30-year Centre County Moonshine Operation busted. (link)

[LookSharp]

What a shame. These folks were probably up next on Master Distillers.

30-Year Moonshine Operation Busted After Bootleggers Brag to Undercover Agent of Recipe Passed Down From ex-NASCAR Driver (msn.com)

 

[Chatz5531]

 

[wbcbus]

Well, I certainly feel safer today.

 

[TheBigUglies]

I don't see the appeal of moonshine. Maybe its me but I can go buy booze that tastes good and doesn't potentially have pubes in it.

 

[BrucePa]

I don't see the appeal of moonshine. Maybe its me but I can go buy booze that tastes good and doesn't potentially have pubes in it.

Right, distillate and cheap booze are everywhere.

The more I learn as I approach dotage, the more I appreciate the barrel aging part of the process. When the oak barrels are charred -- preferably by an oak fire, but many distilleries use gas fire -- the barrel infuses vanillin, lactone, toastiness, wood sugars, and color into the product. Moonshine won't have these characteristics. Why bother?

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

Wow - 1 year of effort for misdemeanor charges? I guess they are trying to prevent potential death from unregulated booze, but those charges are not very sexy. How many people have died from opioid overdoses in the last year in Centre County?

 

[PSUJam]

I guess they are trying to prevent potential death from unregulated booze

Not really. Liquor is controlled by the State in Pennsylvania which means the $tate isn't getting their cut.

 

[manatree]

Wow - 1 year of effort for misdemeanor charges? I guess they are trying to prevent potential death from unregulated booze, but those charges are not very sexy. How many people have died from opioid overdoses in the last year in Centre County?

I'm all for law and order, but believe that dangerous crimes should receive priority. This seems like a lot of time, money, and resources went into this investigation for a grand total of six misdemeanor charges. I would not be surprised that the investigation and prosecution will end up costing the Commonwealth more than the lost tax revenue over their 30 years of distilling.

 

[marshall23]

Well, I certainly feel safer today.

Headlines......Joe had to know!

 

[OuiRPSU]

Popcorn Sutton says, “hold my ‘shine.”

And if you don’t know who Popcorn Sutton is (could benefit from some editing):

 

[LafayetteBear]

They're makin' 'shine in Centre County?! Color me shocked.

The topper is that these moonshiners (i.e., crooks) claim they got the recipe from a former NASCAR driver. This thread would be perfect for the Test Board over at TOS.

 

[Ghost of OM]

Had some of their apple pie shine at our tailgate a few years ago. Guy who brought it swore it was really good stuff but tasted like gasoline to me.