hope I have answered your questions. Look for mine to be coming to you(and other people) soon.

Thx,
Rick.
RTR.

I told you I would do the reading and I did.

High gravity = Lots of sugars.
Hydrometers are for reading density of a mash. It tells you the amount of sugar to water ratios.
I just ordered one after reading about it.

High tolerant = Yeast that can stand more ABV before being killed by the alcohol.

Hi Rick,
I'm from Alabama too! Enterprise, but I live in Colorado now because I'm in the military.
Well, I'm new to this forum as well but I've been a avid home brewer for the past 8 years. I think home brewing has provided me a "leg up" on this area because its pretty similar until you get to the distillation part. Anyway, the turbo yeasts are kind of a "juggernaut" in the yeast world. Brewers never use these. Very quick ferments, not so delicate on taste. They aren't going to provide much flavor because you're looking for a lot of esters in alcohol and this kind of yeast doesn't provide for that. If you're looking to do grain mashes, I'd recommend starting with what brewers call Liquid Malt Extract (LME). This basically is a very thick liquid where a company has already done the starch to sugar conversion for you. You simply add water and you have a basic mash. Along with LME, you can steep grains like caramel, rye, wheat, chocolate malts, etc. to give added flavor to the mash (wash in this forum). Alabama just legalized home brewing not too long ago so you should be able to purchase LME on line now. When I brewed with LME, I used this site a lot: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/homebrew ... d-lme.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Well, good to see another Alabama boy. I hope you're also an Auburn fan…..that's where I went. WAR EAGLE!!

Hi Rick. You are correct. Turbo yeast/ high tolerance yeasts can stand higher alcohol levels before dying, but that doesnt mean they like high alcohol levels. Any and all yeasts are going to start becoming stressed at anything over 12% ABV. This leads them to produce off flavors. The old saying, "Keep your yeast happy and they'll piss alcohol and fart Co2, stress them out and they'll just shit in your drink." That's why most of us try to keep our washes below 10%. Just makes for better flavors.
So I'm tole

Rick, welcome, as has been mentioned , you've got a bunch-o-reading to do but right off the top may I suggest:

1. Nix the turbo yeast (made any blue whiskey yet?)
2. Try to keep your abv below 12% for better flavor, speed & greed in this hobby just screw things up
3. Try one of the "tried and true" recipes and compare it to the result's you've been getting

BTW, after recently bustin' my wrist (3 bones + 6 breaks), I to have taken a pause from riding, probably forever, as 65 isn't the "new" 45 as some would have you believe LOL