Part Grain Vodka Star

[Almanac]

Yes, you read the heading right

I had a load of different grains in my grain bins for too long and wanted to use them up to make room for a new batch so I mashed them a couple of weeks ago.

The grain bill was 6kg of Maris Otter, 1.5kg of Pearl Malt, 1kg of Larger Malt and 500g of roasted Rye malt which resembled coffee beans in colour. The wort produced was really dark-chocolatey-brown and the smell was fantastic.

The mash was done in my 60lt cool box, first time out, and after 90 minutes the wort was ready for drawing off and my filter manifold, pictured below, worked like a charm and I drew off 48lt of deliciously sweet, malty wort.



After the sparge water was added I gave it 15 minutes then drew off another 35lt. The wort was split between two boilers, my 50lt keg and my old 33lt plastic one and boiled to pasteurise it and it was then transferred to 25lt food grade plastic cubes for storage.


Due to being an arse who takes shortcuts when I shouldn't I got scalded during the last phase and while I finished the job before going to the hospital I haven't been able to do anything with the stored wort until today because one hand was all wrapped up in burn dressings but all's well now.

First up I decided to try a partial grain and sugar wash but I didn't have a yeast starter available and then I had the brainwave to use some Vodka Star I have lying around and decided to split one 25lt cube of wort between two washes. This would mean using approx 12.5lt of wort and the same of sugarwater.

I wanted a SG of 1.100 and After testing the wort I worked out that I would need 4kg of sugar and approx 11lt water.

My old plastic boiler was again pressed into service to warm up the wort to match the sugar and water temp...


next I dissolved the sugar in the hot water...



....before adding the warmed wort...



The result was the strangest looking Vodka Star wash I've ever seen...


...but the aroma is just fantastic.

Just for good measure I add in two teaspoons of powdered Amyloglucosidase..


...just in case there are any remaining unfermentable sugars that can be converted

Anyway, I am now the proud owner of two 25lt batches of chocolate brown Vodka Star wash and I can't wait to see how they turn out.

I'll keep you posted because this could be the next big thing

AM

[chill]

I made a Bourbon in a similar fashion, but obviously with a lot of corn and less grains. It turned out decently. I think I will use less sugar and more grains next time.

Let us know how it turns out!

Chuck

[Almanac]

Went down to my 'brewery' this morning to check on this experiment. Both fermenters are in the Hot Box to maintain their temp as it's bloody freezing here - 0oC last night

Anyway, the racket they were both making was awesome.

I usually fit my fermenters with blow tubes but had fitted one fermenter with a standard airlock just because it was handier at the time, but the wash was so active that by this morning it had blown most of the water out so I had to fit a blow tube to that one too so it can blow into a jar of water all it likes.

Very pleased with the level of activity and the aroma is magical - so-far-so-good.

AM