All terms Distillery glossary

Backset (Setback)

Backset, also called setback or stillage backset, is the spent, acidic liquid recovered from the bottom of the still and added to a new mash to lower its pH. It is the basis of the sour mash process.

Illustration: Backset (Setback)

Adding backset acidifies the mash to a range yeast favors and bacteria do not, giving batch-to-batch consistency and protecting fermentation. The backset percentage is a recipe variable worth recording per cook, since it influences both fermentation and flavor.

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