distillery: yes i know

[blaskos]

So i was in probrewer.com and they kindof got upset that i wanted to know more about distilling your own alcohol. Not that i will do it, but im interested in history and the how to do it. I saw a segment on history channel that got me going. Anyways i have a few sites about it and i was wondering if anyone else had some more sites.

Also, is there any reason why it is illegal. I understand the methanol part (i guess), but what else makes it illegal. Can new companies get into stilling their own alcohol? Will it ever become legal.

here are some sites i was referenced too:

http://www.homedistiller.org/

http://www.distilling.net/distilling.html

http://www.thickos.co.uk/

http://homedistiller.org/static_menu.htm

[Grog]

Originally posted by blaskos
Also, is there any reason why it is illegal. I understand the methanol part (i guess), but what else makes it illegal. Can new companies get into stilling their own alcohol? Will it ever become legal.


It is illegal because the government says it is illegal and essentially that is that. One can debate the merits for home distilling and speculate on the various reasons why it ought to or not be legal, but there are some stiff penalties (in theory) if you are arrested and convicted.

May argue that the main reason home distilling is illegal is because of the taxes the governmants place on alcohol. About 30% of the cost of booze in WA is tax based.

Micro distilling is legal with the proper hoops being jumped through, depending on the state, Oregon and Washington do allow it.

[blaskos]

Originally posted by Grog
It is illegal because the government says it is illegal and essentially that is that. One can debate the merits for home distilling and speculate on the various reasons why it ought to or not be legal, but there are some stiff penalties (in theory) if you are arrested and convicted.

May argue that the main reason home distilling is illegal is because of the taxes the governmants place on alcohol. About 30% of the cost of booze in WA is tax based.

Micro distilling is legal with the proper hoops being jumped through, depending on the state, Oregon and Washington do allow it.

Aww well i shoudl move to oregon. Anyways it seems as if the government is way far off. If they are going to make distilling illegal for tax purposes then the should make all drugs legal (cocain, pot, etc) for the tax benefits. No i dont do drugs besides beer and caffein, but i do think some drugs should be legal.

[HogieWan]

that homedistiller.org site has a TON of info. Kinda hard to get through, but it's all there. I think there's a little blurb I sent in somewhere on there (it was about fermentation, not distilling) I have been considering distilling even though it's illegal. There are a lot of people in my neck of the woods that do it, and with tasty results. Eventually I can see myself drinking home distilling scotch, but my reason may keep me from it (read: reason = wife).

[Beer Monkey]

speaking of distillery's I was at dogfish head a couple weeks ago and got a tour of the distillery by the head brewer/distiller and it was really cool, got to taste some, was 190 proof and burned so nice all the way down. was glad I only had to walk back to the hotel after that.

if you make it there try the Jin it's so good

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Grog

Micro distilling is legal with the proper hoops being jumped through, depending on the state, Oregon and Washington do allow it.

Virginia has some Micro Distillers too.

[blaskos]

so you dont just buy a still, so you have to make them. Being a biology major and having to struggle through o-chem i did some distillations. The best being a fractional distillation (if i remember correctly) that has many small distilations in a big one will make the solution most pure forms. Do people make these on their own and using what metals, copper or stainless steel?

[Grog]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Virginia has some Micro Distillers too.

Sorry, I only knew about My neck-o-the-woods. And apparently it has only been legal in WA for less than a year.

[Beer Monkey]

I remember when I was in college getting moonshine , we were in Roanoke in south west VA at Ferrum College. We'd get the preserve jugs of moonshine with fruit soaked in it usually ran about 20$ for a jar of. the best stuff we'd get would be from a guy who had a still that was built into the back of a pickup truck and he'd meet the college kids at the gas station and get rid of his weeks harvest. it was a lot of fun till we forgot to test a batch, and one of our group went blind for the night, I still say he was just drunk.

[chazwicke]

Franklin County, VA - Moonshine Capitol of the World.

Was the same when I was down there in 76 / 77.

Before I transferred to George Mason Univ. (I needed to be closer to the Brickskeller. ;) )

[HogieWan]

moonshine-still.com (http://www.moonshine-still.com/) will give you all the info you need to build your own.

[chris2626]

I bought a book on how to distill by Ian Smiley Making Pure Corn Whiskey . I was gonna try making it but just never did. I have seen a couple nice reflux and pot stills online that you can buy for oh around 250 or so. Personally I don't care that it is illegal I'm not gonna get caught if I just use it for personal consumption.
Here is the website for this guys book

http://www.home-distilling.com/

[stronk]

Although, if someone really wanted to catch you, they could work backwards from your post here to your front door.

[chris2626]

maybe but I'm still not worried about

[Bilbo Beergins]

Aww well i shoudl move to oregon

I remember seeing a traffic cop in Ashland, Oregon smoking the rope while directing traffic. No kidding. But you're sure to get busted there...this is about taxes, after all.

Just brew the hooch and tell everyone you got it from an uncle in Georgia.

[HogieWan]

Again, many people 'round these parts distill whiskey for personal consumption.