Brix vs. ph level vs. fermentation time in rum distillation

Alexdistills

Hello, I’m in the process of distilling a %100 blackstrap molasses rum. I’ve done a lot of small 30 gallon fermentations and seemed very successfull. Using backseat(dunder) and infected fermentation or muck pits? Infected backset. My biggest questions are what’s the most important? Brix level? Or starting gravity, amount of sugar? Is it the ph level? 4.5-5 to start? My goal is to ferment for 3 weeks. Then strip and spirit run. I am using a 100 gallon pot still.

My last ferment yielded 60 gallons at 25.5 proof. Does this sound right? Can I be doing something more efficiently? Thank you cheers.

stillwagon

If you have had previous success, you should repeat the process but measure your brix and pH at the beginning and at completion of fermentation. 12% is a good place to be at. Then scale up. Larger fermentations will require cooling.

JustAndy

It is impossible to say, as you don't say the volume or gravity of the wash it was distilled from.

Alexdistills

Hello stillwagon, thanks for the reply. What do you mean by cooking? Cooking the wort?

Justandy, you are correct! Totally forgot that. The last ferment was 225 gallons, honesty I tried to just hit a target of 10 Brix at 225 gallons then ferment down to 0-1 Brix. Which I did. And that was my yield of 60 gallons @ 25.5 proof.
I did start a new fermentation this one is at 15 Brix 175 gallons. Gravity of wash was 1.0553. Potential alcohol around 7.53% ? Cheers,

stillwagon

Do you mean 25.5% = 51 proof or am I reading this correctly at 25.5 proof = 12.75%.  Asking to understand true yield.

Alexdistills

It was supposed to say cooling. Larger fermentations generate their own heat.
I start at 20-22 brix, and do a second feeding at 30% sugar depletion.

stillwagon

Hi stonecrest, yes it’s 25.5 proof so 12.25 percent at the end of my stripping runs. Does that sound appropriate or can I get a bigger yield?

Alexdistills

It should be around 10-15% after fermentation. I get about 45-48% after stripping, and about 80% after my finish run.