Module Details
Module Code: |
BREW H4R02 |
Module Title:
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Distillation and Distilled Spirits Production
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Title:
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Distillation and Distilled Spirits Production
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Module Level:: |
8 |
Module Coordinator: |
Paula Rankin
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Module Author:: |
Dan Donnelly
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Module Description: |
To develop students' knowledge and understanding of the distilling process and operational procedures
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Learning Outcomes |
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
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Learning Outcome Description |
LO1 |
Describe the fundamentals of the distilling process |
LO2 |
Give an overview of distilling operation procedures and evaluate these procedures in the context of column still operation and continuous and multi-stage distillation |
LO3 |
Investigate the raw materials for the distilling process and distinguish factors influencing flavour development |
LO4 |
Demonstrate appropriate scientific thinking, research and enquiry, communication and team skills |
LO5 |
Demonstrate essential laboratory techniques in a safe and competent manner |
LO6 |
Demonstrate sensory skills to assess new make spirit |
Dependencies |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
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No recommendations listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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No Co-requisite modules listed |
Additional Requisite Information
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No Co Requisites listed
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Indicative Content |
Fundamentals of Distillation
Origins/history of distillation. The distillery brewhouse, corn cooking, starch gelatinization and solubilisation. Use of enzymes; Measurement of alcohol strength, theory of distillation, boiling, evaporation, volatility of alcohol, water and congeners. Alcohol/water relationship, latent heat of evaporation. Congeners and impurities.
Batch vs continuous distillation, batch pot still distillation: operation/reflux/entrainment. Condenser design and operation – shell and tube condensers, worm condensers. Condensation, latent heat and spirit character/strength. Tail pipes, spirit collection and receivers. Role of copper in potable spirit distillation. Copper stills/condensers. Link between spirit quality, cleaning and copper wear. Copper salts in new-made spirits.
Column distillation – two column systems. Basics of column still operation, continuous steady state operation. Steam supply, feedstock input, theory of column still operation, rectifying/stripping. Commercial two-column still systems.
Neutral spirit production (gin and vodka) and the use of three-column stills to produce flavour-free alcohol.
Batch versus Continuous Distillation
Basic operation of batch distillation, multi-stage distillation. Material balance of water and alcohol. Heads and tails. Operating stills during production periods. Batch distillation using pot stills with plates. Triple distillation in pot stills. Cut points to control flavour. High volatility and low volatility congeners, removal of unwanted congeners, distillation end points.
Collection of distillate: Design/operation of various spirit safes. Foreshots testing. The spirit to feints cut. Feints to foreshots receiver.
Column distillation: Operation of a commercial two-column distillation system. Stripper, rectifier columns, fusil oil removal. Control and balance of two-column operations, the use of copper, plate design and maintenance, column plates and still operation. Column vs pot stills. Batch distillation using column stills. Non-Coffey (NC) versus Coffey stills. Control of product rectification in Coffey stills. The two column ‘modified Barbet’ still. Design and operation of continuous stills for neutral spirit, hydroextractive distillation.
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Raw materials
Raw Materials for Spirits Production Grapes: Cultivation/varieties. Composition of must. Grape harvesting, pressing, must production. Composition and structure of grapes, ripening, sugar content, acidity. Must treatment: removal of solids, sufliting, addition of yeast nutrients/Free Amino Nitrogen/diammonium phosphate.
Molasses: As a raw material for distilling. Types: sugar cane/sugar beet. Composition, harvesting, refining, juice extraction. Production of molasses. Analysis: chemical and microbiological. Molasses pre-treatment (‘mashing’), addition of yeast nutrients/pH adjustment. Sterilizing of molasses
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Brandy, Whiskey and Rum distillation
Whiskey/cereal distillation Types of whiskey, whiskey flavour. Terminology. Continuous (column) distillation for grain whiskey and Grain Neutral Spirit. Pot distillation for malt whiskey. The distillation process for malt whiskey. Design of the still house, wash receiver, wash pre-boiler, still body, still head and reflux, purifiers. Malt distillery still house operation. Grape brandy distillation Grape brandies, fruit brandies. Brandy flavour and blending. Brandy rectification. Grape distillation for neutral spirit. Operation of batch (pot) still for brandy production. Simple batch distillation of brandy/Cognac pot still system. Armagnac continuous column stills. Rum distillation Different kinds of rum: Light rums and heavy rums. Rum flavour, rectification of rum and neutral spirit produced from molasses. The use of high alcohol-producing strains for the latter
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Fermentation
Rum fermentation: Light rum, similar to neutral spirit. High alcohol-producing yeast strains, high fermentation temperatures. Heavy rum: High levels of esters and butyric acid. Flavour production during fermentation, flavour production by wild yeasts/bacteria/selected Saccharomyces species. Use of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Clostridium saccharobutyricum. Effect of temperature, pressure and fusel alcohol levels on ester production. Cereals Malt, barley and other cereals – as in brewing.
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Practicals
1. Wine fermentation.
2. Rum fermentation and chemical analysis of molasses.
3. Effect of nutrient addition on yeast growth in molasses and wine must.
4. Effect of must treatment such as sulfiting on wine production/quality.
5. Flavour analysis (GC) of beer, wine and distilled fermentation products.
6. Comparing yeast propagation with commercial dried yeast products for pitching beer, wine and rum fermentations.
7. Comparing ‘natural’ fermentations with propagated yeast inoculation.
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Distillation Practicals
1. Construction of a ethanol / water vapour equilibrium chart
2. New Make Spirit from a Multi-stage Pot Still
3. Pot Stills Fitted With Plates
4. The effects of copper on the flavour of new make spirit
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Module Content & Assessment
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Assessment Breakdown | % |
Continuous Assessment | 10.00% |
Practical | 30.00% |
End of Module Formal Examination | 60.00% |
AssessmentsFull Time
End of Module Formal Examination |
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Part Time
End of Module Formal Examination |
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Reassessment Requirement |
Exam Board
It is at the discretion of the Examination Board as to what the qualifying criteria are.
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SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
Workload: Full Time |
Workload Type |
Workload Category |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
Lecture |
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Contact |
Vapour equilibrium distillation process. Batch and continuous distillation. Brown spirits and white spirits. New make spirit. Quality systems in distilleries. Co-products and sustainable operations. Utilities, process control and flavour control |
12 Weeks per Stage |
3.00 |
36 |
Laboratory |
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Contact |
Practical classes. Construction of a vapour water equilibrium chart and appraise the used of such charts in operations. Pot distillation to produce new make spirit. Flavour assessment of new make spirit. The use of reflux condensers and it impact on rectification. |
12 Weeks per Stage |
3.00 |
36 |
Independent Learning |
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Non Contact |
Independent learning. Literature survey and review on current topics in distillation |
15 Weeks per Stage |
11.87 |
178 |
Total Weekly Contact Hours |
6.00 |
Module Resources
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Recommended Book Resources |
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Coles, R and Kirwan, MJ. Food and Beverage Packaging Technology, Wiley-Blackwell, [ISBN: 140518910X].
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Russell,I and Stewart., G (Eds). Whisky, Technology, Production and Marketing, Amsterdam; Elsevier, [ISBN: 0124017355].
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Piggott,JR, Sharp, R, and Duncan, REB (Eds). (1989), The Science and technology of whiskies, Longman Scientific & Technical, [ISBN: 0582044286].
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Jacques.KA, Lyons, TP, and Kelsall, DR (Eds). The Alcohol Textbook, Nottingham University Press, p.446, [ISBN: 1897676131].
| Recommended Article/Paper Resources |
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Aoife Hamill. (2015), Improved Treatment of Distillery Wastes, EPA-funded Research Study Jan 2014 – Sep
2015,
| Other Resources |
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Journal of Brewing and Distilling.
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Journal of the Institute of Brewing and
Distilling.
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