Dextrose

[Andy]

I was toying with the idea of using Dextrose.

How would this work? better or not ?

[Crusty]

Hi Andy,
This sugar is simply \"glucose\" and is able to be fermented immediately by all yeasts with no conversion required as with white cane sugar. This means the yeast can produce very clean, neutral alcohol more quickly. Dextrose dissolves more easily than white sugar allowing us to mix easier at lower start temperatures. You do need to use more Dextrose to white sugar for the same size wash, 7kg dextrose to 6kg white sugar.

I have used both & personally they both fermented out to the 990mark & the extra cost of the dextrose wasn\'t worth the almost unmeasureable difference in quality of the wash. I got 89-90% using both.

I\'d stick with the white sugar, it\'s quite a bit cheaper.
Brian

[Andy]

Thanks Brian.

I was told that the end result would be a cleaner spirit.

The never ending search for the ultimate spirit made me think it would be worth a try, but maybe not.

[Crusty]

Hi Andy,

By all means give it a go & see if there is any differences for you. I think you\'ll do as I did & go back to the white sugar after a couple of batches. When distilling in the past, using dextrose & white sugar, after fermentation finished, usually by day 7 or 8, I stirred it up quite vigorously & left it alone for another week. I didn\'t bother with any clearing agents, gelatine or turbo clear. I just let it settle on its own. I\'ve heard gelatine is great at clearing the wash also.
Brian

[marc83]

Ive never used plain white sugar,although at some stage i will be trying it along with other turbo yeasts.The wifes grandfather uses plain sugar,and he gets a good spirit,he uses an airstill.I guess its a matter of personal tastes along with alot of other things in this hobby.I was also once told,when asking about plain vs dextrose,the cheaper the better...I get Dextrose cheap from my local HBS so not a problem for me.

[Andy]

Its about twice the price of white sugar isnt it?

[marc83]

OK,after searching around,found New World Supermarkets latest pamphlet online,usually stuffed in the letterbox,On special this week Chelsea Sugar 1.5kg is $2.69

So 7KG of Chelsea would cost me $12.55

I get 7KG Dextrose for $12.60 from my HBS

5c savings for me if i use Plain.
But remembering that the Chelsea is on special and yes there will be cheaper no frills brand sugars out there.I guess a bulk supply store would have it cheap as chips.When i do eventually try a plain sugar wash i will probably go with Chelsea.

The wifes grandfather uses Plain sugar and has tried a couple different(cheaper) ones,and has found chelsea is best for him,he wont use anything else.

others may disagree but each to their own.

[hoppinmad]

hi marc83, sounds like sugars expensive in nz, i buy a 25kg sack for £13.99 (thats about $30 nz)never used dextrose tho, although i do buy spraymalt for my beer, thats about 4times more expensive than sugar but worth it in a quality brew
hoppin

[marc83]

Hey hoppin,

Would have to check what a 25kg of plain sugar is worth,or sugar from a bin-inn type store,that was just prices from a local supermarket,and it was chelsea which i guess is the better plain sugar here in NZ,so a no-frills type will be cheaper.im happy with using dextrose and probably wont change as im not making stupidly huge amounts of booze so the savings i may make would be bugger all.

In saying all that i will still be experimenting with a plain sugar wash at some stage.

[HangOver]

you\'ll never notice the difference, just use the sugar.

I use brown cane sugar because its cheapest, in the final product, no difference

[Rich]

Hello, me again. Nearly 12 months since I\'ve posted but I\'m back and gonna hang around this time. Started distilling more often now and getting into it. Anyway, I\'ve never used plain sugar. I get dextrose monohydrate from work, and although it\'s becoming harder to throw the odd bag in the boot of my car I still seem to be getting away with it. Plus it seems to work, 7kg come out at about 55% not 60%, but that probably has more to do with me than the dextrose. A 25kg bag of dextrose monohydrate is around £10-£15 I think if you buy one or two bags.