Home Distiller

Hello. Any input on this would be very appreciated. I just started to get into distilling and have done all my cleaning runs and also a TPW run for my sacrificial run. On to what was going to be my first real run which I decided to do a sweet feed mash (link below).

Recipe:
https://www.howtomoonshine.co/blogs/rec ... ine-recipe
Sweet Feed:
https://www.mrpets.ca/online/hi-pro-cob ... attle-20kg

My OG was very low I though at 1.052. As it listed one packet of yeast I thought it wouldn't hurt to add a little more so I did add 2 tbsp's in total of distiller's yeast. Fermentation took off well (68 degree environment) and I left it for two weeks. Action on the air lock stopped after about four days. When I checked SG yesterday I got a reading of 1.020. Gave it a big stir and popped the lid back on, bubbled a tiny amount for a bit then nothing. Last night I moved it to a warmer area (72 degrees) and checked this morning..no action. I am not sure now if I should add a little yeast nutrient to try to kick start it or something else went wrong. I did not cook the mash. Any thoughts?

Try looking here for your answer:
viewtopic.php?t=14586

If you use the SG Calculator on this page, enter your measurements. I assume you used 5 lbs sugar and 5 gallons water. Based on the calculator, it says you would have a starting gravity of 1.046 which should yield potentially 7% alcohol. I know this is not 100% accurate, but it's close enough.

Now if you enter the starting gravity (1.052) and the current gravity (1.020) in this calculator, it says you currently have 4.128% alcohol. This leads me to believe it has not finished fermentation.

My first thought would be to check the ph.

Thank you for the direction guys. I will look at my Ph level when I get home. I couldn't get to the link for the SG but I'll try to find another one.
I had searched other sweet feed links but I did not find that particular link. I will be trying their method.
Thank you

There is a great sweet feed recipe on here somewhere look at Tried & True

Make sure your sweet feed has NO pellets in it.

Here is how I do mine:

8 gallon fermenter
4 " or so sweet feed in the bottom.
mix 8 pounds sugar with 3 gallons of boiling water
pour in with SF. Let stand with a cover for 30 minutes or so
Add cold water to the 7 gallon mark.
I generally then place in my fermenter room ( 77 degrees)
The next morning I add exactly 1/2 oz by weight of red star bread yeast
Cap it and wait 2 weeks

Single run and enjoy or age

Coyote

Scoop out a half gallon of grain and replace with new, Start Generation 2 with the same
sugar & water. NO yeast. I have gone to 7 generations

Coyote

Sure enough my ph was 2.9. I added a tsp of calcium carbonate but it never even budged. Think I'll dump this one and try again with one of the recipes suggested.

stillchillin wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:08 pm Sure enough my ph was 2.9. I added a tsp of calcium carbonate but it never even budged. Think I'll dump this one and try again with one of the recipes suggested.

Don't dump it. Try some calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) to bump the pH up (and oyster shells) and run it if it's stuck beyond saving...

Cheers,
jonny