Mash and Fermentation

[Beast of Burden]

I AM NEW TO DISTILLING AND HAVING A FEW PROBLEMS. I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE OUT THERE COULD GIVE ME SOME TIPS?

I AM TRYING TO MAKE A GRAIN VODKA AND I SEEM TO BE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING A GOOD CONVERSION OF STARCH TO SUGAR IN THE MASH.

AND/OR A GOOD CONVERSION OF SUGAR TO ALCOHOL IN THE FERMENTATION.

I COOK MY GRAINS (CORN, WHEAT AND MALTED BARLEY) TO 150 DEGREES AND HOLD FOR 2 HOURS. THEN I RAISE THE TEMPERATURE TO 170 DEGREES. (SHOULD THIS BE AGITATED DURING THE TWO HOUR COOK?)

I COOL WITH ICE WATER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO 85 DEGREES AND THEN I CAST THE YEAST.

I GET A LOT OF BUBBLING AND HISSING FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS.

I WAIT FOR ANOTHER TWO DAYS AFTER ACTIVITY HAS STOPPED AND DISTILL. I GET HEADS, MIDDLES AND TAILS.

HOWEVER MY MIDDLES ARE ONLY 50% ABV AND I DO NOT GET ANY REAL VOLUME (LESS THAN 1%).

I TRIED TESTING THE MASH WITH IODINE BUT NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY TO LOOK FOR. THE LIQUID DOES NOT REALLY TURN YELLOW AS I WAS TOLD IT SHOULD. THE pH IS USUALLY ABOUT 4 TO 5.5.

THE BEGINNING BALLINGS ARE BETWEEN 10 AND 20.

WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE MY TROUBLE IS?

[pintoshine]

first of all, corn gels at 180. so you are not getting the dextrinization as expected. After the gelled corn cols back down to 154, then add the malt, the effect is immediate. The thick gloppy corn will start turning into a tan sweet liquid almost immediately. the longer you can keep the mash temp just above 150 the better. a good quality cooler and an all night cool down does great.(thank wineo for this tip) You should be able to pass an iodine test with no problems then. Usually you are going to have somewhere between 1.040 and 1.080 for a starting gravity. This stuff usually ferments out in 3 to 5 days.

[Dnderhead]

IT sounds like it worked off Howe much grain?
and whey not just do a simple sugar wash ? as wineo's
potato-sugar wash?--resipe and dvelopment

[pintoshine]

I usually recommend grape juice as a first wash. It is almost fool proof and allows a person to see good fermentation for a first time. And it tastes good after it is run.

[Beast of Burden]

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. I APPRECIATE THE HELP AND QUICK RESPONSE. I WILL TAKE ALL THE ADVISE INTO CONSIDERATION ON THE NEXT RUN.

[BW Redneck]

Oh, and can you please learn to unstick your caps lock? All caps is generally considered shouting. It's just a courtesy thing. Thank you.

[Beast of Burden]

sorry about the caps. i have a degenerative eye disorder and it is easier to read. is there some sort of forum "courtesy" guide so i don't upset so many people? i was just looking for some help and thought the forum was for that purpose. i did not mean to upset those of a sensitive nature. no shouting implied!

[Husker]

sorry about the caps. i have a degenerative eye disorder and it is easier to read. is there some sort of forum "courtesy" guide so i don't upset so many people? i was just looking for some help and thought the forum was for that purpose. i did not mean to upset those of a sensitive nature. no shouting implied!

Most likely everyone here knew you meant no offense. Your quality question gave away the fact that you were serious. Welcome aboard, and yes, this is a good place to ask questions to help fine tune problems you are having with your procedure.

As for the ALL CAPS, it is usually used by people to emphasize a point, and often viewed as shouting. It is difficult showing emotions or emphasis like it is when you are actually "talking" in person. On the internet, there is no way to read body language. Thus there have been conventions made, such as using "smilies" glyphs such as LOL, and typing in caps when trying to "stress" your point.

However, most on this forum do have a thick skin, when there is someone who shows that he/she is serious, and not simply trying to yank everyones chain. There are MANY folks here who are somewhat internet illiterate, and frequently, they have the most experience to share with the group, so this group has pretty much accepted most forms of attempt at speech

H.

[punkin]

The easier way for you to read your screen would be to change the screen resolution to make your print larger.

There's a fairly consistent set of practices across the web. try here for a list of answers to questions

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Or do a google search for 'nettiquete'.

Best of luck and hope your stay here is a fruitfull one. There's a whole new world of skills waiting for those willing to put in the time

[wineo]

Welcome! If you want to make grain vodka,You should loose the corn and use quite a bit of malted wheat with a small amount of 2 or 6 row malt to help conversion,and enough sugar to raise the sg to 1060-1080 so you get enough booze out of it.You could also use flaked wheat and malt to get a grain vodka but the corn is going to give it a whiskey flavor.You should also not do the mashout stage in your mashing because it denatures the enzymes and stops conversion.Beermakers do it to set the flavor profile of the mash so it doesnt change,but its not needed in a distilling mash because those enzymes will keep working in the ferment for you.You can make a pretty good vodka with a simple sugar wash,but It sounds like your after the wheat vodka flavor.If you are going to use corn in a mash,and want the conversion,you should pre cook the corn first so it is gellitinized and it will convert good.Mashing in a cooler will keep the temp above 150f for a long time,and will make the conversion better.I leave it in the cooler overnight.Most of your conversion will happen in the first 2 hours,but will still keep going after that,but much slower.

[Beast of Burden]

Thanks Husker, wineo and punkin!