[Errant]

So....Berkeley Springs WV is having the 47th Apple Butter Festival this weekend. Little town that's gonna have a jaw dropping number of people. 35 thousand or so. Our proximity to the DC metro area, and the fact that we are DCs playground, makes for an interesting time. If you're going to be around, stop by the beer garden and say hi. I'm the banjo picker.

 

[Twisty]

Apple butter and beer? No thanks.

 

[TNTRAILERTRASH]

Apple butter and beer? No thanks.

How about apple beer?

 

[cicpup]

How about apple beer?

I was thinking Beer Butter & Apples doesn't sound too bad.

 

[RACHGIER]

Butter Beer, hard cider, and if they're really good apple wine or applejack moonshine.

Some of us might have grown up with alcoholics. 🤷‍♂️

 

[greg_r]

Applejack Rabbit Coctail and apple butter. I could go for that.

 

[RACHGIER]

Applejack Rabbit Coctail and apple butter. I could go for that.

Don't bring the daughter this time. You'll end up catching a case for contributing to the delinquency of a minor while she catches one for minor in possession for stumbling around and pretending to be tanked.

 

[Delbert]

Some applebutter on freshly made bread sounds really good right now.

Some of that applejack shine that Rach mentioned, warmed up some w/a couple cherries for a hillbilly sipping drink, would make for a great nitetime cocktail while watching some movies.

 

[greg_r]

Don't bring the daughter this time. You'll end up catching a case for contributing to the delinquency of a minor while she catches one for minor in possession for stumbling around and pretending to be tanked.

I do appreciate the complement. Do you really think I am that young?

 

[RACHGIER]

I do appreciate the complement. Do you really think I am that young?

I know you aren't, but it was the only alcohol related charges I could think that involve a parent and child that weren't common behavior in West Virginia.

 

[greg_r]

Some applebutter on freshly made bread sounds really good right now.

Some of that applejack shine that Rach mentioned, warmed up some w/a couple cherries for a hillbilly sipping drink, would make for a great nitetime cocktail while watching some movies.

I have actually heard it called essence of lockjaw about as much as I have called it applejack. Never heard it called shine before. The stuff that Laird’s sells is not applejack in my book either it’s just a mixture of apple brandy and neutral spirits. Real applejack is jacked, not distilled. Yes, you can make the case that jacking is known as freeze distilling, but there are laws against distilling. Jacking is completely legal. So legally there must be a difference.

The taste difference between real jacked applejack and the stuff sold at the alphabet store is noticeable. The store boughten stuff can not compare. But over indulge and applejack will give you the worst hangover you have ever had. Something about jacking not removing a couple of types of alcohol that distilling does.

 

[cicpup]

But over indulge and applejack will give you the worst hangover you have ever had. Something about jacking not removing a couple of types of alcohol that distilling does.

Not if you clean it up correctly. During distilling the bad chemicals (methanol, acetone, etc) burn off before ethanol. Known as "heads" this part of the product that can cause massive hangovers, blindness and death is always thrown away. Heads burn off in the mid to high 160s, Ethanol in the low to mid 180s. Using this knowledge it is possible to legally clean up applejack. Slowly heat it up in a lidless sauce pan while closely monitoring the temp. While the heads are burning off between 160 - 170, do not breathe in the steam. You will definitely regret it. As soon as the temp jumps 10 degrees or so (and it will jump suddenly) into the 180 range, immediately remove it from the heat, put a lid on it and cool it in a bigger pan of cold water to stop the ethanol from evaporating. You've just removed the harmful heads without actually distilling and becoming a felon. Cool it to your favorite drinking temp and have a very enjoyable evening.

 

[greg_r]

Not if you clean it up correctly. During distilling the bad chemicals (methanol, acetone, etc) burn off before ethanol. Known as "heads" this part of the product that can cause massive hangovers, blindness and death is always thrown away. Heads burn off in the mid to high 160s, Ethanol in the low to mid 180s. Using this knowledge it is possible to legally clean up applejack. Slowly heat it up in a lidless sauce pan while closely monitoring the temp. As soon as the temp jumps 10 degrees or so (and it will jump suddenly) into the 180 range, immediately remove it from the heat and cool it in a bigger pan of cold water to stop the ethanol from evaporating. You've just removed the harmful heads without actually distilling and becoming a felon. Cool it to your favorite drinking temp and have a very enjoyable evening.

And that’s the gist of it. Jacking is freezing. No alcohol burns off. Basically you freeze fresh pressed apple cider. Once frozen just toss away the frozen part, the liquid part is the Applejack. Note, I said basically, it’s a bit more involved, but heat is not used at all.

 

[cicpup]

And that’s the gist of it. Jacking is freezing. No alcohol burns off. Basically you freeze fresh pressed apple cider. Once frozen just toss away the frozen part, the liquid part is the Applejack. Note, I said basically, it’s a bit more involved, but heat is not used at all.

Well you actually have to ferment the cider first or you'll just end up with frozen cider, but yea, that's how it's traditionally done. I just told you how to make a barbaric homemade alcohol safer and more enjoyable. Fuck tradition.

 

[RACHGIER]

I have actually heard it called essence of lockjaw about as much as I have called it applejack. Never heard it called shine before. The stuff that Laird’s sells is not applejack in my book either it’s just a mixture of apple brandy and neutral spirits. Real applejack is jacked, not distilled. Yes, you can make the case that jacking is known as freeze distilling, but there are laws against distilling. Jacking is completely legal. So legally there must be a difference.

The taste difference between real jacked applejack and the stuff sold at the alphabet store is noticeable. The store boughten stuff can not compare. But over indulge and applejack will give you the worst hangover you have ever had. Something about jacking not removing a couple of types of alcohol that distilling does.

Laird's is like 70% neutral spirits, aka straight high test 190 proof corn liquor watered down to 80 proof, and then only 30% actual apple brandy. That shit'll kill ya.

I've had actual apple "shine" from western NC folks that believe taxation is theft.

 

[Twisty]

How about apple beer?

An abomination.

 

[Think1st]

How about apple beer?

Shock Top made a really top-notch apple beer for a while. I last saw it back in 2014. That was some smooth drinking beer. I'd get more if I ever saw it in the store again.

 

[RACHGIER]

The Honeycrisp Apple Wheat

Pull my man card if you want,
but I like the hard ciders, a good lemon shandy, and other fruity drinks.

 

[moona11]

The Honeycrisp Apple Wheat

Pull my man card if you want,
but I like the hard ciders, a good lemon shandy, and other fruity drinks.

Me to on hot summer days but we don't have a lot of those. I prefer amber and darker beers. Because of the climate here.

 

[RACHGIER]

Me to on hot summer days but we don't have a lot of those. I prefer amber and darker beers. Because of the climate here.

4+ months of triple digit heat and 300 days of sun a year says I like fruity beers and American lagers.