Prisoners were left in low spirits after sniffer dogs wrecked their plans for a festive booze-up.
A crack squad of alcohol detector dogs – dubbed hooch pooches – went on pre-Christmas patrol after bosses got wind of a plot for a mammoth batch of home brew.
The clever hounds, also known as as brew dogs, sniffed out a string of large illicit stashes after being sent in by determined governors at HMP Stocken in Rutland, East Midlands.
A source said: "Inmates had hoped to pool their resources and have a proper Christmas bash - but they didn't reckon on the dogs.
"Staff would have been in for a real headache if there was widespread boozing."
Cons make the stomach-churning moonshine by mixing fruit, warm water, sugar and bread.
As well as bringing in dog patrols, the prison also cut the amount of fresh fruit inmates get.
Jail watchdog the Independent Monitoring Board revealed in its inspection report that there had been "a massive rise in the brewing of alcohol" by prisoners.
It said: "Fortunately, this is relatively easy to detect since the associated odours are hard to conceal. Hooch dogs are deployed alongside cell searches and substantial quantities are often discovered.
"To discourage this further, the governor has reduced the availability of the raw materials for the brewing of hooch, in particular fruit.
"Prisoners no longer get fruit automatically, and have to request it. Handouts are limited to one piece per day."
The watchdog added: "Some prisoners have complained... The board can see both sides of this problem."
Sometimes lags resort to desperate measures when short of ingredients by substituting.
At one jail moonshine was made with tinned tomatoes and hand sanitiser.
Last year Channings Wood prison in Devon banned sugar from the canteen in a bid to try to curb home-made alcohol production.
DIY drink has been a massive problem since the Prison Service began a £100million programme to detect drugs and other contraband items. Airport-style scanners have been introduced in some prisons.
