Distilling on grain: steam or thumper?
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:44 pm
Let’s say that I have a 5 gallon fermenter full of an all grain mash which was fermented on the grain. The tools at my disposal are an 8 gallon still and a 3 gallon thumper, and the ability to connect them in any I like. How would you do it?
Let’s also assume that however it’s done, there will be a stripping run and a spirit run.
Option 1. No thumper, no grain. Drain off all the liquid, then put the wet grain into a press and squeeze out all the goodness I can. Put that in the still and run as normal: still -> condenser
Option 2. Grain in the thumper. Drain off most of the liquid and put that in the still, and put the wet grain in the thumper. Run as normal: still -> thumper -> condenser
Option 3. Steam strip. Put everything into the still, but connect it backwards, so that it’s fed by the thumper and the output goes to the condenser. Fill the thumper with water and heat that. Thus: thumper -> still -> condenser
I’m really curious to know if there’s a noticeable difference between options 2&3. I read some about steam stripping, and it seems to me that unless I’m missing something it’s pretty much comparable to just putting the grain in the thumper. The only real advantages I can see are that it’s impossible to scorch anything, and it’s super simple to just dump the entire fermenter into the still. But I’m sure there’s something I’m missing, so I’m asking the fine folks here for your opinions and advice.
Let’s also assume that however it’s done, there will be a stripping run and a spirit run.
Option 1. No thumper, no grain. Drain off all the liquid, then put the wet grain into a press and squeeze out all the goodness I can. Put that in the still and run as normal: still -> condenser
Option 2. Grain in the thumper. Drain off most of the liquid and put that in the still, and put the wet grain in the thumper. Run as normal: still -> thumper -> condenser
Option 3. Steam strip. Put everything into the still, but connect it backwards, so that it’s fed by the thumper and the output goes to the condenser. Fill the thumper with water and heat that. Thus: thumper -> still -> condenser
I’m really curious to know if there’s a noticeable difference between options 2&3. I read some about steam stripping, and it seems to me that unless I’m missing something it’s pretty much comparable to just putting the grain in the thumper. The only real advantages I can see are that it’s impossible to scorch anything, and it’s super simple to just dump the entire fermenter into the still. But I’m sure there’s something I’m missing, so I’m asking the fine folks here for your opinions and advice.