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Author Topic: Distilling  (Read 23850 times)

Offline weazletoe

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Distilling
« on: October 15, 2010, 04:25:53 pm »
   I was doing some research on making a still. For water of course. I mean, distilled water is expensive. And, I got to thinking, just out of curisoity, if one were to distill 5 gallons of let's call it 8% abv homebrew, distilled alcohol could one expect to have?
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Offline euge

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2010, 04:34:02 pm »
Maybe half a gallon of rotgut.
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Offline corkybstewart

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2010, 05:00:15 pm »
Maybe half a gallon of rotgut.
Not sure about the quantity(probably less than 1/2 gallon) but why would it be rotgut?  I have a couple of friends who distill everything from fermented sugar water to homebrewed beer and they make some of the finest products I've ever tasted, bar none. 
If you were to try this go very easy on the hops(from experience), hop aromas can get really concentrated.
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Offline weazletoe

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2010, 05:47:08 pm »
If I were to ever distill something other than water, it would be hopless. I was thinking two row, and maybe some peat smoked malt. Perhaps a bit of rye? But, then again. That would be illegal.  ;D
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Offline corkybstewart

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2010, 07:12:18 pm »
If I were to ever distill something other than water, it would be hopless. I was thinking two row, and maybe some peat smoked malt. Perhaps a bit of rye? But, then again. That would be illegal.  ;D
Everything these guys have distilled has been for my alcohol lamp, even the absinthe.  But a little hops is really quite good.  So is Thai basil, juniper berries etc.  The smoke from the alcohol lamp smells so good.
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2010, 11:37:25 pm »
If I were to ever distill something other than water, it would be hopless. I was thinking two row, and maybe some peat smoked malt. Perhaps a bit of rye? But, then again. That would be illegal.  ;D
You can totally distill two row and peat smoked malt or rye legally, not an issue.

Just don't mash and ferment first.   ;)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline tumarkin

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2010, 06:58:29 am »
Maybe half a gallon of rotgut.

Absolutely don't agree. First of all, you'd likely get about a gallon, and it could be quite good. Distillation technology is very old and pot stills are very simple. Home distillation of potables is illegal but with a little learning & care, you can produce quite enjoyable drink that won't make you go blind.
                                                                     
Mark Tumarkin
Hogtown Brewers
Gainesville, FL

Offline beerocd

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2010, 07:16:09 am »
Let's use a horrible math example - someone will be along shortly to correct me...  8)

Eight percent of five gallons. Lets round to ten because it's early. So that's half a gallon, if you are using a fractional still and getting in the high nineties for purity. Traditionally what we consume is much less than that, so if you use a pot still you would get a bit over a gallon, then re-distill it to clean it up and to get a little more than half a gallon. Then you would need to cut it - to make it drinkable. So - yeah you could get a gallon, drinkable, out of this situation.

So, all I got left to say in IB4TL !!!
« Last Edit: October 16, 2010, 07:17:50 am by beerocd »
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Offline denny

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2010, 09:26:47 am »
Guys, distilling is not what this forum is about.  I'd appreciate it if this topic is dropped.
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Offline capozzoli

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2010, 10:08:40 am »
Hope I dont take this thread in the wrong direction but isnt it funny how distilling is the taboo subject. Strange especially cause home brewers fight to legalize brewing. Fight for the freedom to "make your own" stuff.

I know when I tell some of the uninitiated that I brew my own beer and make wine they instantly think moonshine. There is sort of a taboo about makeing alchol for consumption at home.Like you make it in your bath tub or something.

Isnt it sort of like the coke heads looking down on the crank heads? OR maybe there is a better analogy.
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Offline tumarkin

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2010, 10:15:17 am »
Guys, distilling is not what this forum is about.  I'd appreciate it if this topic is dropped.

Denny, how is talking about distilling (not actually practicing it, of course) further from "what this forum is about" than talking about bbq, cooking, cheese making, etc?

Perhaps if we talk about it, we might realize there is a significant and/or growing number of homebrewers who'd like to see the laws against home distillation changed. It's not that far off from legalization of making beer or wine. It might be something we want to look at regarding our lobbying & legalization efforts.
Mark Tumarkin
Hogtown Brewers
Gainesville, FL

Offline denny

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2010, 10:55:19 am »
Mark, you make a very valid point, but the mods received a couple of comments about it, so I'm just trying to please everyone.  You know how easy that is!  But you notice I didn't lock or delete this thread.  Let's just treat it gingerly, like the Bible thread, and I think everything will be OK.
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Offline beerocd

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2010, 11:05:15 am »
Since it's not locked.

While I was outside heating my strike water I was thinking. This is the same as the current AHA situation except now it's all 50 states in the case of distilling vs a handful of states in the case of homebrew. Is there anyone lobbying for home distilling?
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Offline capozzoli

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2010, 11:28:29 am »
Its also weird that distillation does not make alcohol. Fermentation does. http://www.gin-vodka.com/legal.html

Now that making alcohol is legal no reason distillation shouldnt be.

The law says you are not allowed to own distillation equipment at all, even if you are not using it to create alcoholic beverages.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2010, 11:36:32 am by capozzoli »
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Offline weazletoe

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2010, 11:36:04 am »
Guys, distilling is not what this forum is about.  I'd appreciate it if this topic is dropped.

  Sorry Denny. Didn't mean to cause a stir. I really gotta stop watching the History channel. It give me all kinds of ideas. You shoulda seen me the first season of Meteorite Men was on!!!  ;D
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