Congradulations PJ,

For simplicity, better quality, as well as significant time and energy saveings, I always do a stripping-pot run, saveing up those until I collect enough for a full spirit run. You can do this with or without the packing, but would definately have some packing for the spirit run and adjust reflux to still catch some flavor from the corn.

9/22 does sound like quite an event. From the book I read about it there were pictures of a big old fashioned moonshine still, fermenter and all in full production. Also some retired revenoors were invited and attended. I'm sure they had some tales of the 'ones that got away'.

Oh yea, ferments this time of year are going to take a bit longer, plus with the UJSM the yeast will contiously be breaking down and consumeing some of the sugars out of the corn. Some add beano or amyloglucadase to facilitate this. I found they would consume between a quarter to a third of the corn each run.

I always catch a sample from the middle of the first run, just to sample later and see how the taste and quality is.

You've a lot of fun ahead of you!

PJ,

Unless it is still very vigorous, I would go ahead and distill it, but check the TG. How very well I know that impatient feeling! If your TG is fine, rock and roll.

And the forum does enhance it all. Its fun to share, discuss, and learn something new all the time. I'm going to make some of that apple pie recipe.

I will be bringing an adequate supply to the jamboree- I will be embarressed by some of the masters here, but that will be ok also, as I can learn and be taught. With 7 fermentaters, I have made more in the last 3 months than I could drink in 10 years, but they will all get better with age. The jamboree will give me a chance to ger rid of some and make room for next winter's runs. Local homebrew store has great deals on glass carboys. 6.5 gal. down to gallon jugs. The rate I'm going my kids are going to have a very unusual inheritance!

Have fun and let us know how it turns out.

Hey Elricko,

Was beginning to wonder if you had lost power or something with all the ice ans snow.

When its warm and calm, I use my keg outside, and use 13 to 14 gal. of the stripped wort. When I run it inside, I use a 6.5 gal. run in a smaller pot. I very carefully use propane. This house was total propane run and with a propane electric generater, batteries, and inverter for 10 years, so have 2 500 gal. tanks. Just doubly carefull.

There is always enough liquid left to not be a problem, but you could dilute with a little water the first time to make sure, and measure the leftovers to see. Stripping runs are so fast relatively, I save a lot of time and energy, and also end up with a much improved final product. It also allows me to use bakeing soda, or sodium carbonate which I find really helps and improves neutral spirit runs, and I find I can run that at a faster rate, than with the low ABV wort.

PJ, let us know how it goes.

PJ,

Hopefully Elricko will chime in here. I am not the greatest expert at gravities. But hopefully, you meant 1.015, which would mean you are getting close, and probably close enough. 1.15 is probably about where you began or higher. OG.

Another test is to taste, if sweet, not done, dry, sour should be ready. Shouldn't have any sugar left to taste.

I'm too busy at the farm, spring, summer, and fall, so have to make up for it all in the winter. And I'm going to get a large one for certain ferments like the oats. Also, want to get enough ahead to allow for long term ageing.

I envy you, your opportunity to get together with your close fellows. Here, I think there is still too much worry about revenoors, as this was prime area for their activities, and all know several to a dozen, who got a free meal ticket in years past. I know 11.

John,
I certainly look forward to meeting you in Georgia, fortunes prevailing. I live in the Bay Area and so if anyone asks me what I'm up to I merely tell them I'm making my own fuel... I probably wouldn' know a revenoor if one dropped on my head. Besides, with the easy attitudes here, if I admitted making my own hooch the first question would be, 'is it safe?' There'd be no question of legality, amongst the common man that is. The downside though, is that YOU don't live down the street from me.
Oops. So did I read my hydrometer wrong as well? Ah well, the joys of learning. As soon as I post this I will go outside and give it your taste test. I've got the day off t'moro, so if it's sour I'm distillin'!
How many acres you have?
As always, a great admirer,
PJ Lily

Hey Whitewater,
I'm in Berkeley and have been talking to a guy between you and I, plus some lads about town. You got any hooch in the works? It sounds like we may have the beginnings of a west coast mini-jmaboree oursevelves - or at least a good porch party.
Have Rick the moderator pass on to you my email address and we'll get in touch.
Yours,
PJ Lily