TPW washes

[Potmash Boka]

My last TPW washes(4 consecutive), have all fermented out to 21-21.5%. Thinking this is a little higher than I thought they would come out at. Very happy with the results.
Great recipe for good clean alcomohole :happy-partydance: :happy-partydance: :happy-partydance:

[Fatherjack]

WOW :scared-eek:

Is that the tried & proven recipe?

[Potmash Boka]

Yeah the tried and proven, but 4.5kg of raw sugar plus 500g of dex. I think it might have something to do with the temps up here in Darwin, because they reach a gravity of 910 within 4 days. :dance: :happy-partydance: :dance:

[SBB]

My last TPW washes(4 consecutive), have all fermented out to 21-21.5%.

Something very weird going on there, way to much sugar or something, best to keep TPW under 12-14%

[Kimbo]

My last TPW washes(4 consecutive), have all fermented out to 21-21.5%.

Something very weird going on there, way to much sugar or something, best to keep TPW under 12-14%

:text-+1:
Was that with Baker's yeast?

[bt1]

Yeh,
I'm having issues with those numbers as well.

For a long time I use specialist imported yeasts but now achieved those numbers.

I'd appreciate some more details
inverting?
yeast type/brand
sugar volumes/wash

bt1

[Urrazeb]

Are you taking SG from the start as well? Seems high...

[Potmash Boka]

4.5kg raw sugar, 500g dex, 1/4 teaspoon citric acid, 200g tomato paste. Use a 7L staining camp pot, put in sugar and dex, bring up to good steam coming of but not boiling, add tomato paste. Let cool for a while then add citric acid. Cool a bit longer then add filtered water to about 30-34 deg. Pitch yeast( Lowans bakers). Seal up with air lock and let it go. Starting gravity of 1060-1065, check it about 4 days and its regularly down to 910. When I check the gravity I temp correct of a chart. Don't know why it's all going really good. Could be the consistent 28-30 deg temps or could be something mineral wise in the water??????? But hey seems to be working really good. :-D

[Potmash Boka]

When I add the citric it's still fairly hot. Just checked my notes start grab is 1065-1068.

[Kimbo]

That's a bit more info, cheers mate.
How much water? coz the tried and proven recipe calls for 25L total which if memory serves, will give a wash of 11- 12%
As for the fact of your washes finishing in 4days, that's pretty normal/good , I'd be happy with that;-)

[Potmash Boka]

Doing them as 23-24L washes. Could be 25 don't have marked in the side of the 30L drums and really can't be bothered putting any there. Just eye it up and make sure there is plenty if headroom. When I did the first one I was expecting around 10-15% washes but was surprised at the result so just keep doing it the same.

[Kimbo]

Yeah mate, I dont recon your getting 21% I recon closer to 12%
just as an excersize, punch your numbers in Here :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Brendan]

1.065 is more in the 10% range when it finishes fermenting...where did 21% come from?

5kg of sugar in 30L, should get you around that 10% mark as a general guide...

[Potmash Boka]

Using above calculator

[Kimbo]

Then I recon there is something wrong with your hydrometer.
If you put the quants into the calc at the top, it shows something quite different ;-)

[BackyardBrewer]

Never ever heard of a TPW top 20% - what's the chance your hydrometer is off?

What's the yield like after your cuts? That would be an interesting stat. If I keep 1.8L-2L from a TPW run at 11% for 25L it means my total alc was around 2.75L out of the still if it was really efficient. By your figures you'd have be pulling double that.

So:

1 - What's the quality like? If you are hitting that strength it might taste like Turbos?
2 - What's the yield like off the still?

[SBB]

Not to mention that making a 21% wash is against all the rules of distilling, that is if you want to make anything worth while drinking.
Edit : posted same time as BB
Shit now I got two and cant delete. :sad:

[Potmash Boka]

Going to get a new hydrometer this week and check the latest one and do another to determine if my hydrometer is out for some reason. I posted this topic up because I thought it was pretty bloody strange, the readings that is.
I will keep you guys informed of the next couple of batches. I haven't run any of the previous yet as my boiler is U/S, it started leaking vapor in two welds at the top and I haven't fixed it yet.

[Kimbo]

Cheers PB,keep us posted :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[LancePants]

Can't agree more with the perfect temps here in Darwin for brewing. I started this spirit game about 4 months ago and have been loving it. Did the whole newbie thing and started with Turbo yeasts, but have recently been trying the good old bakers yeast and have been loving the results. Running my first TPW now and was surprised how fast it started to bubble away... Nothing like home made....