first of all hi and thanks..now is it ruined

[06busa]

hi all,
done a search on the net for my small problem and found this board which has more information and help than i could of imagined, however i have a small problem.

I put my first wash(fermentation stage) down 6 days ago and it was bubbly away nicely then slowed and then the rare bubble which is all to be expected.

I came down stairs this morning to find the airlock out of its hole and sitting on top of the lid.(grrr kids)

is my batch ruined,should i throw it away and start again
thanks to all those who offer advice

Allan

[jdonly1]

I would run it and see how it goes mate Sounds like it was nearly finished fermenting so the alcohol percentage should be able to ward off a few bugs.

[smokerscully1]

I don't use air locks--I don't know if its just me but I've never really had a sugar wash or Pugirum or UJSM go bad. I just use Hooks method, plastic over the top of fermentation bucket with a slit in the top. Some of them smell better than others but I've never had one go sour or anything. I would think if one went bad it would go to vinegar. I just dip my finger in and taste--when I can no longer detect any sweetness I rack it off into a carboy and secure a piece of plastic with rubber band over it. Sometimes they have had to sit for weeks before I found time to run them thru the still. Knock on wood but I've never had a problem.
One thing I noticed with Pugirum is that it smells wonderful while fermenting but kinda tastes skanky when done. Makes a good rum though.

[rad14701]

Welcome to the forum, 06busa...

Sounds like the wash has finished... The best way to tell would be to get yourself a hydrometer and measure the starting specific gravity and then re-check it ask the fermentation slows or stops... I use airlocks partly because that's how I learned fomr my wine days and also because they let me more accurately monitor the amount of CO2 being produced... Once the bubbles get to be few and far between it's time to rack off and run...

Good luck...

[06busa]

thanks guys
i will run with it. i was told to leave it for ten days but what if i understand correctly what you guys are saying is if the hydometer checks in range i can start to distill earlier then 10 days.???

I am yet to purchase my still, the brew shop is trying to sell me a electric pot still looks like a coffee/water filter canaster.... she also has reflux copper type stills as well

quote" this pot still is all i use and my spirts taste as good as the real thing.."

what would you guys recommend..?

I dont think i will be making grain washes for a while probably just sugar and water so retaining flavours wont be an issue..

[Dnderhead]

Your wash is done when 1) it stops bubbling 2) taste dry, like dry wine . how long does it take? that depends
1) how much sugar 2) how much yeast/and type 3)temperature 4) nutrients

[HookLine]

Yup. No more bubbles and no more sweetness = finished.

[Dnderhead]

"a electric pot still looks like a coffee/water filter canister"
In my opinion not worth bothering with, a lot of money to make a small amount.
making one is cheaper and better. I whould not have anything less than 5 gal/20 qt/ liter

[dropping_planets]

I dont think i will be making grain washes for a while probably just sugar and water so retaining flavours wont be an issue..

that will probably last about two runs and than your gonna want to pot still... it's what happened to me .....the coffee pot doesn't sound too fun... probably wanna go with a reflux column you can detune and use as a pot......
i have a completely open ferment on my counter thats been going for ages... it's had sugar(granulated...brown), honey, corn syrup, molasses, apple juice... several of these many times over... quite frequently exposed to cat n dog hair, ants, my fingers, cat tongues... whatever else wanders and floats around my house...this started cause i wanted to see how easy it was to get a vinegar contamination... apparently not as easy as i thought... after all this i've become attached to this colony of bakers yeast... think i'm gonna use em' in a ferment soon.....

[Dnderhead]

"i wanted to see how easy it was to get a vinegar contamination"
Waite until the "fruit flies" are out !

[rad14701]

I am yet to purchase my still, the brew shop is trying to sell me a electric pot still looks like a coffee/water filter canaster.... she also has reflux copper type stills as well

quote" this pot still is all i use and my spirts taste as good as the real thing.."

Sounds like and air-still type to me... There are several threads about 'Still Spirits" or "Easy-Still" or "Smart Still"... You can build a much better still for less...

[dropping_planets]

"i wanted to see how easy it was to get a vinegar contamination"
Waite until the "fruit flies" are out !

didn't think of them ....got all kinds of bugs here comin soon.... it becomes insect world...