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PicoStill puts a liquor distillery on your counter

PicoStill puts a liquor distillery on your counter
PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
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PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
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PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg
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The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg
The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg
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The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg
PicoBrew is showing off its PicoStill distiller at CES in Las Vegas in this week
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PicoBrew is showing off its PicoStill distiller at CES in Las Vegas in this week
PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
5/5
PicoStill is a distilling attachment for the Pico C or Zymatic that extends their functionality beyond the realm of beer
View gallery - 5 images

Home craft beer brewing appliances have made a typically expensive and involved hobby a whole lot more accessible, and through its range of increasingly affordable countertop options PicoBrew is taking aim at all corners of the market. Billed as a first-of-its-kind, PicoStill is its latest offering, and it promises a safe and easy way to get creative with craft beer or distill other kinds of alcohol in the home.

PicoBrew's line of household brewing devices ranges from its top-of-the-line Zymatic (US$1999), said to be as automatic as a breadmaker, to the much more affordable Pico C ($349). These work with so-called PicoPacks, which are biodegradable packets containing all the ingredients needed to create beer recipes from craft breweries all around the world.

PicoStill is a distilling attachment that fits any of the company's Pico brewing appliances, so you'll need one of those to get started. Its copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg, and can be used to create hop oils so owners can add their own aromas to their beer creations.

The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg
The PicoStill's copper distilling coil is designed to fit snugly over the keg that comes with the Pico C Keg

And, if they are appropriately licensed, professional owners can use the PicoStill to create a wide range of spirits. Given the device's size (the Pico C can brew 5 L of beer), the PicoStill attachment is aimed more at distillers wanting to create pilot batches for sampling, rather than commercial quantities.

Distilling alcohol at home can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing and is illegal in the US, which is why PicoBrew notes that only properly permitted owners should be embarking on any moonshine-oriented adventures. It says that the device can also distill herbs, spices, grains and that water-extraction hop oils for beer can be produced in less than an hour.

The company is showing off the device at CES in Las Vegas this week, and has made it available for pre-order at a price of $249, with shipping to kick off next month.

Source: PicoBrew via CES

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2 comments
2 comments
Bionic88
The post is correct, you cannot distill any consumable alcohol at home. Even if it's for personal consumption. There might be acception if you do it in a building detached from your home, but you still need a permit. Along w/ the federal permit you will have to pay for a state permit. The federal taxes are what's going to cost the most and this includes alcohol for personal use. I believe there's a required class that must be completed, beforehand..not free..$1k to $2k. If anyone reading this is serious about getting started here's a link,
https://www.ttb.gov/spirits/
Or you can get a free federal fuel alcohol permit. Perfect for all the people who drive vehicles that run on e85 :)
Nik
I think I'll just buy my Scotch at the supermarket, and let others do all the hard work, while I relax;-)