Hull Brew's first 2" still

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Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:11 am

IMG_5067 - Copy.JPG
IMG_5066 - Copy.JPG


Up and running at last! Built a SCR to control the power, so can wind it down nice and slow.
Ran my first batch of MacRum through it, got a second one fermenting.
Had to use Tate & Lyle black treacle - couldn't find any agricultural molasses at the right price (GB)
Ran it until 20%, some really nice smells - not used smelling these as I've only used reflux still on neutrals before.
Highest %ABV I got was the first 250ml (inc fores)and that was 78%, gradually getting weaker.
Most jars (late heads/early hearts) were at 64%.
Should I have achieved 80% at all, or is it a limitation of my basic build?
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Hull brew
 
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equipment: T500 copper column
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby bluc » Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:52 am

Was it on low wines or wash. On my 2" pot i used to average 75% i often hit 80% but only for a miniute or two at start of fores.. sounds like a good run and good looking still :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby db1979 » Fri Feb 07, 2020 6:01 pm

Nice still :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Are you using refrigerated coolant?
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:12 pm

It was low wines. Ended up with approx 5 litres. Ditched the fores, first 3 x 250ml jars and some of the latter tails as they were a bit cloudy.
In my excitement I didn't leave enough room in second wash for the 10 litres of dunder, as per macs recipe, so only used 5 litres.
Impatiently waiting second ferment to hurry up!
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equipment: T500 copper column
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:16 pm

No, its just tap water at 8 C.
Have improved design with the addition of a small pond pump recirculating water.
Estimate to have saved approx 800 litres on a run, so no complaints from Greta Thunberg!
Hull brew
 
Posts: 40
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Location: Hull, GB
equipment: T500 copper column
2 inch pot still
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby The Stig » Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:33 pm

You poms have got it easy , my recirc is at 32 for the near futures
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Sat Feb 08, 2020 12:22 am

Bloody hell mate. I take colder showers!
Hull brew
 
Posts: 40
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equipment: T500 copper column
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Sat Feb 08, 2020 3:11 am

bluc - sorry, misunderstood and can't find way to edit. I was running a wash, producing low wines.
Hull brew
 
Posts: 40
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Location: Hull, GB
equipment: T500 copper column
2 inch pot still
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2kW boiler

Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby db1979 » Sat Feb 08, 2020 6:57 am

The Stig wrote:You poms have got it easy , my recirc is at 32 for the near futures

:text-+1: only downside to running a radiator setup is that temps never get below ambient air temperature. Thankfully my shed is insulated, but it can still get a bit warm.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby bluc » Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:28 am

Hull brew wrote:bluc - sorry, misunderstood and can't find way to edit. I was running a wash, producing low wines.

In that case I wouldnt worry bout abv only at end I used to strip down to 20%..
bluc
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Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Amberale » Sat Feb 08, 2020 4:07 pm

Hull brew wrote:Bloody hell mate. I take colder showers!


You shower???!!
How times change, must be a millennial social shift in old Blighty. :teasing-tease:

My temps in southern Oz aren’t much higher than yours and make it a PITA over winter.
I’m actually considering the reverse of a cooling system and making a preheat for the cooling water for winter.
I have an almost zero loss recirculating system.
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:41 am

LOL...as the Millenials might say. (Is it still a thing? I don't know!)
Gen X me mate.
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Posts: 40
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Location: Hull, GB
equipment: T500 copper column
2 inch pot still
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Re: Hull Brew's first 2" still

Postby Hull brew » Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:45 am

Thanks for the reassurance bluc.
There's plenty to learn in this hobby, esp for a late starter
Hull brew
 
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:00 pm
Location: Hull, GB
equipment: T500 copper column
2 inch pot still
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