StillSmart

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-26T06:44:07+00:00

It's on the to do list now!

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:44 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-26T00:43:33+00:00

I had not considered spraying until your post.
Pouring,watering can style,seems to be as effective as spilling petrol when re-fueling the mower.
Might pour some into a bottle and try spraying.
May work as an insecticide,if not a herbicide that way.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:43 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-24T07:40:14+00:00

Fermenting is gardening, not science.

I really like that - makes a lot of sense in a few words. there is an awful lot we still do not know about what yeast does and the way it does it.

Robert, I agree with you - I keep and use all my scrap alcohol. It is very good for keeping your bottles fresh, as well as screen wash and a surface cleaner. I had never thought of your use as a weedkiller are you spraying it on?

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:40 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-24T07:14:03+00:00

I think that I am agreeing with you there Chill,in both posts.
I started for low cost,easy alcohol.
These days I want the finest stuff that I can make,and if it means pouring low quality alcohol to waste,I am happy to do it.
Responsibly,as an organic weedkiller is one good use for it.
Sometimes distilling errors can be rectified,if not,lose it.
Hey,it's as cheap as chips.
Ferments going wrong can be much more problematic.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:14 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-24T05:23:35+00:00

chill wrote:
You really, really can NOT do this by measurements alone until you have a lot of experience and are running exactly the same wash time after time. And even then there will be subtle variations.

Case in point: I went to check the cuts on a run of my standard sugar wash that I distilled yesterday. For each 4L, I took 50ml of fores, 500ml of heads, and then collected in small 100ml jars. I was surprised that the fourth 100ml jar in still had a prominent heads taste and I could detect heads in the hearts. Obviously, something has done very wrong with this ferment. It has been hot lately and may have gotten infected. It never fully cleared. So all went back into a container and I will try again to see if anything can be salvaged.

Fermenting is gardening, not science.

Chuck

Statistics: Posted by chill — Fri Jul 24, 2015 5:23 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T22:02:15+00:00

I will confess to having a bias towards quantity early in my journey. Headaches (in the very early days) and an increasing awareness of what I could make have driven me on a quality goal. I am getting better every year. Well, give or take some Great Gin Disasters.

Statistics: Posted by chill — Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:02 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T21:23:35+00:00

Unless its made to the best of my ability, there is no point doing it.

Yeah. Quite agree.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:23 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T19:48:49+00:00

Appreciated Chuck, thankyou.

At the end of the day, I don't really care about my losses at the moment. Its all a learning curve and am looking forward to sipping some real good homemade liquid gold in the future.

I have drunk some dodgy homemade wines in the past but this is a different level. Unless its made to the best of my ability, there is no point doing it.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:48 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T19:23:11+00:00

No need to take more fores. I'd take 300ml of heads, then collect in small 100ml amounts (small jars or glasses). Dip your finger in each after collecting and taste. You will see where the heads taste goes away. Collect the heads all together, dilute and run once you have 4L. Do not mix back in with the wash (waste of time and energy, as it is already partially distilled).

Chuck

Statistics: Posted by chill — Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:23 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T18:17:20+00:00

Chill

You are spot on mate. I wasn't happy at all with the hearts. There is still quite a strong smell to it, although it tastes much, much better than my previous attempts following ' Love Brewings' shortened version.

I'm going to mix the heads and hearts back together, water back down and restill it. I will follow your advice by taking the 600ml heads. Will I have to take as much fores, considering the amout I took out previously.

Will definately do it with the jars this time.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:17 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T14:49:59+00:00

If that's the case with 600ml of heads you'll only get a small amount of good stuff??

Regarding heads..
I'm doing my second spirit run this weekend and I've got 750ml of heads from the last run... Is it more beneficial to save the heads until I get 2L for a cheeky little extra special spirits run or throw them in with the stripped wash then dilute before the main event?

S4BB

Statistics: Posted by Spirits4BB — Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:49 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T14:16:30+00:00

Just a note that I find there is a lot more than 250 ml of heads in a 4L AirStill run. For my washes, it is closer to 600ml before I can't taste them anymore. You might want to follow the instructions here more closely and collect in small jars until the heads taste fully goes away. You will get a better produce. You really, really can NOT do this by measurements alone until you have a lot of experience and are running exactly the same wash time after time. And even then there will be subtle variations. Taste is your friend here.

Chuck

Statistics: Posted by chill — Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:16 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T12:08:45+00:00

Sorry guys, I did take out the heads.

I took a total of 250 ml out and aired them for 24 hours. Going to save them for my next wash which I will be starting later today so will post about it in the appropriate section.

Statistics: Posted by Still Brewing — Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:08 pm

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T06:24:30+00:00

Still Brewing wrote:
...

I'm thinking it was accidently chucked out.

Just a footnote really, but I never chuck anything alcoholic out. I keep all my ullage and then run it as cleaning fluid. Comes in very useful and saves a lot of time for beer and winemaking.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:24 am

Re: Not Collecting Tails

2015-07-23T00:01:00+00:00

As Chill has already asked,did you make a heads cut in there?
Re-reading your post it seems that you did.
If this is so ,just dilute to your chosen drinking strength and enjoy in some way.
If you missed the heads cut,then it will taste better than the result of the instructions that come with a Smart/airstill,but could lead to banging headaches.
The way that I read your posts,You have stripped the wash,2nd distilled and taken Fores and heads out of the result,to be left with clean hearts.
If this is not correct,come back and ask more questions.
ATB

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:01 am