Can methanol be made by distilling a wash of just sugar and yeast?

Question

After about 2 months of fermenting a 5 gallon batch of wash with just cane sugar and yeast, I set my wash outside, (not sealed well). After about two weeks it smells like vinegar, and in smaller amounts it smells sweet. Is there any chance of methanol (unwanted) because of sunlight and oxygen?

Answer 1

There is always a chance of methanol.

Answer 2

There is always a chance, even when doing everything perfectly

your best bet if you want to save this batch is getting a methanol dectetor, which are pretty commonly available in home brewing stores, and online:

Answer 3

The chance of having methanol in the mix is slim compared to the chance of having vinegar. You probably got bacteria introduced into the liquid. Flies are a likely source. You should not need two months to ferment sugar-water. If you try this again, pay particular attention to sanitation and seal the container with an airlock. Better yet, get a book on wine-making (CJJ Berry wrote several) and follow the directions.