Alabama Homebrewer Arrested

Rudeboy · Sep 3, 2010

Apologies if this has already been posted here. Did a quick search and didn't see anything.

Here's the link to the BN's forum with a fairly extensive thread:

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/fo...=alabama&sid=3af3499725e190893ad4989ef0ef59ed

Two tours of duty in Iraq for this?

Rudeboy

NorCalAngler · Sep 3, 2010

If you read further into the thread you will see this guy was distilling whiskey as well. I'm lucky enough to live in a state where homebrew is legal, but you can bet your ass if I lived in a state where homebrew was illegal I #1) wouldn't post about my activities on the internet (including photos of his entire setup) and #2) wouldn't take it a step further by running a still, which is a felony in every state as far as I know.

maxamuus · Sep 3, 2010

After seeing the picture of the raid i wonder if they are confusing brewing gear for a still. I mean my wort chiller could be confused for something its not.

NorCalAngler · Sep 3, 2010

It seems there are legitimate questions about whether he was running a still. 8 gallons of whiskey is very odd to have on hand, but it wouldn't be the first time standard brewing equipment was mistaken as a still.

On the other hand, this guy had to piss somebody off or raise a lot of red flags for them to put an investigation together.

MrWiggles · Sep 3, 2010

Wow, how lame. Everything that's fun is illegal in Alabama. I'll take note of this though. I think if this guy trys he can get a judge to overturn it, citing federal laws.

EDIT: ok sorry, didnt see the note about the still. so yea, shame on him.

maxamuus · Sep 3, 2010

Read the whole thread.

First - Wow i am glad this forum is a lot more civil then that forum. All the name calling was making it a hard read.

Two - I agree looking at the pictures nothing there looked like a still that i saw so maybe they are mistaking HB gear for a still, but yeah its a little odd to have 8 gallons of whiskey on hand.

Three - They need to lighten up down there. Jeez even the mormons let me brew behind the Zion curtain.

maxamuus · Sep 3, 2010

Here is the Sheriff with the contraband.

The stuff in the bottle is supposed to be the 'shine. My starsan bottle looks a lot like that.

ks_medic · Sep 3, 2010

Too bad for that guy. Looks like people want to help him but wont because of the distilling factor. I didn't notice any distilling equipment in the picture the sheriff posted in the paper. If his beer equipment is that nice one would think his distilling equipment would match. Also they only show 1 mason jar of supposed moonshine. I've seen an episode of cops where police mistook an immersion chiller for a still. Will be interesting to see what comes of this.

rexbanner · Sep 3, 2010

ks_medic said:
Too bad for that guy. Looks like people want to help him but wont because of the distilling factor. I didn't notice any distilling equipment in the picture the sheriff posted in the paper. If his beer equipment is that nice one would think his distilling equipment would match. Also they only show 1 mason jar of supposed moonshine. I've seen an episode of cops where police mistook an immersion chiller for a still. Will be interesting to see what comes of this.

I don't give a **** whether he was distilling or not. The government shouldn't be wasting time and money on such trifling matters. Just last saturday I was minding my own business watching a UFC fight at a local bar when a 350 pound tub of lard started talking **** to me for absolutely no reason. I told him to **** off, turned around, and the next thing I know he suckerpunched me so hard I flew off my stool to the ground. He fled past the 5 or so bouncers and dozens of onlookers who did nothing. He paid in cash and no one knew his name, although he was a regular. He is, however, on video assaulting me. Fortunately I suffered only minor bruises.

If the local PD put half the amount of effort into getting this guy that this Alabama sheriff's department put into nailing this poor bastard, they'd catch him for sure. Of course, I didn't even bother reporting him because I knew it was pointless. And my opinion wouldn't change if this happened to someone else--protecting citizens against violent individuals is worth our ****ing money, not prosecuting people who have done ABSOLUTELY NO HARM, except maybe jeopardize the legal monopoly our government maintains.

/end rant

ks_medic · Sep 3, 2010

rexbanner said:
I don't give a **** whether he was distilling or not. The government shouldn't be wasting time and money on such trifling matters. Just last saturday I was minding my own business watching a UFC fight at a local bar when a 350 pound tub of lard started talking **** to me for absolutely no reason. I told him to **** off, turned around, and the next thing I know he suckerpunched me so hard I flew off my stool to the ground. He fled past the 5 or so bouncers and dozens of onlookers who did nothing. He paid in cash and no one knew his name, although he was a regular. He is, however, on video assaulting me. Fortunately I suffered only minor bruises.

If the local PD put half the amount of effort into getting this guy that this Alabama sheriff's department put into nailing this poor bastard, they'd catch him for sure. Of course, I didn't even bother reporting him because I knew it was pointless. And my opinion wouldn't change if this happened to someone else--protecting citizens against violent individuals is worth our ****ing money, not prosecuting people who have done ABSOLUTELY NO HARM, except maybe jeopardize the legal monopoly our government maintains.

/end rant

More than likely the police are trying to save face. They went there to raid a meth lab and came across a home brewery. Would look pretty bad to raid a house and find nothing. So they are latching on to this, making it sound worse than it is so they sound good.

passedpawn · Sep 3, 2010

Soooo, how do I bid on the contraband conical?

BTW, I'd like to sink my knuckles into that douches face. I don't care if he's old. He's holding that jar like he found a smoking gun. It's just alcohol, for god's sake (I bet he goes right home and mixes a gimlet for himself after that pic is taken). Don't get this libertarian started.

Starderup · Sep 3, 2010

maxamuus said:
Here is the Sheriff with the contraband.

The stuff in the bottle is supposed to be the 'shine. My starsan bottle looks a lot like that.

Something looks 'wrong' with that picture. Meaning Photoshop.
Is that supposed to be METH in the jar? My StarSan is liquid.
Edit: I am mistaking that white appearance in the jar for powder. I see it is just the refraction. Still, look at the shadow around the Sheriff. Looks funny.
Everything in Alabama that is fun is illegal, unless you count sex with your sister.
Sorry. Georgia joke. Bama fans, feel free to hit me back.

Starderup · Sep 3, 2010

passedpawn said:
Soooo, how do I bid on the contraband conical?

BTW, I'd like to sink my knuckles into that douches face. I don't care if he's old. He's holding that jar like he found a smoking gun. It's just alcohol, for god's sake (I bet he goes right home and mixes a gimlet for himself after that pic is taken). Don't get this libertarian started.

LOL, and it looks like somebody could use a little bran in their diet, if you know what I mean.

MrWiggles · Sep 3, 2010

I wonder if Blichmann sales went up after other homebrewers saw that nice lookin equipment behind the sheriff

Starderup · Sep 3, 2010

MrWiggles said:
I wonder if Blichmann sales went up after other homebrewers saw that nice lookin equipment behind the sheriff

No doubt. They don't call it Blingmann for nothing. Nice.

ColonelForbin · Sep 3, 2010

good job on cleaning up the mean streets of alabama sheriff, i can finally sleep peacefully at night knowing they finally caught that guy making beer out of his house.

Starderup · Sep 3, 2010

ColonelForbin said:
good job on cleaning up the mean streets of alabama sheriff, i can finally sleep peacefully at night knowing they finally caught that guy making beer out of his house.

Yeah, you got to have priorities!!!

nanofreak · Sep 3, 2010

Nothing there looks like it would be distilled. to people that know nothing about brewing, the vessels with airlocks look like something wrong, but really as a home brewer all I see is an ******* surrounded by brewing equipment.

passedpawn · Sep 3, 2010

Here's a link to some pics of the guy's gear. He has a spotless record and 2 tours in Iraq (from other forum).

http://picasaweb.google.com/110004088436235592284/20100724BrewDayAtKadeMillerS#

sudbuster · Sep 3, 2010

my 2c on the report is first, homebrewing in Alabama is illegal. So he, was breaking the law. Suppose he was not distilling, then where did the 8 gallons of moonshine come from? The conical would make a great pot still by simply adding some elements. The sheriff must know something about moonshine because the report mentioned the "bead". I respect the brewer for being a Vet but even so, the law is the last word when it comes to what we can and cannot do. Firearm found at an illegal site, even though legal, always adds to the alleged crime. I think he'll be learnig how to do stuff worse that making beer at home for the next few months, if he doesn't get probation.

dogtailale · Sep 3, 2010

Im sorry if Im wrong but ( I know i dont I all the facts)or even ( strait ) Didnt President Jimmy Carter(1977ish) make It legal to home brew for personal use .
Isn't Alabama part of the deal?

Sean · Sep 3, 2010

This country is getting bad. There is no seperation between criminal and non criminal activities other than what some dumb *ss polititian who wants to be important pushes through.

Have an open container in your car - go to jail.
Have a couple of grams of pot - go to jail.
Drive 15 mph over the limit - loose your license for 30 days. MANDITORY! in NC unless you get a lawyer.
Drive with suspended license - go to jail.
18 yo have sex with a 17 year old = sexual predator. 18 yo goes to a park after going to prison - back to prison.
Have 2 beers at a bar and drive home.....

And worse yet, the cop that pulls you over is 19, dumb as a head of cabbage and has an attitude. Respect the uniform?? not me. This is not the norm in other developed countries.

No law enforcement officer in this country should ever be elected. Sherriff should be an appointed position.

Beerrific · Sep 3, 2010

sudbuster said:
my 2c on the report is first, homebrewing in Alabama is illegal. So he, was breaking the law.

Was he? Did they catch him in the act? Hmmm...

Sean · Sep 3, 2010

sudbuster said:
the law is the last word when it comes to what we can and cannot do.

That is the lamest statement I have ever heard! It is the most Un-American thing I have heard in a while.

passedpawn · Sep 3, 2010

Don't Tread on ME!

[man i need 40 acres in nowhere]

sudbuster · Sep 3, 2010

passedpawn said:
Don't Tread on ME!

[man i need 40 acres in nowhere]

I live on 122 acres in the arse end of nowhere, but i don't break the law.

Is it un American to not break the law?

user 30639 · Sep 3, 2010

sudbuster said:
my 2c on the report is first, homebrewing in Alabama is illegal. So he, was breaking the law. Suppose he was not distilling, then where did the 8 gallons of moonshine come from? The conical would make a great pot still by simply adding some elements. The sheriff must know something about moonshine because the report mentioned the "bead". I respect the brewer for being a Vet but even so, the law is the last word when it comes to what we can and cannot do. Firearm found at an illegal site, even though legal, always adds to the alleged crime. I think he'll be learnig how to do stuff worse that making beer at home for the next few months, if he doesn't get probation.

It's not that hard to get moonshine in the south if you know the right people.

sudbuster · Sep 3, 2010

TexasSpartan said:
It's not that hard to get moonshine in the south if you know the right people.

Agreed,but 8 gallons? A bit much me thinks.

Sean · Sep 3, 2010

sudbuster said:
I live on 122 acres in the arse end of nowhere, but i don't break the law.

Is it un American to not break the law?

No. It may be un-natural, but not un-American. What is un-American is a belief that any law that is passed by my elected political body is something I am going to abide by regardless of its lack of sensability, rationality, or morality.

rexbanner · Sep 3, 2010

Sean said:
That is the lamest statement I have ever heard! It is the most Un-American thing I have heard in a while.

Agreed. It's a good thing our founding fathers weren't legalists or authoritarians.

I also agree with all your other points. We need to focus on violent criminals and leave everyone else alone. Until real crime (i.e. the kind where there is a victim) drops to zero, I don't think we should be going out of our way to arrest and prosecute harmless individuals. That being said, if you openly disobey the law then expect consequences.

I can't even walk back from a bar anymore. I almost got arrested last semester for stumbling home by myself. Yeah, I was drunk, but I am a responsible individual and I was doing the right thing--not driving. Since I can't drive, I can't bike (so dumb) and apparently I can't even walk home, what am I supposed to do?

Alabama Homebrewer Arrested

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