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voodoobrew · 09-17-2010, 06:43 PM

i've got some organic home made apple cider going and was wondering if anyone out there knows about making apple jack... just stick it in the freezer after it's fermented and cleared completely?

**sudbuster** · 09-17-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoobrew

i've got some organic home made apple cider going and was wondering if anyone out there knows about making apple jack... just stick it in the freezer after it's fermented and cleared completely?

Right.Then dip off some of the ice crystals 'til it suits you....

FilJos · 09-18-2010, 04:39 AM

As I understand it (and I may be totally wrong, but I'm sure someone here can correct me) freeze distillation, or "jacking", allows the nasty stuff in alcohol to concentrate. Apparently the fusel alcohols that would normally be run off as the tails of a pot distillation are, of course, left in when you "jack". I believe these are what can contribute to unhealthy side effects. Now the amount that you would need to consume to harm yourself and the amount that you would consume from apple jack are worlds apart, with applejack having a pretty small amount.

But why would you want to consume a substance like that, even in a small amount? On the other hand, as Paracelsus said, "All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous." Which is sort of an axiom in toxicology.

Not to mention that any kind of home distillation in the United States is illegal.

voodoobrew · 09-18-2010, 05:54 AM

I was unaware that freezing an alcoholic beverage was considered a form of distillation. I do not intend on doing so, as I am excited for plain hard cider. I also do not suggest anyone else use fractal distilling as it is illegal and potentially tasty.

ryane · 09-18-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoobrew

I was unaware that freezing an alcoholic beverage was considered a form of distillation. I do not intend on doing so, as I am excited for plain hard cider. I also do not suggest anyone else use fractal distilling as it is illegal and potentially tasty.

actually its not illegal, brewstrong did an episode a while back where they talked to an atf guy about it, he said it wasnt, and even if it was catching and prosecuting you would be a logistical nightmare

**sudbuster** · 09-18-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryane

actually its not illegal, brewstrong did an episode a while back where they talked to an atf guy about it, he said it wasnt, and even if it was catching and prosecuting you would be a logistical nightmare

Has anybody ever read about, or even heard about, anyone being busted for jackin' cider??

**bmckee56** · 09-18-2010, 04:57 PM

I doubt this thread will be here long........ I believe making jack is illegal and therefore the Mods will remove it.

I assume they will anyway.

I like the idea of it though.

Salute!

RogerMcAllen · 09-18-2010, 05:14 PM

Freeze concentration is perfectly fine, that's why we can discuss eisbier.

Rule of thumb:
If you are just removing water from the bulk, legal.
If you are removing the alcohol from the bulk and collecting it, illegal.

Examples:
Freezing beer and removing the ice to increase alcohol content, legal
Boiling beer so that the alcohol vaporizes to produce a non-alcoholic beer, legal
Boiling beer so that the alcohol vaporizes and then collect the alcohol, illegal

As said above, just freeze the cider and remove ice until you get the strength you want.

HairyDogBrewing · 09-18-2010, 05:28 PM

Fill a plastic jug to about 3/4 and let it freeze completely solid.
At least 3 days at zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Then invert the jug over a large jar and collect half the original volume.

Edcculus · 09-18-2010, 06:09 PM

No, freeze concentration is NOT illegal.

I feel like we have discussed the topic enough here that people wouldn't chime in doubting its legality every time one of these threads is brought up!

I haven't done much research into the matter. Most of what we "know" about distillation is myth/urban ledgend/misinformation from the Prohibition. Check out the legalization of home distillation thread in the debate forum for more on that. What it comes down to though is most of the "nasty" chemicals associated with bad spirits actually come from people distilling in old radiators, or spiking with denatured alcohol or other poisons to make it cheaper.

If you have a controlled ferment and don't produce much in the way of fusels, you won't end up with "extremely concentrated" fusels in the final product. Also, one round of freeze concentration will not even double your ABV, unless you are really experienced. Its not like you are going to get up in the 40% range. You would probably concentrate a 5% cider to around 8-10%.