StillSmart

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-24T07:37:47+00:00

When I started this experiment I used the plastic pipe and stone that came with the aquarium kit. The experiment was a success but the stone disintegrated after about 48Hrs in use. I decided to continue with the experiment using an open ended plastic pipe but someone put me in the direction of the steel stone that Mash mentioned.

When I went on to the site I spotted the stone with the length of steel pipe, a bit pricey but I didn’t want any more problems with the experiment, so went for that.

Now that we have had a good look at the system I would have no hesitation in recommending the £3.99 stone to anyone setting up in this system. The aquarium air pump that I use is £7.99 on ebay.

Still away cheaper than lashing out for carbon filtering system.

Pat

Statistics: Posted by Pyro — Sat Feb 24, 2018 7:37 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-24T07:23:55+00:00

Bang on.

'tis really shiney though

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Feb 24, 2018 7:23 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-23T23:21:46+00:00

A Stainless wand doesn't bring much to the party, and the sellers description of not being able to sink a stone is laughable.
Mine sink like a ....stone..

If you use the same length of 'plastic' tube, of whatever plastic family enough times it will eventually run out of the possible leachable plasticisers that send some distillers into a blue funk.

You have more chance of injesting plasticisers from your supermarket shopping.

I am not suggesting extensive use of plastic in distilling.

Merely perspective.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:21 pm

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-23T13:08:40+00:00

I bought a 3.99 ebay stone and run it on plastic pipe, for 1/2 hour I don't see an issue.

Thats said for £18 you can get an air-stone on a length of ss tube...

https://www.brewbuilder.co.uk/air-stone-wand.html

PS I like the wand but I am just toooo tight to spend that much

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:08 pm

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-23T13:00:46+00:00

I am interested in this, I often feel some batches air better than others, probably due to temp/humidity/air flow

if I were to use an cheap aquarium pump system with this stone would I need to keep the plastic pipes out of the spirit, or can you buy suitable pipes?

Statistics: Posted by BadDesign — Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:00 pm

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-20T09:33:25+00:00

I had the kit already for beer - which was pointless IMO. Wine doesn't need it.

But spirits - well impressed.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:33 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-20T09:03:26+00:00

I have tried aerating some ruff alcohols and all have been improved by the process.

I got the original idea from an old wine making book,which recommend poring wine back and forth between 2 containers in order remove nasty smells and bad tastes. It didn't work too well with wine but sure works with alcohol.

Statistics: Posted by Pyro — Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:03 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-20T08:23:59+00:00

Hmm. I like your thinking.

I don't know if it is improving it or polishing out the imperfections?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:23 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-20T08:11:36+00:00

Well that’s really interesting isn’t it? I wonder what the science is that’s happening? And whether it would improve say a commercial whisky ?

Statistics: Posted by H12rpo — Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:11 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-20T05:46:48+00:00

I have now trialled this side by side. One pumped for 30mins. One shaking hourly all day and then leaving it open overnight.

Quite honestly you wonder if it's the same stuff in both bottles.

So no, IMO you cannot get the same result by shaking.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Feb 20, 2018 5:46 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-10T08:37:38+00:00

Pyro wrote:
Don't really carbon filter any more.

Absolutely. That's my problem.

Nice one Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:37 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-10T07:39:30+00:00

Don't really carbon filter any more.

Statistics: Posted by Pyro — Sat Feb 10, 2018 7:39 am

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-09T21:14:13+00:00

Mash wrote:
After a few trials now convinced this is a tool for polishing. The rougher the subject the more obvious the improvement.

Next up some premium kale (non filtered).

It would be good for someone could compare against carbon filtered spirits...

Same base - just air.
Same base - carbon filtered.
Same base - carbon filtered and then air.

I think it might still prove worthy.

If no one beats me to it, I will give this a go next week with my Tamarind brew.

I have not tried aerating strip, so cannot comment on it's quality.
I will add a fourth class to the above test,aerated strip.
I remain sceptical.
Equally if you can strip a brew, it is not much more work to spirit run and make cuts.
I await next weeks efforts with interest.
I will call on the tasting expertise of a friend, who seldom drinks but can blind taste and identify any number of Malt whiskey's.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:14 pm

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-09T15:00:32+00:00

More like,"this is an easy way to produce good drinkable booze" then " this is a slightly more complicated method which will produce slightly better booze".The idea is to help people succeed, as a failure will probably result in the AS getting assigned to the back of a cupboard or Ebay.

Remember the AS is also known as the EasyStill, lets make it so.

Statistics: Posted by Pyro — Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:00 pm

Re: Air stones for airing spirits

2018-02-09T13:26:00+00:00

I agree in principle.
But how will it work...

"This is how you do it"
and once you have done it
"this is the better way to do it"?

Given there are a number of ways already, when I answer a post I give the best advice I can.

We see posts all the time that make you wonder... But that's what the forum is for.

I like what you are saying but does it potentially make it more complicated.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri Feb 09, 2018 1:26 pm