Aeration

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Re: Aeration

Postby splitice » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:50 pm

68% (temp adjusted) ABV after 18 hours aerating. Since there would be some wood sugars and tannins which should have a higher SG than water it may be a couple % higher I guess. Starting to get a bit of light wood color (see attached). Slight rough vanilla flavor, no char or wood that I can pick up, smoother than white dog post mixing (or perhaps that's the chilling). No apparent spirit loss.

Was able to get a peak inside and confirm that the bubbling is quite vigorous (with the carbonation cap sitting ajar).
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Re: Aeration

Postby splitice » Sun Dec 22, 2019 8:23 am

2w review.

Very smooth to drink. Easy to drink @ 47% ABV. Not as much tannin extraction as I expected, perhaps not enough wood. Minimal losses.

Ended up pressuring the keg (1-2PSI) slightly to ensure the lid stayed sealed. Did the entire process except a couple days where I needed the fridge space in the fridge.

Time to bottle :)
Last edited by splitice on Sun Dec 22, 2019 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:08 pm

I would like to give this a go at some stage.

Question:
Are most people using silicone food food-grade hosing with only the 0.5 micron airstone immersed in the liquid for aeration so there is no plastic in contact with the spirit?
Does it matter if the airstone is in the container from an aeration efficiency perspective?

There have been a few suggestions of using SS or copper tubing, but I cannot see how this would be possible to achieve a decent seal.

I will re-read the thread in case I have missed some pictures of setups others are using

Thanks,

Stillts
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Fri Feb 25, 2022 6:16 pm

I ended up sourcing some SS tubes + 2 micron aerators. Got them bubbling away currently.

Is there a recommended airflow for this process? I got a Marina 200 pump which is designed for 2x outlets at 90L/hr rate. Should I run it flat out or dial it back? Currently I have it gently bubbling through two valves.
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Fri Feb 25, 2022 7:08 pm

bubbly goodness! :)
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Re: Aeration

Postby bluc » Sat Feb 26, 2022 7:37 am

When I did it I just ran flat out..
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Sat Feb 26, 2022 1:58 pm

Thanks Bluc. Will give that a try. Was worried that 90L/hr per flask might be too much. I will have to keep an eye on evaporation.

Are you still using this method Bluc?
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Sun Mar 06, 2022 5:02 pm

I personally found at 90L per min, on any hottish day (around 30 deg C) I was losing a lot via evaporation. I have installed some air flow valves to dial it back a bit. Will see how things go taste wise after a reasonable time period.
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Re: Aeration

Postby bluc » Sun Mar 06, 2022 7:32 pm

:handgestures-thumbupleft: thats what 90% of this hobby is trial and error..
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Sun Mar 06, 2022 8:53 pm

and... remembering to take decent notes and label things :)) So you can repeat it when you discover something good!
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Sun Apr 17, 2022 12:21 pm

Just an update for anyone playing at home.

I have found that in my process, aeration is really making a difference to the final product. Is there a limit to how long your should oak using the aeration method before it becomes too "oaky"? I have found with a few heavy malt batches, I found diluting it with some extra neutral helped get the taste profile I was after if it became too strong.

I have found that running it overnight when the average temperature is cooler helps with the evaporation rate. Now that we're heading into the cooler months that should be less of an issue.

Will do some more research in the flavouring section.
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:56 am

I am curious. Been using the aeration method for a while now.

read lots of references on the forum regarding over "oaking" - is this like anything else a personal taste thing and varies from person to person?

How do you typically tell if you have over done the oaking stage?

Do folks here using the aeration method only oak using a aerator, or also put in a barrel or over oak afterwards?

Thanks everyone!
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Re: Aeration

Postby The Stig » Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:00 pm

100% personal taste , what I like you may not and visa versa.
The only way to tell is to , yes you guessed it , taste it . This is by far my favorite part of the hobby :music-deathmetal:
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:05 pm

cheers Stig! Righto! will keep tasting as instructed :)

What is the typical time that people typically aerate for? I am using a mix of French and American oak dominoes in a ratio of 3-4 dominoes for 2L of spirit at 60-65% for 3-4 weeks

Biggest problem I have is having only two aerators; can oak two batches at a time.
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Re: Aeration

Postby Wellsy » Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:09 pm

Just a word of warning if it is over oaked and you simply keep tasting eventually over oaking goes away, much like the lights and inhibitions. Gravity tends to double and you will start falling down a lot also, especially if you do not dilute it back to 40%. Please don’t ask how I know all these things :laughing-rolling:
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Re: Aeration

Postby stillts » Fri Nov 25, 2022 12:10 pm

8-} :laughing-rolling: your secret is safe with me Wellsy!
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