Moonshine

Feelslikefar

Feelslikefar

Senior Member
Location
Nashville, TN
A popular show on TV is about 'Moonshine'.
I watch this program for the enjoyment factor only, some interesting characters.

For 15 years I worked at an Ethanol Plant in Nebraska.
We produced 199 proof Ethanol from Corn and Soy Beans.
I worked my up from Drying the Grain for feed, Fermentation to Distillation Operator.
The process is the same to make drinkable Alcohol, locally called 'Moonshine'.
( I do not make any, by the way, I just know the process... )

I do however, make Homebrew Beer which is legal and the idea is the same, you just leave out some steps.

When I watch these shows about Moonshiners, my biggest problem is how sterile is the equipment they use.
When you brew for taste, just a little bacteria can infect a batch and give beer a 'skunky' taste and smell.
Also, yeast introduced to a batch has only about a 5 degree temp range ( 95 to 100 degrees F )
If yeast is too cold it won't active and too hot it forms a 'shell' making it useless.

Most times on the shows, they just boil away and add the yeast, then they just chat away while it 'cooks'.

Sure they make 'shine', but seems to me they could do just a little bit better.

Just my take on things and probably more than you wanted to know about making Alcohol!:)
 

RadishRose said:
I'm no much of a beer drinker, but I have tasted beer that was "skunky" like you said. I couldn't think of the term to describe it, but you just gave it to me: skunky!
ugh.
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Most 'Skunky' taste in commercial beers is from Light hitting the bottle for too long, mostly from the Clear Glass they use.
I always 'bottle' my homebrew in the darkest bottles I can find. Probably why you put a Lime in the most popular beer in a clear bottle! :)
 

Engineers who lived in the apartment next door to me in California made that skunky beer and not only was the odor strong, but it knocked your socks off. Extremely high alcohol content. An old marine boyfriend brought home a jar of moonshine and one sip and I thought my throat was cut. Get the same reaction from Tequila. You can have them all.
 
Skunky beer, great description. A couple of beer experiences that I have had in the US. Dining out with my schoolfriend and her husband in Savannah GA, the waitress would serve the beer so cold that it was all but forming ice crystals. And just in case that wasn't cold enough, the glass was chilled by being filled with ice cubes. When the glass was deemed cold enough the ice cubes were tipped away and the chilled beer poured into the ultra chilled glass. My lips almost seared to the rim. When I ordered a second beer I casually mentioned that there was no need to chill the glass. The waitress was aghast: "You like WARM beer?" She said. A kick in the ankle told me to shut up and put up.

In Nashville, we met a couple who were planning a business trip to the UK. Hearing our English accents that came over and introduced themselves. We got chatting and the fellow said, "Let me get you a beer." A cloudier looking concoction I have never seen in my life, but what really freaked me was the slice of lemon floating around the top. Kick or no kick, I couldn't bring myself to drink it. When our host was looking away I tipped most of it into a number of empty glasses that had been left on the bar. Definitely skunky beer.
 
horseless carriage said:
Skunky beer, great description. A couple of beer experiences that I have had in the US. Dining out with my schoolfriend and her husband in Savannah GA, the waitress would serve the beer so cold that it was all but forming ice crystals. And just in case that wasn't cold enough, the glass was chilled by being filled with ice cubes. When the glass was deemed cold enough the ice cubes were tipped away and the chilled beer poured into the ultra chilled glass. My lips almost seared to the rim. When I ordered a second beer I casually mentioned that there was no need to chill the glass. The waitress was aghast: "You like WARM beer?" She said. A kick in the ankle told me to shut up and put up.

In Nashville, we met a couple who were planning a business trip to the UK. Hearing our English accents that came over and introduced themselves. We got chatting and the fellow said, "Let me get you a beer." A cloudier looking concoction I have never seen in my life, but what really freaked me was the slice of lemon floating around the top. Kick or no kick, I couldn't bring myself to drink it. When our host was looking away I tipped most of it into a number of empty glasses that had been left on the bar. Definitely skunky beer.
Click to expand...
I have had a lot of brews from the UK before I was moved there.
Been told a 'Proper Pint' is chilled (not room temp or 'hurt your teeth' cold, but 'chilled').

I was lucky enough to be put up for a week in hotel owned by the Fuller Brewers in London.
The house brew on tap was 'Fullers ESB'. Hands down, the best brew I'd ever tasted.
The off-sale store was just down the street and I went back to my base with 4 cases.
I try, but I can't quite get it down when I brew an ESB. (Extra Special Bitter)

We have a pub here in Nashville called 'Fleet Street' and has Fullers ESB and many more British Ales
on tap.
Some things on the menu: High Street Hot Hen Salad, Whitechapel Welsh Rarebit, St. James Shepherd’s Pie, etc.

Now if they could just get some 'Walker's Crisps' the story would be complete!
 
I personally have known Josh for years.... everything your actually watching is a set-up for filming. I'll refrain from any further comment...
Have another friend that for a young man rolls out some awesome shine that would rival the likes of the late great Popcorn Sutton.
I'm also a home brewer, need to get the house done and dig my equipment back out.
I have a New Castle clone that rolls out about 7.5%....
 

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