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Author Topic: Distilling  (Read 23841 times)

Offline a10t2

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #105 on: October 20, 2010, 10:28:35 pm »
True. The aging requirements alone (for whiskey, anyway) are a pretty significant barrier to entry.

I was just saying that I don't think you can justify homebrewing from a cost-benefit perspective.
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #106 on: October 20, 2010, 10:48:16 pm »
Now where were we?  Oh yes, anarchy.  Denny, were you responsible for the WTO riots in Seattle?   ;D

Nah, I was an upstanding hippie businessman by that point.  Those were just kids!   :)
Your minions though, right?  ;)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline punatic

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #107 on: October 20, 2010, 11:00:05 pm »
Distilling, to me, isn't worth the effort.  The cost-benefit analysis of distilling vs. going out and buying your own bottle of whiskey is a clear choice.  It's cheaper, easier, and less work to buy your own, not make your own.

Isn't that true of brewing as well?

From what I gathered by talking to a guy once who distilled his own spirits, it's A LOT of work. Homebrewing gains you way more than buying beer.  Distilling your own gains you way less than buying your own.  You might get higher quality, but it's gonna cost ya.

"Talking to a guy once," should not be the sole source of decision making information.
Is brewing a LOT of work?  What if distilling was less work and at least as enjoyable?
On what do you base your conclusion that "distilling your own gains you way less than buying your own"?
What if you could make a beverage that didn't give you hangovers? (read congener free)
Is high-end quality 100 proof vodka at $2.50 a litre what you mean by, "It's gonna cost ya"?

Perhaps a bit of reading might change your mind... (see the links in my previous post)
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Offline punatic

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #108 on: October 20, 2010, 11:21:18 pm »
True. The aging requirements alone (for whiskey, anyway) are a pretty significant barrier to entry.

I was just saying that I don't think you can justify homebrewing from a cost-benefit perspective.

Legally, in the U.S. to be sold as whiskey, it must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years.
Are you looking to sell legal whiskey?
Cost-benefit perspective?  On a hobby?  Really?
Research, or better yet try some (legally available) White Dog whiskey. 
Young, non-oaked, unhopped, distilled, beer.
YUM!
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Offline weazletoe

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #109 on: October 20, 2010, 11:57:25 pm »

Cost-benefit perspective?  On a hobby?  Really?


This has been a sore spot with me for a while, and it's good to see someone who shares my view.  People are worried about it being cost effective. Weather homebrewing is cost effective or not has no relevance. It's a HOBBY. What homebrewer, or even distiller for that matter has ever said, "well, I started making my own, because i'm such a lush, it's cheaper." No one!! We do it becuase we enjoy it.
  Does a guy take flying lessons, buy a plane, pay for storage and upkeep, and fuel on it, because it's cheaper than buying a 300$ ticket? NO WAY!! It's hobby. It's something to be enjoyed. Cost effectiveness is irrelavant.
  There, now my rant is over. This is a topic that comes up time and again that really bugs me! Back to your regularly scheduled distilling thread.
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Offline punatic

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #110 on: October 21, 2010, 12:14:09 am »
Nicely said weazletoe.

BTW it's still Wednesday here, but I am in agreement with your signature and avatar.  Lucky ting I live Hawaii!

Regarding your name... is that kinda like camel toe?  :o
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Offline phillamb168

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #111 on: October 21, 2010, 02:00:50 am »
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/10/scotch-and-chocolate-pairings.html

For the whisky tangent we went off on earlier ^^^

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Offline bluesman

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #112 on: October 21, 2010, 04:31:04 am »
I'm alomost afraid to add up the costs of supplies, equipment, association dues, ingredients etc... that I spend in a year on homebrewing.  Not to mention the cost for me to fly across the country and stay in San Diego next year for NHC.  It would be a whole hell of alot cheaper for me to just go out and buy 12 cases of Dogfish Head 60 than for what I spend homebrewing in a year.  Honestly...cost is probably the last consideration for me.  I enjoy homebrewing...it's my hobby and a big part of my life.

Distilling would probably follow the same vein...at least that's my guess.

Let's just leave it at that.

Ron Price

Offline tumarkin

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #113 on: October 21, 2010, 05:17:56 am »
Punatic, I like where you're coming from (and I don't mean Hawaii, although I like that too).

As to aging, it is both time consuming and expensive. But it's one of the keys to making great whisky. A keg loses about 2% a year, so a 12 yr single malt lost almost 25% of the original volume to aging. This loss is called the Angel's Share (one of the most poetical descriptions, gotta love it!).

Cost is not the issue, as Weaze said.... it's a HOBBY. Cost isn't the issue (well, let's be honest, it is an issue, but we don't let it stop us). It's all about the process, the quality, and the satisfaction we get from making our own..... whether it's beer, whisky, cooking, bbq, woodwork, music, .......whatever our hobbies are.
Mark Tumarkin
Hogtown Brewers
Gainesville, FL

Offline punatic

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #114 on: October 21, 2010, 08:02:42 am »
One of the top stories on the AHA website is Homebrewing is Legal in Kentucky Now!  Right on!

Just a thought... Were homebrewers in Kentucky discouraged from participating in this forum before homebrewing was legalized there?  

One of the greatest strengths of our country is that we have the right, and the means to change laws that we believe are unjust or do not make sense.  One of the great strengths of the Brewers Association is being an advocate and a lobby for changing laws we believe are unjust or do not make sense.

How can we work towards making changes if the subject of the change is discouraged from being discussed?

« Last Edit: October 21, 2010, 08:15:45 am by punatic »
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #115 on: October 21, 2010, 08:43:09 am »
This has been a sore spot with me for a while, and it's good to see someone who shares my view.

Yes, it's good to know we all agree that brewing is a worthwhile hobby even though it isn't cost-effective. Then again, since we're all brewers, we already knew that. ;)
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Offline denny

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #116 on: October 21, 2010, 08:50:55 am »
Just a thought... Were homebrewers in Kentucky discouraged from participating in this forum before homebrewing was legalized there?

Not at all, because this forum is about homebrewing.  It's NOT about distilling.  That's the difference.
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Offline Mikey

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #117 on: October 21, 2010, 08:53:10 am »
Just a thought... Were homebrewers in Kentucky discouraged from participating in this forum before homebrewing was legalized there?

Not at all, because this forum is about homebrewing.  It's NOT about distilling.  That's the difference.

But, by definition the Pub is "A place for discussion of not strictly beer related topics."

Offline dbeechum

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #118 on: October 21, 2010, 09:05:06 am »
Here's my take away on things. The AHA has a core mission - finish legalizing homebrewing in all 50 states. Beyond that we have other goals like make sure that everyone can freely use their homebrew in manners consistent with how the heck we use it. (e.g. take it a club meeting, comps, your neighbors fourth of july party), shipping, etc.

I suspect there's a healthy, but not overwhelming, percentage of the membership that would think it fun to dabble in distilling. Since homebrewers already get the gimlet eye from some folks, including those in legislative branches around the country, wouldn't it be more fruitful to our goals to not foster discussion on a topic that distracts from and could be used against them?

Who knows, in the future, maybe there'll be an organization that attempts to crack the federal nut around distillation, but that's not this group right now.
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Offline Steve

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Re: Distilling
« Reply #119 on: October 21, 2010, 09:41:36 am »
After much discussion, this thread will allowed to continue as long as the content doesn't stray into the distillation process.  This corresponds with the trend of breweries getting involved with distillation.  We've put a lot of effort into disproving the notion that homebrewers are moonshiners and don't feel that the organization as a whole benefits from discussions that confuse that effort.

     We are homebrewers and not moonshiners.  This forum is provided to AHA members and those interested in the hobby of homebrewing, not those of the IMA (Illegal Moonshiners Association).  Despite free speech, we must respect the laws, which also protects our rights as homebrewers.

Perhaps Denny is right.  This may not be the right forum for discussing distillation. 
 
     If anyone in this topic or forum is interested in discussing the process of distilling, altering taxation policy or changing the laws pertaining to home distillation, please share your views on the distillation forums which punatic displayed in his reply where it's an appropriate topic of discussion.

Keep the AHA forum topics on legal homebrewing and not on currently illegal pastimes.
Steve
 
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