StillSmart

Hi all, I'm finally ready to crack on and get brewing and distilling again, a few more quick questions as I'm got a lot to catch up on, hope it's ok just putting it in general,
Now I want to upgrade my airstill, it's not feasible for a proper still so will be looking at the t500 with reflux and also with alembic pot head, il be making vodka and whisky mainly with some rum chucked in, however have also seen the grain father, and I'm just a bit confused, is this a still or a mashing tun, I have a digital mash tun at the minute but obviously have to stand over stirring while turning up to different temps for the different ingredients, so what is exactly the difference or do I need both. I will be doing a lentil wash for vodka I've read that's one of the best, but il also be doing my whiskey from rye corn etc and rum from molasses not just the flavoured essences.

Also yeast wise, I've read the turbo star isn't the best ? I'm not to bothered about a super fast fermentation I'd rather have a slower and better product, so what shall I use ?

Thanks in advance you've always helped in the past

Hi Chris, a g/father is mainly a mash-tun but can be used as a still, if
you already have a mash-tun that runs efficiently i would opt for the T500.
saves a bit cash, as for the alembic pothead i would do a bit of research,
i have a brewing buddy that has one and he wished he had built his own. He
feels the leibig arm is a bit on the small side. I can't personally comment
as iv'e never seen it in use.

On the yeast side of things, ive done the lentil/split-pea nuetrals, with
bakers yeast and they do work. The vodka star yeast is what i use now, i
find lower sugar content and keeping it at the lower end of the temp scale
i get just as good results. Higher temps result in funky smells and taste.
Lower temps in the low 20%s normally take 7-10 days and it ferments out
well below zero and its nice and clean.
Not that i do much nuetral now, i do a few runs in the winter time and it
gives me enough to do some gin, and my orange-vodka in the airstill during
the summer months.

Anyways good to see your back in the swing of things. hope something here
helps.

CHEERS_BD

Ahh I see, from what I've read in essence if the grain father a just chuck ingredients in and leave it, it mixes it all for you constantly ? How good is it as a still ? I was thinking grain father with alembic lid and condenser and then t500 with copper reflux column then there's 2 with different capabilities ?

Welcome back. I can't comment on the setup you mention. I use a BM and airstills.

As for yeast I am like you - fast is not important. I did a lot of washes this year to prove some stuff about yeast to myself. 5kg / 100g bakers yeast at 25c. Works best. PH buffers seemed irrelevant. But you do need nutrition. Trono leaves a taste, lentils and wheat are OK. Kale I found easiest, and has the best result (most nuetral)

I also use a BM for mashing...but I went with the basic T500...then I built a pothead for it...now have just started building a 3" LM/VM column.

It's really up to you what you want...IMHO go with a basic 500..then add whatever you need as you go.

Thanks for the advice , here's a stupid question what's a BM

Distillingchris wrote:Thanks for the advice , here's a stupid question what's a BM

It one of these

A braumeister is a German beer brewing machine which is fully automatic (well almost). It is impossible to justify the cost but makes stunning beer.

If the Mrs asks then its considerably cheaper than a GrainFather, that should be all the justification you need!!

So now you've gone full circle here....you mentioned Grainfather in your opening post and Mash has filled you in on BM.

Grainfather is a down-market BM.
Not being unkind to it, but big difference in price in favour of GF. Nothing wrtong with that
Comparisons have been done between the two, jury seems to be out, so pretty favourable.
For me it works well and I'm very happy with mine. I'm itching to get the alembic dome ( the stainless set up on the T500 doesn't quite do it for me but likely never will. I did for a long time consider getting the T500 boiler for sparge but in end opted for the GF sparge urn.

FWIW new electric control module will be released for the GF later this year, in UnZud at least, moves into automation.

Benoit pointed out a VERY important consideration.......

Thanks for the info, yes very pricey, got everything on ferment now, I've done the kale wash aswell it shows about 1.070 at start is that about normal or should it be higher ?

That all depends on how much sugar you put in mate

Just followed his recipe 4kg in 23l

Then your hydrometer reading sounds to be about right.

ATB.

Robert.