Letting A Wash Settle ... but why?

[EternalAmateur]

Back with another question for those in the know!

I read somewhere that it is recommended to let a wash rest for a few days+, in the cool, before running it. My question is .. is this correct and why?

1) If the resting helps in the completion of the fermenting somehow, then that's great, I'll carry on doing it.
2) If though it relates to the settling of heavier particulates that are not wanted in the distillation process, here I'm having issues as I can't find a siphon that works well to take out the clearer liquid.

As I say, if it's (1), great. Nice and easy, thank you. If it's (2), what do people use to siphon - ideally something more than sucking on a tube! ... or is there a third option?

Thank you in advance.

[NZChris]

I don't clear, I don't siphon. I just open the drain valve.

[Saltbush Bill]

From what Ive seen it seems to be a personal choice thing. For me it depends on what I'm making.
If its for a good neutral for Gin, Lemoncello, Coffee Infused Vodka or some other thing that needs a clean spirit for a base I'll let the wash sit a few weeks and settle then decant it carefully into the boiler.
It can also depend on if you intend stripping first or doing a single run.
For Whiskys and Rums I'm not so particular, I just drain the fermenter from the tap.
Most of the yeast that settled in the tap or in the area of the tap comes out in the first Litre or so ....toss that bit and your usually into pretty clear wash after that, 95% of the yeast cake will stay on the bottom in my experience.
Mostly I have more wash ready to run than I have time to run it , so they nearly always get an extra week or more to settle anyway.

[EternalAmateur]

Thank you both.

I should have said, I'm solely making neutral at the moment and each wash is being stripped before the spirit run. Also, I have a conical fermenter that automatically holds back the bottom 750ML-1L (at a guess) from the wash to be run - can be let out separately - as Saltbush describes. Washes left to sit for a week have patchy clouds in the bottom rather than anything more solid.

[fizzix]

I've yet to let anything clear.
An auto siphon is a great tool for getting the liquid out. Pump n' go.

auto_siphon.jpg (12.24 KiB) Viewed 3085 times

For grains, I auto siphon off the top liquid and squeeze the grain in a brew bag in a mop bucket.

But it's cloudy when going into the still.

[Expat]

Using the mop wringer is a great way to recover my most of the liquid from a grain mash. Depending on how fine of mesh bag used some small particles make it though and require settling to avoid a scorch. Takes a day or two.

Example:

[Bushman]

Scorching is one reason another is that it is less likely to plug your siphon. What does two extra days cost when your making it for your own consumption?

[still_stirrin]

+1 to what Bushman said.....where’s the fire???

[EternalAmateur]

Really useful - thanks all. I'll try an auto-siphon and see if there is any difference to the finished product.

Just to be clear, happy to let it settle for a week+, just wanted to make sure it wasn't a waste of time as I haven't then been able to siphon it and the whole lot is going in the boiler anyway.

Another piece of kit .. my wife will be happy

Many thanks for the guidance.

[Bushman]

Really useful - thanks all. I'll try an auto-siphon and see if there is any difference to the finished product.

Just to be clear, happy to let it settle for a week+, just wanted to make sure it wasn't a waste of time as I haven't then been able to siphon it and the whole lot is going in the boiler anyway.

Another piece of kit .. my wife will be happy

Many thanks for the guidance.

I use a camera tripod and a rubber band to hold my siphon above the yeast cake so I don’t have to stand around while filling my boiler.

[Single Malt Yinzer]

Another +1 to what Bushman said. We as a group kind of agree that a cleared wash will produce a cleaner spirit vs one that has a lot of yeast/other stuff in it. I don't think any of us has really proven that by way of experimentation. It also goes to style - if you like something cleaner or are going for a neutral you'll want to have a cleared wash. If you're trying for something with more character (rum/scotch whiskey) then get then some of the yeast cake into suspension.

[NZChris]

To scorch, you have to do something wrong.

Run dry.
Have the heat off long enough for solids to settle then start, or restart, without agitating.
Have unconverted starch in the boiler.

If you are really anal about not sucking trub up the siphon hose, put the siphon outlet into a bucket and bail out of the bucket. This lets you control the speed of the siphon so that you can scavenge the last few ounces of clear.

[hoot]

I watched "The Last Run of Likker" with Popcorn Sutton. Haha... stuff is poured in the still through a sieve, uncleared.

[Teddysad]

look at a jiggle syphon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-451 ... B002QRWGLQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[hoot]

look at a jiggle syphon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-451 ... B002QRWGLQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

They only work with clear fluids because the shaker ball doesn't seal if there are any solids.

[steelmb]

I ferment and distill on the grain, all in the same vessel. I see no need in letting it clear.

[paddy1000111]

When I siphon off I just use a piece of 12mm hose. You can either suck start it manually (its all being boiled anyway if you are ocd clean) or do what I do where I use one of those fuel pump priming bulbs to start it. I put the hose about half way down when I start it and slowly push it down into the barrel as the siphon is running until it sucks up a little bit of junk then pull it back a tiny bit then I know I am at the bottom of the barrel. As the barrel gets to the bottom I follow the level down with the hose until its empty. I get maybe half a teaspoon of sediment in the boiler, nothing to worry about.

[hoot]

Seen a guy on youtube use one of then tiny craftsman vacuums to vacuum transfer. Worked really slick

[shadylane]

I read somewhere that it is recommended to let a wash rest for a few days+, in the cool, before running it. My question is .. is this correct and why?

If your making a wash for neutral, letting it settle helps.

[cranky]

personally I think not letting it settle can give a yeasty flavor to the final product.

[Alchemist75]

I let mine settle but only because it's a sign my wash is done. When I pour into the boiler some of the trub gets mixed in but I'm not clear that it's hurting anything.

[LWTCS]

Get yourself a racking cane that has a suction end that points upward and is out of the yeast cake. In other words the suction end draws from the liquid above.

[Bushman]

Get yourself a racking cane that has a suction end that points upward and is out of the yeast cake. In other words the suction end draws from the liquid above.

Adding to LWTCS’s comment see how I set it up on my post above!

Teddysad
look at a jiggle syphon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow ... B002QRWGLQ

That siphon looks interesting could use that end on a garden hose to empty my cooling barrel.

[8Ball]

I've yet to let anything clear.
An auto siphon is a great tool for getting the liquid out. Pump n' go.

auto_siphon.jpg

For grains, I auto siphon off the top liquid and squeeze the grain in a brew bag in a mop bucket.

mop bucket.jpg

But it's cloudy when going into the still.

+1 on the brew bag and mop bucket. I use a paint strainer bag from Home Depot, about $3. I just scoop everything out of the fermenter with a pitcher, and squeeze the bag with the mop bucket, then it goes straight into the boiler, yeast and all. Only whiskies and rums, its always cloudy, even milky. Never have a problem with scorching using propane. Strip and spirit works and it is always nice and clear.