Bourbon Fungus

[mosugoji64]

One of my friends forwarded the following Wired article to me about that black fungus that grows on the warehouse walls. It's pretty cool (in an admittedly geeky way:grin: ):

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/05/ff_angelsshare/all/1

One of my friend's coworkers, who's also a bourbon fan, wrote to the researcher and had this to say:

"I've just been in touch with Dr. Scott, the researcher profiled in the article. Since the article talks about how he found a strange and different strain of the fungi in another Canadian distillery, I thought maybe he could find another strain that grew from bourbon vapors (knowing nothing, I just thought it would be cool if each style of whiskey/environment had its own unique fungus). Turns out he's been down in Kentucky collecting lots of samples in Lawrenceburg and Loretto, and he found that it's the exact same species of fungus — which he discovered and (re)classified — discussed in the article.

"On a more interesting note to you and I, he's a huge bourbon fan and said that he would "take any excuse to visit them all." He's a very nice guy who responded to my email immediately."

Thought some of you might be interested!

[DeanSheen]

Nice article. It is interesting to see that in KY. I was thinking about this fungus when we went to Makers Mark and they had buildings that were painted black. That's one way to hide the fungus.

[Jono]

Thanks for the fascinating story. Good thing it does not appear harmful.

[craigthom]

Nice article. It is interesting to see that in KY. I was thinking about this fungus when we went to Makers Mark and they had buildings that were painted black. That's one way to hide the fungus.

[StraightNoChaser]

That is really interesting. Things like this made me wish I went to school for some kind of science.

[mosugoji64]

guess that shows the different markets they target. Beam loves the look of the fungus so much they paint it on the sides of their trucks.

Our tour guide at Beam pointed out the fungus that was growing on everything around the warehouses and made sure we knew that it wasn't hurting anything. I bet the black trees make for some good scenery around Halloween, but I wonder what the neighbors think!

[p_elliott]

It grows on the houses surrounding the distillery, I'm sure those people are not impressed

[tmckenzie]

I see we are starting to get it. I will have to read up on it.

[cowdery]

I've always particularly liked the black trees at Beam.

Painting the warehouses a dark color hides the fungus but also makes the warehouses hotter when the sun's out, which is another reason they do it. And it sets off the red.

Barton is so close to town that many of its neighbors have the fungus. I don't know if they still do this but I know in the past that the distillery would periodically send a crew, at the distillery's expense, to clean it off the neighboring houses. They didn't have to, it was just a nice neighborly gesture.

When it starts to grow on you, that's a problem.

[gburger]

On my visit to Beam last month the guide told us that the "gov't Revenuers" used to look for the black on trees when looking for moonshiners during prohibition.

[cowdery]

On my visit to Beam last month the guide told us that the "gov't Revenuers" used to look for the black on trees when looking for moonshiners during prohibition.

Unlikely. In a moonshine operation, the spirit isn't in one place long enough for the fungus to start. The fungus grows on the warehouses, not the distillery. But people just love that moonshiners and revenuers stuff. Moonshine stills are mostly discovered through tips but when you get close enough you can find it by smell. Dogs help. There's usually smoke too.

I've read plenty of accounts written by agents about how they found people shining and I've never seen the fungus mentioned. This goes under "tour guides say the darnedest things."

[gburger]

I have to agree. After he said that he did tell us that it comes from the rick houses and the whiskey evaporating

[wadewood]

I just read my copy of Wired magazine within past hour. Great article. I used some airlines miles that were about to expire to buy a few magazine subs. I really like Wired. While mostly a tech magazine, they cover all sorts of stuff; this month's also had story on breast milk market in the US.

[callmeox]

I just read my copy of Wired magazine within past hour. Great article. I used some airlines miles that were about to expire to buy a few magazine subs. I really like Wired. While mostly a tech magazine, they cover all sorts of stuff; this month's also had story on breast milk market in the US.

The domains StraightBreastMilk.com and 1789BreastMilk.com are both available, Wade. What could an enterprising person such as yourself do with an opportunity like this?

[MarkEdwards]

The domains StraightBreastMilk.com and 1789BreastMilk.com are both available, Wade. What could an enterprising person such as yourself do with an opportunity like this?

But wouldn't it have to be aged to be called 'straight' ?

[craigthom]

I saw some of the fungus growing on a window pane yesterday. I guess it doesn't need much to hold on to.

[cowdery]

I know it will grow on car and truck bodies.

[Josh]

The domains StraightBreastMilk.com and 1789BreastMilk.com are both available, Wade. What could an enterprising person such as yourself do with an opportunity like this?

Udderly ridiculous. Don't make a boob out of yourself, Scott.

[MarkEdwards]

The domains StraightBreastMilk.com and 1789BreastMilk.com are both available, Wade. What could an enterprising person such as yourself do with an opportunity like this?

Man, if I had a nipple... er, nickel for every time...

[wadewood]

If you like Wired magazine, you can get a subscription for $3.99/year right now at http://www.discountmags.com/ - use code 4945 - up to 3 years - new or renewals.

Stolen from http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3094510

[Bourbon Boiler]

On my visit to Beam last month the guide told us that the "gov't Revenuers" used to look for the black on trees when looking for moonshiners during prohibition.

I was told the same thing at Makers', but I have a feeling Chuck's analysis is correct.