StillSmart

Hi all, new here, I have been working my way through previous posts and cant wait for my initial wash to be ready to get started (I will be using wineworks method at first, just to see what happens but after that .....wahey) Now for my question, I like to think outside the box...er.. can, when brewing and some things work and inevitably some dont...which brings me on to a 30 pint batch of wilko stout made with spring water (yes I know stout is made with hard water!) anyhow cutting to the chase I need to get rid of it, it tastes too sweet with a vinegary after taste......................can I run it through the airstill and if so what sort of procedure do I need to take, bearing in mind I havent used it in anger yet and what sort of taste do you guys predict. The stout was brewed short to 30 pints from what was supposed to be a 40 pint batch and is very approximately 5.3% in strength. Many thanks in anticipation

On a purely practical level your 30 pints/17 litres @ <6% ABV contains about 900ml of pure ethanol. The Airstill, while a great little still, is quite inefficient and will only recover a max of 70% or 630ml of the total of ethanol. After cuts and dilution to standard spirit strength you'll have enough for three or four drinks for yourself

Unless you're used to drinking seriously bad plonk, you really must double distill when using an Airstill. When you do the first run with your stout and taste the 'product' dripping from the spout you'll understand the wisdom of the "double distill" advice.

Personally, I'd simply use the stout as a training volume. Don't expect to get much 'drinkable' spirit from the runs but it will give you some practice and you can recycle the distillate as often as you want

AM

Cheers Aidanmac, its on the go now, i will run it through a couple of times and let you know how I get on.

First pass showing 20%, had the tiniest of sips and it tastes like very sweet dry wine........what do you suggest, run it through again, I havent chucked any of it away from the minute it started condensing, it tastes okay do you reckon it is safe to drink it all....could do with a real mouth swurler to get a true appraisal of it.

have a read of this and d/load the pdf that aiden has posted,this is an excellant
guide to help you with airstill,in fact i still use this guide with my airstill
and it wont be long to i get my big still up and running

oh btw welcome to the forums

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1216

Thanks Magnu420, Very good guide, understand.....will follow and report back. Shame of it all is I've decided to do the Dryathlon in aid of cancer research, so after tonight I won't be able to try owt till Feb 1st........4 DJ's on the go with wine, 2 fermenters ( 1 hoppy copper bitter, 1 delicate pilsner) and my new toy to play with...................its gonna be a long dry January!!!!!

eltei wrote:... I've decided to do the Dryathlon in aid of cancer research, so after tonight I won't be able to try owt till Feb 1st........its gonna be a long dry January!!!!! :(

Good for you Eltei! BTW I've been at this hobby for a good few years now and I don't even drink what I make anymore so you'll survive till Feb for such a great cause. Good on you

AM