Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Not sure if this is a dumb question to the wise but the BWKO recipe could you use the juice of 2 lemons instead of the quarter teaspoon of citric acid.
I pretty sure it's the same thing but want to be sure.
I got plenty of lemons but no citric acid :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Yes you could but lemons could impart flavour? Dont think citic does :-B

bluc wrote:Yes you could but lemons could impart flavour? Dont think citic does :-B

Cheers bluc, I will just buy some more citric acid. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I thought it might have been the same as CFW as lemon juice is recommended for that recipe

Personally I would use what I had. In the size wash you are doing I don't think 2 lemons worth of juice will be noticed.

Squeeze of lemon juice is fine mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I never use citric or lemon :-B

Zak Griffin wrote:Squeeze of lemon juice is fine mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

:handgestures-thumbupleft:

The Stig wrote:I never use citric or lemon :-B

What do you use as a substitute for that stig?

Nothing

I havnt been using either lately. It depends on the quality of ur water

Yeah I would only worry if your ferments arnt finishing :-B

Sam. wrote:Yeah I would only worry if your ferments arnt finishing :-B

Thanks fellas for all the helpful hints, novice nobs like myself have just stuck to the recipes thinking every part of the ingredients is crucial. In saying that i have been very assy and every ferment I've put down has worked a treat with text book finishes. Got tonnes and tonnes to run though :handgestures-thumbupleft:

The whole reason for the citric acid / lemon juice is to lower pH.
I have found the "sweet spot" for the best yield is around 5.0 to 5.2.
The requirement for these will vary depending on your wash ingredients especially water.
Not adding will only affect marginally as yeast will work at higher pH levels will a little less efficiency.

a pH test of the wash before adding the citric / lemon will guide you as to its necessity for optimum performance / yield.

In other words don't be too concerned about it.

Teddysad wrote:A pH test of the wash before adding the citric / lemon will guide you as to its necessity for optimum performance / yield.

In other words don't be too concerned about it.

Altho- for me, this IS where the majority of my fluff-ups has been! And it's a lesson well learned...

I purchased ph down at pet shop also used for hydroponic ph down is phosphoric acid it came in a 500 ml bottle that had a measure compartment and only needed to use a few mils is very convenient.

Ezi... you have pretty crappy water over your way, yeah? Do you condition it/ let it sit... is there too much chlorine. I have been using a smidge of Pot Bisulphide here and it seems to work ok... no sulphury smell or aftertaste, and it removes the chloramine too. Sorry, prob a bit off topic.

Kenster wrote:Ezi... you have pretty crappy water over your way, yeah? Do you condition it/ let it sit... is there too much chlorine. I have been using a smidge of Pot Bisulphide here and it seems to work ok... no sulphury smell or aftertaste, and it removes the chloramine too. Sorry, prob a bit off topic.

Are you in Brisbane metro area kenster? :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Kenster wrote:Ezi... you have pretty crappy water over your way, yeah?

We actually have really good water over this way, Im about 15 mins away from CHR

The Stig wrote:

Kenster wrote:Ezi... you have pretty crappy water over your way, yeah?

We actually have really good water over this way, Im about 15 mins away from CHR

I'm pleased to know our water is good stig, I been wondering that :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Kenster wrote:Ezi... you have pretty crappy water over your way, yeah? Do you condition it/ let it sit... is there too much chlorine. I have been using a smidge of Pot Bisulphide here and it seems to work ok... no sulphury smell or aftertaste, and it removes the chloramine too. Sorry, prob a bit off topic.

Oh yeah, its shyte! 9.8 on the pH scale, chlorinated and sugared up so that you can actually put it into your mouth without vomiting! :laughing-rolling:
Lucky for me, I'm the local Neverfail Springwater Distributor so I have access to exceptional quality water! Shameless plug for my employer... :D

Ever since going to that water, the taste has improved massively! And so has my fermentations... except this last batch of Molasses! Thats been all sorts of fun ... :puke-huge:

Definitely wont need any Citric acid or lemons! this stuff is acidic enough on its own!