StillSmart

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2013-11-20T15:51:17+00:00

First time brewer here. I've decided to throw caution to the wind and try the 23% turbo yeast as an introduction.

Here's a video of it after 48 hours. http://tinypic.com/r/avrklv/5

Crikey!

Looking forward to trying it with my cheap home made reflux still :

Statistics: Posted by Brewcreep — Wed Nov 20, 2013 3:51 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2013-03-13T09:47:49+00:00

Absolutely agree with YHB on this.

Different people want different things from distilling and we have had a few members in the past who's main interest is making large amounts of ETHANOL for drinking and quite happy to drink whatever gives them the desired effect or buzz and if that's what floats your boat then I, for one, will defend your right to do just that.

In general, the majority of the membership here are more interested in producing quality rather than quantity when it comes to spirits for drinking but with the cost of fuel these days I expect we are all likely to take a greater interest in the production of high ABV washes in pursuit of producing ETHANOL fuel for our cars, lawnmowers, generators, etc, etc.

So, stick with us MickeyHog, your experience with high strength washes may prove invaluable in the future.

One suggestion, abusing others won't go down well and won't do you any favours.

Other than the above, Welcome aboard

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:47 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2013-03-12T06:21:05+00:00

MikeyHog wrote:
but dont let any of these master distiller fools tell you

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MH

I am glad that you have an opinion and this forum gives you the an excellent oppurtunity to express them.

Others have their opinions too, please allow them the same privilege of expressing their opinions them without calling them fools.

This is a friendly place, it would be so nice to keep it that way.
------------

MikeyHog wrote:

If you know what your doing distilling then the end result is the same.ETHANOL [/quote]

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The points you do not address in your post are taste, flavour and a product that will not make you ill the following day. It is my honest opinion that the end results are anything but the same.

Statistics: Posted by YHB — Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:21 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2013-03-12T00:37:51+00:00

Hi. I cant believe the crap that I am hearing here regarding Distilling.Turbo Yeasts Have revolutionised the way we mash and distill,a few years ago we would at best have hoped for 10 to 12 percent return,I have been using turbos and getting over twenty percent for three years now with no problems.Turbo klar clearing agent is great when it works but i find one out of every twenty batches fails,probably due to temperature,I have seen the coagulations rise to the top,I have seen clumps forming on the bottom.Time cures all these problems but dont let any of these master distiller fools tell you that turbos are no good.Works fine at 17 degrees but takes a few weeks,works as well at 30 but only takes a few days.If you know what your doing distilling then the end result is the same.ETHANOL.

Statistics: Posted by mikeyhogg — Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:37 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-06T09:35:02+00:00

AT you are definitely a Good Samaritan - your kindness probably saved that man from the undrinkable!

AM

Apologies - couldn't resist that LOL

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sun May 06, 2012 9:35 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-06T07:54:06+00:00

Oddly enough AM, Bob at brew online from where I got the cheap vodka star had been trying the undistilled route and wasn't too impressed especially compared to the couple of bottles I sent him as a thank you

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Sun May 06, 2012 7:54 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-05T20:00:09+00:00

Don't get me wrong Bill, each to his/her own but as you say, there are some you will use and some you won't.

My opinion is intended for beginners who ask questions about turbos and are not sufficiently experienced to distinguish between what's useable and what's not. You can make such decisions and I'm sure there are many pros and cons for various packages available. Based on my experience I offered an opinion on a question asked. In general, when I offer an opinion, that's all it is, my opinion and I will always err on the side of caution and safety.

As a wine and beer maker as well as distiller, it makes perfect sense to me that anything you have to add carbon to while fermenting, that stinks so much you can't keep it in the house or that tastes absolutely vile when the ferment is finished is probably not suitable for drinking without serious distillation to remove the impurities that cause those problems - regardless of the claims of the manufacturers - ever tried Alcotec's 5Lt Spirit Base Kit.

This is what Alcotec say about this product;
"This kit will make 5 litres of up to 20% very pure alcohol by fermentation. The spirit kit contains all you need, except normal sugar and pure water, to produce 5 litres of 20% alcohol which can then be flavoured with any essence you prefer."

Not on your Nellie Alcotec! I made one of these, (highly embarrassed about it too )tried all sorts of flavourings but it was absolutely vile and, I kid you not, it was not fit for human consumption despite the manufacturers outlandish claims. You'd have to be a serious meths drinker to be able to stomach it.

I use Vodka Star for making neutral quickly and the wash is quite clean and while you could drink it I can't think of a single reason why anyone would want to because it's flavourless wine and no matter what flavour you add it will still taste like really cheap wine with something added to try to make it palatable.

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sat May 05, 2012 8:00 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-05T15:23:07+00:00

Sorry Aidan i dont totally agree some turbos i would use some i would not,i've been using Essencia Super 6 for brewing white wine for a couple of years with very good results,Essencia super 6 use a maurivin yeast I believe and use dap for the nitrogen/neutrient just like a lot of wine recipies require. opinions on our forum seem to favour vodka star but imho Essencia super six is by far superior espesially if you only use 5.5 kg of sugar,The only draw back with the essencia yeast is its price £4.20/5.18 euro per 100 grm packet.I make wineos wash for neutral purly and simpley because of the price.Vodka Star yeast is also promoted for making wash to be flavoured with essance so it must be safe to drink in its wine form.Alcotec advise the use of carbon when a wash/wine is made for flavouring

Statistics: Posted by billmcc — Sat May 05, 2012 3:23 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-04T18:45:29+00:00

All the old hands here will be going, "here he goes again" and they're not wrong. I've said it before and here I go again - High yield turbo yeasts are rubbish and there's good reason why most experienced hands here don't use them. But 10% - ouch! bet that hurt

Vodka Star (VS) says turbo on the label but it's not. VS will return a consistent 13-14% even if you mess it up and it will take 4-5 days to ferment dry and a few more to clear. VS does not require carbon in the wash.

As for not distilling it !!! Don't go there - seriously!

Any wash intended for distilling, including Vodka Star or Classic and especially those high yield turbo yeasts, are not fit for human consumption without distilling, in fact most require double distilling unless very careful cuts are made. This is because there are some very nasty substances in the wash, which are safely removed during the distillation process, and you really don't want to consume those substances.

Drinking a distillers wash will, in all probability, make you very ill and may have lasting effects.

The alcohol content of a distiller's wash will often be about 12-14% and if you're not distilling you can easily get that in a decent homemade drinkable wine in about the same time but without the nasty side effects.

This can be a great hobby if you follow the basics and be safe whatever you do.

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Fri May 04, 2012 6:45 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-04T18:40:43+00:00

Vodka star doesn't require liquid carbon

Statistics: Posted by billmcc — Fri May 04, 2012 6:40 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-05-04T18:03:20+00:00

H1 there could anyone tell if you need to use carbon with Vodka Star if your not going to distilling it ?. I have made the Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast i had great problems getting to clear had to do it twice and only ended up with a 10% cloudy spirit.any advice most welcome.

Many thanks

Dan

Statistics: Posted by danseven1 — Fri May 04, 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-04-20T16:27:37+00:00

Thank you for your welcome and help.Going to leave it a bit longer as when I checked it was starting to clear. ordered another turbo clear just in case.

Dan

Statistics: Posted by danseven1 — Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:27 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-04-20T10:04:49+00:00

Yeah as AM says unless you do your own yeast cultures classic and vodkastar perform consistently well. I brew with 8kg in classic and 7kg in vs and often get a finish in the low 980s, so giving a pretty good yield that produces good alcohol.
Keep watching Bobnots posts about a new finings might be a better and cheaper solution for clearing as well.

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:04 am

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-04-19T19:29:01+00:00

Welcome danseven1, can't say I ever had the problem you've encountered. Seem to remember I did a 23% Turbo once - a long time ago.

We all go through that learning curve. 23% ABV sounds attractive - it'll never get to 23% but it looks good on the pack! 17-18% is more likely.

There's a very good reason why most of the more experienced distillers here don't use those high promise turbos. They're just bad news.

As the Admiral said Classic or Vodka Star - slightly lower yield but infinitely cleaner to make and to drink, no nasty surprises and they cost less.

Good luck with it, hope it works out for you and look forward to you becoming an active member. Don't be afraid to ask if you need anything at all!

AM

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:29 pm

Re: Alcotec 23% Turbo Yeast wont clear

2012-04-19T19:13:50+00:00

Only ever used classic and vodka star sorry to sound smug latest classic finished at 982 happy days >:D

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:13 pm