can I ask this question?

[GeneDaniels1963]

This is purely hypothetical. But what if someone made some apple jack, could they use a refractometer to check ABV? Assuming they knew what the OG was, how would they calculate the ABV after jacking?

Again, purely a hypothetical question to exercise the old brain.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Calculate ABV as normal after fermentation.

When concentrating, just measure the amount of water removed. The ABV increases linearly as water (ice) is removed.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

So, if someone started with 1700 ml of cider, and ended up with 680ml 8% ABV of Jack = 20%. Would that be right?

 

[RPh_Guy]

Yep

 

[Blacksmith1]

as I understand it, the freeze distillation process caps out around 30% abv. I could be wrong as I haven't tried it myself.

 

[RPh_Guy]

as I understand it, the freeze distillation process caps out around 30% abv. I could be wrong as I haven't tried it myself.

Do you have a source for this?

 

[AzOr]

At best it's a rough guess. It's all but impossible to remove pure water when jacking.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

I read where most freezers max out at -10F, and that will get someone about 22%. That is, for that hypothetical person who wanted to do this.

 

[bmd2k1]

I typically freeze 1gal and get approx 1/3gal of "jacked" outta it. So in theory that's 3x the original ABV if perfect process -- which we all know it isn't. I use a 2.5x multiplier to account for imperfection -- which gets me in the ball park.

Cheers!

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

I typically freeze 1gal and get approx 1/3gal of "jacked" outta it. So in theory that's 3x the original ABV if perfect process -- which we all know it isn't. I use a 2.5x multiplier to account for imperfection -- which gets me in the ball park.

That's what I was thinking, 2.5X original ABV. Thanks for the confirmation, for my friend that is

 

[tmendick]

There's a calculator in Beersmith that you take a refractometer and hydrometer sample at FG that will estimate OG then you can find ABV from that.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

There's a calculator in Beersmith that you take a refractometer and hydrometer sample at FG that will estimate OG then you can find ABV from that.

I use one from Northern Brewer like that for my ciders, ales and wines. But I don't think it would help with something that was "jacked."

 

[Blacksmith1]

Do you have a source for this?

I do not. Something I read, and my old tired brain whispering in my ear, that once the alcohol reaches 30% the liquid stops wanting to freeze. And again, I could be wrong.

 

[Deadalus]

I do not. Something I read, and my old tired brain whispering in my ear, that once the alcohol reaches 30% the liquid stops wanting to freeze. And again, I could be wrong.

I also had on old memory of a graph of freezing points for a water and other liquid solution at various concentrations. I think it was for antifreeze. Anyway I ran the question through Google "freezing point of alcohol water mixtures". The second person alludes to the 30% for normal household freezers. https://www.researchgate.net/post/At_what_temperature_mixture_of_ethanol_and_water_can_be_freezed

Here's one actually. File:Phase diagram ethanol water s l en.svg - Wikimedia Commons I swapped ethanol for alcohol in the search.

 

[Deadalus]

Just to note, the first link didn't specify what the percentage was based on and the second is by percentage weight.

 

[Mutant]

Dry ice (-109F) around a stainless container is your best option to extract the most water

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

I would be happy with 22-25%. And it seems like that would be easy to accomplish, again hypothetically

 

[Blacksmith1]

I would be happy with 22-25%. And it seems like that would be easy to accomplish, again hypothetically

For your friend........

 

[RPh_Guy]

Freeze concentration is not illegal.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

Thats what some say, but I have read in other places that it is. So I am keeping this entire idea purely hypothetical. Don't want to do anything that would bring the ATF around

 

[AzOr]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applejack_(drink)
It’s really interesting to read about the history of the drink