Sour mash is a type of whiskey production that uses a portion of previously fermented mash to start the fermentation process of a new batch. This old mash, called “sour mash”, contains wild yeast and bacteria that help kickstart the new batch. Sour mash is the traditional method for making bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
How To Make Sour Mash For Moonshine
There are a few ways to make sour mash for moonshine. One way is to add raw, unpasteurized vinegar to the mash. This will add acidity to the mash and help to break down the starch into sugar. Another way is to add malted barley or other grains that have been inoculated with lactobacillus bacteria, which will also produce lactic acid.
-A pot for boiling water -A Mash tun, which can be made out of a food grade garbage can or bucket. A cooler will also work. -A false bottom, which is essentially a screen that will keep the grains from getting into the fermenter -An airlock and bung -Some tubing -Rye, wheat, or corn grits. Corn is the most popular grain to use for moonshine.
- Collect your ingredients: corn, water, malt, yeast
- Boil the mixture and let cool add
- Soak the corn in the water overnight
- Strain the corn and add in the malt
below -To make sour mash for moonshine, you will need to first create a ‘mash’ by mixing grains with hot water. -Once the mash has cooled to around 135 degrees F, add in your souring agent, such as yogurt, kefir, or sourdough starter. -Stir well, then cover and let ferment for 48 hours. -After 48 hours, strain the mash and bottle your sour mash moonshine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Grains Are Used In A Sour Mash?
In a sour mash, grains are used that have already been malted. This means that the barley has been soaked in water and then allowed to germinate. The enzymes that are produced during the germination process convert the starches in the barley into maltose, which can then be converted into alcohol during the brewing process.
How Do You Make A Good Sour Mash?
To make a sour mash, you must start with a “blank” sour mash. This is a mixture of water and malted barley that has not been mashed yet. You then add a portion of this blank sour mash to your main mash, which will convert the starch in the malt to sugar. The resulting sour mash will have a higher acidity than a normal mash, which gives bourbon its characteristic flavor.
What Is Sour Mash Made From?
Sour mash is made from the mash of a previous batch of beer that has been soured with lactobacillus culture.
In Closing
Sour mash is a process by which the pH of the mash is lowered and lactic acid bacteria are introduced in order to improve the flavor and increase the yield of ethanol from the mash. The sour mash process can be used with all types of mashes, including those made from corn, wheat, rye, and barley.