StillSmart

Hi guys, I'm still in the process of making the Still Spirits 'triple distilled' turbo wash. At 7 days I checked the SG which was .992 and the reading was the the same on day 8. Thinking it might need a little more time I left it over the weekend and checked again - still read the same. So, although the SG is a little higher than the instructions recommend, I figured it had probably fermented out.

So, I degassed it and added the finings as per instructions. Now here's the problem. I checked it this morning to see if it was clearing and it was. Beautifully clear but with a tiny bit of froth on top. I thought this might have been due to staring in the finings but as I looked there were bubbles coming up from the sediment. Is this normal or uncommon?

Has the wash gone into secondary fermentation? If so, what do I do about it? Do I just leave it for a couple more days or should I rack it off the sediment and degas again? Any advice will be very gratefully accepted.

I would rack it off again and degas.
Leave a couple more days and rack into the still.

When you are new to this it can all seem scary.
As you put brews and distillations under your belt, then it becomes almost second nature.

Then maybe research alternative washes.
Maybe save your self some cash and some grief.

Robert.

Are you degassing by whipping or shaking?

If so I would guess you have roused the yeast, by getting some air in.

No panic.

Getting air into a stuck ferment is 80% of restarting process. That's what you have done.

Let it finish and then distill.

+1 what Robert said. Try some other recipes. Kale /lentil/tomato paste/www etc.

Threes things that are pointless IMO for spirit ferments
* degassing
* fining
* turbo's

Thanks for that guys. Yes, I degassed by stirring it up vigorously. I only used the turbo stuff because it's what came with the 'starter kit'. In future I'll probably try different recipes though.

I am too smart to disagree with Robert in general, but will make an exception for degassing for small stills including an airstill

I've never had an explosion and am quite happy to keep it that way. Theory involves all sorts of have bits in the wash to avoid surge boils etc, pressure comes out the ethanol outlet etc, but bottom line is nothing holds the lid on.

I have distilled before a wash has completely finished so has had fizz still in it. Short version is with an airstill have it below a shelf so the lid can pop but go nowhere far and with "proper" still have lid well clamped on, loads of headroom and ideally a vent/valve/cork that can release but be contained without becoming a bullet or other missile.

Hey, argue with that Robert geezer, it keeps him on his toes!
Your points regarding an air still are valid.
And your workarounds good.

Robert.

Thanks for the info chaps.

Curmudgeon wrote: Short version is with an airstill have it below a shelf so the lid can pop but go nowhere far and with "proper" still have lid well clamped on, loads of headroom and ideally a vent/valve/cork that can release but be contained without becoming a bullet or other missile.

I do think missile is a bit strong - they burp and fart. Sometimes get a 2-3 foot spray going but I have never heard of the lid actually leaving. I don't think there is enough energy to do that.

Copper in the bottom (some of which should be flat) & a good seal, and everything should be okay.

SIMPLE TEST. If you can pick up the empty boiler by the lid . The seal is okay. If the boiler drops off the seal is due for replacement IMO.

When I used mine I never had a problem. Good advice about the seal Mash..

Mash wrote:
I do think missile is a bit strong - they burp and fart.

Sounds like when my son was a babby and I never let him aim his escape valves at my face

I suggested bungee cords here one time and was corrected, so I settled for running the airstill with top about 3 inches under a very sturdy shelf, but have never had a problem with the lid at all so far.

I now cannot shake the image of an airstill lid parachuting back down to Earth, after being blown sky high.

Robert.

LOL.... nor can I now !!

I re-read the thread and see lots of bungee cord references but no parachutes.

You guys are wierd

Hotlips for the win

I have never seen an Airstill. Are they a pressurized system? I would doubt it.