Still Smarter

Mash wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 3:35 pm Are the heating elements to dense?

I've checked on this and they are ok...seems the problem was sugar or protein was the cause.

Jennysgin wrote: Thu Mar 03, 2022 8:01 pm
I'm not 100% sure if it works either but doing nothing definitely isn't the most effective!

Spot on...I'm looking at the yeast part of the wash, nutrients, temp, I've always aimed at pitching the yeast with the PH at 4.5, a friend set his PH at 5.5 then when there's this PH drop it levels out around 4?? also I'm going to use Fermaid on the next wash this weekend instead of DAP.

Ice.

I did egg shell. Defo did something. Certainly fizzed more and was done sooner than I would expect.
Currently frozen I will get it out, run it & report back.

Thanks guys, I'll splash some heads over it. Never thought of that.

Appreciated.

Ele.

In the garage running another 40 litre strip wash....that should leave me another 40 litre run, also getting ready to lay down another 2x25 washes.

Ice.

Mmm. Contemplating. I believe I should be separating my heads, hearts, tails (HHT) somewhat differently. Digesting all that I can from you guys, the Chasing the craft bearded wonder and Internet in general I am not doing it corrrevtly currently.

However, could I discern any difference in taste? I think I might only change when I get bored with my current processing arrangement, then do it, ....separating in different proportions etc.

Then I think, I am not a dinosaur that cannot adapt, I might as well change the processing and reprocessing proportions now..

So. I am using an Airstill and turbo yeast. I have made a bird watchers brew, it gave me slightly lower yield, took 28 days instead of 9 days, from start in the bin to end of stripping. And I could not discern any difference in flavour. So I am using SS turbo packs.

My questions are, when is it best to remove heads, at stripping run or second distillation?
And this is the big question, hearts and tails, when and what proportion?

As I have said I cannot discern the difference have tasted/smelt at 100ml intervals, after the first 100ml to about 1100ml very little difference in my perception, after that an obvious reduction in the appreciation of the ABV and increase in sweet water.

So any thoughts experience of this. Or...

Mmm. Not bother, leave process as it is.

And now, I am being allowed out of the house to go to work.

WelshGin

I collected in very small quantities initially (100ml or so) and have found that the more you test your cuts by smell and taste the more discerning you become.
I began to recognise different nuances that in my first run or 2 I had not been able to spot.

Once you get a reliable recipe that you're using regularly you may be able to make slightly larger cuts when you know you're definitely in the hearts. However you'll still want to take small cuts and continue to taste and smell to make your final decisions on what goes in and what gets recycled.

There are a couple of detailed reports on here somewhere about making and selecting cuts. I'm sure one is from Myles.

WelshGin wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:32 am
My questions are, when is it best to remove heads, at stripping run or second distillation?
And this is the big question, hearts and tails, when and what proportion?



WelshGin

Learned from experience, I remove heads on the spirit run.
Unless I am making Scotch Malt from grain, I no longer waste time with re-distilling tails from a spirit run.
I stop collecting at 30 ish % on a neutral strip.
60 ish percent on a spirit run for neutral.
I do diluted heads runs when I have enough.
Collect a little, maybe 20% worth drinking.
Whisky is a whole different process.

Robert.

Thank you Sir, for your very concise reply. Appreciate that, we often become distracted by what can be picked up at Waitrose.

WelshGin.

I was believe sexist it my previous retort. I apologise.

Thank you for the advice from everyone.

WelshGin.
There is always a better way.

I am not familiar with the whole Trans. tgbmt thing.(add a few more letters , as needed)
But I wish them well.
I wish Ukeraine more.

As a side note, I am going to Pm you.

Robert.

Hi,

Robert, I believe I have replied to your Pm. In outbox? I will look again tomorrow. Thank you for your contact. I will look in further detail at your site management systems so that I gain the most from what I can do and better appreciate the functionality. However, I do not focus on IT.

WelshGin.

Welsh and Myself are communicating.
Feel free to advance this thread, if you have something to add.

Robert.

...doing tomorrow????

Running 40 litres stripping run....I'll be out in the garage around 0630.

Ice.

During lockdown in April 2020, I brewed 50ltrs of USA corn Whiskey.
I striped it and spirit ran on my pot still.
I ended up with 6.5 litres of 40% final product. I put 4.5 litres in a D.J.
along with 50g USA med oak and 4tsp Manuka Honey. The rest I drank as
white dog and it was a bit raw and rough, but hit the spot!!
Almost two years in a dark cool cupboard the Honey Whiskey as I am
now calling it is golden brown beautiful smooth yummy nectar.
ED I know you don't have a sweet tooth, but a little hint of Manuka and
the Vanilla from the wood, I think you would be proud of this one, I am..

Now, I have just layed down in bed. Early I know, but I will be up at 4am to travel to work.

I wish to respond to Gaza's post.

I earlier this afternoon completed 3 litres of triple distilled (now 43% Abv Gin), flavoured with fresh botanicals through a copper/stainless steel potstill, (the alcohol vapour condensed by air cooling), aye an Airstill. I have tasted the product, neat and mixed with full fat tonic and unwaxed lemon. Beautiful, a worthy contribution to my temple.

At the end of last year I planted trees for my grandchildren on a strip of land near the coast at Aberystwyth in West Wales.

You, I believe should lay this spirit down, with a narrative describing its creation and your wishes for its future and eventual consumption. Excellent. I would be so proud.

My Gin I would quof at any time. Your brew I would deliberate before considering opening a bottle. Well done.

Nice thoughts to retire with. Good night.

WelshGin
There is always a better way.

What a pleasant read.

I think we have all had chance to think about the future. Whether it is planting tree's, laying down some hooch or changing what we do today to change our tomorrows. I know I have. One of those was not to work so hard... So when you said "4am" I felt for you - ouch. Don't work too hard, "there is always a better way"

I've often read that with this hobby, you learn something new every day and how true is that?
Today, I've learnt that there must be two 4 o'clocks in one day!!

Ive been looking through some DJ's that seem to have got pushed to the back under the bench.
The Cornflake whiskey I made in Jan 2020, was over-oaked, and tasted quite woody.
But just taken a small sample, and it has mellowed quite nicely.

However, my Gin (all AirStill produced) is still consistently my best effort so far.

Ele.

Well Done. I will take all of these comments as advice.
Adjusted my alarm clock slightly. However, have not advised the cat. Adjusting the clock probably a wasted effort.
X.

WelshGin.

Well there is light o'clock and dark o'clock, the seasons do the rest.

If only light o'clock and dark o'clock were actually an option!

I hate having to get up when it's still dark and remember trying to get young kids into bed when it was light outside. It was always a battle and a half!

Ohh! I forgot Beer o'clock.

Jennysgin wrote: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:38 pm trying to get young kids into bed when it was light outside. It was always a battle and a half!

Try it with 9 chickens now its still light at 7.30/8 pm

Ice.

Jennysgin wrote: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:38 pm I hate having to get up when it's still dark and remember trying to get young kids into bed when it was light outside. It was always a battle and a half!

LOL.

I read that as .....

I hate having to get up when it's still dark and remember trying to get young kids into bed when it was light outside. It was always a bottle and a half!

Do Chickens have to go to bed early Ice?
Before the nine o'clock watershed?
Had a mate that kept Chickens, his daughter named them all after curries.
Chicken Bhuna, Chicken Madras, Chicken Tikka etc...