TOTM June, 2020... Liquor, Moonshine, Wine or Beer?

Discussion in 'Survival Topic of the Month' started by Dunerunner, Jun 3, 2020.


Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    From a prepper's perspective, come a time where alcoholic beverages might become unavailable; which alternative would you pursue, or are you pursuing? Or, would you just go without?

    Beer has a short shelf life, unless it is a high alcohol Stout. Some Wines will lay up nicely but they must be unfiltered wines, generally Super Tuscans, Cabernets, or Bordeaux. Whites generally do not store well over long intervals and even the reds have issues when laid up over time. Distilled alcohol seems to hold up forever, like Scotches, Whiskeys, Gin, Vodka, Tequila, and Rum.

    All three of the above involve equipment, raw materials and the knowledge need for production.

    I have the equipment and knowledge to brew beer, but it requires that I have the ingredients, electrical power and propane to do so. Specifically, suitable malted grains, hops, and yeast. The process also requires a temperature controlled fermentation for both ales and lagers to create a drinkable beverage. That means I would have to source and rely upon the availability of the raw materials to produce said beverage, or grow my own barley or wheat as well as hops and have a sustainable yeast bank. I could brew over a wood fire to heat water for the mash, the boil the wort. I would need a cold water source and electricity to operate a pump to chill the wort to fermentation temperature, then maintain an optimum fermentation temperature for eight to fourteen days. A long time to run a generator and a lot of expense in solar to run temperature control equipment.

    Any plans?
     
  2. Lancer

    Lancer TANSTAFL! Site Supporter+++

    Moonshine. All you need is some crop with a decent sugar content, ie; grains or root vegetables. Wild airborne yeasts can get the fermentation going, and a simple pot still with a couple good thermometers to allow you to pull only the sweet" fractions off for drinking. A side benefit is that the alcohols have value as disinfectants, solvents, or even fuels.
     
    STANGF150, Ganado, Yard Dart and 5 others like this.
  3. runswithdogs

    runswithdogs Monkey+++

    Mead.
    Yummy yummy mead! :D

    wouldn't even bother with beer or wine, cant stand either of them.
     
    Gray Wolf, Ganado, Yard Dart and 3 others like this.
  4. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    All you need is bees, water and yeast...… :D
     
  5. ditch witch

    ditch witch I do stupid crap, so you don't have to

    We have a reflux still and enough wine making equipment to keep the entire elementary PTA lit to eternity. Small vineyard out back for the wine. For shine we just use sugar but plenty of alternatives to be found locally. Just need a fire, running water,, and some patience.
     
  6. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    HA, I guess i'm not alone in my endeavors to produce top quality alcohol! I prefer a good mash, it's easy and can be fine tuned to your local ingredients! Wine is also super easy, and has even more versatility from all the many things you can make it from, and meed, which has lots of value both in the kitchen and out! From there, a good 'Shine, or Rum is a hardcore skill set one should acquire, talk about versatility! I enjoy a good home craft brew, but that's an awful lot of effort and ingredients intensive and the "Shelf Life" isn't that great, even bottled!
     
    Tully Mars, Yard Dart and Gator 45/70 like this.
  7. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    I've been doing shine now for awhile. I have two stills, one modern that uses propane and another I was gifted from the man that taught me. It was his father's, then his brother's. I haven't used it as it's a "real" still that is wood fired and ment to be set up in the woods and makes larger batches. I want to try my hand at making rum one of these days. I've got my whiskey down to where after charcoal filtering and setting in a oak barrel for a year, it looks and tastes a lot like Jack but a bit smoother.
     
    Ganado, Ura-Ki, Yard Dart and 3 others like this.
  8. Jaybird

    Jaybird Monkey+++

    Not a drinker, but I can see where any of it would be good for barter. Also, I could always use some moonshine for my herbal tinctures. That's the direction I would take.
     
  9. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Bro, You and Me, we got to do some Drinkin, Fartin, and Tellin Lies!
    I bring ya a barrel of my best batch Rum!
     
    Gator 45/70 and Tully Mars like this.
  10. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    Moonshine. Many sources of sugars. Ounce for ounce it will get you drunker and sell for more. You can make a batch in days. 190+ proof which can be cut to 40. Any controllable fire, a starch or sugar source and some equipment and you’re good to go.
     
  11. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    That's it in a nutshell yes, but it is a bit more complicated than that. Lot of the kids round here will drink the sugar shine because they can get it for 40 bucks a gallon. It's harsh, leaves you with a really bad head the next day. Sour mash is much better-and the deer around my place like the leftovers:D

    While the girls talk medical stuff:D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 4, 2020
  12. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    I've come to understand that running a batch of shine is like anything else. It takes time to develop the skillset. There is lots of info on the innerwebs, and while good, if you can learn 1st hand from someone that's even better. The guy I learned from was found totally by accident while working on a pipe job. He was assigned as my fitter and as we worked together and got to know each other we opened up about things. Something was said about shine one time and I mentioned that I love the stuff and that I'd really like to learn how to make GOOD shine. Few weeks later I was invited up to his place and the rest is history.
    His family were true bootleggers. This guy is the only one in his family that hasn't served time for it. He's in his mid 60's and the still I now have was passed down from great grandfather on down. Their sites were never found. They all got busted transporting-there is a lesson to be learned there... We have become good friends. He gifted me this heirloom because I think he knows I understand that it's use is an art. An art I work hard to prefect. That may sound funny or weird, but there is a lot of pride taken in making a good batch by these folks, and I must say it's really cool to be accepted into their clan so to speak. When one hears you have pawpaw "Smith's" old still? "Shit son, howed you git that? That 'ol still is a good'un. Made some of the best shine I's ever tasted from these parts..."

    Wine making is pretty simple actually. Down here I make it from the wild strawberrys I have everywhere. Muscadines are very popular for wine here and I use watermelon as well. Muscy is a great wine. The thing about making wine and having a still means you can make brandy. I have a old friend over in the Missouri area that loves Blackberry brandy, so I always run a batch come the fall frost. A nip of good brandy will take the edge off a cold morning/evening for many folks. I do not sell my squeez'ins to anyone. I GIFT some that is leftover from making a batch for my PERSONAL use. Therein lies the key-at least in this state. That is the real reason I've not set up the old still that was given to me. It's made to produce large runs. It's kinda like this: You get busted with a joint in your ashtray nowadays it's not a big deal. But if you get busted with a kilo in the trunk it's hard to claim that it's just for personal consumption..
    BTW: I'm 57 so you'll understand what I mean by my next statement.
    Get the old folks on your side.
    I know of 5 "elders" in this small podunk area that have the the governor's number in their phone contacts or a business card with the # in their purse/wallet. Same for the Attorney General. I have personally witnessed a 80some year old Lady call our Governor (Kay Ivey) on her cell #. "Miss Kay? Yes this is Memaw Smith. Just fine, and you?......" The frigg'in Gov will take their calls EVERY TIME. That kind of backdoor stroke is worth more than dollars and you'd be surprised at how many "old folks" have these kind of ties. The aforementioned little 'ol lady stops by from time to time to visit and to pick up a gift...
     
  13. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    :eek:backdoor bootlegger![winkthumb][touchdown]
     
  14. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    Moonshine

    I don’t drink, but see value as stove fuel.
     
  15. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    and it's true medicinal purposes. I think I'd have a apoplexy if I saw someone pouring my shine into a coleman...
    Use the dregs for that!!
     
    STANGF150, Gator 45/70 and Dunerunner like this.
  16. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Ha, nothing like a good Thump Thump! Rum is our Unicorn, being "Southerners" trapped in the Pacific North West, and given our heritage from the very earliest days of this nation, Thumpin up a batch is a long running tradition in our family! It's always fun playing around with different "Sugars" to get a good batch, a top shelf Bermuda Molasses and spices makes for a seriously tasty jug! It's easy to cut it, which is where the spice and water come in, and it's so dang versatile, we use it in everything! Come the holidays, we candy a bunch of fruit, blend it in with ice cream, bake with it, make good souses and rue's and gravies, and the pies are to die for! when the weather finally turns, it makes great marinades, and BBQ!

    Now, Tequila, that's a new "hobby" very much like rum, but different! And almost as useful and damn tasty too! I love cooking with it, and I also enjoy mixing it with like a Liquor with Cherry being my most fav! Ah, I need to stop, i'm getting a mighty thirst going, may need to go mix up a sweet tea now!
     
  17. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    Don't want or need it now, and certainly don't want it if I need my full faculties about me.
     
    Dunerunner and Gator 45/70 like this.
  18. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Agreed, but it does make good trading stock for those who do. Just another resource and if distilled, good for cleaning, fuel for that alcohol stove or lamp, etc. ;)
     
    Tully Mars, Gator 45/70 and Ganado like this.
  19. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    I use mine to only distill herbal remedies
     
    Dunerunner, oldawg and Gator 45/70 like this.
  20. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Interesting thread to say the least,Me thinks a bit more research is needed.....
     
    Dunerunner likes this.
  1. Dunerunner
  2. Dunerunner
  3. Dunerunner
  4. Dunerunner
  5. Dunerunner
  6. Dunerunner
  7. Dunerunner
  8. Dunerunner
  9. Ganado
  10. Ganado
  11. Dunerunner
  12. Dunerunner
  13. Dunerunner
  14. john316
  15. HK_User
  16. Zimmy
  17. DarkLight
  18. Asia-Off-Grid
  19. Asia-Off-Grid
  20. Asia-Off-Grid
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7