This video from Rainford's Brew Lab demonstrates how to create a hard lemon soda with an estimated cost of 18 pence per liter. The process involves simple ingredients and fermentation techniques to produce a low-cost alcoholic beverage.
Yes, you can make this without a hydrometer. The video creator mentions taking a hydrometer reading as an important step for determining the alcohol content, but the core recipe and process of making the hard lemon soda do not strictly require it. The fermentation will still occur based on the sugar and yeast, and you can proceed with chilling and tasting after the expected fermentation period. However, without a hydrometer, you won't be able to accurately calculate the final ABV.
Here is a step-by-step guide based on the transcript:
Gather Ingredients:
Prepare the Bottle: Ensure the 500ml PET bottle (or equivalent for mixing the initial solution) is very clean.
Dissolve Sugar: Add 125g of sugar to the bottle. Pour in 500ml of warm water. Screw the cap on tightly and shake well to dissolve the sugar and incorporate oxygen.
Add Lemon Juice: Once the sugar is dissolved and the water has cooled slightly, add the 250ml of lemon juice.
Add Cold Water: Top up the bottle with 500ml of cold water, leaving a small amount of headspace for fermentation.
Pitch the Yeast: Add 1/4 teaspoon of yeast to the mixture.
Seal for Fermentation: Loosely screw on the cap (about half a turn) to allow gas to escape.
Ferment: Place the bottle on a heating mat (if available) or in a suitable environment for 7 to 10 days. Monitor the temperature to prevent the fermentation from stalling.
Check Fermentation (Optional with Hydrometer): After 10 days, you can take a hydrometer reading. The video shows a reading of 1.042 initially and dropping to around 1.0000, indicating fermentation is complete.
Cold Crash: Once fermentation is complete, transfer the liquid to a clean container and refrigerate for a couple of days to help it clear.
Serve: Pour the cold-crashed hard lemon soda, optionally over ice. Enjoy your 18p per liter brew.
The cold crash is not strictly necessary for the fermentation to be complete, but it is done to help clarify the hard lemon soda. The video creator expresses a preference for seeing clear alcohol and mentions that the brew "has cleared up quite nicely" after the cold crash. So, while you can drink it without cold crashing, it might be cloudy. If clarity is important to you, then performing the cold crash would be beneficial.
