Traditional Homemade Root Beer Recipes

HOMEMADE ROOT BEER RECIPE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with 10 cups of cold, filtered water.
• Add the herbs while the water is still cold, and bring it up to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you are choosing to add sassafras bark, wait until the last 10-15 minutes of simmering.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the sugar. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
• Strain the mixture thoroughly with a mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
• Add the kombucha, mix thoroughly, and pour gently into sealable bottles, leaving about two inches of room at the top.
• Let the bottles ferment for two to three days, depending on temperature, then transfer to the fridge and let them sit for another three. The root beer will keep in the fridge for up to three weeks.

HOMEMADE ROOT BEER

Steps:

• In a large cooler, mix together the sugar and water, stirring to dissolve sugar completely. Stir in the root beer extract. Carefully place the dry ice into the cooler, and cover loosely with the lid. Do not secure the lid, as pressure may build up.
• Let the mixture brew for about an hour before serving. Leftover root beer can be stored in one gallon milk jugs.

QUICK AND EASY ROOT BEER

Steps:

• Mix the water and sugar together in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the root beer extract, and allow to cool for about 15 minutes.
• Pour the root beer mixture into a 1-gallon pitcher or bottle, and slowly pour in the carbonated water. Refrigerate until cold; serve over ice.

TRADITIONAL HOMEMADE ROOT BEER RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring one gallon of filtered water to a boil with the sassafras root bark.
• Once boiling, mix in sucanat and allspice. Once completely dissolved, remove pot from heat and strain with a mesh strainer (stainless steel not plastic) lined with a white cotton dishtowel into a 2 gallon glass jar (sources).
• Add one more gallon of filtered water and stir. Wait for the mixture to cool slightly (about 30 minutes) and then stir in the juice of 2 lemons. Wait for the mixture to cool to 118 °F/48 °C or lower and then add 1 1/2 cups of starter. Note: if the mixture is too hot, the heat will kill the starter culture so be sure to wait until it is only warm to the touch. If you let the mixture cool and sit too long on the counter, however, you introduce the chance for mold. So be sure to add the starter at the appropriate time.
• Cover your container with a white, unbleached cloth secured with a large rubber band. Leave on the counter for 5-7 days depending on the weather (the warmer the weather, the shorter the brew time).
• When the initial fermentation is complete, the root beer is ready to drink as is. If you desire enhanced carbonation, proceed to the bottling step. Fill your soda bottles (sources) and cap them. Leave some room (I leave 2 inches) at the top of each bottle to allow for carbonation. See this link on homemade soda bottling for visual and written instructions.
• Leave at room temperature for a day or two longer to carbonate. Then refrigerate and enjoy!
• Only open the root beer bottles in the kitchen sink and when the bottle is very cold to prevent messy explosions!

REAL HOMEMADE ROOT BEER

Steps:

• Use the funnel to pour the sugar in the bottle.
• Add the yeast.
• Toss the sugar and yeast around in the bottle so it mixes well. Just swish it around, don't shake it violently. Make it so there is a little depression in the center of the dry mixture.
• Add the root beer extract via the funnel.
• Add some of the water by pouring it over the tablespoon so get the extract residue into the bottle.
• Fill up the bottle about half way with some more water.
• Put the cover on the bottle and GENTLY swish to get the sugar/yeast mixture slightly dissolved.
• Add the rest of the water to about 1 to 1-1/2 inches from the top, then cap this TIGHTLY.
• Let stand in a cool place (65 to 72 degrees F) for three to four days.
• Do not shake the bottle or move it around unnecessarily. Leave it be.
• After about 24 hours of brewing itself, the bottle will start to feel hard as the pressure builds.
• After three/four days, the bottle should be very hard -- resist the urge to shake it up or open it, you will ruin your root beer. Place in refrigerator overnight. This arrests the yeast action.
• After chilling, decant into a glass and enjoy.
• Note: There will be leftover yeast in some sludge at the bottom of the bottle. Be careful decanting as you get to bottom of the bottle. That yeast will be skunky.
• Another note: The yeast is still working! Drink this up right away, keep it chilled.