Try freeze distilling for a start to save outlay. Alcohol doesn't freeze,
water does ;-) Just scoop the ice out and (eventually) enjoy the rest.

Instead of ginger beer, try making ginger wine with a high alcohol wine
yeast like chanpagne yeast, water, ginger and sugar. That will get you to
18%. I did this years ago with about 2kg of ginger root minced up into a
25litre batch. Put the result into P.E.T bottle into the freezer. After a
few days, take them out and give a good shake. Squeeze the "toothpaste" out
and suck the "goodness" for a fairly good hit. Must have been a good 30% or
more. If you like ginger then you'll love this!

:-)

"Adam Funk" > wrote in message
...
> On 2010-12-21, Phil L wrote:
>
>> john robinson wrote:
>>> Does anyone have any information about making a simple *distilling*
>>> apparatus that they can share? My friend is thinking of trying to
>>> distil some ginger beer.
>
> I've heard that _The Alaskan Bootlegger's Bible_ is good.
>
>
>> Go to your local home brewing store - I went past mine today and had a
>> look
>> in, they had a sign in the window which read 'distill your own spirits'
>> and
>> underneath this sign was a stainless steel contraption, but I was in the
>> car
>> and didn't really have time to investigate further, but i doubt it is
>> illegal as they had lots of these things in boxes in the window, and part
>> of
>> the name was 'still' - it's obviously intended for distilling and must be
>> legal - this shop's on the main road through the town centre.
>
> I think they're sold for purifying water. Similarly, I've seen signs
> in shop windows that say "These products are sold for tobacco use
> only." ;-)
>
>
> --
> Do you know what they do to book thieves up at Santa Rita?
> http://www.shigabooks.com/indeces/bookhunter.html