Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi all just gathering info for future plans
I do like the idea of herms heatings for micro distillery mashing but is this an economical method for heating a 100-200 litre mash
Also what is micro distillers methods for maintaining ferment temp?

Climate controlled room or cupboard /fridge is best bet depending on fermenter size of course..

I'm talking 200ltr fermentrers so temp controlled box isn't practical

rossgillespie wrote:I'm talking 200ltr fermentrers so temp controlled box isn't practical

Climate controlled box/cupboard IS the best way and easy to make yourself - MDF and insulation...

But HERMs could work, but it wold be a lot more expensive paying for the electricity!

Where I live we have some really hot days (8-10 months of the year) and my ferments were all over the place. Once I put the FVs into a store room attached to the house (not directly air-conditioned) the results became predictable and reliable. We use 60L & 200L FVs... so don't count this idea out!

Its not hard to make an MDF box with a hinged door... even for me, a glorified pencil pusher!

To keep my 180ltr fermenters warm I use the double punch combination of wrapping an electric blanket around the outside and aquarium heater inside, both controlled by a STC-1000.
I also have a lid with a HERMS coil attached I can pump cold water through. But I only ever use it in the hight of summer. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Or match ferment to climate rum when stinkin hot whiskey when cold..not sure about neutral though maybe autum and spring :-B

Aquarium heaters work well.

Cheap blankets from opshop and an aquarium heater if I have to do rum in winter most others just blankets as a 200L ferment will produce quite a bit of its own heat!

Just beware that some cheap aquarium heaters float so they float to the top run dry and pop. Don't rely on the dodgy suction caps that come with them. Use a stainless hose clamp or the like around the rubber of the heater to act as a weight.

woodduck wrote:...Use a stainless hose clamp or the like around the rubber of the heater to act as a weight.

Nice! That’ll be of use when I make use of my Aquarium heater...

I bought a couple of the 500w stainless steel aquarium heaters, they work well. I hang them through a hole in the center of the lid and aim for about a foot from the bottom of the 200ltr fermenter.