Thought I'd post an update on the progress of my three batches. The large batch with 20 lbs of medium grain rice is doing fantastic, the airlock is bubbling away, yesterday I peaked to check the progress and and the rice has almost completely lost it's structure and is swimming in liquid, smells wonderful.
The barley batch has been the most surprising. It's the fastest progressing of the three batches, it is about 3/4 liquid and the barley is completely disentegrated. I stole a taste and MAN, IS IT GOOD! it's sweet and STRONG and really nutty. I'd encourage anyone out there to give it a try.
The RYR batch, surprisingly has been the slowest progressing of the batches, it's just beginning to liquify. The rice has completely lost it's structure and pools of liquid are finally starting to form.
Yesterday I started the red sorghum experiment I was planning using 3lbs. I've never cooked sorghum so I had no idea what I was doing. I tried soaking it overnight but that accomplished nothing, it was still hard as a rock. I covered it in an inch of water brought it to a boil and turned it down to a simmer. It drank up all of the water in no time so I kept adding liquid. in all it drank up at least two quarts of liquid. Like couscous it seems to drink up as much liquid as you give it. I tossed it with three crushed yeast balls mixed with a cup of flour. The texture was a lot like barley so I'm hoping for similar results. No signs of activity yet but it's only been one day.
I'll post pictures of everything when I bottle it. Right now the containers I'm using don't allow me to get good pictures.