Moonshining in the Blue Ridge

[MossRoad]

Yep. Gotta watch your temps. We did all of this in 10th grade, and had a big thermometer stuck in the mash.

We learned about fermentation in high school. We used grape juice, sugar and yeast, as I recall, over a few days. Once it started fermenting, we measured the alcohol content as it progressed. We were supposed to pour it all out in the lab once the fermentation process stopped, but somehow, several beakers made it into an empty locker that happened to be near my locker.

I'd have to say, that it tasted pretty yeasty. It tasted like fresh bread smells, but with grape flavoring. It was very drinkable, and we were quite proud of ourselves. So many of us taste-tested it, though, that no one had enough to get a buzz. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

My mother-in-law's father used to make wine, as I'm told, before my wife and I started dating. I never got to see him make it, but have seen pictures of the whole family taking part in the process. They'd drive up to Michigan just north of us, and pick several bushels of grapes. Then bring them home and clean them of leaves and stems and such. He had a fruit press, so he'd press out the fruit, strain the juice, pour it into wooden casks, add his ingredients, and away he'd go. They always had a barrel or two of wine in their basement. Seems like every time I'd go over there with my wife to visit, grandma was in the basement "doing laundry". For just the two of them, she did a lot of "laundry". :laughing:

 

[/pine]

Now you're talking...mixing wine (preferably homemade wild berry wine) and stills...!

Some of the best spirits I've ever had was homemade brandy...likely run several times to get so fine...

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Now you're talking...mixing wine (preferably homemade wild berry wine) and stills...!

Some of the best spirits I've ever had was homemade brandy...likely run several times to get so fine...

Chug-a-lug!

 

[MossRoad]

Make you want to holler hi-de-ho

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Finally warm enough and dry here, so I took my little L down to the farm today and pulled these out of the woods. Man, are they heavy. I'll go back another time with my MX and move them to were we can get rid of them. Supposedly the biggest hooch bust in the area back in the 1980's. No one was arrested apparently, but they sure got shut down. According to a "relative" of the guy that lived there, they ran these tanks for 7 years before the feds showed up.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^*
What are they made of?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

^^^^^*
What are they made of?

2 inch thick oak on the sides, aluminum sheet metal tops and bottoms. They are full of wet leaves and God knows what else...

 

[k0ua]

2 inch thick oak on the sides, aluminum sheet metal tops and bottoms. They are full of wet leaves and God knows what else...

Wouldn't be surprised to find a snake or two in there!.

 

[Jstpssng]

2 inch thick oak on the sides, aluminum sheet metal tops and bottoms. They are full of wet leaves and God knows what else...

I thought that looked like metal showing in spots. Is oak what's normally used for that? Back when I was indulging in beverages, I always went for the "Beechwood Aged".