Getting Soggy AF with Irwin

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 7:56 pm

Thumpers were incorporated for heat sources which were hard to regulate. If the heat gets too high the still will puke liquids into the worm. Wood fires are best example.
There are two ways to use them.
If you just leave the inlet and outlet tubes as top only ports, the thumper becomes a puke box or slobber box, and the system remains open.
If you carry the inlet tube to the lower part of the pot, and add some shine or wine or whatever, then the system becomes closed and works through pressure. The hot vapers bubble up through liquid in the thumper pot and continue out to the worm. If the tube from the still to the thumper should get constricted, then the still could blow a seal.
This will redistill the liquid in the pot as well.
Many moon shiners will re run likker from previous runs that taste off or come from the tails part of the distillation.

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 7:59 pm

Although any clog could cause pressure, even without the box. You could just say the risk only increases due to a second point of failure in play.

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 8:05 pm

Here's a really good picture to clear things up.

rSin · Post by **rSin** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 8:13 pm

thanks i,

i get your well up on the details.
my question is
what does a thumper box ADD to the distillation process
other than process?

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:42 pm

1. A second distillation for more drinkable likker
2. Bringing in flavor from the second liquid.
3. Keep unwanted liquid from entering condenser worm

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 9:27 am

I added 2 gallons of water w 3 more cups of corn syrup, and 3/4 cup dark brown sugar(for molasses).
Bubbling increased right away.
The new pot still is 13 gallons, and I have 5 gallons of wash. I may make a 3 gallon batch using corn meal and amalyse powder two boost volume.
This should yield well over a gallon of finished booze.

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Here's a jar of the wash in bucket.

It will clear up when action slows. It will also build pressure as CO2 is produced.
I had a 1/2 g jug once I forgot about for 2 weeks. I opened it and it shot a 6 ft geyser of beer all over the kitchen.

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 9:51 am

Amalyse A powder method.
Heat water to 185
Add corn or grains, they will thicken like oatmeal.
Cool to 159f add tsp Amalyse
Hold at 150 to 160f for 1 hour.
You know it is working as the mix will become thinner as the starches change to sugar
Add booster sugar.
Cool to 100, strain and add yeast.
My DADY is arriving today, so I will use that. I will also add some dady to the 5 gal batch as the red star may die at 4 - 8% alcohol

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 10:34 am

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Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 10:48 am

Irwin the Troll · Post by **Irwin the Troll** » Sat Jun 17, 2023 2:45 pm

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You can see by the thinning that it broke down a lot of the starches converting into a sugar. As I taste it I don't really get a sweet so I will be adding some kind of sugar.