Hi. We are an existing brewery but new to distilled spirits. Our plan is to purchase distilled spirits in totes and blend to make canned RTDs. We went through the steps of getting licensed by state ABC and TTB but not sure what other permitting or safety measures we need to explore to store this bulk alcohol... fire codes, OSHA, etc... Can it be in the same space or does it need to be stored in a separate building, in a fire rated room...? Does anyone have any advice on how to gather this information. It has not proven easy at first glance.  ..read more

Hello everyone,  I'm wandering how can i deep clean my still. I've seen different ways but i can use some of your advice. I have CIP equipment in the pot, still head, column, top of the deflegmator and botanical chamber so I've seen that i should do sodium hydroxide in recirculation mode then fresh water then citric acid and finish with fresh water again. But this will not clean the inside of the pipes (the top ones where only vapor pass through) and the condenser so what should i do? Especially if i want to change what i distill (currently only doing rum but i may be doing othe ..read more

Hello everyone! My partner and I are starting a new distillery in the Boston area which we're very excited about. We have a prospective location picked out and are in negotiation for a long-term lease, but we're not sure the layout of the facility is appropriate. The facility is one large warehouse-like building with high ceilings, so we already know we will have to construct a floor to ceiling wall to split the warehouse into the DSP and retail / tasting areas, each with their own separate egresses to the outside. However, the building only has one bathroom which is currently located in the p ..read more

We are in the process of switching from using a co-packer to bottling our own product. We are not distilling but are sourcing our spirits, rectifying, and then bottling. We will need to pump high proof spirts from IBC totes, RO Water, etc for mixing and where wondering what types of pumps, hoses, and clamps would be recommended? I also was curious of other general equipment suggestions. You always feel like you have your basis covered till you realize you don't ..read more

Howdy all, I'm hoping I can get your options/thoughts on this dilemma I'm having... I'm in the planning phase of my distillery. I know I'll need to process 250g of beer per week. A 250g pot/hybrid will absolutely work. A 250g pot has a track record of success and I can't argue that. But here's my challenge... all the commercial suites out here where I want to be located only have 200a services and no 3ph, and that means if I run enough power to heat the kettle in a reasonable time (36kw is still over 2 hours to heat up). I'll be just about maxed out on power with air conditioning,  and ..read more

Hi everyone, long time reading first time poster. I have a question to ask regarding distillation theory and reflux/smearing. Specifically the difference in spirit quality while running a still at a set output speed off the parrot, using two different heat/power settings and their corresponding cooling water settings. i.e. A low heat and low cooling water flow setting, then a higher heat and higher cooling water flow setting. For this example we're using a 4" hybrid column with 4 bubble plates, dephlegmator and product condenser, with the boiler charged with a rum wash at 10% abv, aiming ..read more

For example, if lets say I'm transferring 100 proof from one tank to another with an AODD pump. Is it allowed to use a hose with suction to pump from the opening of the tank into the opening of the other tank? Or will inspectors require that pumping only be done with no open air/possibility of contaminants by requiring tri-clamp fittings? Thank you ..read more

Using a 15 gallon milkcan set up attached to a narrow thumper from brewhause , the thumper is filled about half way with same mash in the main vessel. Right at start up as the heat starts to I guess create pressure most of the contents of the thumper are expelled leaving it about 1/4 full .    ‘’question is , is that enough for the thumper to do its job ? First time I’ve used it as there was an issue with quality and took time going back and forth across the ocean wide .  ..read more

This is an embarrassingly dumb question, but I'm unclear what size case I should be using in my business plan and projections. I talked to a couple people who said that a 6 bottle case was the industry standard, but I also see 12 bottles a lot--particularly in industry publications. For instance, the ACSA data project uses 12 bottle cases when describing volume growth in the craft sector. Seems like a silly thing, but if I'm imagining 6 bottle cases and I'm benchmarking my growth projections off of 12 bottle cases then I'm going to be off by a factor of 2x. Easy to correct, but I just want to ..read more

I’m at the point where I feel like I’ve read all the books recommended that cost <$50.  I’m looking into a few other books in the $100-$250 range. Mix of new and used, but I think the used ones are that expensive due to scarcity.  I am willing to put the money into the books, as I see them as an investment and reference text but does anyone have any recommendations? I’m looking at the following: Whiskey Science: A Condensed Distillation by Gregory Miller Distilled Spirits edited by Annie Hill & Frances Jack Brewing and Distilling Yeasts by Graham Stewart Distillers Grains: Pro ..read more