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To Strain or Not To Strain Your Mash
 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/14/2011(UTC)
Posts: 29
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I've been straining my mashes before firing up the still. Is there any benefit to simply firing the still with the unstrained corn based mash? Clearly burning is an issue if contents settle, but am wondering if flavor increases versus an strained mash. Suggestions?
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2012(UTC)
Posts: 720
Was thanked: 11 time(s) in 11 post(s)
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From what I've read, Mother Nature is not nice to those who do that - corn can burn in the pot...Ugly cleanup..Bad tasting distilliate, etc... |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/20/2013(UTC)
Posts: 12
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I personally find I get the best is strained but not cleared. Tastier and smoother likker for sure! I am using propane (external heat). Totally cleared has a sharp bite when distilled. It goes away after three weeks setting in the hot garage. It still never is as good though. I never used anything to clear my mashes except time, either. Since my mashes clear on there own before I get a chance to distill them, I make sure I mix things up good as I am dipping it out of the fermenter. I just use the strainer that comes with the Brewhaus funnels. They never fit coincidentally, you have to sand them down first (too big). I am not complaining though since Rick doesn't advertise the funnels as coming with them. BTW, grain WILL stick to the inside of the boiler, especially corn meal. IMHO, cloudy is better!!!
Keep on stillin!
Shorty
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/14/2011(UTC)
Posts: 29
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RoyseCityRed and Short Bus thank you for replying. Interesting perspective on not clearing all the way. I've been allowing them to clear by racking them to a secondary (beer brewer trait that I haven't lost yet), and then letting them settle/clear for a week or more before straining and firing the still. This time I won't do the secondary and see the results, it just might be tastier as more flavor material is still suspended in the wort. Thanks guys.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2012(UTC)
Posts: 720
Was thanked: 11 time(s) in 11 post(s)
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Howdy Nov.. tbh, I haven't done a ton of washes and runs, I'm a compleat newb at this compared to the hundreds of threads I have read here and HD. I personally dont leave a lot of suspended stuff in my wort(s). I had one that that I wasn't as careful as I should have been, and ended up with a mess in a 15 gal kettle which took a lot of work to clean up. Since then, I have been strainin' thru cheesecloth.. Much better resuts..
Now, that being said, that doesn't mean others have had better luck as their eyes are more experienced.
Good Holiday ahead.. |
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/20/2013(UTC)
Posts: 12
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I totally learned this from a combination of accident and laziness. It seems to go against what against the usual advice given on these forums. It works though, that is good enough for me! Of course, if you are making Neutral (vodka/turbo yeast) this would probably not be true. I wouldn't know as I have never used them. If you are going to distill on the grain, you need some kind of water bath or something. Big distilleries use agitators that contour the bottom of the boiler or use steam heated continuous stills. Just my 2c. BTW, I distill because it is easier to make good likker than beer or wine.
Shorty
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