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Ingredients
7 cups distilled or purified water
1.5 cups of White Sugar
1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast
1
teaspoon of root beer concentrate
(Look for the concentrate in the spice and extract section of your grocery store)
Directions
Step 1 - Mixing Up a Batch
Measure the water into a glass bowl and heat it in a microwave on the high
setting for three minutes. You can also heat the water in a non-aluminum pan on a stove burner until the water is luke warm.
Do not overheat it though, or you will deactivate the yeast. Add the sugar, dry yeast, and root beer concentrate to the water
and stir slowly until the sugar and yeast dissolve.
Step 2 - Bottling Your Soda
Set a small plastic funnel into
the mouth of a 2-liter plastic bottle. Use a small cup or ladle to pour the soda mixture through the funnel. Fill the bottle,
leaving about 2-3 inches of air at the top. Remove the funnel and screw the bottle cap tightly. (If air leaks out, the root
beer will not carbonate properly.)
Step 3 - Adding the Fizz
Lay the filled bottel on its side in a warm place
and leave it undisturbed for four days. During this time the root beer will carbonate-the sugar and the yeast react to form
tiny carbon dioxide bubbles that give the soda its fizz. On the fifth day, put the root beer in the refrigerator to chil.
It will be ready to drink the following day.
Step 4 - Taste Testing
The best way to serve your home-made root
beer is in a frosted glass mug. As you unscrew the bottle cap, listen for the soft woosh sound as the pressurized air at the
top of hte bottle escapes. When you pour the root beer, you should see bubbles on the sides of the glass and foam forming
at the top. You'll notice a slight yeasty flavor to your homemade brew, as well as a hint of anise and wintergreen. If the
the flavor is too strong, just add a small amount of cold water.
This step is purely optional. In other words,
we will NOT be doing this part at school, unless I (Mr. Muth) am made extremely happy, and the students bring in all of the
"stuff."
Step 5 - Make a root beer float by putting onw scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt (vanilla tastes
especially good) in a tall frosted glass. Pour in enough root beer to cover. Top with a second scoop of ice cream, whipped
cream, and a cherry, and serve with a spoon and straw.
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