Roger

I believe the term is peat

I don't say I was going to do any of this, I was just talking theory. If you can't taste it, why bother doing it at all

Isn't part of the issue with this that the density of the liquid is directly dependent on the temperature, therein causing the hydrometer to "float" at different levels not only by ABV but by its correlation to the temperature therein ? Perhaps you could float the hydrometer in a secondary jacketed collection tube .

All calculations are expressed in gallons. You're on your own with the mash bill.

Hola Smoog Trade you some NY snow for some Kona Coffee The calculation was "after" a heads and tails cut leaving a 60% hearts yield and is based on 100% Alcohol, not Proof Gallons. Your yields seem to be right on the numbers, 5 x 10 (avg wash) = 50 / 8 = 6.25 (100% ALC) x 2 (when converting to Proof Gallons) = 12.5 This is right with your numbers. Correct ? 5/8 Cross multiply X/ABV Wash (X-2 if wish to express in Proof)

Using Lenny's quick math, it's then a easy rule of thumb 5/8, I.e. 5% pure yield from 8% wash. Thereafter just cross multiply based on wash ABV. Example at 9% wash 5. X --- X ---- =. 45/8 = 5.63 x gallons of wash (example 250g) = 14.1 8 9 (wash ABV) Good rule of thumb

Sweet. Thanks !

Sorry, I didn't make it exactly clear. We fully intent to maintain the CO2 cap, by keeping the system sealed. The "pump over" is merely the process of agitation with a pump, vs a mixer. The idea is to be able to move one pump on a cart down the line between fermenters, a couple of times each day, vs putting a fixed agitator on each fermenter.

We plan on using a twice daily gentle pump over inside our closed fermenters. Has anybody done this vs agitation with a mixer ?

Pete, thanks for the breakdown. Is it possible for you to post (or did you track) average ABV's of your various breakdown positions ? It's a little hard to grasp the "pure alcohol" terminology on this side of the pond Thanks Roger

I also went "backwards". Found the facility, (2 possible locations in same community) , put in purchase offers on both, contingent on receiving approval from all local, state and federal offices for distillation. Then hit the bricks starting with zoning, village and county board meetings, etc.. until I was satisfied that there were no objections. Finally received approval from zoning (aprox 4 months ) then filed for both state and fed DSP 's. After beginning that process and getting initial feedback from both fed and state wherein I knew I would more than likely get licensed, attempted to close on both properties. Lost one to a previous purchase offer, so dropped it from my application as a second location for storage,etc.., and closed on the other. All of that said, this entire process is very "site specific" right down to your neighbors potential complaints. So I would suggest that you get your location, whether by lease , option or contingent purchase offer, and plan on biting the bullet on some site expense while you await your licenses. But before you spend much money on a specific location, you should find out if it is possible to site your operation there. The licensing is really two major parts 1) who 2) where You should pretty much know if you will pass number 1 or not, as all of the things that will cause you to be rejected are listed. However the hard part is finding an address and facility that can accommodate what you are trying to accomplish, while also complying with the myriad or codes and regulations that you will encounter.

It appears that spirits are not the only products that are susceptible to "creative advertising " http://www.mellophant.com/forums/showthread.php?13319-Russell-Stover-a-box-full-of-lies

It would appear that section 5701 of your states fire code would exempt ANY LIQUID that will not sustain combustion. So I think she's blowing smoke ( or maybe puffing a bit to much of it

I dont get the math on the low number of cases. If you have a 150 gallon single pot with a short column and a 1/2 vodka column that you needed to run twice a day to make 95+ ABV, wouldn't a rough estimate be: 150 x .09 (rough beer average) = 13.5 gal potential alcohol less 25% heads/tails avg = 10.1 gal theoretical 100% x 2.5 ( 80 proof rough dilution ) = 25.25 gallons x 5 (750 ltr btls) = 126 btls / 12 (per case) = 10.5 cases per day x 250 days = 2650 cases ?

Hi Adam I wonder if you might advise what percentage of "total fixed, and first years operating capital" the $850,000- raised for the 1/3rd share represents as a percentage of your own (founders) start-up capital ? I assume as a start up you didnt come Into the deal with significant "sweat equity or product/brand goodwill"? Congrats on the funding Thanks Roger

Hi Are those American Harvest vodka bottles ? I don't want to copy them. Let me know Thanks Roger

Thanks for all the feedback . I should have just googled the question in general first, as it is really a boiler question vs specific to distilling. Apparently the issue is that the acids given off in the steam process negatively interact with the zinc in the galvanization. It's essentially a sacrificial coating that reacts badly with steam byproduct. I was looking at it for the coating, vs painting black iron pipe. Oh well, engine paint it is.

Thanks. My boiler guy was not sure. We shall scour the codes.

Is there any known negative effect or prohibition against using galvanized pipe for steam runs vs black pipe ? Thanks Roger

I too was unreasonably negative. In retrospect I have thought back to the many times in my past when people told me that something I was contemplating and or working on, was not possible, or would most certainly fail. Sometimes this was true, and sometimes not. Regardless however it seemed that those negative comments always made me push harder towards my goals. So that being said : I don't think it's going to work Best of luck Roger

Neil I'm curious about what heads and or tails you're getting out of somebody's GNS ? What could be left in there to be further distilled, unless you're using a vacuum or centrifuge ? Thanks Roger

I hear Exxon has excess capacity

Your 30 gallons is in reference to "storage", and only if not in glass or wooden barrels . Your "in production" volume has no bearing on the storage requirement. If you are resting, blending, macerating, flavoring, redistilling, diluting ....... You are in the "producing phase". Tell your building inspector to read up on production vs storage in distilleries, wineries :https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=18341

I bought a gallon of local cider today and Brix tested it and it came out at :11, I.e. 5.8% potential alcohol. It cost me 5 bucks. I understand we can source apple juice for roughly $3.00 per gallon in bulk. So I believe the numbers stated above for juice is way high. As a side issue, I can't see why any form of fruit juice concentrate would be any cheaper than the raw juice. In fact I would think it might be a bit higher do to process cost. It's my understanding that the only reason juice is concentrated is for storage and/or transportation. But it is still the same juice, and same basic cost ?

Would it be safe to say that once any given still is finally up to sufficent temperature to begin off-gassing of vapor, and if there were sufficent heat to maintain said constant temperature, and a likewise adequate condensor to accept and process all appropriate vapor, that the time to complete any given batch at like ABV would be constant regardless of volume ? However many things would affect the still getting to that initial temperature such as design, insulation, surface area of heat transfer medium vs entire liquid volume, etc ..