molasses with propiotic acid

[smokeskrene4207]

I was given a 5 gallon bucket of feed molasses but it has propiotic acid in it. Should I just feed it to the deer or is it salvageable.
I'm not in a position to waste sugar. I took it because I figured even if I can't ferment the molasses the container is food grade and I could always use that.

[S-Cackalacky]

There's a way to remove it from the molasses - involves heating it and adding something(?). Do a search for propionic acid and the method should turn up.

[smokeskrene4207]

Sodium hydroxide. But I can't really find a small amount anywhere. I don't want to buy bulk @15 a 2.5 lb bag when I need 1 teaspoon per gallon. It sucks that I'm in the middle of nowhere. Takes me 20 min to get to town.
P.s s-cackalacky thanks again for shining a light in the right direction.

[S-Cackalacky]

Not sure, but I think there was an alternative to that. Something simple, but I don't remember what it was.

Edit: Use salt. Here's a link - http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 6#p7094798 .

[jb-texshine]

Sodium hydroxide. But I can't really find a small amount anywhere. I don't want to buy bulk @15 a 2.5 lb bag when I need 1 teaspoon per gallon. It sucks that I'm in the middle of nowhere. Takes me 20 min to get to town.
P.s s-cackalacky thanks again for shining a light in the right direction.

Sodium hydroxide is lye,correct? Red devil drain cleaner is granulated lye. I would mix maybe a couple tablespoons to a quart of water then check ph of solution and ajust to whatever alkalinity lye is supposed to be. Red devil lye is like 4-5$ WalMart.home depo lowes ,grocery stores,dollar general.
someone probably has a better idea but this one is mine.....
JB

[smokeskrene4207]

As per s-cackalackys link and answered by fastill 1 teaspoon non iodized salt per gallon of liquid and stir until lighty boiling. Shut it down let cool and remove sediment. Add sugar until desired SG.

[smokeskrene4207]

Oh and twice the water to molasses ie 5 gallons molasses to 10 gallons water to 15 teaspoons non iodized salt.

[smokeskrene4207]

Can someone tell me how I can link this thread to my pit still head thread in the my first section.

[S-Cackalacky]

Copy/paste the URL in your browsers input field into a new post, or edit and existing post.

[smokeskrene4207]

I can't do it from my phone.

[shadylane]

Clarifying feed grade molasses makes a better rum.
But I've never had an issue fermenting anything with propionic acid in it.

[FullySilenced]

you can add water then salt then bring to a hot simmer.... hold it there for a bit... then let it cool to room temp...

remove/rack the molasses off the sediment..

do not add sugar till you make up your rum wash... let just the molasses cool and settle out...


then make up your rum wash...


FS

[Monkeyman88]

I can't do it from my phone.

You on tapatalk on iPhone?

Tap the post you want to link to, another menu pops up, hit share, then copy.
Go to the post you want the link in. Either paste into a new post, or tap an existing post and hit edit, then paste it in.

Should be fairly similar on android.

[smokeskrene4207]

Don't have tapatalk. Its okay I'll get to a computer soon to do it.

[smokeskrene4207]

You guys think I can stretch this 5 gallons to do a 40 gallon wash if I add light brown sugar. I'm not really concerned with what would come out flavor wise as much as I'm concerned with running my new keg a few times to get the hang of it. I have on hand 18 lbs of light brown sugar and even more white sugar also. If I could use 1 gallon molasses per ten gallon wash for a light rum I'd be happy but I'm more concerned with running the still to get the hang of it over anything else.

[FullySilenced]

You may need up to another 18 pounds of sugar... doesn't have to be brown sugar... all depends on your molasses... there is some really sorry crap out there and there is some wonderful stuff as well...

FS

[S-Cackalacky]

You guys think I can stretch this 5 gallons to do a 40 gallon wash if I add light brown sugar. I'm not really concerned with what would come out flavor wise as much as I'm concerned with running my new keg a few times to get the hang of it. I have on hand 18 lbs of light brown sugar and even more white sugar also. If I could use 1 gallon molasses per ten gallon wash for a light rum I'd be happy but I'm more concerned with running the still to get the hang of it over anything else.

You could probably do that for a light rum. I would advise you to be sure to include appropriate nutrients. Maybe use one of the Tried and True rum recipes - at least to get the neuts straight. Use what molasses you have and then raise the OG with brown or cane sugar.

[smokeskrene4207]

So I could potentially use 5 gallons molasses 18 lbs of light brown sugar and 25 white sugar which I have and do a 50 gallon ferment? Which should be around 11% I'm gonna give it a go why not right?

[Monkeyman88]

I would.

[shadylane]

So I could potentially use 5 gallons molasses 18 lbs of light brown sugar and 25 white sugar which I have and do a 50 gallon ferment? Which should be around 11% I'm gonna give it a go why not right?

Just a thought.
A yeast bomb, oyster shells and warm ferment temps might be a good idea.
In my opinion, A healthy, fast and furious fermentation seems to work best for Rum.
If nothing else, it greatly decreases the odds of a stuck fermentation.

[smokeskrene4207]

Shady lane I have Epson salt but no b12 would yeast nutrients made for wine suffice? Plus I'm going to add 1 tsp per gallon yeast nutrient for the 50 gallons of wash to make up for less molasses.

[still_stirrin]

Shady lane I have Epson salt but no b12 would yeast nutrients made for wine suffice? Plus I'm going to add 1 tsp per gallon yeast nutrient for the 50 gallons of wash to make up for less molasses.

I would STRONGLY suggest following a tried and true recipe for your Molly. And the yeast bomb is especially key to the ferment. Deviate from it and you're moving into a "no man's land".

You may be OK...but don't expect the forum here to help you fix your broken recipe.

Experiment only AFTER you know what you're doing.
ss

[smokeskrene4207]

Still-stirrin I appreciate the input but as I said I'm more concerned with learning to run my still. And as I don't want to buy more molasses I'll opt out for an easily fermentable wash with low sugar and learn my rig before I invest money. If it turns out horrible I'll reflux it and make tinctures. Since I was given the molasses light brown sugar and white sugar I'll give it a go. Now if I wanted to actually make something palatable I'd do pugirum to the t. But I feel the learning I'd get from this light rum would if not at the very least make me familiar with my rig. But I also understand I'm entering no mans land and I hope people reading this thread do not mistake it for a worthy recipe.

[still_stirrin]

....I'm entering no mans land....I hope people reading this thread do not mistake it for a worthy recipe.

Well then, be careful....and good luck. You'll need it.
ss

p.s. - The feed store molasses I used in the PugiRum I just ran had proprionic acid (a preservative) in it. I made the yeast bomb and the ferment started within an hour. By 40 hours it was completely done. So the yeast bomb is a KEY component. I highly recommend using one.

[shadylane]

Shady lane I have Epson salt but no b12 would yeast nutrients made for wine suffice? Plus I'm going to add 1 tsp per gallon yeast nutrient for the 50 gallons of wash to make up for less molasses.

Yeast nutrients made for wine sounds like a good idea. Add what the directions call for.
When in doubt add a little bit of everything. Boiled yeast, Epson salt, muilty vitamins and anything you would eat will work on a sugar wash.
Yeast is much happier with a full and healthy diet.

[smokeskrene4207]

Thanks shadylane BTW what's your avatar? Reminds me off Emmett Brown for some reason.

[BourbonStreet]

I use the "deer feed" with propionic acid all the time. Never had trouble with ferments. I just throw in DAP, and sometimes epsom salts. I threw in eggshells once when the pH was too low. I usually use Pugi's recipe. The last batch was some great stuff!

[S-Cackalacky]

Learning to run your still is only one component of the process. Doing a good ferment is probably more important and more difficult than actually running a pot still. If you have a failed ferment, you will likely have a failed still run. Having a good clean wash in your boiler will contribute more to a successful run than you might imagine.

[smokeskrene4207]

I guess I could use 5 gallons of molasses and 12 lbs of brown sugar and do a pugirum 30 gallon wash. I'd be short 1 gallon of molasses for the recipe but that shouldn't affect it too much? Again I was given the molasses and cant afford to buy any more right now.

[still_stirrin]

I guess I could use 5 gallons of molasses and 12 lbs of brown sugar and do a pugirum 30 gallon wash....

Now you're talking.

Do you need a full 30 gallons of wash? Remember, according to the recipe you add dunder into the subsequent spirit run to increase the Molly flavor. So a 20 gallon wash (2 strips) + dunder will get you a 10 gallon spirit run.

I think the 5 gallons of Molly would make you a good 20+ gallons of wash following the Pugi recipe. And that will net you a couple gallons of rum (maybe even a little more than that). That's the route I'd go.
ss