cloudy moonshine

Usually cloudy moonshine happens from running too deep into the tails or having a still that pukes during a run.
If you run slow and make good cuts you should not have the issue.

What kind of still are you runnning?

I’ve had a few batches early on that came out cloudy- just save them and dump it in with your next run- this will clean it up.

Hope that helps.

also Clawhammer wrote a prett good article: http://www.clawhammersupply.com/blogs/moonshine-still-blog/15239505-cloudy-moonshine

Column packing helps a lot with puking- as well as controlling the heat better- if you still get puking (I’ve noticed fruit likes to puke more than grains in my still) just don’t fill the still at full.

As long as you dumped your foreshots it should be fine- I’d just save it and add dump it in with your next run.

got my new hot plate in yesterday and did a run last night. after the first two cups (heads) though to keep the drip at around 4 drips per sec. I had to turn my heat up to 208°-211°. my question is that if water boils at 214° (going off memory from high school hope that’s right) wouldn’t my still quit producing alcohol and only produce water at that point?
claw hammer 1 gal still and broil king 1500 watt hot plate. I take a shot glass worth for my foreshots and 2 cups for heads, hearts, and tails.

Where are you measuring the heat? The boiler temp is going to be different than the column temp. Water boils at 212 at sea level- here is a chart with boiling points and elevation.: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/boiling-points-water-altitude-d_1344.html

The longer the still runs the more heat is needed to extract vapor from the still- as you near 212 you will be pulling mostly water out of the still as all of alcohol (which has a lower boiling point than water) will have already been boiled off. If you have a proofing hydrometer you could take a sample at the end of the run – it will a low % of alcohol.

I think you answered most of my questions with your Q & A’s. But thought I’d post this anyway.

I had a run this past weekend, which is my third run, being new. The first 2 runs were great and crystal clear.

This third time, it was all cloudy from the beginning to the end and I did two things different, from the first 2 runs.

My Mash is only 5 gals, distilled in a 5 gallon copper pot.

The first thing I did different was, I added the tail, from my second run, which was about a little less than a half gallon, which was only about 40 proof. And I stored the tail in a plastic one gallon water jug for 2 weeks.

And the second thing I did differently, I lowered the temp, trying to raise the proof.

Any other suggestions on this? Thank you.

What was the process for your mash? What was the recipe?

Sugar shine for Rum. That reminds me, I did do a couple things diff in the fermenting too. So this third time, I placed my fermenting bucket in a Styrofoam cooler, lined with a insulated blanket, to keep the temp more regulated throughout the week, due to the temp dropping in the evenings.

The other thing I did different was, adding water to the fermenting bubbler, which I didn’t know it was suppose to have water in it, the first two runs.

But I’m using White Sugar, Brown Sugar, molasses, water and yeast.

How do you transfer the wash into the still?

I did read that I was transferring it wrong too. I’m just pouring the whole bucket right in to the pot. Which I just red on Clawhammer, I should be using an auto siphon. However, the first two runs, I did the same thing, just poured the whole thing, right in to the pot, yeast and all and still got 2 decent runs, 85-90 Proof and clear.

I know this whole thing is a learning process. So I know I have a lot to learn.

*read

Any other insight on what I may be doing wrong?

It was cloudy the entire run? From beginning to end.
Did you run this still hotter than normal?
I would guess either the wash puked up into the column , it was running too hot, or a ton of yeast was transferred into the still.

Well, as a matter of fact, I actually ran this last run, at a lower temp than the first 2 runs. And yes, it was cloudy from start to finish. And I did pour everything from my fermenting bucket in to my pot, but I did the same thing with the first 2 runs as well and those were clear.

And do you think the cloudy shine is safe to drink? Or would you throw it out or run it again?

As long as the foreshots were dumped I see no issues-
I’d try filtering it first- maybe though a coffee filter or charcoal filter.

If it is not up to your standards then you can always re-run it

Yes, the foreshots were thrown out. And I will try filtering it. Do you have any suggestions of what I am missing or should do different, that I haven’t already mentioned that I’ve realized I’ve done wrong so far? Thanks.

Someone said that, they think that cloudiness comes from bacteria, possibly in the fermenting process and they didn’t think it would be safe to drink. What do you think on that?

I’m not a scientist- If you are worried re-run it.
Maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject will chime in.

Gotcha, thanks.

just adding my $.02. I’ve had great success in filtering my product using an activated carbon filter. You can make one yourself with coffee filters and activated carbon but a cheap solution is picking up a Brita water filter pitcher. They’re like $10 at Walmart. Run a couple pitchers of water through it to activate the filter first and then run your product through. My shine went from slightly hazy and having a mild off taste to crystal clear and a sharp spirit flavor. I couldn’t believe the difference a simple filter makes. I wouldn’t use a homemade filter with a plastic pitcher on very high proof spirits as it has been known to leech nasty things out of certain plastics. The Brita water pitcher however is obviously food grade so I would assume it’s safe.

I have just made my first batch of alcohol, It came out cloudy but after it sat in glass for an hour it became pretty clear. Recipe / corn meal, barley, sugar, yeast, and a touch of molasses and spring water of course, It has a tiny bit of Carmel color to it. Towards the end of the run it was coming out a tad thick.

I have made a reply and should have asked question or what anyone thinks about my first batch.

Towards the end of the run it was coming out a tad thick.

A lot of times if you run deep into your tails it will start to turn cloudy – that is because you are picking up quite a bit of water and lower boiling point alcohols. I suggest using small collection jars and collecting in those as you do the run (number them as you go) That way you can determine the parts of the run when you are done. You can save the tails and add those to the next batch- or save all of your heads and tails and do a sprit run on those once you collect enough.

Hey i made my first ever run of corn wash and it came out super milky… Im wondering what i might have done wrong and how can i improve? I use a homemade still out of a regular pot and the mash seemed to be good but when i began to distill it it came out very milk-like…

Oh and im also just using my stove with your typical electrical elements

Can you give us more information on your still and mash process?

what size still? what type of still?
What was your mash recipe and process?

Hydrometer get one they are $1.50 ebay from china for around 5-10 usa but china ones for less than 2 work perfect. Fog is transfer or weak/ lots of water. You collect your shine then add water to it to proof it. If not you should not be making it.

hello? i ran a batch on moonshine and the first two qt jars came out great ( after i dumped the first 6 oz ) but after that three qt jars was a little cloudy then the rest was nice and clear. so what caused there turn out wrong? could be i had it the heat to hot?

This unusually happens if the still is running too hot during that part of the run. I run my still pretty slowly it takes more time but I get a higher proof and I feel I can make tighter cuts.
How fast do you normally run your still? What size is it?

i Want to thank you so much for your reply back to me. my still is just a 10 gal pot still, but why i’m asking you for the best information, because in getting ready to start a distillery business here in Manila Philippines. and i want to do it right the first time. So thank you so much!

I ran my first batch yesterday and I have a 1 gallon still. Any ideas on where to make the cuts??

And how do I know what’s safe to drink and what’s not?? Thanks in advance for any help I’m not trying to kill my friends and family lol