Many like to post about a first successful ferment (or first all grain mash), or first still built/bought or first good run of the still. Tell us about all of these great times here.
Pics are VERY welcome, we drool over pretty copper
I did a sugar wash sacrificial run a couple weeks ago. I was afraid to use an open flame, so I bought an electric heat plate. It took nearly two hours to get to temp. After a couple hours of collecting (maybe a gallon). I figured the still was clean enough and cut it off. It was very heavy and hard to dump the contents. I also brewed a corn flake / barley mash to run as my first whisky. I tried boil in bag. The cereal clogged the bag, and it was hot and heavy trying to pour out of brew pot.
So I added drains to both, with a screen on the brew pot. I also added a heating element to the still. I'm heat testing it right now. 90 minutes in and it went from 72 to 202. This is outside and uninsulated.
Tomorrow, I plan on doing a stripping run and saving some backwash to use in my next wash.
That looks quite good.
I take from it you ran it in pot still configuration.
What kind of still head have you attached?
Keep on going with the tri-clamps...it's the way to go.
Well, a mash can be hard to get out of that tiny valve you have installed.
If you plan on running mostly mash for whisky I'd recommend a bigger valve like 1" or so.
It will give you the option to drain the remainings even if there are a lot of solids in there.
Be careful not to run too thick a mash or you may risk scorching.
If you’re going to run with that electric element I assume you’re planning on removing the grain from your mash and racking prior to stilling it. In my opinion I wouldn’t run anything but hazy liquid with an electric element. Some others have claimed to run on the grain but apparently I’m not that talented.
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Danespirit wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:41 pm
That looks quite good.
I take from it you ran it in pot still configuration.
What kind of still head have you attached?
Keep on going with the tri-clamps...it's the way to go.
Well, a mash can be hard to get out of that tiny valve you have installed.
If you plan on running mostly mash for whisky I'd recommend a bigger valve like 1" or so.
It will give you the option to drain the remainings even if there are a lot of solids in there.
Be careful not to run too thick a mash or you may risk scorching.
Very true. I 'm new at this and did not consider the thickness of the mash. Only about 1/2 drained easily. I scraped the screen for several minutes to get a bit more to drain. I ended up dumping about 1/3 into a sieve over another pot. Live and learn. Thanks for the input!
Stonecutter wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:47 pm
If you’re going to run with that electric element I assume you’re planning on removing the grain from your mash and racking prior to stilling it. In my opinion I wouldn’t run anything but hazy liquid with an electric element. Some others have claimed to run on the grain but apparently I’m not that talented.
Yes, I have a screen on the mash pot and remove most of the solids. I'm fermenting in a conical fermenter and remove most of the solids through the ball at the bottom. So, it mostly a hazy liquid. I made it through the first stripping run without scorching anything.
