Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I can't seem to get the hydrometer to fall down to the correct level in the sugar and yeast mix after it has seemingly finished the run. Hence I'm only getting around 3 litres from a 28 ltr wash. Don't know if it's the yeast or pitching it to warm or the water. Don't think I'm doing anything wrong as it has been exactly the same method in the past. So Im at a bit of a loss as to what to do. The last three brews have done the same thing. Maybe just winter!!! Although I've been using a heater pad and seems to bubble ok for three to four days fine. Any suggestions?

You'll need to add more details such as wash type, if you're doing generations etc. Also, bubbling in the airlock can be misleading as a slight leak in your fermenter seal will still allow the airlock to be active initially and then it'll leak out the seal and the airlock won't be active. Have you tasted your washes before you run them? The should taste dry - no sweetness.

There's a good thread in the newbie section on stuck washes.

db1979 wrote:... Have you tasted your washes before you run them? The should taste dry - no sweetness.

There's a good thread in the newbie section on stuck washes.

I second that.

The old guys (in experience not necessarily chronologically) don’t use hydrometer! They taste, they squish the fermented wash between thumb & index finger to see if it’s done... hydrometers are synchronized to a temperature on a basic sugar-wAter mix, nothing else in there (yeast, unfermentable substances, etc) so it’s an indicator where they’re trying to be more accurate. But if it’s done, it’s done no matter what the hydrometer says!

Using the right hydrometer?

Mouse01 wrote:I can't seem to get the hydrometer to fall down to the correct level in the sugar and yeast mix after it has seemingly finished the run. Hence I'm only getting around 3 litres from a 28 ltr wash. Don't know if it's the yeast or pitching it to warm or the water. Don't think I'm doing anything wrong as it has been exactly the same method in the past. So Im at a bit of a loss as to what to do. The last three brews have done the same thing. Maybe just winter!!! Although I've been using a heater pad and seems to bubble ok for three to four days fine. Any suggestions?

3l from 28l aint terible I only keep 2l per 25l for rum...

:text-+1: Bluc,
I just did a CFW/Rye 45L charge and keeping 4L

EziTasting wrote:The old guys (in experience not necessarily chronologically) don’t use hydrometer!

I never use a hydrometer, never have. I was taught by a very wise man :greetings-waveyellow:

A hydrometer is indispensable when you are trying to push stuff through as soon as it's done. 3 days of the same reading and your wash isn't going anywhere.

Lots of old school tricks to determine if a wash is done, but impossible to get help with troubleshooting without some numbers.