The urban legend about bakers yeast is that it dies at around 6%. The small packs of gelatin come with four different sachets of power. A gallon of home-brewed mead after fermentation has taken place. Any suggestions on how to know I have gotten all the fermentation? It is also arguably equally important to get equipment that is easy to operate. 4% to 6% ABV AG is not unheard of. In simple terms, moonshine is an unaged spirit distilled in a copper pot still from a mash made primarily of barley and corn. Moonshine Gravity Calculator - HowtoMoonshine They will give off foul smells and flavors around this ABV. Add entire package of turbo yeast while stirring vigorously to dissolve . I have read about many infections here. by bearriver Thu Jan 22, 2015 3:53 pm, Post Sparkolloid will usually clear your mash in about 24-48 hours. Here's some additional information if you're unclear on how much yeast to use for moonshine mash. Always well presented INFORMATION !! The number will be the lowest at the end of fermentation. The closest definition you'll find is for a "white whiskey," which is actually what moonshine is - clear (unaged) whiskey. Add cool water and/or ice until you're at a volume of about 6.6 gallons, cooling the "sugar water" mixture so that it reaches 100 F. Take a hydrometer reading to find out your specific gravity (and write it down!). #moonshiner #moonshine". by Washashore Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:54 am, Post I currently have 6, 5 gallon mashes fermenting. Give the hydrometer a light spin, to remove the air bubbles that may have formed. Roll it gently between your hands to remove any air bubbles. On average, a decent ABV (alcohol by volume) during the fermentation process should be around 10% to 15%. Remember oxygen is not good to be introduced into the fermentation process after aeration. Of course, yielding this type of strong spirit doesnt just happen by accident. Did this summary help you? Phenols: These nasty compounds can cause your mash to have a medicinal, plastic or band-aid type taste. Along with the scientific methods used to produce your moonshine, there are also scientific terms and tools to learn along the way. Allow to ferment for 10 days. I love how you can get recipes and know whats in Moonshine. Simply use the following formula to determine your ABV. You can, of course, also increase the price that Moonshine sells for by adding additional flavors to it. Our original brix was 6 (which is different than potential / starting alcohol) with an estimated specific gravity of 1.024. Original Gravity - OG Measure the gravity of your mash before fermentation - and before adding the yeast. A second trick for advanced distillers is using tincture of iodine to determine if all starches have been completely converted into sugar. To make sour mash, you'll first need to make a regular mash and then distill the mash. Bread yeast does best in temperatures of about 74-78F or 23 to 25C. Please email us directly regarding questions about products. This store can be access by talking to Maggie from inside your Moonshine Shack. Throw in some sugar, yeast, and pearl ash for flavor, then let the mixture ferment for about a week or two. In general, fermentation takes a steady temperature, good environment and lots of patience. And would be considered low by those who do nothing but sugarheads. by DAD300 Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:00 pm, Post by Washashore Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:43 pm, Post by CR33G3R Thu Jan 22, 2015 4:55 pm, Post Once you have noticed the activity in your airlock is slowing down, you can take a final gravity reading to determine if your mash is ready for fermentation. He enjoys everything from large-scale RPGs to small, bite-size indie gems and everything in between. Though other ingredients are sometimes added to provide a distinctive flavor or to increase the proof. The wash will keep for up to a month so long as the fermenter is airtight. With this type of set it and forget it system is not exactly scientific, but pretty simple and effective. In reality the east is throughout the whole mash or wash, Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware, http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi d#p7104768, viewtopic.php?f=6&t=55219&p=7309262&hil e#p7309262, http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi 3#p7283502. . We don't answer questions about recipes, procedures, etc. The Copperhead features a stainless steel barrel combined with real copper coils that are perfect for removing nasty sulphur from your moonshine. Do not use jello! However, you are not alone in this endeavor. Snake Oil Whiskey And Miracle Elixir - It'll cure ya or kill ya. Determining the right gravity after mash in all grain brewing Could you use corn maze malt instead of Barley malt to make it gluten free? How to use a specific gravity hydrometer is easy if you follow along. You will not incur extra fees or charges for using the links. Hi there , I am new here and new to distilling out here in the great north west , that would be Washinton not Oregon !! Advanced distillers should consider adding 2tsp of gypsum (CaSO4) to the mash water and adjusting the pH of mash water to somewhere between 5.8 and 6.0 before adding any ingredients. There are a few different ways to do this, all using different additives and with different time frames. The specific gravity hydrometer kit with the glass test cylinder is highly recommended over the test kit with the plastic cylinder for many reasons. I always meant to have him teach me how to make it,but he passed and with him the recipe. This will drop the pH of the mash and make it more consistent from batch to batch. Shooting for a starting alcohol higher than this may cause off flavors to show up in the wash and final product due to stressed yeast. Sugar content: The more sugar in your mash, the longer fermentation will take. by Jimbo Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:54 pm, Post You do end up with more waste on the water side as in backset. Click on the Bar of Dish Soap to Visit Our Amazon Storefront! Note: The the collection bucket and the fermentation vessel can actually be the same container. Repeat the Process After your run, collect 1-1/4 gallons of backset to return to the fermenter for your next batch. Additionally, using a copper still can also be helpful in removing sulfur during the distillation process. The last run I stopped after it wouldnt light on fire anymore and after 3 gallons of mash I only yielded about 20 ounces and that took about 3 hours per gallon to distill. The first step in making moonshine is to create a moonshine mash. The products are broken down into categories to make it easier for you. by tom sawyer Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:16 am, Post As alcohol is thinner than water, the higher the alcohol content, the deeper the float sinks. As stated I used to go by the bubbles per minute to decide when to distill. Some moonshiners will simply add their mash to their fermentation bucket and wait for the activity to stop in the airlock. These ingredients would have included cereal grain and perhaps a bit of granulated sugar. Then I drain into the kettle and being the boil. The second step to making moonshine is fermentation. Want to know more? From what I have gathered and if I understand correctly you want your mash to start at 1.06 and when it drops below 1.0 that indicates that the fermentation process is done? If your reading is above 1.020 but has not changed in the last three days, your fermentation is complete. Sugar heads you can shoot between 12-14% with no adverse effects. If your reading is 1.000 or less it is definitely done. Could be good or bad for what you are after. The specific gravity of water is 1.000 and can be measured using a triple scale hydrometer. All you need for this test is: The only scientific way to check for fermentation is to use a Hydrometer. Fermentation. The primary ingredients used in a moonshine mash are corn and barley. Copperhead All-in-One Moonshine Still Kit, Everything you Need to Know About Distillation. If the reading is 1.020 or above, you still need to ferment for a day or two. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 175,201 times. But it is also useful useful if you make an all grain mash or a fruit mash and you want to increase potential ABV to a specific amount. If you purchased the hydrometer kit, a 250 ml test jar will be included. Then, siphon into a still, being careful to not overfill (the vapor cone should not contain any liquid). Real corn whiskey is rather uncommon these days. I've always went by a recipe and then waited for the bubbles in the air lock to slow to below 3 bubbles a minute. The airlock IMO gives you quick feedback as to how the ferment is progressing and also allows you to just leave it for awhile if you can't get to running it. Most shiners I knew used malted corn. Your yeast depends on it. The only way to be sure that fermentation has completed is by measuring the specific gravity. Need help with the next step? Compared to cooking your mash and distilling, this step is pretty much a breeze. The specific gravity you've been reading about probably pertains to all grain mashes. Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation .. Mikeinkaty wrote: Update. I've pasted a quick reference guide for some of the yeasts often used for making moonshine that we sell below: High Spirits Turbo 48 Turbo Yeast: 86-100F High Spirits Turbo 24 Turbo Yeast: 86-100F Prestige 8kg Turbo Yeast: 75-80F Moonshine was traditionally in the mountains of Appalachia with simple ingredients available to farmers and common folk. This spirit is a palatable moonshine when collected directly out of the still; Collect your run down to your stopping point; Together, the heads and tails are reused as feints; I do not normally go as low as 20%, youll have to find your comfort zone; If you start to get blue or green flecks in your spirit, youve gone too far or run things too hot; The chart below shows how many pounds of sugar are required to reach a particular potential alcohol percentage for a 1, 5, and 10 gallons of finished fermented beer, wine, etc; A couple of notes, this chart assumes that the fermentation will end at 1; Lets pretend that we make 5 gallon batch of what is supposed to be a Double IPA; The ABV for such a style is somewhere north of 7; Assuming you add enough grains to craft a 6; 3% ABV beer, according to the chart, youll need to add at least 1lb of sugar to hit a potential alcohol of 7; A 1 gallon run will yield 3-6 cups of alcohol, A 5 gallon run will yield 1-2 gallons of alcohol, A 8 gallon run will yield 1. This still is the perfect option for those who are looking for a good quallity still at an affordable price. You can get a higher SG with all-grain than 1.05 but it gets more difficult since the more grain you use, the more it becomes a big pile of mush. This is also subjective, But like a balance of the two. This could be because of the illicit nature of moonshining and the need to ferment large amounts of mash in secret. 5%, because adding 1lb of sugar will increase the potential alcohol by 1. As an example, if you test your mash/wash before adding the yeast and the reading is 1.040, then the density of the solution is 1.04 times that of water. I plan on building an insulated box big enough to hold two carboys and try to use a light bulb as a heat source. It is one extra step that many experienced moonshiners understand can make the difference between a good batch and a great one. . Can corn sugar be used instead of granulated sugar, My rye recipe calls for mash 5.8 ph, mine is 3.2 ph, what do I do to get it to 5.8 Ph. You are now producing a simple sour mash whiskey and with practice you will be able to produce a very high quality moonshine. Since there no standard recipe for moonshine (like there is for Bourbon), it can be made from any combination of grains in any type of still. Refer to our PH section above for how to calculate and adjust the PH of your mash. Discounts and delicious recipes sent to your inbox Enter Your Email Below. Still on yeastbecause I just ran across this. We offer quality craft stills, easy-to-understand manuals, how-to guides, and step-by-step recipes. One of the most important elements is healthy yeast. About This Article Article Summary X To read a hydrometer, pour a sample of the liquid you want to test into a clean, transparent container. And many end up around those numbers. This handy guide is designed for those who are brand new to moonshining or simply want to take their skills to the next level. That is why so many people love the Copperhead All-in-One Moonshine Still Kit. It is also an all-in-one kit that can be used as both a still and fermentor, saving you both time and money. Should I stir my mash during fermentation? Step 14: The ideal starting alcohol for strawberry brandy is about 8%. Leave it settle for another week and it will be ready to distill. I normally do a corn and malted barley recipe and have the "peach brandy" recipe waiting to be distilled. Hed give my mom a jar or two and my brother and Id sneak a short. You can also predict the potential alcohol of your mash from the original gravity. Your alcohol by volume refers to the amount of alcohol in your shine and can be easily converted into the 'proof' of your shine. Depending on how vigorously you stirred will make a difference in how much you get in the product. Before you clarify, it is important to release the carbon dioxide from your mash. I am looking to learn the specifics on how to properly use this tool. Using a gravity calculator is a great way to get this information easily. the temperature levels out around 170-172. Thank you for sharing this! The most common scale on hydrometers is specific gravity, in which pure water measures 1. However, feel free to leave a comment or respond to comments made by others! The brewing hydrometer. How to Take a Specific Gravity Hydrometer Reading, Using a Specific Gravity Hydrometer With Mash, In Conclusion How to Use a Specific Gravity Hydrometer, How to Make Moonshine Vanilla Bean Extract, Add enough mash liquid or wash to the test jar, Take a reading with the specific gravity hydrometer, Write down the OG (original gravity) aka Starting Gravity (SG) reading on the grain bill sheet, If the specific gravity reading is below 1.05 add more sugar and take another reading if you want more potential alcohol, If the mash temperature is between 95-100 degrees, add yeast or follow the yeast packet recommendations, Ferment the mash for 5-14 days or when the activity has stopped in the airlock, Take another reading with the specific gravity hydrometer to ensure all the sugars have been converted to alcohol, Write down the FG (final gravity) reading on the grain bill sheet, Write down the estimated potential alcohol (PA) from your mash on your sheet too. So, you may not have noticed it in the product you pulled, but chances are its there. Latent fermentation is anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen). Of course, using a hydrometer is not strictly necessary in making moonshine. Understanding Specific gravity for home-distilling - Still'n The Clear Once you have clarified your mash you can siphon out the liquid from the top of the fermentation bucket and get ready to do your first run. Fill your hydrometer tube about 2/3 of an inch from the top with the wash/mash you wish to test. . I personally always ferment with an airlock. This is an important tool to start taking your moonshine-making skills to the next level. I have to believe some of them were sugar washes. If you want to increase the strength of your Moonshine, youre going to need to purchase various ugprades from the Moonshiner Store. Forget watching the airlock. by tom sawyer Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:36 am, Post If your adding sugar to an AG mash to up the ABV just a little. Though we would suggest that the best way to determine a "real" moonshine mash recipe is to look at historical precedent. You will need this to compare notes to the SG-(OG) to get your percentage of PA. Understanding the use of the specific gravity hydrometer and its important role in making spirits is key. A couple of notes, this chart assumes that the fermentation will end at 1.000 specific gravity. Everything you need to know to upgrade your still and make stronger moonshine in Red Dead Online. Using a Grain Bill for Record Keeping To use your hydrometer is not a difficult task. This is an important step to take as much of the popularity of moonshine comes from its strength. The ideal shape is wide and shallow to more easily produce esters, which is a reason this practice is popular for many breweries.