StillSmart

i have been doing the stripping runs this week and at first i averaged around 61% abv but the last two strips have given me 71%-68% why would this happen with the later runs from the racking barrel..i must also say the carbon residue is like fine sand at the bottom of racking barrel and the wash has cleared to fully see through with no cloudy yellowness at all.. hmmmm im confused..
i used turbo yeast classic 20% , carbon shite, and the 2 part clearing.. my very first attempt as most will know..

Your probably using too much sugar, if your aiming for 20% there's a good chance the yeast will die around this strength, and variations in temperature and yeast may cause it to die off sooner in some cases.

Also depends on how long you collect on your strip run, a shorter run will have a higher abv compared with a longer run.

Personally I aim for around 10% by using no more than 1kg of sugar per 5litres of wash, do yourself a favour, buy another bucket, split the sugar between them and use a better quality yeast like VodkaStar, it will dramatically improve your final product.

And it doesn't need any carbon or finings, just move the bucket somewhere cold when it's finished and it will be clear enough after a day or two, I often don't even bother to clear VodkaStar washes, just put then straight in the boiler and run them.

As Anavrin said.
"..depends on how long you collect on your strip run, a shorter run will have a higher abv compared with a longer run."
Forget putting carbon in your wash.
It only creates mess.
Stick to no more than 5Kg sugar to 25 litres of water.
My Lentil washes get stripped when activity has stopped,not when clear.
Did some of that help?

Robert.

Anavrin wrote:Your probably using too much sugar, if your aiming for 20% there's a good chance the yeast will die around this strength, and variations in temperature and yeast may cause it to die off sooner in some cases.

Also depends on how long you collect on your strip run, a shorter run will have a higher abv compared with a longer run.

Personally I aim for around 10% by using no more than 1kg of sugar per 5litres of wash, do yourself a favour, buy another bucket, split the sugar between them and use a better quality yeast like VodkaStar, it will dramatically improve your final product.

And it doesn't need any carbon or finings, just move the bucket somewhere cold when it's finished and it will be clear enough after a day or two, I often don't even bother to clear VodkaStar washes, just put then straight in the boiler and run them.

hi anavarin
this one im talking about being my first wash fermented its been a learning curve. temps in my house fluctuate drastically.. 16-22 degrees daily.. ( i now know that a constant temp is advised so not to stress the yeast) my new started wash is VS and im not adding the carbon thank fk. lol. (i have ordered a brew mat for heat constant the same)
IVE ADDED THE VS AND THE DEXTROSE. my temp is dropping from 35 to 29 slowly and the VS is added...

my strip runs on the first wash have been sometimes long 1.25-50ltrs and the latter ones with the higher ABV have been in the 125-150ml mark getting weaker in the run by 10% roughly of average..
i dont run the strips to empty in the airstill.. i run the strips to half or 3/4s down and then switch off.. only the last 2 runs have been super high in the strip runs 71-72% from a turbo classic wash with a 20% result aimed as marked on the pack.. the VS is somewhat lower but as ai believe will be cleaner...

Easydrinker wrote:As Anavrin said.
"..depends on how long you collect on your strip run, a shorter run will have a higher abv compared with a longer run."
Forget putting carbon in your wash.
It only creates mess.
Stick to no more than 5Kg sugar to 25 litres of water.
My Lentil washes get stripped when activity has stopped,not when clear.
Did some of that help?

Robert.

thanks again mate. ive not added the carbon and will let the wash settle before racking off, i also have used 1kg to 5 ltrs of water and hope that my starting temp was just right the SG reading seems to suggest its slightly out but hey lets see what happens ... thanks ever so much fro your reply

tasleBHC wrote:...... i dont run the strips to empty in the airstill i run the strips to half or 3/4s down and then switch off.......

How are you measuring alc%?

How are you measuring 3/4s down?

Mash wrote:

tasleBHC wrote:...... i dont run the strips to empty in the airstill i run the strips to half or 3/4s down and then switch off.......

How are you measuring alc%?

How are you measuring 3/4s down?

hi mash i am measuring using an alcohol meter.. gaged for 20degree readings in a 100ml tube.. the way i mesure my strip runs is by pulling off 1500ml from a 4ltr wash each time..
does that make sense??

tasleBHC wrote:

Mash wrote:

tasleBHC wrote:...... i dont run the strips to empty in the airstill i run the strips to half or 3/4s down and then switch off.......

How are you measuring alc%?

How are you measuring 3/4s down?

hi mash i am measuring using an alcohol meter.. gaged for 20degree readings in a 100ml tube.. the way i mesure my strip runs is by pulling off 1500ml from a 4ltr wash each time..
does that make sense??

That does make sense,apart from you telling us the % at which you stop collecting from the strip.
I assume that you are measuring the % of the strip as it leaves the still,into small collecting vessels,before combining, (the correct way) and not just running it into a large vessel and measuring the % of that? Having reached a certain volume?(the incorrect way),that alone would explain your question in the post title.
Have you read this>
download/file.php?id=320
It may help.

Robert.

tasleBHC wrote:hi mash i am measuring using an alcohol meter.. gaged for 20degree readings in a 100ml tube.. the way i mesure my strip runs is by pulling off 1500ml from a 4ltr wash each time..
does that make sense??

Maybe.

Something like this..
https://goo.gl/images/TuYnfQ

Mash wrote:

tasleBHC wrote:hi mash i am measuring using an alcohol meter.. gaged for 20degree readings in a 100ml tube.. the way i mesure my strip runs is by pulling off 1500ml from a 4ltr wash each time..
does that make sense??

Maybe.

Something like this..
https://goo.gl/images/TuYnfQ

mine is more like this https://goo.gl/images/xYvSk8

and i check each 250ml in the tube until it drops to around 30 and then i stop..
the second run of spirit tonight was sooo much better product clearly able to see the hearts coming of and tasting clean.. the horrible tasting stuff has gone into a big jar for next strip run of the VS wash thats bubbling away.. no carbon added ..

The link doesn't work. It's it a spirit hydrometer or a vinometer?

Mash wrote:The link doesn't work. It's it a spirit hydrometer or a vinometer?

hi mash yep its a spirit hydrometer

and ive just read somewhere that the increase is due to concentration of alcohol.. its now regulating to about 78% abv and dropping to 60s through the run..
the 3rd run and its hearts are so sweetly tasting and smooth i am actually impressed with the results..
the heads have got that burny warm mouth feel witha touch of dryness and the tails end up tasting bland with nothing much to them..
the foreshots which are . vile smelling!!... well obviously they gone to clean the drains ..

I am glad that you seem to have got a handle on this.
I will agree with all in your last post except your take on tails.
Bland? More like cardboard with a sprinkling of domesticated animal doo's is the way my mouth tastes them.

All washes are not created equal,and some may taste different.
After a strip, you are approaching what some here may consider a hobbyists, standard neutral spirit run.
Nothing wrong with them,I do them constantly.

If'n you weren't chasing a Rum or a whisky,they will suit just fine.

Robert.

Easydrinker wrote:I am glad that you seem to have got a handle on this.
I will agree with all in your last post except your take on tails.
Bland? More like cardboard with a sprinkling of domesticated animal doo's is the way my mouth tastes them.

All washes are not created equal,and some may taste different.
After a strip, you are approaching what some here may consider a hobbyists, standard neutral spirit run.
Nothing wrong with them,I do them constantly.

If'n you weren't chasing a Rum or a whisky,they will suit just fine.

Robert.

THANKS for your advice and as i can see advice youve given to many before me

Welll all i can say is using the top shelf absinthe flavour im drinking something near to as good as the real deal.. no headache and enjoying the result..
the favorite of mine is the smooth neutral 45% which my girfriend said is similar in smell to slivovica (she's slovakian and her dad might be chuffed with my first neutral lol)
also the bourbon chunks on the go soaked in neutral are already getting hints of that sweet JD taste and scent

(pLUS iVE RUN THIS THREE TIMES ) defo better than the second

i can only expect a better result the next run of ferment on the go using VS + 5KG dextrose and YES to no carbon crap and only the finings A+B to clear..

i will take the leap up to holland and barrett mollases by the fourth ferment as im gonna try the kale wash next and see what happens by the time i get to a rum wash.. hopefully ill of learnt soooo much more

by reading back on post from 2012 and earleir there is so much to gain

Happy for you

Robert.