GREAT ARTICLE!
Lots of links and information on how deregulation spurs industries, using beer and breweries as examples.
In 1978, the United States had fewer than 200 breweries. Today, there are more than 5,000 breweries nationwide, with the vast majority being craft breweries. These numbers should come as little surprise, since legalizing homebrewing encouraged a generation of wannabe brewers to experiment and perfect their craft in basements and garages around the country. While it’s hard to know the exact number, it’s believed that up to 90 percent of craft brewers started out as homebrewers.
I think they don’t want people to “blowed up real good, like”
The universally acclaimed recipe and instructions for BEGINNERS to make wine...
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/edworts-apflewine.html
Musical accompaniment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM-v3J9EfXA
I think that the reason it is not is related to safety.
In those moonshine reality TV shows, they say that some of the distillate is methanol, not ethanol. And methanol is highly toxic. I suppose there could some sort of licensing involved, where people have to demonstrate that they know how to identify and separate the methanol from the ethanol. And also how not to set the alcohol on fire.
Home brewing beer and wine is not likely to end up with methanol. Although I have read where people gave themselves botulism from badly brewed concoctions.
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Freedom to do things frightens most people...who will rationalize all sorts of safety/revenue/disaster excuses for banning said freedom.
I took up the hobby of making my own moonshine for about year for personal consumption. All the equipment to make it was legal to buy under the guise of making ethanol for use in the gas tank of your car.
Truthfully; I don’t like hard alcohol at all so 99% of the shine I made went through the lips of friends. I just wanted to see if I could do it. It’s far easier than making beer or wine. Darn near foolproof really. Even if done wrong; there will still be some alcohol made.
I had my fun with it, satisfied my curiosity about it all, then got rid of the equipment.
If someone ever wants to give it a try; just get one of those table top one gallon water distillers that will turn one gallon of mash into one pint of shine. Want it stronger than 110 proof? Run it through the distiller again. I wouldn’t do it though. At 110 proof or 55% alcohol; you are at a good level for both taste and potency.
I agree; it should be legal for personal consumption which is probably why the authorities turn a blind eye to those who do it for the most part. It might be different where you live.
My thought, as a sorta Prepper, was that it would come in handy as a bartering item. Then I thought about all the sugar it would require and realized the sugar would probably be even more valuable as a bartering item. I didn’t want to store all the sugar I had so I gave it up with the equipment. Seemed fair to me.
Seem to recall lots of folks making blackberry wine prior to 1978
As long as you get a federal permit it is legal to distill large amounts of alcohol for fuel IF your state allows it. I doubt that they can catch you if you skim a little off the top for your personal consumption.
McConnell, (R)KY; lots of Bourbon distilleries in KY. Hmmm.
I really don’t think the GOV gives a damn whether you brew suds or make wine or even hootch but i know for a fact they don’t want you selling it as long as i make it for my own use i can make enough to last me a couple years you need sterilization and licenses for everything else then there’s taxes and the pricing i make excellent wine with well more than 20 bucks a bottle it wouldn’t be enjoyable with all the rules
Oh well compete with the gov it’s up to you but you’re going to lose not only the fun of it but prolly your taste for it to !
Slap a “motor fuel only” or “biofuel” sticker on your stuff an the Goverment will give you grants to make it........
The Tampa Bay area is a Mecca of microbreweries. Most of them started out as home Brewers, so did some wineries, too.
Free the Shine!
Seems ironic that a brewer would need a distilling license to create no-alcohol beer.