StillSmart

Just finning a batch for a Xmas eve am run
Used Vodka star with 6.5 kg T & L over seven days and end SG down to 982 giving pos alcohol of 16.6% most impressed and clearing well and smelling good too
Getting more keen on this yeast all the time
Will let you know how the run goes
Merry Xmas to all !

Well all went well ended up with 3.3 l at 92 so good 6.5 plus litres really clean see my new post

Hi Al
Yeah do like that yeast
As I've said elsewhere just started a SS classic on 8kg wash without carbon to see how that goes
Feel quite confident that the T500 will handle it with a couple of Z filter passes afterwards >:D

a classic wash comes out of the t500 pretty smell free but i do pass it through the essencia filter to do a final polish and tbh, its almost perfect for me.

although im realy satisfied with the classic, im going to give the vs a go to see what its like and im impressed with the wash now as its just cleared.... it seems to be a very clean wash i must say.

al.

Good to hear that Al so you run ferment without carbon ?
This new wash has stated to bloop in under an hour bloody hell it's keen !

if its a classic, then iv always run with carbon as it says on the packet so i applaud you for stepping out !..

i didnt use carbon with the vs though.


the classics brew like hell thats for sure lol.

Hey Al

Well the vodka star at 6.5kg fermented down to 985 smelt clean and predicting nearly 16%
will run Wednesday I think
The classic with no carbon on 8kg is down to 1.000 still bubbling gently and very little smell ( may have nowt to do with lack of carbon) so will run Thurs/Sat will let you know how it goes

Ps
Set a Vodka star of with 7 kg so watch this space

Well the 7kg wash finished at 985 again 8 days very clean smell clearing well pre fining 16% ish !
Looking good will give a couple of days and run Saturday I think
Liking this yeast more and more !

great finds admiral!..

i do like the classic with 8kg and the vs i did was good too plus quite a few of my friends
have also commented on how good the final spirit is after filtering with the essencia.

i think the vs gives the better spirit but the classic sure does give a bigger final yield with the t500...i think i ended up with about 9 litres@38 ish% on my last classic wash run

so for me, i think il be sticking to the classic and vs washes as im just a plain old lazy pisshead that likes the simpler things in life lol

al.

Ran the 7 kg vodka star yesterday got 8 litres at 40% and must say cleanest tasting yet
My HBS chap was well impressed and is doing a VS wash himself
Hoping to get analysis soon comparing various ones

Latest 7kg VS fermented steadily over 9 days to 982 giving a predicted yield of nearly 18 % best yet still sweet smelling
Trying this one without racking as there is always little sediment anyway so will let clear over a day or two and see how it goes

Cleared and syphoned no bother another good clean and productive run.
As the local HBS had run out of vodka star yeast I saved some sediment and let it rest in fridge.did a starter run with nutrient and sugar then set another 7 kg wash away and all seems well bubbling nicely.
I know many of you do this routinely (as do brewers and distilleries) so anything else I should add ?
Don't know if this has been tried before with vodka star ?

So does the vodka star yeast, or any other yeast survive finings?

Yes I think pre fining would be better to collect as this was going awful slow

So.... Added a bit of new vodka star (HBS had got some in by today) and it fizzed like hell for a while more like Alma seltzer weird . Bubbling steady now though very odd !