HELP

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:57 pm

I am distilling now and this is the color of it. What could be wrong?

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:58 pm

Oh and its a grain whiskey wash.

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:02 pm

Very likely you are running too fast, and have TOO much wash in the boiler of your still, and are boiling over.

H.

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:06 pm

show us a pic of your still. could help answer your question

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:07 pm

What is the rod behind the glass. The one with the blower on top?

H.

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:08 pm

also show us a pic of the car in the background. put it in the off topic. love them muscle cars

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:08 pm

That is what mine looks like at the end of a run after I turn the heat up. From the spashing on the sides, I would say your pot is to full.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:09 pm

Pics are on the way. The temp is 202 f and holding.

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:10 pm

I think the still is in the pic (part of it).

Is this a new still (is this its maiden run?) If so, and you have not cleaned it, then looks like you are cleaning it out now. This kind of crud is left from the manufacturing process (soldering flux, etc).

On a new still, you need to do a water only run (or a couple), then possibly do a run using a box of cheap crappy wine (or a cheap sugar wash) to clean it out and "prime" it for running good mashes through.

H.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:13 pm

Yeah this is a new still. I tasted the product and it doesnt have any bite at all. No flash at all iether. Here is the still.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:15 pm

Oh and I had only 3 inchs or so in the keg.

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:16 pm

nv_hunter wrote:Yeah this is a new still. I tasted the product and it doesnt have any bite at all. No flash at all iether. Here is the still.

is this a fermented grain whiskey run? No flash meaning you cant light it? Sounds like there might have been no ethanol in the mash.

If this is a new still, it is likely that you are simply getting gunk out of the still cleaned out by this run.

H.

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:16 pm

is that a chevelle?

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:17 pm

the bar stool is cool too

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:17 pm

Also, are you sure your condenser is not leaking?

H.

Ricky · Post by **Ricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:18 pm

as for the still what husker has said. the still looks good. not enough mash to boil over. must just be dirty.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:26 pm

How long does it need to clear up? Im at about 1 1/2 litres now. Also I posted the chevelle pics in the off topic room.

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:29 pm

nv_hunter wrote:How long does it need to clear up? Im at about 1 1/2 litres now. Also I posted the chevelle pics in the off topic room.

I would do a run of 5 gallons (at least) of water. The water vapor will help clean it out. Then run a cheap sugar wash (or dirt cheap wine). I would recommend running the wine, then putting all of it (the distillate, and what was in the boiler) back in the boiler and running it again.

That will help clean the crud.

However, you mentioned that you got no "flash". If you were meaning "fire" on the output, then either:

1. you have no EtOH in the wash to start with.
2. your condenser is leaking (thus watering down the distillate coming out).

H.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:35 pm

I dont think its leaking because the water was running befor I started the boiler and nothing came out. Here is the recipe I used, Maybe it wasnt fermented enough.

SWEET FEED MOONSHINE # 5 gallon bucket of sweet feed (Sweet feed has several different grains and molasses making it a great tasting whiskey.) one package of yeast (using distillers yeast will increase quality and quantity) # 5 pounds sugar # water Put enough feed to cover bottom of 5 gallon bucket a good 4 inches deep Add 5 pounds of sugar. Fill 1/2 full with boiling water. Mix until sugar is dissolved. Let it set for 90 minutes and then finish filling with cool water. Add the yeast after it has cooled to the recomended temperture on the yeast label. Cover with lid--our lid has a little cap that screws on, leave it loose to breathe. 4-5 days later it's ready to run! This is an old-timer recipe and works quite well. My liquor is always 150-180 proof. I don't recommend this for pot stills unless you filter it by pouring it through a pillow case into a 5 gallon bucket after it has finished fermenting. Otherwise the meal will settle and burn in the bottom of your still. Some folks leave the solids in the pillow case and tie it off where it will not touch the bottom of the still.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:36 pm

I used wyeast mead yeast. Is it the yeast maybe?

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:37 pm

did you remove the grain or did you distill "on the grain"?

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:39 pm

I ran it through a pillow case first.

Post by **Husker** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:43 pm

nv_hunter wrote:I ran it through a pillow case first.

I bet the color is from the dirty still. As for the lack of EtOH, that is more puzzling, unless there was no EtOH in there. Could be that you pitched your yeast when it was too hot, and killed the yeast. If you did that, there will be no ethanol.

Taste the wash. Is it sweet? A finished mash should taste like cheap wine (well sort of at least).
Is it vinegar?
Did it smell like fresh yeasty bread (or something yeasty) while working?
Did it bubble a lot?

H.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:48 pm

It did bubble alot. It was still bubbleing when I filtered it. It said to let it ferment for 5 days but I am wondering if it wasnt enough. It did taste sweet. The distilant smells and tastes sweet even after it has been destilled.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:11 pm

Im 4 litres in now and it has a blue tint to it.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:20 pm

here is a pic of the last bottle full.

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:31 pm

That looks like mine does when I get close to the boiling point. Where I live the boiling point is 208f.

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:42 pm

208 at the top of the column or 208 at the pot?

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:47 pm

What temperature was it when you started taking off?

nv_hunter · Post by **nv_hunter** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:49 pm

Its been stuck on 202.5 the whole time.