Why do fruit flies like Moonshine?

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ER70S-2
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Why do fruit flies like Moonshine?

Post by ER70S-2 »

I know this is an odd question but my buddy and I both noticed independently that fruit flis are attracted to home made moonshine rather then store bought booze, anyone else notice this? When drinking around the camp fire the fruit flies seem to flock to shine and don't bother with the store bought crap.
I've also noticed that my moonshine defineltley has a yeast like smell to it once I'm 3/4's way through a bottle. I can really notice a distinctive smell, almost like bread, when I smell the bottle, is this normal? It's just the DWG recipe that was on charred oak for about 3 weeks.
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ER70S-2
bushido
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Post by bushido »

Are you letting your ferment clear and taking pains not to put the yeast in you boiler? I would say that that is probably the problem.
Never had UJ smell yeasty, or attract the blow flies after its been boiled down.
Take more care siphoning off your ferment.
HookLine
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Post by HookLine »

What bushido said. Leave the yeast behind in the fermenter.
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punkin
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Post by punkin »

Don't think the little brown bastards are fruit flys either. :twisted:

They used to get in my beers when was sitting out the back, if ya left your beer for anytime tween say 2 in the arvo and 6 at night, you'd have two or three of the little gnats floating in it. Swimming around, doing pissed backstroke.

Now if i put my beer down for more than 4 seconds at any time of the day or night, in any part of the house, yard or shed, i'll have twenty of the little turds having an orgy. :evil:
They're buzzing round my fermenters, my still room, my beer fridge...everywhere...
:cry:




MustSpillTooMuchPunkin
Uncle Jesse
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hmm

Post by Uncle Jesse »

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
If only the best birds sang, the woods would be silent.
Usge
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Post by Usge »

"..fruit flies like a banana".

That's what Ester said :)
HookLine
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Re: hmm

Post by HookLine »

Uncle Jesse wrote:Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
They are pretty damn keen on mango as well.
Be safe.
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And have fun.
ER70S-2
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Post by ER70S-2 »

Thanks for the replies, I will let the next batch of DWG clear then before stilling.
Curious, I didn't think most let the UJSM clear before running, is this correct?
Regards
ER70S-2
tracker0945
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Post by tracker0945 »

ER70S-2 wrote:Thanks for the replies, I will let the next batch of DWG clear then before stilling.
Curious, I didn't think most let the UJSM clear before running, is this correct?
Regards
ER70S-2
I think you will find that most will taste better if you let them clear.
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Pot still with Leibig on 45 litre boiler
ER70S-2
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Post by ER70S-2 »

Thanks Tracker, appreciate the feedback, I don't mind waiting as it will give me a chance to finish off the new keg anyways.
I have a UJSM thats been sitting for 1.5 weeks since it finished fermenting. I transfered it over to a glass carboy from my plastic fermenting pail since I was going away at Christmas. I can see about an 1" of sediment on the bottom but by no means is it clear. Will this eventually clear up completely?
Rummeriffic
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Post by Rummeriffic »

ER70S-2 wrote:...I can see about an 1" of sediment on the bottom but by no means is it clear. Will this eventually clear up completely?
ER, If you've got another 1" on the bottom, you might want to rack it off again, and/or put is someplace nice and chilly. The colder it is the quicker the yeasties will fall out of suspension. After fermentation, mine clears pretty well sitting in the garage for a few days around 40-50 deg. F
I only have to do this until the trade embargo against Cuba is lifted!
violentblue
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Re: Why do fruit flies like Moonshine?

Post by violentblue »

ER70S-2 wrote: I've also noticed that my moonshine defineltley has a yeast like smell to it once I'm 3/4's way through a bottle. I can really notice a distinctive smell, almost like bread,
I had this same issue with my first couple batches, once I caught on I made sure I didn't disturb the mash for the last couple days of fermentation, and sometimes left it a couple days after fermentation was complete. I would siphon off the mash into separate bucket, being very carefull not to disturb the yeast on the bottom. might not even be a bad idea to let it sit for another day at that point to let it settle out a little more. since doing that I have had no yeast flavor. of course its been some time since I've done any of this.
pintoshine
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Post by pintoshine »

I like the bread smell and taste to some of my products. It is like going back home as a child. Would this be considered comfort food?
violentblue
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Post by violentblue »

try heating the mash up to about 50 degrees celcius then cool overnight, the yeast and sediment should fall out. siphon out your clarified mash without disturbing the yeast on the bottom.

worked for me.
punkin
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Post by punkin »

I never rack my mashes, just use the upward filter in the tap with a bit of scrubber in it. The corn acts as a filter bed for ujsm style brews and the fruit washes don't burn.
I can't taste any yeasty tastes, dunno if i'm just unsophisticated or what?
HookLine
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Post by HookLine »

punkin wrote:and the fruit washes don't burn.
Are you using an external heat source (propane or electric plate)?

How much solids do you remove from a fruit wash with that filter set-up?
Be safe.
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And have fun.
punkin
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Post by punkin »

Dunno bout how much mate, only the big chunks i reckon.
The peach wash is still very thick, with little chunks and stuff...bottom of the barrells are like soup...though i don't run all that.

Heat is LPG on a cast iron camp stove type burner in the tyre rim idea i stole from here. :wink:

Never seem to get scortched stuff in the burner and never get burnt/yeast/off tastes that i can pick?

Do ya think it's got anything to do with the snot in my bottles?

Just can't see how anything could puke all the way up my lyne arm on a spirit run.... :roll:
HookLine
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Post by HookLine »

punkin wrote:Do ya think it's got anything to do with the snot in my bottles?

Just can't see how anything could puke all the way up my lyne arm on a spirit run.... :roll:
Honestly don't know.

I asked about your heat source because I have an internal element on my still, and my mango ferment is done and I am wondering how much of the solids I should remove to avoid scorching. Really don't want to spoil it by scorching.

Leaving it to settle hasn't done it, there is too much solids in it, like maybe 1/4 of the volume of the wash.

I have tried filtering a sample, and it is a very slow process that needs constant stirring to stop the filter blocking, even with a large hole filter (standard kitchen strainer with holes about 2mm), because there is so much fine solids in it.
Be safe.
Be discreet.
And have fun.
Dnderhead
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Post by Dnderhead »

punkin I know I'm unsophisticated I don't have problems
burning ether my problem is i don't know what product
is supposed to taste like i haven't bout in years
I ges i need samples
flies ? i have some stange "gist" but not flies in my hooch
punkin
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Post by punkin »

HookLine wrote:
punkin wrote:Do ya think it's got anything to do with the snot in my bottles?

Just can't see how anything could puke all the way up my lyne arm on a spirit run.... :roll:
Honestly don't know.

I asked about your heat source because I have an internal element on my still, and my mango ferment is done and I am wondering how much of the solids I should remove to avoid scorching. Really don't want to spoil it by scorching.

Leaving it to settle hasn't done it, there is too much solids in it, like maybe 1/4 of the volume of the wash.

I have tried filtering a sample, and it is a very slow process that needs constant stirring to stop the filter blocking, even with a large hole filter (standard kitchen strainer with holes about 2mm), because there is so much fine solids in it.
That's what i'd try, just a plastic funnel with a piece of scourer in it.

Maybe a $2 fuel one from supacheap with a whole stainless scourer?

will let the smaller lumps through. Maybe even try a small wash first, and add some water?






CanSeeWhyYaDon'tWannaFluffItPunkin
HookLine
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Post by HookLine »

punkin wrote:CanSeeWhyYaDon'tWannaFluffItPunkin
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's sweet. You must be a hoot to live with. :wink:
Be safe.
Be discreet.
And have fun.
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