Ever built a still?

Ã FlannagÃ¡in · Jan 30, 2007

My roommate and I did when I was 17, just moved out of my folks house. Was incredibly fun and ridiculous. We built two actually, the first one leaked real bad, and we learned from it. We stopped the distilling process almost immediately, went back to sears and built a second one... worked like a charm. We had moonshine for about 6 months straight. We did a 3 brownsugar batches. Is probably around 150% alcohol, and got us HAMMERED drunk. Mad excellent gifts as well. We were pretty big potheads back in the day and we put 7 ounces of some Blueberry Skunk in a mason jars worth and let it sit for 2 months... that stuff was unbelievable.

Fish · Jan 30, 2007

Hmm when I was at the lhbs a few weeks ago it was mentioned how illegal stills are. If you are found in possesion of a still the feds can take EVERYTHING in your home. That was the warning we recieved.

Ã FlannagÃ¡in · Jan 30, 2007

Well, was 6 years ago for me, don't have one now. I've heard a rumor that several states allow a still that can hold up to 5 gallons of liquid in your home.

Not to mention, we got the idea from a book we bought at our lhbs, it had complete directions for beer, wine and ... building a still from copper tubing and a 5 gallon stainless steel pot.

Orfy · Jan 30, 2007

Erm no......... It's illegal to distill alcohol.
Not a good thing to discuss on a public forum.
But if you want to distill water or essential oils then that's a different thing.

the_bird · Jan 30, 2007

I'm 99% sure that distilling is illegal in all 50 states (without proper license). It is legal in a handful of foreign countries (New Zealand?).

In any case, I know that some people here have stills, I personally don't mind - but this probably isn't the best forum for that conversation. There are a few more-specialized websites that you might want to look into (COUGH! COUGH! http://homedistiller.org/ COUGH!)

Erbium:YAG · Jan 30, 2007

I would highly recommed that this discussion take place outside this site altogether. This site is for people who love and enjoy the legal privilege of homebrewing beer and wine. Distilling is absolutely illegal and even if you find some obscure place where it is, please discuss it elsewhere. I speak for myself when I say that I do not condone discussion of something illegal on this forum especially when those in the discussion make clear their immaturity in declaring their pursuits got them "HAMMERED drunk".

Don't take it the wrong way. I was your age once and there may have even been times where I though getting hammered was a cool thing; but take it from me, it greatly increases your chances of doing something you could regret.

Yuri_Rage · Jan 30, 2007

I like beer.

Ã FlannagÃ¡in · Jan 30, 2007

Wow, ok, sorry, thought the drunken ramblings forum would be for, well, drunken ramblings. Including being hammered drunk, and teenage idiocy. Sorry to have offended anyone in an anonymous alcohol forum... truly unexpected response, if I could delete the post I would.

Erbium:YAG · Jan 30, 2007

seefresh said:
Wow, ok, sorry, thought the drunken ramblings forum would be for, well, drunken ramblings. Including being hammered drunk, and teenage idiocy. Sorry to have offended anyone in an anonymous alcohol forum... truly unexpected response, if I could delete the post I would.

No one here wants to make you feel unwelcome. Just don't discuss anything illegal. While you might maintain anonymity, the forum itself is public. You'll find that there are alot of great people here who really love the hobby and are glad to help. Discussion about idiocy is certainly welcome. We all like to laugh too and we've all done our share of stupid things.

I'm sorry about the intensity of my reply. I tend to be protective (maybe overly so) about the priviledge to be able to brew my own beer. You can imagine what it would be like if someone or some group decided to go on a crusade because they thought homebrewing was the latest evil, and they started snooping around HBT. A thread titled "Ever built a still?" would be ammunition in their hands.

Like I said before, "Don't take it the wrong way."

Lord Sterrock Hammerson 8 · Jan 30, 2007

I don't see a problem with this discussion at all.

"Drunken Ramblings and Mindless Mumbling
The title says it all.

THIS FORUM IS NOT WORK SAFE
YOU MUST BE 18+ TO ENTER"

Seems to fall into the guidelines of the forum.

If people don't like forums that are not moderated and cant handle the topics being disused then they should use a more user friendly forum.

"General Chit Chat
Talk of everyday things in life. Keep it clean!"

Pumbaa · Jan 30, 2007

The problem is that distilling is illegal. I have mentioned NUMEROUS times that the only reason I started brewing wsa to learn how to mash so I could distill but I have never mentioned (at least I dont think I have) if I am actually distilling or not.

Retarded as it is in the governments eyes if you are distiling or have been distilling is just as bad as running a meth lab.

Now I'm 99.9% sure that the ATF isn't watching this site just waiting to pounce on the first person to admit to brewing that 1 galon of homebrew past their household limit, BUT at the same time I wouldnt be airing out my laundry here.

(99.9% WOW, thats comming from someone that doesnt trust his government 1 bit, I'm getting soft in my old age . . . budbo you need to straighten me out)

dibby33 · Jan 30, 2007

If I was a FED in the alcohol section I would be looking at sites like this to see what is going on. Would be stupid not to.

ARE THERE ANY FEDS HERE????

..are you a FED?

Ã FlannagÃ¡in · Jan 30, 2007

Sorry about my response, could be considered over-reacting as well. I've read (in this same 18+ forum section) people talk about taking LCD (*edited- I mean LSD), ****ting their pants and plenty of stealing things, defacing property and of course tons of marijuana involved stories. I didn't think adding a 6 year old story of a 5 gallon still was adding too much to the pile. But, I'll keep those stories for late night verbal ramblings in real life.

Sorry again for those offended.

Brewpastor · Jan 30, 2007

Distilling is illegal in all 50 states and most every where else. New Zealand has legalized it and there is a bunch of cool stuff happening there. I have had the chance to do it commercially and think it is about as much fun as brewing (almost!)

Pumbaa · Jan 31, 2007

seefresh said:
I've read (in this same 18+ forum section) people talk about taking LCD, ****ting their pants and plenty of stealing things, defacing property and of course tons of marijuana involved stories. . . .

Sorry again for those offended.

I avoid those thread normally (except sharting your pants, it's not illegal and funny as hell)

BTW I honestly think I am un-offendable (I just tend to write people off as morons, but your safe

) so no worries

Dude · Jan 31, 2007

seefresh said:
Wow, ok, sorry, thought the drunken ramblings forum would be for, well, drunken ramblings. Including being hammered drunk, and teenage idiocy. Sorry to have offended anyone in an anonymous alcohol forum... truly unexpected response, if I could delete the post I would.

seefresh, if you want me to delete this I will.

Everyone else, lay off a little! I haven't read the law where it says we can't talk about distilling! It is extremely interesting and something I would love to be able to do as well.

seefresh didn't do anything wrong in my eyes, he even posted this in the right spot! I've seen MUCH worse on this forum.

Let's just try to be a little more accomodating.

kthx.

Ize · Jan 31, 2007

seefresh said:
Sorry about my response, could be considered over-reacting as well. I've read (in this same 18+ forum section) people talk about taking LCD, ****ting their pants and plenty of stealing things, defacing property and of course tons of marijuana involved stories. I didn't think adding a 6 year old story of a 5 gallon still was adding too much to the pile. But, I'll keep those stories for late night verbal ramblings in real life.

Sorry again for those offended.

Man, no worries from this front. Create a story around it. "I was thinking about a time when something inhabited my body and I got the idea to distill alcohol, and then for fun added some really good herbs for dry-hopping purposes. We ended up with some really great beverages and the next hookah party was amaaaaazzzzing. Then again the whole thing could have been implanted subliminally in my mind by the gypsy that lived upstairs."

Just a ramble... :drunk:

Ize

Brewsmith · Jan 31, 2007

seefresh said:
Sorry again for those offended.

Everything is a-okay. It's not that people are offended, it's just the legality question. There have been a number of posts recently from underage kids asking how to basically make hooch in their room. Many of use here don't want to intentionally encourage underage drinking, especially when there could be a possibility of it getting the site into legal trouble. Distilling is kinda in that same ballpark. It's a very interesting subject and one that should be discussed, but the fact that doing it at home remains illegal in the US makes some of us a little leery about divulging a bunch of info. Mostly just as a precaution against some nosey ninny trying to shut the site down.

Dude hit it right on the head. You posted in the right section! :drunk:

Distillation has me interested, although, if I was going to do any, I don't know if I would admit it.

Radarbrew · Jan 31, 2007

So aside from the obvious illegal aspects of ruining your liver with something like that, isn't there something about stills, alternative fuels, etc...?

t-dogg · Jan 31, 2007

you can make beer but you can't boil it,collect the vapors,cool those and drink it.

Brewsmith · Jan 31, 2007

Yes, and you can distill water legally. As well as essential oils from plants and that kind of stuff.

Orfy · Jan 31, 2007

I may have a big MF water distiller knocking around somewhere.
I love my essential oils. :tank:

BYO advertise stills.

Ã FlannagÃ¡in · Jan 31, 2007

Its not too hard to obtain a license for distilling alcohol for alternate fuels. I knew some guys in Asheville, NC that had the license and were making TONS. THey had a huge still in their basement.

Is it legal to do the old freeze your beer, collect the alcohol thingy? My friend told me about making some apple cider and doing the freezing thing.

Personally I'm more of a beer man, but I do have a taste for liquor (not like I used to). I love a tumbler of Dewar's on the rocks, I'm also fond of some high end bourbon on the rocks. Crafting liquor is a bit of an art itself.

Orfy · Jan 31, 2007

Is it legal to do the old freeze your beer, collect the alcohol thingy? My friend told me about making some apple cider and doing the freezing thing

Yes but the man won't come for you if you try it.

Brewsmith · Jan 31, 2007

The freezing beer thing is not distillation by the scientific definition, but according to the law it is. It is also illegal.

Orfy · Jan 31, 2007

It's the purification/increasing strength by removing water that's the key.

Pumbaa · Jan 31, 2007

orfy said:
It's the purification/increasing strength by removing water that's the key.

IMHO it' may be time again . . .
:rockin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_rebellion:rockin:

(dont worry Orfy your safe this time)

gonzoflick · Jan 31, 2007

You can obtain a License from ATF in order to distill ethanol for use in engines. Its a lengthy process but entirely legal in most states. I bet in 50 years when our oil runs out everyone will have themselves a nifty reflux still in their backyards along with several rows of corn...

Also I would not be concerned with "underage distillers". The process and equipment needed to make good hooch is greatly more complicated that making good beer. I'm sure 99.9999% of underage drinkers out there wouldn't make the effort or know how to begin in the first place.

Pumbaa · Jan 31, 2007

gonzoflick said:
I bet in 50 years when our oil runs out everyone will have themselves a nifty reflux still in their backyards along with several rows of corn...

I'll take that bet . . . The reason it's illegal to distill isnt for safety or temprence it's because Uncle Sam wants his tax $$

Fiery Sword · Jan 31, 2007

A friend of mine is a 'wine guy' and when he got married a few years ago someone bought him THIS - it is a small scale home distillation kit. I mention <and link> it for discussion purposes, not to condone the potential use of it. Now, I'm not going to trust a writeup in a catalog as fact but they specifically mention that it is "legal in most states" to distill up to 5 gallons per year. Any insight into this? I mean, if it is absolutely illegal then how does this company get away with selling the kit specifically as a 'distillation kit'?

And BTW, it works. We've made all sorts of interesting stuff, mainly grappas. :drunk:

Ever built a still?

Help Support Homebrew Talk:

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

For the love of beer!

10th-Level Beer Nerd

Well-Known Member

Gritty.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

I prefer 23383

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Beer, not rocket chemistry

I prefer 23383

Supporting Member

...

Home brewing moogerfooger

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Home brewing moogerfooger

For the love of beer!

Well-Known Member

For the love of beer!

Home brewing moogerfooger

For the love of beer!

I prefer 23383

Well-Known Member

I prefer 23383

Well-Known Member

Similar threads