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Bubbling – the process of passing gas or vapor bubbles through a liquid for the purpose of purification. In home brewing, it is used to extract fusel oils from alcohol vapors and flavor the product.
Cleaning is carried out using a device called a bubbler.
The unit consists of:
From a receiving container containing water. It can be an ordinary glass jar or a stainless steel vessel.
Lids with 2 tubes. Through the reception – steam enters, through the exhaust – out after washing.
Connecting devices (fittings, gaskets, seals, etc.).
The principle of operation of the bubbler
The alcohol vapors enter through the receiving tube and pass through the pressurized water. Exchange processes are activated at the interface between vapor and liquid. As a result, heavy fusel oils (about 20%) remain in the water, while light, purified vapors rise through the outlet tube. Then they go to the refrigerator, where they condense and turn into a liquid. You can use several bubblers passing into each other (usually from 2 to 6).
Benefits of Using a Bubbler
Thanks to better purification, it is possible to abandon the secondary distillation (but not for all brews and subject to the mandatory separation of “heads” and “tails”), thereby saving time.
Such purification is “greener” than the use of chemicals after distillation. Alcohol turns out stronger and with a richer bouquet, without a specific taste and pungent odor.
Sparging can also be used to flavor the drink during distillation. To do this, citrus zest, spices, and herbs are added to the water through which alcohol vapors pass.
Relevance: 06.06.2020
Tags: vodka, mash, moonshine