Corn distillery

The grain distillery from Straelen

Inside this barn there are parts of the old grain distillery “Vallen Erben” from Straelen exhibited. It was built in the 20th century. The history of high percentage liquor can be traced back until 1000 a.d. to the orient. However, at that time the main purpose of a distillery was to produce medicine, cosmetics, and perfumes. Around 1000 years later more advanced distilling procedures were created in Europe. In the beginning, only whine was distilled. But then in the 15th century it was discovered that it was also possible to distill grains and fruits. With this the procedure became more available and a lot cheaper. This way the distillation procedure also reached the farms.

But the very high consummation of brandy led to bad health and social impacts and thus distillation was limited by law or even prohibited. The first step of the distillation procedure is to malt the grains, which means to make it germinate artificially. Afterwards the grains are dried. This is necessary in order to transform the grain’s starches into fermentable sugars. Then water is added to the dried malt and after some time also yeast, which starts the fermentation. In the end the fermented brew is distilled.

Did you know that…
… in the past grains were not only used to make bread but also to produce alcohol? In the beginning people only used it to make perfume and medicine. Only later it was discovered that after a certain procedure it was also possible to drink it. But alcohol is not only unhealthy for children; adults can get sick from too much alcohol as well. That is why there were already people in the past, who spoke for limiting alcohol or even prohibiting it.