OK, gather round kiddies. Those at the back move closer so you can hear me.
The Recipe (Pat Pend.)
Water 15 litres
Red Lentils 375g
Sugar 4 Kg
Dried Yeast 50g
Citric Acid 2 teaspoons
The Method
This is what I did and it was customised to my set up. Obviously, your set up will be to suit you.
I use a 20 litre and a 7 litre SS pot. 6 litres of water into the 20 l and 4 litres of water into the 7 l.
This is because if it all went into the one pot, firstly it would take too long to come to the boil. Secondly, it would take about 20 minutes to come back to the boil after adding the sugar.
Turn both hotplates on.
When boiling, add Red Lentils to the big pot. Stir frequently to avoid burning the lentils.
Add half the sugar to the little pot. Stir untill back to the boil. Add remaining sugar and turn heat down a bit to stop it spitting everywhere.
Boil lentils on low boil for 30 minutes. The lentils turn to mush and you will be left with a murky looking brew and a pile of empty shells or casings.
Just before the 30 minutes is up, boil the sugar and CAREFULLY add it to the big pot. It should come back to the boil quickly.
Please be careful because the sugar wash is very hot and sticky. If you get it on you, it WILL hurt.
Add 2 teaspoons of Citric Acid.
Stir till well mixed.
If you put a lid on it, it will boil at a lower heat setting. I turned mine to as low as it would go and put a lid on it. I can see what it's doing because of the glass lid. Solid lids need more attention.
Warning: If you put a lid on it at high setting buy a big mop, because in a matter of seconds, it will boil and puke all over the stove. Be warned, it makes a mess. I did this with a 1 litre trial and it took me an hour to clean it. Never walk away from this.
Once everything is in the big pot, let it low boil for an hour.
Keep an eye on it.
When finished, switch it off. I let it sit covered overnight. You can rapid cool it on ice if you are in a hurry.
I then transferred it to my fermenting vessel and made the total volume up to 17.5 litres. ( Use some of the water to wash the SS pot).
The pH was 4.7, the temperature was 28C and the hydrometer read 10% ABV @ 1.075. Doesn't get any better than that.
Sprinkle in 50g of dried yeast and stir it up for a few minutes.
Put the lid and airlock on and stand back.
scarecrow
) of my usual 17.5 litres.
