Distilling beer worth it?

Other discussions for folks new to the wonderful craft of home distilling.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
Nightforce
Swill Maker
Posts: 251
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:18 am

Distilling beer worth it?

Post by Nightforce »

Hello to all,

I have an opportunity to obtain 2 cases of at to out of date beer for $10. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to distill. It's Busch beer, which I don't drink so would be of no use to me as is. I have a quarter keg as a boiler and my gut feeling is that I'd have to run only a case at a time (also can recover the aluminum cans for $ to offset, gotta save the planet right ;)) because of the added room needed because of foaming. From a 4-5% wash not sure it would be worth it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
olddog
retired
Posts: 3618
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:16 pm
Location: WEST OZ

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by olddog »

Either drink it or give it to your guests, don't distill it, you will regret it if you do. :esad:
OLD DOG LEARNING NEW TRICKS ......
kiwistiller
retired
Posts: 3215
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:09 pm
Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by kiwistiller »

I have stripped, carbon filtered, stripped again and then spirit run some free beer before. couldn't taste the hops in it after all that processing, but it was a lot of work. free is free though.
Three sheets to the wind!
My stuff
big worm
Trainee
Posts: 758
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:19 pm

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by big worm »

i think i would drink the beer :D it would be practice, but not sure what it would taste like because of the hopps.
if you do let us know
GOT BAIT?
small children left unatended will be sold as bait
kiwistiller
retired
Posts: 3215
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:09 pm
Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by kiwistiller »

without carbon filtering the hops taste is awful, and persistent. If I didn't have a carbon filter lying around from my earlier days I'd wouldn't have bothered.
Three sheets to the wind!
My stuff
blanikdog
Angel's Share
Angel's Share
Posts: 4545
Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:55 pm
Location: Bullamakanka, Oztrailya

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by blanikdog »

I'd drink the beer. I ignore most of this 'out of date' crap. Just another way for manufacturers to make more money, IMHO. We aren't stoopid! We can taste if something is crook or not.

blanik
Simple potstiller. Slow, single run.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon)
The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading

Cumudgeon and loving it.
MuleKicker
retired
Posts: 3111
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:14 pm
Location: If I told you, I'd have to Kill You.

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by MuleKicker »

2 cases of out of date beer? That guy obviously isnt going to drink it if he wants to sell it. I would tell him you'll do him a favor and take it off his hands. but if you have to buy it? im with these guys, it aint worth it.
-Control Freak-
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
HookLine
retired
Posts: 5628
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 8:38 am
Location: OzLand

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by HookLine »

For $10 you can make a bunch of sugar wash that will give you at least as much booze as the beer would, and without the hassle of cleaning out the hops flavour.
Be safe.
Be discreet.
And have fun.
xx7777xx
Novice
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:08 am

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by xx7777xx »

When I first built my still I had some leftover beer in the keg that I decided to use as a test run. Let me tell you, that was not a good idea! It really stinks, and even the spirits coming out at 77C of my VM reflux tasted pretty nasty.

As already stated, spend your $10 on a big bag of sugar.
Good spirits are like the weather, some like it clear and some like cloudy...
Nightforce
Swill Maker
Posts: 251
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:18 am

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by Nightforce »

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'll not attempt it. Being a novice, all that trouble would be better spent on running sugar washes and similar easy stuff before I attempt that feat.
Dnderhead
Angel's Share
Angel's Share
Posts: 13666
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: up north

Re: Distilling beer worth it?

Post by Dnderhead »

it will run ok just gunks up the still and hard to git rid of oils from hops? if you do run it degas first.
Post Reply