Welcome to the forums!

[mozr]

I don't understand why being able to make cheap tax free booze would attract Yorkshiremen?

It's not as though they have a reputation for being tight or anything...

</Lancashire Bias>

[wifflow1]

Hi All,
been trawling your site now for a couple of weeks now and have gained a vast amount of knowledge. I have been a wine/beer brewer for many years but decided to get myself an air still about six months ago, wasn't very successful with that but learnt the basics. Upgraded to a T500 several weeks ago and with help from the propietor of the 'Happy Brewer' in Bedford (a great guy and well stocked shop)have managed to produce washes that weren't good but to be fair to him he does not distill spirit but he did tell me about this site and Im glad he did.
Used turbo yeasts for my first couple of washes but did find them abit smelly. I use a EZ filter and even distilled twice but could not get rid of that smell so, after reading some of the great and informative comments on this site I am about to try a turbo star and to use the cutting method.
A great site, really pleased to be part of it, dont feel so frustrated or alone now!! Many thanks
wifflow

[Jimmy]

Welcome, and happy distilling!

[monkeyboyuk]

I'd like to say hello too....had my ss about 6months, done a fair few batches now, places like this have and continue to help no end....
Thanks all

[stout]

hello there

i've been reading this site for a good while now
thought i'd join and say hello

i have my first two tomato paste washes a-bubblin as i speak - Jimmy's recipe
they're takin' for bloody ever - freezing house
herself is gettin' impatient
i'm not sayin she's lickin the side of the fermenter but she's not far off
there's discernible thirsty nose prints on both of them each time i check

anyway

hello again and thanks for all the info
hopefully it'll save me from makin' a complete arse of meself when the distillin starts


bye

[MrCat]

i have my first two tomato paste washes a-bubblin as i speak - Jimmy's recipe
they're takin' for bloody ever - freezing house
herself is gettin' impatient

bye

At this time of year I wrap my fermenters in sleeping bags and use a homebrew immersion heater like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310359365447

But the good thing about a slower/longer ferment is that in general it gives a cleaner product with less off tastes

[stout]

thanks mr cat

i had a sleeping bag wrapped around one but as i say - herself keeps checkin to see if it's miraculously turned into vodka overnight so it was less than useless

good to know that a slow brew is a good brew though
i do slow ones for apfelwein and a nicer, smoother,stronger fallin' down water doesn't exist

though i like the look of those wee immersion heater do-dads


i don't drink - i got the recipe off of here cos before i found this site i knew less than bugger all about washes and distilling - but where it is i know not - sorry


thanks again

bye

[Jimmy]

Tomato wash:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29&p=118&hilit=tomato+paste#p118

And Apfelwein eh.... recipe please!

[stout]

hello there jimmy

the apfelwein recipe is edwort's off of homebrewtalk

nothin special i thought at first but the size of the message thread for it is testament to it's quality

it's just a turbo cider with a posh german accent but bugger me it turns out well when you bottle it and let it hang about for a while

[The Real Yahoorsur]

Hi,
nice to see a forum like this,found this by accident
I bought a smartstill a few months ago and haveused it a few times,well impressed with it,although the Mrs is'nt!! ,but she did come up trumps at Christmas buying me The Alaskan Bootleggers Bible!! hoping to learn a lot from the more experienced distillers here.

[YHB]

Welcome aboard - I hope you find what you are looking for in this forum, if not just ask and I am sure you will get a friendly response.

[Spit the Dog]

Hi You lot !!!! Having been a home made beer bloke for years when I was bring up my kids I stopped brewing my own beer as it was only slightly more costly to buy it from the local supermarket. For around the last 10 years my favourite tipple has been Vodi & Orange due to the beer and middle age giving me a bit of a pot belly lol. Over the years the cost of spirits in the UK has made buying a bottle of Vodka a bit of a treat. I am now the proud owner of a StillSpirits MH643T/S (whatever that is) and have put on my first wash today.
Unfortunately I got the temperature wrong (probably due to me doing things the way I used to years ago when I brewed beer), 40c and had to stand it out in the cold to cool down to 30c I them relocated it in my spare bedroom with a heating belt on only to discover hours later that the temp of the wash had dropped to 20c (think I might have a poltergeist) so I have wrapped it up in my dressing gown and stuck it by the radiator to warm it up. No femertation as yet but I have high hopes of it starting during the night. One thing is for sure, I’m not throwing away my first attempt. I never had this problem with brewing beer lol. Will let you know if your interested how it goes.

[Spit the Dog]

Hi Aidanmac

Good news, It’s bubbling like a Jacuzzi Yippee !!!!!!!!. I took out about a gallon and heated it up on the stove, probably killed off the yeast in that gallon but put it back into the rest of the wash and BINGO it’s going like the clappers. So I’m abbreviated to STD am I lol sounds good to me . Catch yer laters >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Old MacDonald]

Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd say hello. Nice to find a forum on this side of the Atlantic

Am planning/researching a simple pot still head which is removable from a short 54mm Ø column then a reflux column can be added (was originally going with a 'Bokakob' LM but am now thinking about a VM head. With enough slip-joints and less speeding tickets I could try both!). Boiler will be a 50L keg & 3kw variable-control immersion element. All pretty predictable.

Sláinte,
Mac

[Capt-Cudellez]

Welcome Spit and Mac.

Mac - you seem to know what you are after, what is your drink of choice?