StillSmart

Nah, he doesn't sleep in a jar.
I hear that he sleeps in a box filled with earth from his native land, he apparently has too or will wither and fade.


Robert.

Prefers a shady spot, well drained and south facing. Keep out if the wind. Water regularly. Does need Internet access.

So just over two weeks ago I put on a lentil wash and despite a lively start it soon slowed to a crawl and after two weeks it was no where near finished but had almost stopped, worried about loosing the batch I decided to add some vodka star again an initially lively start and now it's about to stall again.
My temps are good at 28c with not much fluctuation, the only thing I didn't do was rinse the lentils.
Should I dump it out and put it down to experience or do you think it could be saved?

What is the pH? It sound as if the pH is too low (< 3.5). You can try adding a couple tsp of sodium bicarb if you have no way to measure pH and see if that helps. I had a lot of trouble with low pH with this wash.

What's the SG?
How much did you start with.

We need to establish if this is stuck or finished.

There are things we can do.

I was not able to take the ph maybe something I could try next time..
SG was 110 and it's now sat at 32 and still sweet

Give it a good whisking. Get some air in.

sounds like a ph issue... add some pickling lime or some crushed oyster shells and then stir it a bit... sodium bicarb if nothing else on hand last resort as it can cause a blue distillate in a copper column... ph about 5 and it should finish

1.10 is pushing a sugar wash if using bakers yeast... i prefer a little lower

happy stillin

FS

Concurring with the other responses here, Ph issues.
This wash is my "standard neutral" and on days two and three of the ferment, I Ph test and need to add Bicarbonate of Soda,usually a teaspoon or two.

Today I started a couple of washes,all grain malt whisky, and was gobsmacked at the low yeast activity, litmus test showed STARTING Ph was down at 4 or lower (I don't have narrow range litmus paper,and have little faith in the yellow box of Ph electronics that I bought at low cost from Chinaland,even after callibration..)

It has been a while since I had a blue distillate, and would not have put it down to Bicarb.
But what do I know?

Robert.

thanks for the advice, I've just ordered some litmus papers and I'll stick a teaspoon of bicarb in for now and see what happens and let you know if it works.

oyster shells or pickling lime are my go too's

Do not use lime purchased from lumber supply stores as it may contain lead. Pickling lime is found in most grocery stores with the pickling or home canning supplies.

NOT SURE ONE TEASPOON OF BICARB will change the PH much.... fraction of a point maybe depending on wash size... if its a couple liters maybe enough

@easydrinker the link below talks about salt in the wash and also bicarb this is really old stuff but is still relevant enjoy and yes for a neutral i use both if i am not using or reusing the backset...

http://homedistiller.org/distill/dtw/salt


QUOTE: Mike warns though ..
"It's OK to add baking soda or other alkali to a STRIPPED wash, but NEVER put it in the primary ferment and then distill. If you do, and your still contains ANY copper, you will severely corrode the copper, and get blue, ammonia-smelling distillate. Not fun!"

Happy Stillin

FS

i also want to mention if you read and try salt in your spirit run use only non iodized salt...

FullySilenced wrote:oyster shells or pickling lime are my go too's

Do not use lime purchased from lumber supply stores as it may contain lead. Pickling lime is found in most grocery stores with the pickling or home canning supplies.

NOT SURE ONE TEASPOON OF BICARB will change the PH much.... fraction of a point maybe depending on wash size... if its a couple liters maybe enough

OK.
I'll respond to this one now,because I can,quickly.
I'll check out the other when next online, I need sleep!

For me a teaspoon of Bicarbonate of soda in a 23 litre wash raises the Ph by a whole digit.
I am talking heaped not level spoon.
Not wishing to fight, saying it as I see it

Robert

I've looked into pickling lime and oyster shells and maybe I'll try one of those next time,
The wash is 23ltrs by the way

@easydrinker was never meant to start a fight in any form..