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Brew Ginger Beer - Wired How-To Wiki: “Brew Ginger Beer
From Wired How-To Wiki

Who said fermentation was just for booze? Yeast can make virgin drinks, too. In four steps, you can employ these microorganisms to brew some serious soda. — Eric Smillie

Prep

Combine 1/2 cup finely grated ginger, 1 cup sugar, and 4 tablespoons each lemon and lime juice with 1-1/2 quarts water and bring to a gentle boil. Meanwhile, mix 1/4teaspoon baker’s yeast with 3/4 cup warm water and set aside.(Alternatively, you can use a neutral ale yeast, which is less likely to cause off flavors. DO NOT use brewer’s yeast from the health food store; it isn’t alive and won’t give the minimal fermentation needed for carbonation).

Note: 3/4 cups honey can be substituted for sugar.

Steep

After 30 minutes, remove the ginger solution from heat. Add 3 tablespoons dried hibiscus and 1 tablespoon dried rose flower (available at Botanical.com and some specialty groceries), stir, and let sit for 10 minutes. Add 2 1/2 quarts cold water and strain into a second pot. Stir in the yeasty water.

Bottle

Funnel liquid into two well-cleaned 2-liter plastic bottles to an inch below the cap, adding water if necessary. Seal the bottles and store them at room temperature. When the plastic feels firm (roughly 24 hours later), they’re ready to blow. Move your nectar to the fridge.

Note: Bottles should be sanitized, and not just “well-cleaned.” Weird things could grow, along with the yeast if one does not. This is accomplished with either a very weak bleach sloution (1 Tbsp/gallon) or any commercially available sanitizer. After sanitation, they should be rinsed.

When temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, be sure to check the bottles after 4 hours, and about once an hour after that. Failure to check the bottles could result in “gushers.” You don’t want to be cleaning up your Ginger Beer from the ceiling now, do you?

Open

As it cools, some of the gas will dissolve into the liquid. The bottles shouldn’t explode, but open them slowly to be safe. (What the heck, go ahead and wear safety goggles.)

Illustration: Jason Lee
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(Via Wired How-To Wiki.)

(republished under a creative commons license)