prison wine

[Blackened Soul]

I just wish I had used more fabric softener, the theme of my whole day was static cling.

[culturejam]

The blindness/death is because the moonshine guys ended up making methanol instead of ethanol.

Methanol is unavoidable in fermentation, and it can get concentrated during distillation. That's why you throw out the "heads" (methanol boils at a lower temp than ethanol). So yeah, methanol can be an issue if you distill the wine and don't know what you are doing. If you don't distill it, there is ZERO to worry about in terms of poisoning, blindness, death, etc. You'll probably still make bad decisions while hammered on homemade wine, but that's another issue.

My original comment was regarding the prohibition-era frenzy of every dumb bastard in the hills using old Model T radiators as a condenser coil. The lead in the solder joints got into the liquor and seriously hurt a lot of people (and even killed a few).

Anyway, to reiterate: yes you can make decent hooch at home, and no it won't hurt you in any way. The worst that will happen if you leave it around too long is that it will start to oxidize and taste like shit, or acetobacter bugs will find their way in and covert the ethanol into vinegar.

[theavondon]

I have a few friends in KC that huff starter fluid. Seems to work fine for them. Give it a go.