Cleaning mash with bentonite: effective methods and technology

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In the process of home brewing, it is very important to properly prepare the mash. The quality of the final product and its output depend on it. With this in mind, some moonshiners resort to a technique that assumes that mash will be cleaned with bentonite. As a result, a lot of problems that can arise during distillation are eliminated. Therefore, it is worth considering this technology in more detail.

What is bentonite?

First of all, you need to understand what is bentonite and what is the principle of its effect on solutions like mash. For many, this substance is ordinary clay, which is sold dry. In fact, it is a separate mineral mined from sedimentary rock. It reacts with water, swelling and expanding.

However, bentonite cleaning of the mash is done for a concentrated accumulation of dry particles in the form of yeast residue. In fact, this mineral isan absorbent that absorbs them and precipitates.

This mineral was named after the city of Benton (USA), where its deposit is located. Therefore, ordinary clay is not suitable for such work.

Why clean up like this

• Usually bentonite cleaning of mash is done in order to reduce the accumulation of insoluble particles in the liquid. The fact is that during distillation, they often precipitate and begin to burn. This greatly affects the taste of the final product and serves as a source of unnecessary and harmful impurities getting into moonshine.
• When using this process in home brewing, you can almost completely get rid of the nasty smell of mash. For many producers, this is very important, because the preparation of the drink does not interfere with others.
• The finished product is superior in quality to moonshine obtained from unrefined mash. However, its amount may be slightly reduced, which in this case is even better, since it was this percentage of the liquid that was harmful or spoiled the taste.

Where to get it?

This question is very interesting to those moonshiners who decide to use such a process as cleaning mash with bentonite. Natural based cat litter gives us the answer. The fact is that it is made from such an absorbent, using the properties of the substance to absorb moisture and even odors.

However, it must be remembered that not all cat potty formulations are suitable forcleaning. Some manufacturers of such fillers use artificial substances that are completely unsuitable. Therefore, when purchasing such compounds, you should make sure that they are made on the basis of bentonite.

Some companies sell this mineral for household or industrial needs. However, finding such products can be very difficult, and cat litter is everywhere.

Preparing the substance

• First you need to dry. The substance is poured onto a baking sheet, which is previously covered with parchment. Next, the mineral is placed in the oven, where it is kept for about 40 minutes at a temperature of 120 degrees.
• Then cleaning the mash with bentonite involves grinding. The substance is placed in a coffee grinder, where it is processed almost into dust.
• The next step is very important, because it determines whether the substance sticks together. Experts recommend taking half a liter of hot water, which is constantly stirred, forming a kind of funnel. After that, a tablespoon of the resulting powder is introduced into the liquid, without stopping mixing.
• It is worth noting that cleaning the mash with bentonite proportions involves calculating based on the amount of the dry component. Therefore, they usually take one tablespoon of powder for ten liters of mash.

When to enter

When is the substance to be introduced so that the mash is completely cleaned with bentonite? The technology of home brewing answers this question ambiguously. Howeverexperts say that this process is best started only when the mash has fermented. There are several methods to determine this state:

• Sugar-based Braga usually ferments for about two weeks. This method should not be considered ideal, but it is quite suitable for home conditions.
• When the liquid has fermented, it stops foaming. This artisanal method does not require special equipment and is very often used by moonshiners.
• During fermentation, sugar should completely disappear from the liquid. Therefore, mash should not taste sweet. It usually has a certain bitterness.
• There is a special device - a hydrometer. It is used by professional craftsmen to determine the remaining amount of sugar. For work, two liters of liquid are poured, which is filtered and placed in a measuring cup. A hydrometer is lowered into it. It should show a value of 1.002, which indicates that 1% sugar is left and you can start distilling.

Cleaning process

At this stage, the mash is cleaned with bentonite. The methods used are very different, but the general principle is to maintain the solution and keep it for a certain time.

• Pour a solution with bentonite into a container with mash, constantly stirring the contents. Recall that a tablespoon of dry mix requires 10 liters of liquid.
• Then the container is left for 15-30 hours to precipitate. As a result, the liquid should become transparent andalmost completely lose dry particles.
• When the cleaning comes to an end, it is necessary to drain the mash. Some moonshiners prefer to do this through gauze, but it is best to use a special tube or hose. This reduces the chance that the sediment will begin to mix with the rest of the liquid.
• At the final stage of the process, distillation begins.

Caution

It is very important to mention that cleaning the mash with bentonite is a fairly simple and affordable method, but when using it, you need to be very careful when choosing components. Flavored fillers or ingredients that react with sugar are strictly prohibited. When purchasing bentonite, carefully read the instructions, which should describe the composition in detail.

It is also necessary to remember that in some regions or countries, the manufacture of moonshine is illegal. The same can apply to the braga itself. Therefore, before planning your actions, you should first familiarize yourself with the current legislation.

Please be aware that such cleaning cannot guarantee that the resulting product will be safe. Its purpose is only to save the moonshiner from problems with burning the mash. That is why for the manufacture it is necessary to use only proven recipes and strictly follow the technical processes for the production of alcoholic beverages.

Recommendations from experts

• When mash is cleaned with bentonite, gelatin (this product also contains adsorbents that bind yeast), it is very important to clarify that it does not contain flavors or other components that can affect the taste or smell of the final product.
• If you start the cleaning process before the mash ferments, then the liquid will be less and the sugar level will decrease. It must be remembered that this procedure is performed only to remove excess impurities and does not participate in any way in the fermentation process. However, some lovers try to stop this reaction with the help of bentonite, reducing the time for preparing the drink.
• Do not pour the sediment after cleaning into the sewer. This will almost immediately lead to a blockage, which will later be very difficult to remove.
• It should be remembered that this process takes at least 15 hours and can last for a whole day. Therefore, it must be taken into account immediately in order to understand your time frame.
• It is better to drain the mash from the tank using a special hose that allows you to take liquid from the surface. This way, the sediment will not be disturbed and heavy containers will not need to be lifted.
• Even when cleaning, it is worth keeping the temperature of the liquid at 30 degrees. This will contribute to the final suspension of the fermentation process. However, such temperature limits are optional.
• Before adding bentonite to the liquid, it is worth moving the container to a convenient place where the mash will be selected. It will cutchance of sediment mixing. Real professionals plan all their actions in advance in accordance with the technology, so as not to accidentally spoil the finished product.

Conclusion

Based on the above material, it can be concluded that the cleaning of mash with bentonite significantly affects the quality of the final product. At the same time, this process is not mandatory in moonshine, and it can be bypassed. However, sometimes it is worth spending a small amount of time to get a really tasty drink without additional impurities and smell. Especially considering that the costs in this area are minimal.