Wanting to start making spirits

newcastle_brewer · Post by **newcastle_brewer** » Monday Sep 03, 2007 9:26 pm

Hello,

I am wanting to start making spirits, as I have been making beer for quite a while now. Can someone tell me what I need and where I can get it from?

Lucas

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Monday Sep 03, 2007 9:31 pm

Try:
Dave's or Country Brewer

Cheers,
Greg

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Sep 03, 2007 9:32 pm

A still and lots of sugar and yeast, most home brew shops will have what you need to get you started and you can ask them bout the finer details,by the way remmember that it is illegal in most states to own and use a 25 litre still for the purpose of making spirits

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Monday Sep 03, 2007 9:55 pm

lethaldog wrote:A still and lots of sugar and yeast, most home brew shops will have what you need to get you started and you can ask them bout the finer details,by the way remmember that it is illegal in most states to own and use a 25 litre still for the purpose of making spirits

So build your own 24L still

James L · Post by **James L** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 10:34 am

mate, i have plans for one.... its quite large... i think its about 6ft tall... and once built can pump out about 10L an hour... I bought it off the net to eventually make ethanol for the car... but i doubt i'll be doing that now...

but otherwise, you can get 5L stills from brewcraft... if you just want to dabble.... i think they are about $350

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 10:45 am

What's your feedstock going to be? Buying sugar at the supermarket would be a very expensive way to fuel the car. Also, how are you planning to remove the 5% residual water from the ethanol to make it suitable for the car?

regan · Post by **regan** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 10:52 am

i made a 5lt one from an old pressure cooker and about $50 worth of copper fittings. it recirculates water with a pump through 2 water jackets making it a reflux style still.

goes well distilling water but i have not gotten to the stage where i get motovated and boil up some wash trying to keep the tempritures right.

the wash has been sitting there for atleast a month also

regan · Post by **regan** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 10:55 am

rwh i wonder what benzene costs and how you might get it

James L · Post by **James L** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 1:18 pm

feedstock would be anything high in carbohydrates that you can get alot of... they suggest getting old bread from the bakery... potatos... any old fruits... helps when you know fruit farmers and bakers i guess....

As for the residual water... i wasnt sure... yet....

And benzene.... you might be hard pushed getting your hands on that stuff... unless you work for a scientific organisation....

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 1:26 pm

How do you convert the carbohydrates into sugar for s. cerevisiae to consume?

James L · Post by **James L** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:02 pm

yeasts can excrete enzymes that breakdown some of the more complex carbohydrates so they can be used in fermentation.... maltase, invertase, zymases and of course amylase.

James L · Post by **James L** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:05 pm

all you need to do is pulp or mash the bread/potatoes/fruit to give the yeast the greatest surface area to break down the carbohydrates... just takes al hell of alot longer than using processed/simple sugars...

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:42 pm

Or you could just keep a spitoon and make moonshine like the yokle rednecks in the south of the US

warra48 · Post by **warra48** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:44 pm

Is the original post SPAM ?????

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:47 pm

greg was the first to reply so I am assuming he checked...

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 2:58 pm

warra48 wrote:Is the original post SPAM ?????

Was in the right forum, was relevant, wasn't trying to link to any where untoward. Overall looked on the level, so I gave 'em the benefit of the doubt.

Cheers,
Greg

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 5:31 pm

Kevnlis wrote:
lethaldog wrote:A still and lots of sugar and yeast, most home brew shops will have what you need to get you started and you can ask them bout the finer details,by the way remmember that it is illegal in most states to own and use a 25 litre still for the purpose of making spirits
So build your own 24L still

Your not actually allowed to have anything over 5 litres and it is still not allowed to be used to produce spirits

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 5:50 pm

I live in Bundy mate, spirits grow on trees here!

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 6:37 pm

that would certainly be different

Excuse me sir could i buy a bottle of J.D, certainly just let me go pick one

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2007 7:03 pm

I seriously should have a chat with some of the old blokes that make rum around here, see how they do it. Free cane is not hard to come by!