Not Again

[Black Devil Dog]

I've got a mate who makes home brew spirits and he's a bit of a 'short cut' sort of bloke. I will never drink what he makes.

http://www.skynews.com.au/national/article.aspx?id=901269

 

[mash head]

Not good. Seems a bit expensive this home brewed spirit. I think I will be buying it also.

 

[Proffs]

Kudos to the doctor for classifying methanol was not an issue for those brewing beer.

 

[jaypes]

Yeah that backyard distilling stuff is only good for degreasing the lawnmower or washing up your brushes after a bit of oil based painting.

Definately not for me

 

[browndog]

Yeah that backyard distilling stuff is only good for degreasing the lawnmower or washing up your brushes after a bit of oil based painting.

Definately not for me

You just have to know what you are doing. It's not something to take lightly.

 

[slcmorro]

Yeah that backyard distilling stuff is only good for degreasing the lawnmower or washing up your brushes after a bit of oil based painting.

I have a friend who does his distilling quite pedantically. He's sanitary, and literally measures and records absolutely everything, and never ever let's anyone drink anything even remotely suspect. It's comments like this that lead to ill and mis-informed thinking. Might as well get a press pass and join the throng.

 

[Aces High]

When distilling, its difficult to make enough methanol to kill someone, the worst you will get is a massive hangover. IMHO the fact that it was a milky spirit means that the high alcohol spirit may have reacted with the cheap plastic container they were storing it in and my have created a plasticizer poisoning. Nothing that comes out of a still is milky, it should be crystal clear.

I reckon you will find this is another case of distilling being blamed for a death instead of blatant stupidity. I guess we should just be happy that brewing isn't the scapegoat this time.

 

[punkin]

It's not just difficult it's impossible with fruit, grains or sugars.

 

[pist]

If its done properly no problem, they have as previously said either stored it in some kind of plastic container in which toxins have leeched from into the alcohol...or they have done something incredibly stupid like drank pure alcohol, or done a dodgy and somehow ended up with methanol

 

[Airgead]

On the news today... they have proven that it wasn't the spirits that killed them. Just a coincidence.

But they still warn against the dangers blah blah blah.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/moonshine-not-behind-deaths-of-east-coast-men/4948930

 

[wbosher]

It cracks me up that this is illegal over there. I could pop into my LHBS and buy a still, and everything else required to make spirits, over the counter.

An old mate of mine has been doing this for years and makes a really nice drop of scotch, uses barrel shaving and such things to improve the flavour. I have to admit the first 10 or so batches were truly awful, but you could say that about home brew beer as well.

 

[sp0rk]

It cracks me up that this is illegal over there. I could pop into my LHBS and buy a still, and everything else required to make spirits, over the counter.

You can do that here too, most shops used to display the still head and the boiler seperately, now they just have them set up in stores
there was a bloke near me who got caught selling his homebrew spirits to local kids
From what I know they only pinged him for selling without a licence and selling to minors, not the actual production

 

[wbosher]

I was under the impression (incorrectly it seems) that distilling spirits was illegal there...which is why it's not supposed to be discussed here. h34r:

 

[Airgead]

It is. You can buy a still but using it to distill alcohol is illegal. You can use them for "water purification and essential oil extraction". Which is why they are sold in brew shops next to bottles of spirit flavouring of course.

 

[wbosher]

Oh, I see. It's like buying hydroponics for "growing tomatoes indoors"

 

[Bribie G]

My LHBS in Taree is called this:

Says it all. And yes the other half of the business is a Thai takeaway, marriage made in heaven when you think of it.

Lookit all those sacks o dex

 

[jyo]

Lookit all those sacks o dex

..just waiting to fall down and squash some poor little bugger!

 

[Bribie G]

I reckon he pushes them over to block the doorway when the Police arrive, give him time to scoot out the back door.

 

[Airgead]

Oh, I see. It's like buying hydroponics for "growing tomatoes indoors"

Yep. Its exactly like that.

 

[rehabs_for_quitters]

You can distill to your hearts contect in Aussie if you pay the tax man, un taxed I think its 5L wash max you are allowed to ferment,
I've been stilling for years and I am yet to go blind or die, must be doing it wrong