Large Copper Still Captured in Process of Making Whiskey, April 27, 1926

Another Large Still Is Taken by Officers. . . Raiders from Sheriff’s Office Swoop Down on Plant in Fork Township and Play Havoc with 90-Gallons’ Capacity Copper Still and 18 Barrels of Beer, which Were Found Nearby and Ready to be Used—No One Found at the Plant

Another big illicit distilling plant had apparently been furnishing the rum-guzzlers of this section with whiskey for the past several weeks was late yesterday afternoon located by a force of raiders from Sheriff W. Grant’s office and was destroyed along with 18 barrels of beer, which was just about ready to be turned into corn booze.

The plant, a 90-gallon affair, was found in Fork township where a number have recently been located. It was made of copper and well constructed and had apparently been in operation for quite a while. There was no one present at the time the officer arrived, but tracks of cart wheels lead in every direction.

The beer, which was found nearby, was just about ready to be made into a “run.”

A large amount of paraphernalia used in the distillation of whiskey, including numerous jugs and demijohns, were found in the vicinity.

The remains of the plant, chopped into pieces with axes, was brought to Goldsboro and placed in the jail yard and will be sold as junk copper.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Tuesday, April 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064755/1926-04-26/ed-1/seq-1/

So were they making beer or whiskey? I couldn’t tell, so I asked AI. Here’s what Copilot said:

“Beer” in moonshining meant fermented mash, not Budweiser

When the article says 18 barrels of beer, it doesn’t mean finished beer. It means cracked corn, water, sugar (often), yeast, and sometimes malt or enzymes, fermented into a low alcohol slurry. Moonshiners called this “beer” or “mash beer.”

This is exactly the same stage that legal distillers call wash or distiller’s beer. It’s usually 6–10% alcohol — just like real beer — but it’s not filtered, carbonated, or drinkable.

Whiskey always starts as this sort of beer. To make whiskey:

1. Make a grain mash.

2. Ferment it into “beer

.” 3. Distill that beer into low wines.

4. Distill again (sometimes) into high-proof spirit.

5. Age it (if you’re legal).

Moonshiners skipped step 5. They sold it clear, unaged, and harsh.

If the still made corn liquor, they’d call it “corn whiskey.” If they added caramel coloring or spices, they might call it “rum.”

Thanks, Copilot!