How-To Books On Home-Brewed Alcohol

How-To Books On Home-Brewed Alcohol ENERGY Alternative Fuels 3-4-4 Just off the press are two "how to" books for anyone interested in getting started in a do-it-yourself program for producing alcohol for tractor fuel and possibly home heating. The first book is written by Lance Crombie, well-known alcohol experimenter from Webster, Minn., who's been featured in several issues of FARM SHOW. In his new book, "Making Alcohol Fuel," Crombie speaks out for small, farm-based alcohol plants as opposed to large, centralized "fuel factories", charging that high labor and transportation costs will over-price the fuel produced by the plants. "Why not produce fuel on farms where it will be used?" Crombie asks. He describes in detail how to apply for an alcohol permit from the government, benefits of alcohol as a fuel, how to make alcohol in a conventional still, incluing recipes and diagrams, and how to use the alcohol once you've made it. Crombie's book is available for $5.00 per copy by writing: FARM SHOW Followup, Rutan Publishing, P. 0. Box 3585, Minneapolis, Minn. 55403. The second book, published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, outlines the step by step procedure for obtaining a permit to produce alcohol on your farm. Purpose of the booklet, according to a Bureau official, is to help clear up questions about the permit process, and to give the thousands of farmers who have called Bureau offices easyto-follow information on obtaining alcohol permits. The booklet describes the process for setting up a commercial alcohol plant on a farm. It helps you through the required forms and explains various government regulations controlling the production and sales of the alcohol. The book also outlines procedures for obtaining an experimental permit for producing alcohol which won't be sold but used as fuel on the farm. For this permit, according to the book, you simply send a letter detailing: 1. What you plan to do with the alcohol produced; 2. The location, of your farm and how many acres you own and the buildings to be used in alcohol production; 3. The process you'll use for making alcohol and the equipment; 4. What security will be provided for the alcohol produced; and 5. Your proposed rate of production. After receiving the letter, an official will visit your farm for an interview and completion of final details. Here are some examples of questions the booklet answers: Q. Can I sell or loan any excess alcohol produced to another person for fuel use? A. No. Alcohol produced may be used as fuel only by the plant (your farm) described in your letter of application. Alcohol can be removed from the premises for your own use, such as in your personal car, if it is denatured. (A formula for denaturing the alcohol to make it undrinkable it provided.) Q. Can any of the alcohol be used for beverage purposes on my farm? A. No. Besides being liable for the IRA tax of $10.50 per gallon, you would be breaking the law. Q. Can I build my still before receiving my permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms? A. Yes, but you can't start producing until the permit arrives. Q. How long is the permit good for? A. Two years unless you have a good reason why it should last longer. At the end of that period, it can be renewed by re-submitting the same information. Bureau officials are hoping alcohol laws will be changed in the near future to make the permit process for any type of farm-based alcohol plant simpler. For a copy of the publication, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Washington, D. C. 20226. Ask for publication number 5000.1.

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