SS Turbo Classic v\'s SS Triple Distilled

[Andy]

As we all know the Turbo Classic can be a smelly beast, both during fermentation and after running through the distilling process.
I have just run the SS Triple Distilled and I must say I am delighted with the results.

* During fermentation my wife said, "I can hardly smell it not like the other crap"

*Fermentation took 2 days longer.

*Coming out of the fermentation tub my wife said, "it smells like a cheap wine, not like the other crap"

*I ended up with 3.5 liters @ 95% and the spirit was the cleanest I have seen yet.
I didnt change anything at all through out the process.

6 kg sugar, 21 liters water and 1 pack of SS Triple.

I have just started a Vodka Star with the same ingredients and will update this post in a week or 2 with the results of that.

[Crusty]

Hi Andy,

My T500 will be here on Thursday & I am looking at doing a wash this weekend with Triple distilled yeast. Did you have any dramas with fermentation temp fluctuating? Seems like you got away with it, 3.5 litres @ 95%. Thats pretty awesome. Your temps are pretty much on par with us down here. What do you think the min & max temps were during fermentation & how long was your process?

Did you add turbo clear after fermentation was over or did you just leave it alone for the extra week?
Brian

[Andy]

My temps are fairly stable, I ferment in my office.

To be honest I never check my temps, I keep my office comfy for me and the brews seem to enjoy it.

I did add the SS turbo Clear as normal but, Instead of taking 24 hours it took 2 days and was much clearer than normal - I was watching it closer than normal.

.

You should have come up here, my HBS keeps the T500 in stock since I bought mine, you could have had it 2 weeks ago LOL.

[Crusty]

I didn\'t have the funds otherwise I definately would of made the trip.

I do a lot of all grain brewing & keg my beer. I decided to focus more on the spirits again & sold my keg system for $600.00. Will still do the odd brew though. Purchaser made a $120.00 deposit last week, thats when I ordered the still & he turned up yesterday & payed the balance & took it away. My HBS guy doesnt keep a lot in stock & higher priced items he will only order if you put a deposit down. He only orders every 2 weeks.

I think with this cooler weather around, I will go for the triple distilled & see how I go.
Brian

[marc83]

After using Classic all the time i have given triple distilled a go,I used the turbo carbon also,freaked me out a bit when i put it in,newbie,haha.Anyway,comparing to classic,the triple has little to no smell,its day 2,obviously slower,hasnt really cranked up like the classic normally would at the same stage.Im keepnig temps at about 22oC and it seems to be plodding along nicely.I have a batch of classic clearing beside the triple,trying the clearing without the finings.must say its looking good and its day 8 for that one.

getting quite excited.

[Crusty]

Marc83,

Keep us posted with the classic clearing naturally.

In the past I have never used any clearing agents & always let my wash clear naturally.

This time round though for my first few runs I am going to use a clearing agent & get my stock levels built up a bit. Once I have a bit of a supply happening, I am going back to letting it clear on its own. Getting another couple of fermenters to kick things off. I have a wash slowing down at the moment, tripled distilled & it certainly doesnt smell as bad as the classic. It does however still have a smell. This will obviously be forgotten as I\'m enjoying the fruits of my labour, he, he. Has been bubbling away nicely since Wed at 21-24deg & is really starting to slow down. Should be finished by Wed & will check sg & give her a good stir. Maiden run with the T500 will be next weekend.
Brian

[marc83]

Will keep you posted on the outcome.so far its looking as if i have put the clearing agent in.

At day 4 it slowed right down to nothing,thought it had stalled,checked S.G at 0994,thought i would give it a good ol stir to finish it off,day 5 it had cleared about 2-3 inches of the way down,bugger me!anyway,i degassed the batch and left it alone,its now day 8.

I think with our temps getting low now it just worked perfectly,the first 2 and a half days it was bubbling hard out and the wash sitting at around 30-32 degrees without heat pad,by the 3rd day it was happily sitting at 22-25.After i degassed it,it has just been sitting at around 18-20 since.overnight probably dropping to 16.

[marc83]

Ended up using a turboclear on the classic.I gave it a week on its own,it was clear but not as clear as im used to.So i racked it into a clean container and added the turbo clear,Gave it another week and its the clearest wash i have had,Poured into the still tonight and you can see clearly right to the bottom.

Got a little less out of it though,only 3.2L compared to my usual 3.7-3.8L,probably due to the racking off leaving some in the old container and the same when pouring into the still.Same 90%abv i normally get out of the classic.

My conclusion is i will use the Classic how i normally use it.4-6 days ferment,2 days with the turbo clear.

SS Triple next weekend.Alcotec 48 down the drain as i f@#ked that one up.

[Andy]

I have just run my Vodka Star wash and I have to say this is the best yet.

During fermentation that took nine days, the smell was almost non existent.

It came out of the fermenter very clean and pleasant smelling.

Running through the still, I ended up with 4 liters @ 95% of very clean smelling and tasting spirit.

Cleaning the fermenter is where I got a shock, as we know with the SS yeasts, cleaning can be messy with lots of small black dots everywhere.

The Vodka Star has nothing nasty looking left behind, no black stuff.
So, it looks like the Vodka Star is a winner for me, I have just started another one to see if it was a fluke or if the results will be consistent.

[Crusty]

Hi Andy,

I think I will follow your lead & have a crack at the Vodka Star next time round.

My wash is now 990sg after 9 days using SS Triple. I am still getting the odd bloop from the fermenter though, about a bloop every 5 mins or so. Measurement says its finished though. I gave it a vigorous stir & letting it clear naturally ( oh, it\'s a painful wait ) & will run the T500 through it\'s paces this weekend.

With the VS, did you use 6kg sugar, 21 ltrs water @ what temp? & top it up to 25 ltrs.

With the Triple, I added 21 ltrs water @ 40deg, 6kg sugar, pitched yeast at around 30deg, put lid on fermenter loosely, left it overnight, topped up to 25 ltrs & screwed the lid on tight. I have learnt the hard way using Classic yeast not to do that lid up tight for the first 24 hrs.
Brian

[Andy]

Brian.

I never check my temps, dont know why I just dont do it.

I used 6kg white sugar, 21 ltrs water (10 hot from tap and 11 cold from tap)I do not top it up.

I got 22 ltrs into the still and ran from there.

I screw the lid down tight as I can and stick the air lock on.

I have done this method with all my \"brews\" and never had a problem - YET LOL