How to make cheap booze?

Question

i lived in Gander Hill state prison for 5yrs,my cell mate would take the fruit and bread and put it in his pocket,then take sugar,but i think i'm missing something,do you have any idea's to make it cheap and fast,see we had to put it in the toilet in a bag in case there was a shake down,then flush the evidence.

Answer 1

You need yeast

However, unless you're still in prison you can get cheaper, better stuff from the store. The only reason inmates make booze is because they can't get it legally.

Answer 2

Assuming you're out of prison, you can ferment any sugary liquid with yeast and make some form of booze.  A bottle of pepsi will ferment, as would any juice.  Some cultures use wild yeast, as there are yeast all around us.  By simply leaving the liquid exposed to the outside air, some wild yeast will get in and start the fermentation.  It also produces unpredictable flavors, and if left out too long will probably get diseases along with the wild yeast.

This won't be fast, though.  Depending on what you think of as fast.  Probably two weeks will get you something with a decent amount of alcohol.  If you let it go longer, or until the bubbling stops, you'll reach the maximum alcohol content.  It's directly related to the amount of sugar you put in, but only up to about 14% ABV, where the yeast actually die due to the high alcohol content.  You'd also want to strain out the dead yeast at that point.

I'm not sure if this is actually any cheaper than buying a bottle of bottom shelf vodka, though.  Atleast with that you're looking at 40 or 50% alcohol, whereas making it yourself you'll be hoping for 10% and probably getting less.