StillSmart

A general throw it out there question as regards the lovely British and Irish weather changes.

My apartment is new, well insulated and triple glazed. It is exactly 21 degrees 24 hours a day between October and summer if we have one when it may be a tiny bit warmer and change by time of day.

Are certain washes for spirits better at say 20 than 25 or the reverse? (in beer terms a lager wants closer to 25 and ales closer to 20 if memory serves)

I can certainly get a heater belt or mat if it will help. Cooling is more tricky.

A wash will ferment cleaner if run at the lower end of the yeast's fermentation temp. It really depends on what you want from your wash, turbo's are great for Vodka and are quite often run at high temps doing 2 distillations.

By the way, you've got it backwards, lagers are normally fermented at low temps perhaps 8 to 15C, unless using a warm fermenting ale strain like Mangrove Jacks, Ales from 18 to 26C.

If your place sits at 21c...24/7 then there's no need to worry. A wash heats up itself during fermentaion ....you could always go for SS Heat Wave Turbo.

vino-tinto wrote: By the way, you've got it backwards, lagers are normally fermented at low temps perhaps 8 to 15C, unless using a warm fermenting lager strain like Mangrove Jacks, Ales from 18 to 26C.

+1



I think you will be fine with bakers yeast at 21c

The same wash with different yeasts or different temps will definitely impact the final product - it is something that is not really discussed that much on the forums which I find strange, speed to run the still, what cuts to make all get discussed in great detail, and being better brewer takes a back seat.

If you look at scotch whisky production - 3 ingredients: Malted barley, water and yeast (sometimes peat smoke is used to dry). There is a huge array of styles achieved.

A longer ferment with malted barley can produce more honey tones.
Letting the wash sit after completion can produce fruity esters (this could be good or not what you are after)
Final ABV you are going for. All variables that impact the product.

The way you come up with a distinct style, is to have a methodology and stick to it. Same pitching temps, same amount of yeast pitched, same run rates, same cuts.



I ferment my neutral wash over 4 days at 21oC, but my rum wash over 36 hours in the mid 30's - find what works for you.

I find that quite interesting. Winemakers put a lot of store and research into yeasts.

I ignorantly thought washes were a race to get the ethanol and the yeast flavours played quite a minimal part.

vino-tinto wrote:A wash will ferment cleaner if run at the lower end of the yeast's fermentation temp. It really depends on what you want from your wash, turbo's are great for Vodka and are quite often run at high temps doing 2 distillations.

By the way, you've got it backwards, lagers are normally fermented at low temps perhaps 8 to 15C, unless using a warm fermenting lager strain like Mangrove Jacks, Ales from 18 to 26C.

I have made some great lagers with just 100" weymans pilsner malt and mangrove jacks lager yeast that can be fermented at ale temps.

This is where lots of people get confused, a lager needs to be largered in every step, if you ferment at high temp it becomes an Ale such as a Blonde.

Here is a very good read: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/beersci-what-difference-between-lager-and-ale

vino-tinto wrote:This is where lots of people get confused, a lager needs to be largered in every step, if you ferment at high temp it becomes an Ale such as a Blonde.

Here is a very good read: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/beersci-what-difference-between-lager-and-ale

i normally lager and ferment cold at 45c them lager for up to 2 months. I tried mangro jacks lager strain and fermented at ale temps, the finished lager was not that far off my traditional way.