Will this Alcotec 48 brew work? and is it safe?

[solomon1]

Hi, I am about to start a brew using Alcotec 48 dual function turbo yeast. I am going to attempt to put 8kg of sugar into the 21 litres that it recommends to make the nessesary 25 litre target. I was then planning on clearing it using a TurboKlar and then putting some liquid activated Carbon into the wash to refine for 24 hours and then using a TurboKlar to clear it once more.
I have bought a 5gallon glass demijohn/carboy to brew this in, but on reading the Alcotec website; i am slightly anxious as it says to use a plastic fermenter.
The reason I bought a glass demijohn was I saw a man brewing a 1gallon wash in a demijohn, but not i am not sure if it is safe?

If someone could tell me if this setup will produce a base spirit of around 20 ABV strenght safely?, i would be very grateful.
I intend to flavour the finished product with prestige essences.

Solomon.

 

[alanywiseman.]

I don't see why glass would cause a problem :wha:

 

[Moley]

I can't see any reason why fermenting in glass would be a problem ..... except that I've never used these yeasts and don't know how aggressively they work.

As they are claimed to get through kilos of sugar in days, that must be a pretty violent fermentation. I have heard they can give out quite a bit of heat but I don't know how much the mixture is going to froth.

If you fill a 5 gallon carboy to the top (and that won't hold 25 litres anyway) you might have the stuff spraying everywhere. It might be safer to use a plastic bucket or scale the brew down and work to 4 gallons (18 litres).

 

[solomon1]

Thanks, i think i may have been a slight bit hasty in buying the glass demijohn, as it seems obvious that a plastic fermenter bucket is lighter/easier/cheaper/safer. Haha...spose it will suit storing the finished product nicely.
Is there any job that a 5 gallon demijohn is particularly useful?

 

[ScottM]

Thanks, i think i may have been a slight bit hasty in buying the glass demijohn, as it seems obvious that a plastic fermenter bucket is lighter/easier/cheaper/safer. Haha...spose it will suit storing the finished product nicely.
Is there any job that a 5 gallon demijohn is particularly useful?

I use my carboy for ageing my wine :)

As for your original question, once you have added the finings for clearing... it'll be an idea to rack it off into a secondary. Just to get it away from the dead yeast and other **** altogether.

 

[solomon1]

I use my carboy for ageing my wine :)

As for your original question, once you have added the finings for clearing... it'll be an idea to rack it off into a secondary. Just to get it away from the dead yeast and other **** altogether.

Yeah i was thinking that this might be nessessary in order to get the clearest/cleanest wash.

I think i might just buy another 25L plastic fermenter and just use the demijohn to rack off into before bottling :thumb:

 

[ScottM]

I use my carboy for ageing my wine :)

As for your original question, once you have added the finings for clearing... it'll be an idea to rack it off into a secondary. Just to get it away from the dead yeast and other **** altogether.

Yeah i was thinking that this might be nessessary in order to get the clearest/cleanest wash.

I think i might just buy another 25L plastic fermenter and just use the demijohn to rack off into before bottling :thumb:

Sounds like a plan :)

I'm wondering if I should give this a go myself. I can think of loads of uses for a clean tasting 20% ABV liquid

 

[ScottM]

Just thinking. With the activated charcoal, are you just going to chuck some in and give it a shake every now and again or are you going to filter it through via a pipe or something?

Curious to know what the best method is :)

 

[mm707]

You need to buy some activated carbon granules from a home brew shop or online and get a length of 2 inch waste pipe, I use about 2 metres but it all depends on what space you have to work in etc. tie some muslin over the end of the tube to stop the carbon falling out and ( in a 2 metre pipe ) pour all the carbon granules in, a normal pack of 1.7 l granules will half fill the tube.
Next you pour the brew through and out it comes the other end. Do this 3 times ( triple filtering ). It takes a while but the results are worth it, no bad smells or taste and crystal clear. Flavour how you like or just drink with mixer etc like vodka.

For the first filtering the brew may be slightly blackish, just let that settle before the second filter, it is just the powder from the charcoal.

After you have finished, you can cover up the ends of the pipe to keep it clean and use it again for about 3 brews.

 

[mm707]

I use this alctec carbon ( the first one )

http://www.alcotec.co.uk/products/activated-carbon.html

 

[ScottM]

Ideal, thanks for that :thumb:

 

[solomon1]

I deicded to use some liquid activated Carbon as its easier and you can add it straight to the wash, leave it for 24hours to filter all out the nasty smell/taste, then treat it with TurboKlar and rack it off. :)

 

[solomon1]

I have just started this off about an hour ago.

I followed the instructions on the Alcotec 48; I got my water to exactly 40 degrees with 8kg of sugar disolved in it. Then pitched the yeast. This is what it says to do on the packet, but I must admit it seems a little hot to not damage the yeast.

Anyone know if this is right/wrong/indifferant? haha :thumb:

 

[mm707]

I deicded to use some liquid activated Carbon as its easier and you can add it straight to the wash, leave it for 24hours to filter all out the nasty smell/taste, then treat it with TurboKlar and rack it off. :)

Please let us know how it turns out using the liquid carbon