Turbo Express yeast ferment time?

[bundyftw]

Hi Guys,
New to the forum but got some great information from this site, having built my own Boka 2 inch LM tower and doing my first sugar wash ferment.

Bit of a newbie question but i'm using Turbo Express yeast in a 25litre tank with 6kg of white sugar, following the directions, It's been 24 hours and it's still bubbling like crazy, how long does a ferment normally take using this yeast and regular white sugar? temps have been around 32 in the tank, 20-25 air temp. havent tested the alc content yet, what's the target % ?
cheers for that.

[Jimmy1]

Hi Bundyftw,

When ever I have done turbo yeast washes, they always seemed to take about 5 days to ferment out properly. Then I leave them to clear by their own for at least 7 days, so it would usually take 2 weeks from start to finish in my experience.
Cheers
Jimmy

[bundyftw]

Thanks for the response Jimmy.
Bit confused as the yeast pack says 24 hour ferment time for 6kg of dextrose. The brand is a Still Spirits Turbo Yeast EXPRESS.
If this is the brand you use, do you use regular white sugar or dextrose?
I'm using 6kg of regular white sugar, I have seen elsewhere that you should put 8 kg of regular sugar in the wash not 6kg. I'm 24 hours in, do i need more sugar and should i just tip another kg of white sugar in or would that screw with the fermentation?
thanks for any advice, obvious novice here.

[bradsgonetrekkin]

hi mate we've got a good calculations link in the beginners questions section you should check out. Putting in your specs comes up with approx 14.1 % alc. I'd probably leave it as is without the extra sugar and see how it goes. I haven't used turbos but they are supposed to ferment pretty quick. I'd wait until it stops bubbling, clears abit and has an SG of 0.980ish then it'll be right to still. ;)

[Jimmy1]

I only ever used alcotec when I did and found when I used less sugar for the same two week ferment and clearing, the yeast wasn't stressed as much which in turn produced less off flavours.
In my opinion I wouldn't waste your money on the dextrose (use the money you save for more sugar :D )and just use home brand white sugar. If the dextrose produces a slight better flavour it would most likely be stripped when you pull 90+% and then carbon filtering would remove all of the leftover flavours.
I think QLD.Andy would be much better at answering about turbos with the amount of "bumps" he puts in another thread :laughing-rolling: good stuff I say.
Hope this helps
Jimmy

[not alan jones]

Firstly, don't stress about it (or add more sugar). I've never seen a 24/48 hour wash finish in 24/48 hours or 72 hours for that matter. Sounds like you're itchin' to go, so just wait a day or two until the "activity" stops, by which I mean the bubbling in the air lock or fermenter. If you can't measure the the SG then you should get yourself a hydrometer asap. I don't mean to disagree with other posts but I remember what it's like with your first run, so if you already have a hydrometer, 980 might be a bit ambitious this time, wait til it is below 990 and stir briskly with a big spoon (to expel the remaining co2), get some turbo clear from your local shop for about $6.00, follow the pack directions and fire up the still. This is not going to be your benchmark effort (though quite drinkable) but it will put something in the cupboard while you do your next wash with a little more patience. The express yeasts are maybe not the best way to go in future unless your really in a hurry :shhh: .

Have fun with it and be carefull :pray:

[bundyftw]

Thanks for the helpful responses, i'll let the fermenter run it's course then follow your recommendations. I was hoping to get the whole lot done by Monday for a upcoming party..best laid plans..I wasn't expecting a perfectly clean spirit, but the Z filter i have should make it drinkable.
I'll do some more research but if Turbo express isn't that good what kind/amount of yeast do you recommend for neutral wash in a 25 litre fermenter...whats the ideal sugar amount and how long does the fermentation period take normally?
cheers

[JustStillin]

Hi Bundy,

I'm new to distilling, but i've been following the Tomato Paste Wash (TPW) recipe: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=8
For me its ready to run in 2 weeks, took about 1 week to ferment and then another week to clear up ready for distilling. I was a bit skeptical about it, but after running it through the still (i've got a 2" VM Column) it comes out completely clean. Not trying to steer you away from the Turbos, its just what i've tried so far. Its a bit cheaper than the Turbos (cost me under $10 for a 23L wash).

Cheers,

JS

[bundyftw]

Cheers mate, yeh i've seen all the recipes on the other section of the forum since posting, i'll experiment with those after getting a few bottles collected from this run, The Whiskey recipe's are particularly interesting,got some 2" copper left, guess it's time to go back to the plumbing store for more fittings for a pot still...lol
Meanwhile, back to Dan Murphy's today to hand over another chunk of change.. burning!!

[maheel]

go the TPW :)

i recommend stripping it 1st then re-running on a nice spirit run

if you get to 23l batches going and can get two quick strips done then a slower spirit run you have a 10L of clean 40% no need for carbon etc :)

what are you using for a boiler bundyFTW ?

[bundyftw]

Hi Maheel,
I have got 2/25 litre batches going actually, one is still bubbling merrily the other has pretty much stopped. I didn't mix the sugar in as well for the second barrel in hindsight and I'm thinking about tipping in some more white sugar to get it going again, would the unconverted sugar screw with the distillation if i put in another straight kg of sugar?
I'll be running these through a 25l super reflux still, so i'm not expecting anything fantastic, just a few bottles to see over the pre christmas period. Not sure what the stripping run you mentioned involves using this still? excuse the novice question.

I'm trying to actually sauce a legal 50L beer keg to attach to my 2" reflux column i made, but finding it difficult, any leads there in the brisbane/northern nsw area? I believe i'm headed down gas burner heating route, to better regulate heat especially whilst using a pot still head i plan on making.
cheers

[R-sole]

http://www.kegking.com.au/

Apparently these guys sell legal kegs. you need to call them and it's said they'll haggle depending on condition etc.

[maheel]

if you want a legal keg see craftbrewer, just tell him you want a SS one like a euro A type sankey etc (no rubber coated etc)
http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=3714

you might score one at a scrap dealer, they often tell you they have "none" on the phone but if you walk in with $50 they might just have one.....
make sure it has not had something weird in it... best if they smell like old beer ..

you could stir the one with sugar on the bottom, not ideal but should be fine
dont splash the wash just get a good whirlpool going, if enough ALC and yeast is already happily working it should not get infected using a clean spoon.

you can "strip" using any still really...

just run it once then run it again
you might loose some product this way but normally helps clean it up before the need to carbon.
i dont carbon but i make pretty heavy cuts and throw away plenty, but once you build stocks that's easier to do

i would do something like this
run 20L wash get 5L of 40%
run another 20L get 5 L of 40%

add say 5L water and rerun the 10L maybe getting a good 8L of "hearts" of which 4L would be my best hearts for gin or vodka and 4L in the whiskey jar

[Sam.]

Does anyone else find it ironic that everyone is so keen to get a 50L Keg legally when they are going to use it for a dubious practice? :think: :think: :think:

Find a good old outback pub and take what you want. If you go to a sporting club the day after a big show they will usually want the things to grow legs and walk away (as long as they don't own them). Just saying they are easy to acquire, I woulnd't go paying 100 clams to brewshaft for one. :dance:

[SBB]

I get mine from the local Recycle Centre at the tip / rubbish dump. Surely the council wouldn't sell anything that wasn't legal :? :?

[maheel]

S & L

i agree about using kegs for something "illegal" but if your going to get done for i would rather just go for stilling not, stilling and stolen property....

i would suggest seeking euro A type sankey kegs that are not branded with a AU brewery

[Sam.]

I think if you got done, it would be like jay walking to rob a bank as to steal a keg to distill :laughing-rolling: but in the end as long as you are making it for yourself and not a source of income (read stealin government excise) no copper is going to care.

By the way sorry for the tangent on the thread, didn't mean to hijack, mod's if this belong in a new thread so be it, or we can continue to leave this as an unspoken topic......... :shifty:

[maheel]

nah there was a Q about kegs, we went a bit OT but it's fine IMO

onwards we go :teasing-neener:

[bundyftw]

Thanks for the run down Maheel, think i'll follow your advice and do 2 strips and one final spirit run.
I just finished stripping the 25 litre wash i was concerned with orginally, got 3.5 litres @ 75% with a little bit of tails in it by the smell of things, that's with a 25l super reflux still. I'll wait on the other 25litres to clear and run it all tommorow and see how it comes out, for sure the next batch i'm doing will be TPW though.

I will check the local scrap yard/dump for kegs next time i'm there. $100 is a fair whack on top of the copper. Country pubs do have kegs out the back, but i don't know if taking one costs them money , as i would feel guilty over that.

[wynnum1]

25l super reflux still what sort of packing does it have changed mine to stainless steel with better results and if you throw heads and tails into following wash more hearts and very little extra time to run.