 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/8/2010(UTC)
Posts: 5
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"I have just made my first run with essential extractor pro series II. I used a camp chef propane burner at the lowest setting possible. The outside temp. was about 68F with humidity of about 75%. The product began with about 17L of beer made with 5# of 6 row malted barley and 8# of sugar.
I started the column cooling soon after the temp began to increase and kept the cooling water under 60F. The flow was good through both the column and condenser. The flow of product from the condenser began very rapidly, as advertised.
I was unable to get an accurate temp. reading with the digital thermometer from Brewhaus. It was set in the bung as instructed; however, it stabilized indicating 117F and remained there until the end of the run when it increased accordingly. I primarily went by taste and aroma.
Through most of the run I had very fast drips or steady flow that I was unable to slow down. The entire run took about 3.5 hours. The final product, hearts, came out at about 85%. The heads were nasty as advertised; however, throughout the hearts there seemed to be an ever so slight buttery hint increasing some at the end of the run.
I have an all sugar wash nearing completion. Any suggestions to avoid the rapid distillation and, I would guess, improving the end product beyond 85%?"
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/22/2005(UTC)
Posts: 817
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"Hi Boats, You will do much better makeing a stripping run, unpacked column, no reflux, just run as fast as your condenser can handle. No cuts, then let sit for a while with bakeing soda, I use 3 TBS/ gal. some use a lot more. Preferably striip 2 or 3 washes. Dilute to 40% ABV if neccessary and then do your spirit run. Make sure your through tubes in the column are well packed with small copper balls to enhance heat exchange. Sounds like your thermometer was too close to those cooling tubes? Do test it with a pot of boiling water and adjust it for your altitude. If it doesn't work right while doing this, I would contact Brewhaus for a replacemen. If useing grains for flavor, like your first wash, I would suggest running a stripping run then spirit run real slow in pot still mode. Useing the diffuser plate may help slow things down. Also, use some boiling chips ie broken unglazed pottery, clean gravel, rashig rings, small strips of copper mesh, to break the boil into more of a simmer. Lots of little bubbles instead of big ones. HTH Originally Posted by: Boats  I have just made my first run with essential extractor pro series II. I used a camp chef propane burner at the lowest setting possible. The outside temp. was about 68F with humidity of about 75%. The product began with about 17L of beer made with 5# of 6 row malted barley and 8# of sugar.
I started the column cooling soon after the temp began to increase and kept the cooling water under 60F. The flow was good through both the column and condenser. The flow of product from the condenser began very rapidly, as advertised.
I was unable to get an accurate temp. reading with the digital thermometer from Brewhaus. It was set in the bung as instructed; however, it stabilized indicating 117F and remained there until the end of the run when it increased accordingly. I primarily went by taste and aroma.
Through most of the run I had very fast drips or steady flow that I was unable to slow down. The entire run took about 3.5 hours. The final product, hearts, came out at about 85%. The heads were nasty as advertised; however, throughout the hearts there seemed to be an ever so slight buttery hint increasing some at the end of the run.
I have an all sugar wash nearing completion. Any suggestions to avoid the rapid distillation and, I would guess, improving the end product beyond 85%? "
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/8/2010(UTC)
Posts: 5
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Thanks for the input. What I got was not bad; but, I know it can be much better. After finishing the next round, I am sure something else will come up. I've studied this quite a bit before jumping into it figuring I would goof something up.
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