I'm looking for a little help getting started. I own a microbrewery that is currently upsizing from our 3bbl start-up size to a 15bbl system. That leaves me with 4x 3.5 bbl fermenters, a 150 gallon mash tun and a 150 gallon kettle that needs something to do - so I thought I'd try my hand here.
Never distilled before, and just want to get my feet wet, so not looking to be profitable out of the gate - just educate myself initially. I would like to learn to make, rum, bourbon, gin and vodka. I already have access to malts, cooperage and brewing supplies.
The kettle is heated by open flame propane burner, but we have the ability to control the flame with a PID controller to a solenoid gas valve for precise temperature control from a feedback loop from anywhere in the system we can insert a temperature probe.
1. The kettle has a flat sealable lid, that should take pressure that has a triclamp. However, I could cut the lip off and have a dome welded to it with a tri-clamp for a column and put a man way in it. Is a flat top OK or should I change this?
2. Can I use the type of clamp-on column available from places like milehidistilling.com for this size of kettle?
3. I can't find any reference as to how long it should take to distill 100 gallons of wash -
4. What else does anyone feel they should share with me?
Getting Started
in Beginners
Posted
I'm looking for a little help getting started. I own a microbrewery that is currently upsizing from our 3bbl start-up size to a 15bbl system. That leaves me with 4x 3.5 bbl fermenters, a 150 gallon mash tun and a 150 gallon kettle that needs something to do - so I thought I'd try my hand here.
Never distilled before, and just want to get my feet wet, so not looking to be profitable out of the gate - just educate myself initially. I would like to learn to make, rum, bourbon, gin and vodka. I already have access to malts, cooperage and brewing supplies.
The kettle is heated by open flame propane burner, but we have the ability to control the flame with a PID controller to a solenoid gas valve for precise temperature control from a feedback loop from anywhere in the system we can insert a temperature probe.
1. The kettle has a flat sealable lid, that should take pressure that has a triclamp. However, I could cut the lip off and have a dome welded to it with a tri-clamp for a column and put a man way in it. Is a flat top OK or should I change this?
2. Can I use the type of clamp-on column available from places like milehidistilling.com for this size of kettle?
3. I can't find any reference as to how long it should take to distill 100 gallons of wash -
4. What else does anyone feel they should share with me?
Thanks.
Ian