One of the Cascades that I got from them looked like a lifeless twig as well. I started in a pot indoors to see if it was even viable. Two weeks later it sprouted. You probably have nothing to worry about.
"I suspect that my hooch, flavored with cheap walmart sugar water, which costs a dollar a gallon, and will flavor 5 gallons, will taste better than cheap malt liquor."
I suspect not.
If you want authentic prison hooch, you should spontaneously ferment that in your toilet.
I brewed a wit that had a corn aftertaste, but have never experienced hotdog flavored beer. If I had still had some we could've combined the 2 to make the beer version of the Jones Soda holiday packs :mug: