OP
OP
I did. The best way I can describe it is that it tasted like really really cold, really watered down beer.
Attempting 40%+ ABV beer... "Barley Brandy"
- Thread starter Cape Brewing
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I did. The best way I can describe it is that it tasted like really really cold, really watered down beer.
bottlebomber
Well-Known Member
Did you taste the juice?
Sounds like...
I'm sure you've already said, but what's the carbonation plan for this bad-boy? Carbonate normally for a little carbonic bite (help offset some of the sweetness), or serve it still a la Utopias?
OP
OP
No, it'll be still. And I am not sure it's going to be that sweet since it finished at 1015. I have tried it and doesn't smack of sweet at all.
bottlebomber
Well-Known Member
the_bird said:
Wow it looks like she's really enjoying that Silver Bullet
Maybe she's enjoying this one...
... I probably better stop, probably getting a little too close to "****" in a technical forum.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
bottlebomber
Well-Known Member
the_bird said:
Nice cigar tube. What's that button do is it a lighter or something?
OP
OP
Batch two is done. When I say "batch" , I mean about a gallon of the beer. After I diluted it to get it to finish out, I ended up with about 8 gallons total. I am racking about a gallon at a time into a pot and freezing that. When it comes out of the freezer, I am letting the ice crystals drain a bit and if you let them drain a little, they'll turn pretty clear of beer. Once drained I am tossing the ice and racking what is left to a clean carboy.
Each time I freeze, it is taking almost a full day to form decent ice crystals.
It looks like I am getting about 50% concentration still. Once I get through the initial 8 gallons, I'll go through the exact same process at least on one batch to see if I can pull any more ice out. I think I will be able to pull out a bit more.
Each time I freeze, it is taking almost a full day to form decent ice crystals.
It looks like I am getting about 50% concentration still. Once I get through the initial 8 gallons, I'll go through the exact same process at least on one batch to see if I can pull any more ice out. I think I will be able to pull out a bit more.
OP
OP
No... It has the consistency of normal beer.
... a bit hot... But normal consistency.
... a bit hot... But normal consistency.
I wonder how much it would cost to get the ABV lab-tested. Given the highly experimental nature of this beast, be interesting to know where it landed.
OP
OP
Yeah, my game plan is to see how much ice I can pull out of it and then go with the tried and true 'light it on fire' trick.
If it'll hold a flame, I know I am where I want to be and have achieved my goal of 40+ ABV (or at least reeeeeeally close to it) and if I can get it there... I will def send it off to a lab if the cost isn't insane.
If it'll hold a flame, I know I am where I want to be and have achieved my goal of 40+ ABV (or at least reeeeeeally close to it) and if I can get it there... I will def send it off to a lab if the cost isn't insane.
If the lab cost IS insane, you could always add small, measured amounts of an uber-high proof spirit until you do get it to light. You could then back into your starting ABV.
Chris1272
Well-Known Member
Analyzing it shouldn't be hard. Do you live near a University? Go to the chem dept and talk to a professor and tell them about your project most will be curious enough to help out and its not hard to run a quick sample through a mass spectrometer. Id also be curious as to the methanol content of your beer. Normal beer has negligible amounts of methanol but as you concentrate ethanol you are also concentrating methanol.
OP
OP
The methanol topic has been brought up and debunked on this thread a couple of times.
I don't see it as a problem. I know I am way over-simplifying it but the way I get my brain around it is by asking how much methanol is in a normal " high ABV " beer? I then ask myself if I would die from methanol poisoning if I drank a few of those beers quickly. I doubt it. I don't see the difference here between drinking a couple high ABV beers and concentrating one into triple strength.
I don't see it as a problem. I know I am way over-simplifying it but the way I get my brain around it is by asking how much methanol is in a normal " high ABV " beer? I then ask myself if I would die from methanol poisoning if I drank a few of those beers quickly. I doubt it. I don't see the difference here between drinking a couple high ABV beers and concentrating one into triple strength.
It is $24 through White Labs per sample. I would check with a university first though. Worth a shot. You may be able to get it done free by sharing your beer.
The methanol talk is ridiculous. The only way it would probably harm you is if you drink a bunch of foreshots off a still, in large quantities. Your logic is correct.
firebirdude
Well-Known Member
OP
OP
fiiiiiiiiiine... here is a pic.
This is a pic of the strainer bag hanging over the pot. That pot was full to within about an inch of the top and you can tell from the frost line that it is about half full after the ice is pulled out.
If I let that bag hang there for a few minutes, it drained clearer and clearer until the ice was really pretty white.
This is a pic of the strainer bag hanging over the pot. That pot was full to within about an inch of the top and you can tell from the frost line that it is about half full after the ice is pulled out.
If I let that bag hang there for a few minutes, it drained clearer and clearer until the ice was really pretty white.
OP
OP
One little note... that pic is a little deceiving because it looks a little like one big chunk and it isn't at all. The sides froze up first only because, I think, the bag gave the ice crystals a starting point in terms of where to form so I got a ton of little tiny sheets of ice crystals all along the edges of the pot, stuck to the strainer bag and then the center had a few ice crystals in it as well but that is, by NO means, just a big chunk of ice. That is a pile of razor thin ice crystals/sheets piled into the bag and stuck to the bag itself from forming along the edges.
cmybeer
Well-Known Member
Wow, so I just jumped into this thread and took way too much time reading probably 50% of the posts and have to say this is awesome! I'll admit, the first time I read about concentrating beer through freezing I thought about something like this just to see how it worked but never had the balls to go through with it. Way to go!
Oh, come on, we don't need someone to feed Cape's ego any more than it is...
TheBreweryUnderground
Well-Known Member
homebeerbrewer said:
But this is pretty awesome, next group buy I'm making sure I have enough grain to try his out.
motobrewer
I'm no atheist scientist, but...
uh, you're freezing from the outside. you aren't removing heat from the center. coldest spot is going to be the edges. warmest will be the center.
also, i already told you how to get it tested. in this thread.
OP
OP
Yeah... But I ignore you. Often.
Wow, you wasted a lot of time. Not much work today?
bottlebomber
Well-Known Member
dawgman said:
I laud your effort. It's important to read the whole thread though, to fully appreciate that it is a miracle that Cape actually was able to pull it off. In fact he is likely lying. We'll have to get confirmation from one of his fellow Massholes before we can sign off on the project.
