Moonshine Distilling
Moonshine distilling is a multi-stage criminal production job for the Moonshine Distiller (/moonshinedistiller). You'll grind yeast, ferment mash, run a still, and sell your product to a Broker. It needs active attention and rewards players who keep the still in its sweet spot.
Criminal Activity
Moonshine production is illegal. Police can raid your operation, so build a secure base. If you die, you drop the moonshine you're carrying.
Guide Accuracy
We keep this guide up to date, but specific values like percentages and timers may change with server updates. Always check in-game for current figures.
Equipment Overview
Everything is in the F4 menu.
Essential Machinery
| Equipment | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Grinder | £2,500 | Grinds yeast blocks into a Paper Bag (max 2) |
| Fermentation Barrel | £1,500 | Mixes ingredients into yeast stew (max 3) |
| Distillery | £8,000 | The still. Boils the stew (max 1) |
| Distillery - Cooler | £4,000 | Builds onto the Distillery and cools the steam |
| Distillery - Condenser | £4,000 | Builds onto the Distillery and makes the moonshine |
| Grinder Motor | £12,000 | Grinds by itself, twice as fast |
Collection Equipment
| Equipment | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| PaperBag | £150 | Holds ground yeast from the grinder |
| JarPack | £300 | Empty jars for collecting moonshine |
| Jar Crate | £2,000 | Holds 6 filled jars |
| Palette | £4,000 | Holds 36 crates |
Ingredients (Per Fermentation Barrel)
| Ingredient | Price | Barrel Needs | Each One Gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeast | £150 | 400 ground yeast | 200 |
| Water | £150 | 500 | 250 |
| Sugar | £150 | 200 | 100 |
| Wood (fuel) | £75 | As needed | 100 |
The Production Process
Preparing the Yeast
Buy a Yeast block and a PaperBag from the F4 menu
Attach the PaperBag to the Grinder and put the Yeast in
Grind it. Hold E on the grinder (or fit a Grinder Motor and let it work)
Collect the bag. One Yeast block fills one bag
Grinder Motor
Anyone can buy a Grinder Motor. It grinds by itself at twice the speed.
Condenser Upgrades
Press E on the upgrade panel of your Condenser to open its shop. It has three module slots, and you can fill them with any mix of modules. Modules unlock with your Moonshine Distiller level.
| Level | Speed | Production | Fouling Resistance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Copper Coil (+10%) | Charcoal Filter (+10%) | Sealed Gasket | £10,000 |
| 6 | Twin Coil (+25%) | Sour Mash Starter (+25%) | Inline Strainer | £15,000 |
| 10 | Reflux Column (+50%) | Doubler Thumper (+50%) | Self-Scouring Plate | £35,000 |
Module Maintenance
Modules get dirty while the condenser works, and a dirty module loses most of its boost. Clean them regularly. Fouling resistance modules make them dirty less often.
You get your money back if you sell a module.
Level Perks
From level 20 you can claim free perks from Ambrose, the Perk Dealer:
| Level | Perk | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Long Ferment | Your barrels make 2,000 stew instead of 1,500 |
| 30 | Relief Valve | Your still bleeds itself at 90 pressure and never blows |
| 40 | Insulated Jacket | Your cooler heats up half as fast |
| 50 | Firebox | Your still burns wood half as fast |
| 60 | Workshop Fittings | Gauges you can read from across the room, and one-pass module cleaning |
Paid Ranks
There are three paid versions of the job: Pro, Expert and Veteran Moonshine Distiller. They give you a reserved slot and a higher salary. The sell price, modules and Grinder Motor are the same for everyone.
Tips for Success
Run your barrels in rotation, so one is fermenting while you pour another. This keeps the still fed.
This is the perfect heat zone and makes more steam. Stay in this range as much as you can.
Above 40°C the cooler makes far less. Flush it before it gets too hot.
Grind yeast and fill paper bags while barrels ferment. A Grinder Motor does it for you.
Clean barrels after each batch and condenser modules whenever they foul.
Load up a full Palette before selling. Fewer trips means less time exposed to raids.
Common Problems
Cause: Pressure reached 100 and the safety valve blew.
Solution: Hold E on the pressure valve before the gauge gets near the top. Nothing is destroyed, but you lose about 10 seconds and a little stew.
Possible causes:
- Pressure outside 40-80
- Cooler water above 40°C
- Dirty condenser modules
Solution: Hold pressure in the green zone, flush hot water, clean your modules.
Cause: You changed to a job that can't use it, or you were disconnected too long.
Solution: After a job change you have 60 seconds to switch back before your equipment is removed.
Cause: You're too far away, or this Broker doesn't buy moonshine.
Solution: Find The Nurse or The Fence and bring your crates close before pressing E.
Cause: You need to move the barrel fast enough.
Solution: Pick it up with the Gravity Gun and shake it hard. Watch the progress meter.
Quick Tips
- Pressure gauge: keep it in the green zone (40-80) for best production
- Cooler: flush water when it gets hot
- Shaking: pick up the barrel and shake it until the bar fills
- Safety valve: at 100 pressure the still stops for 10 seconds
- Dirty modules: clean them or production slows down
- Max equipment: 3 barrels and 1 distillery at a time
Values May Vary
Specific numbers like timers and capacities may be adjusted. Check the in-game UI for current values.
