"first timer with EasyStill here... I used 8kg white sugar with the 24hour turbo yeast and let it bubble away for 3 days... then left it for another 2. I distilled 4L in the EasyStill using the activated carbon filters provided with the still. Here are my questions..

1.) I have an alcohol meter, but am unsure if I need a graduated cylinder to get an accurate reading? Or can I use something else?

2.) I have distilled one batch 4 times to get as pure a yield as possible, but it has resulted in a low alcohol content (tested by lighting on fire..nothing happened), and a it has a subtle yeast smell as well.

I realize lightting on fire isn't the best method of testing, but store bought vodka lit up just fine...any help would be greatly appreciated."

"thanks for the quick response... i will use your advice to improve on my next mash. As for this one..

1.) what inexpensive things do you think i need?

2.) I have the air-lock on the rest of the mash...should I have sealed it instead for future use, or is it garbage?

3.) not sure how to test 'specific gravity'? is it just a simple weight scale measurement taken before and after the bubbling of the mash?

thanks again.. greatly appreciated!"

"i haven't tried the turbo24 only the turbo48. i read on the brewhaus site that you are supposed to use 6kg(13lbs) of sugar. in your post you said you used 8kg(17lbs) of sugar. i am not sure what the effect is. taste your mash and it probably has a sweet taste which means that it hasn't fermented all the sugar.
and when you re-distill(spirit run) your stripped run always water it down to 50abv. i hope this helps. welcome to the hobby. here is a link that will help you. http://homedistiller.org.

just me"

"my rookie opinion is you need a

to measure fermentation of the mash

http://www.brewhaus.com/Oeschle...eter_25cm_p/40005100.htm

to measure alcohol ABV and Proof after distillation

http://www.brewhaus.com/Alcoholmeter_25cm_p/40005000.htm


sure beats lighting with a match :)"

"have you ran all your wash once? i am going to go from the start to the end. you take the proper amount of sugar to the right amount of water. follow the instructions on your turbo yeast. let it sit until you aren't getting any action in your airlock. it may say turbo24 or 48 but it will take longer.waiting sucks. after it is fully fermented out (use a hydrometer) to below 99 you can either use a clearing product (i use sparkoloid) or you can wait and it will clear in a week or so. after it is cleared you will rack to a different carboy. you start doing first runs. if you are using a easystill put a fork into your pot and fill it a inch or two below the fill line for a sugar wash. the fork keeps your still from venting. collect all of your alcohol until your alcometer is reading 0%. after you have done all your first runs(stripping runs) you mix them all together and water them down to 50%. then you start your spirit runs. collect your distillate in small doses. i change the jar every 20 minutes. remember to number them. after you are done with all your runs you should distill some water and use that to dilute to drinking strength(40% or 80 proof).
taste your product the first jars(heads) wont taste good. save them for later runs.
the last jars will taste bad(tails) and save them also. the ones in between are called hearts.start adding your heads and tails to your later runs. it will increase your hearts."