StillSmart

I left mine for a few weeks.... 20-22oC but just left it till it stopped bubbling.

Well I've had my first bash at this over the last couple of weeks. Having read some horror stories about escaping lentils, I started it in two fermentation bins and combined them when the excitement subsided a little - this doesn't seem to have done any harm.

Completed my stripping runs (following Airstill best practice ) and ran the first spirit run last night. Filtering tonight; I'll report back when I've tasted!

I've only used turbos before and thought it was time to experiment - so far this seems all good and all the smells I got during fermentation were reasonably pleasant!!

Good for you!
All seems good so far.
I will be surprised if you don't try this one again.

Robert.

RESULT!! Sorry for shouting - bit excited about that. After filtering, I've wound up with a neutral that doesn't smell odd or unpleasant, tastes good, and didn't leave me with a headache this morning!

@easydrinker - you are not wrong, the next lot of lentils will be on the stove very shortly

Thanks for the advice and help I've received - it's really making a difference!

Drop the temperature on the heater by a couple of degrees and cut back on the Epsom Salts (source of sulphur) and the bad smells are gone. Now the missus has found something new to grumble about.

Your partner will always need a grumble.
If you can make it one that makes you happy,you may have lucked out!

Robert

how clean will the lentil was clear mine still looks a little foggy. should i leave it to clear more ?
thanks
jag

Mine was pretty clear.... but I left it ages. Tried it as a wine and no yeasty taste at all when I went to do it.

Hot Mix Sparkolloid is a brilliant fining agent but hard to get. I import mine from Brewhaus.com in Texas.

The level of clearing you need depends, to some extent, on the still you're using. If it's an Airstill you'll benefit more from a really clear wash, like these...


...it's not vital to get them this clear but it will make for cleaner tasting spirit and seriously reduces the likelihood of puking.

With larger stills you'll get away with cloudy

AM

running it on a T500 will give it a few days to clear more i think

My Lentil washes are usually run while still cloudy,but I use a larger pot still.
I don't notice a taste difference between clear and not so clear.
This morning I left home for a few weeks work,leaving a couple of fermenters to take more time than usual to settle.
Gives me something to crack on with when I get back.

Robert.

Well I am eagerly awaiting the results of my second attempt with this recipe. The first was excellent - this time I forgot what I was doing and boiled the lentils for about 5 minutes, instead of soaking them.

Everything seems to have gone how I would have expected had I NOT done this - got a lovely krausen - so fingers crossed it will turn out all right!

Down to 0.996 so won't be long..

I usually boil mine close to mush on the theory that the yeast can extract the nutrients more easily.

Easydrinker wrote:My Lentil washes are usually run while still cloudy,but I use a larger pot still.
I don't notice a taste difference between clear and not so clear.
This morning I left home for a few weeks work,leaving a couple of fermenters to take more time than usual to settle.
Gives me something to crack on with when I get back.

Robert.

TBH,I got back earlier than expected (today) and discovered that I had literally pulled the plug too early on a wash which was going like a train when I left,and found the poor yeasties struggling to work in frost-free conditions.
Having re-connected the aquarium heaters,things are looking more promising,and hopefully the wash will go from the current 1.100 to something more respectable.
Ho-Hum.

Robert.

Thanks for that comment, Chill - that's what I told myself when I realised what I'd done hopefully all is good!