 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2010(UTC)
Posts: 7
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All,
Purchased a Pro II complete.
I've been a long time home brewer, so I went to my local brew supply shop and bought corn flakes, fermented down, and am running it through the process for the third time.
For some reason, I'm getting only about 65% off the run at about 82 deg C. My temps are staying consistent. Of course I tossed the first 100ml but now after that, consistently running about 65%. Can't figure out why.
I'm using the pot still configuration.
Thoughts?
henry
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"Hi Henry. 65% is really good for the first run with a pot still. Are you makeing your third run with the same batch? Or your third batch is now being run. Generally, the first run you collect all that comes out together. Then the next run, make cuts, especially going into the tails as they will drop in ABV very quickly and smell and taste bad. If this is your second and third run on the same batch, then I would suspect you are going too far into tails? Originally Posted by: henrybasset  All,
Purchased a Pro II complete.
I've been a long time home brewer, so I went to my local brew supply shop and bought corn flakes, fermented down, and am running it through the process for the third time.
For some reason, I'm getting only about 65% off the run at about 82 deg C. My temps are staying consistent. Of course I tossed the first 100ml but now after that, consistently running about 65%. Can't figure out why.
I'm using the pot still configuration.
Thoughts?
henry "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"Yes 65% is a very good ABV on a first run for a pot still.
In fact. my first lil stove top (true potstill) only gave me 70% on the second run.
Course lots of that was due to input. No matter.
Have you been making good cuts?
Have you been airing your spirits?
Have you tasted a center cut portion of your collected spirits?"
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2010(UTC)
Posts: 7
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"So I believe I made a mistake with it.
I ran the first run, added in some sour mash (liquid only) and ran it again, now doing the same batch for the third run.
I'm running this one a bit differently. I've got a hydrometer in the run off, monitoring for drops. I'm not quite sure how to measure for the cut for the tail, but measured the first cut by watching my temperature and cutting at 80C. I then placed a few drops in a metal spoon and burned it to make sure I was getting blue flame instead of brown/green.
I'm sure you're probably right in that I went to far into tails. Is there a good measure of how/when I'm into the tails? I'm assuming I'll see a drop in the hydrometer? Maybe cloudiness?
Thanks!"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"The best, sure fire method, is to take off into small jars. Start to finish. 8 oz. each. Line them or mark them in order. Cover with a coffee filter and let air for 24 hours. Start with the middle jar, smell, taste and check with your hydrometer. Work you way to the heads cut. You will find a change in smell and taste when you hit that cut. Then work towards the tails. Again, you will detect a difference, and the Abv will start to drop.Combine all your good jars and taste. If a bit more burn or flavor is needed, add a bit of the latest heads (But thats where the hangovers come from). For the best whiskey, do 3 stripping runs, collecting all, then combine them for a spirit run, makeing goodcuts as shown. Some even do a third, like Irish whisky is done. Make notes of the cut volumes. After 2 or 3 of these, you will be able to use volume for your cuts if doing the exact same wash or mash. Originally Posted by: henrybasset So I believe I made a mistake with it.
I ran the first run, added in some sour mash (liquid only) and ran it again, now doing the same batch for the third run.
I'm running this one a bit differently. I've got a hydrometer in the run off, monitoring for drops. I'm not quite sure how to measure for the cut for the tail, but measured the first cut by watching my temperature and cutting at 80C. I then placed a few drops in a metal spoon and burned it to make sure I was getting blue flame instead of brown/green.
I'm sure you're probably right in that I went to far into tails. Is there a good measure of how/when I'm into the tails? I'm assuming I'll see a drop in the hydrometer? Maybe cloudiness?
Thanks! "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"(don't have a leak do you?) All of your observations will no doubt be very helpful. But making cuts by temp is not,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the way to make cuts. Smell, taste and feel. Heads are sweet like fruit. Hearts are much more nuetural or much less in odor. Tails have an old card board, wet shoe kind of smell. It should be noted that early tails has some very good rum blending value. I tend to stir clear of heads after my thanksgiving day massacre  "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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" Originally Posted by: LWTCS And the turkey thought he was haveing a bad day?  "
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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"Recycled every last bit to the floor of the porcelain bus.
Thought those days where over.
Blame it on the new still build. Should have prolly cleaned that batch up one more time. Cept it was kinda yummy.
Never again (till next time)."
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2010(UTC)
Posts: 7
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"Gotcha. Ok. I'm running this batch into a series of small mason jars. So far, at two runs of 250ml I'm running 65% and monitoring.
Thank you!
henry"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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" Originally Posted by: LWTCS Never again (till next time). That brings back such a memory. My roommate at college had his birthday 2 days from mine. We went to a bar to celebrate our 21st where we actually were now legal. Daytona beach FL. Neil Armstrong and other astronauts were there and quickly found out why we were celebrating, and we were both studying physics to go to work at NASA. Invited us to their table, and the drinks were free and plentiful. Wouldn't allow us to drive back to college, couldn't anyhow. Helped us get out to their new stingrays GM had given them and checked us into a hotel. basically, had to carry us in. At least so the motel guy told us the next day about sundown. Yeah, I quoted ya!"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 519
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/26/2010(UTC)
Posts: 7
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That must have been one hell of a night! You still with NASA?
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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Never went to NASA. Couldn't stand the thought of working at a desk. Applied and was accepted to medical school, but had to take a year of biology first. Nope. And so many of the doctors I knew, were quite miserable anyhow. Went to Seminary to become a priest. One year was enough of that. Came back to my true love, the Smoky Mountains and here I've been ever since. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Now doing what was a dark mystery to me as a child.
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