Homemade Ginger Ale

[Lynnkay]

This week, I tried making a bottle of homemade ginger ale, since this is our family's favorite soft drink. We weren't totally satisfied with the results due to a 'yeasty' flavor in the final product.
Does anyone have a ginger ale recipe that they have used successfully and wouldn't mind posting? It would be appreciated.
Thanks. :)

[walls0stone]

did you use champagne yeast? I found it took care of that trouble when I made Root beer.

[Lynnkay]

did you use champagne yeast? I found it took care of that trouble when I made Root beer.
What is champagne yeast? Is it found in a wine making shop?
Is this what I would ask for? I ordered the book by Stephen Lasswell on Making Homemade Root beer and Soda Pop, but it hasn't arrived yet. Ginger Ale is the main soda we drink.

[walls0stone]

it's high quality and will not leave that taste. yes, that is what you would ask for and any brew shop should have it

[Lynnkay]

Thanks.
On Monday, I plan to be in a large community that has a wine making shop and will pick some up.

[Shamrock1121]

I agree with walls0stone on using champagne (or ale) yeast for homemade pop/soda. I have the book, "Homemade Root Beer Soda & Pop" and think it's great.

Here's a "cheater" recipe:

Fresh Ginger Ale Recipe

(Yield: 12 servings)

2 c. coarsely chopped, peeled FRESH ginger
3 strips lemon peel, pith removed
1-1/2 c. sugar
3 quarts chilled club soda
Ice cubes

Put ginger, lemon peel, and 4 cups of water into a 4-quart pan. Bring to the boil, and continue boiling, without lid, for about 10 minutes. Stir in 1-1/2 c. sugar and boil for about 15 more minutes. Liquid should have reduced to about 3 cups. Pour through a wire seive and discard the peel and ginger. Cool the syrup, cover and chill for at least an hour.

To serve, pour 1/4 cup of the syrup into a tall glass and add 1 cup of the club soda. Add ice and more syrup if needed.

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Another similar recipe:

Ginger Ale

Syrup concentrate for the ale:
3-1/2 c. water
4-inch long piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
2 T. vanilla
3 t. lemon flavoring (non-alcoholic)
1/2 t. stevia powder (or to taste) (I also use agave nectar for another low-glycemic sweetener)

Directions: Boil down the ginger in water for 10 minutes. Strain out ginger pieces and pour ginger juice into jar. Add vanilla and lemon flavoring and stevia. Let cool and store in refrigerator as a syrup concentrate.

To serve: Add 1/8 to 1/4 c. of syrup to 6-8-oz. sparkling water and serve.
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Another quick and easy recipe to make is Homemade Root Beer, often called Witches Brew. This is especially good if you are doing a big gathering with lots of little (and big) kids.

You can also make smaller amounts, just cut the recipe.

Homemade Root Beer (Witches Brew)

Tools you need: A cooler or some other container that will hold more than five gallons , and a stirring spoon.

Ingredients:

At least five gallons of water, or replace some with crushed ice
- one bottle of Root Beer Extract (2.5oz size)
- five pounds of sugar
- five pound block of dry ice.
Directions:
1. Pour water or water/ice into cooler or a food grade plastic storage container.

2. Pour entire bottle of root beer extract into water.

3. Add sugar. Mix sugar, root beer, and water together. Put block of dry ice in.
(WARNING! DON'T TOUCH DRY ICE-- IT WILL BURN YOU!!!!!! wear gloves when handling dry ice).

Put a cover over it with a cloth so that the mixture doesn't splash out from the bubbling dry ice . BUBBLING DRY ICE CAN BLOW THE LID OFF IF IT'S TIGHTLY SEALED.
4. Let it sit for twenty to thirty minuets, and drink!!!

Note: If you have a glass container with a screw-on lid (cider or apple juice jug), you can put any leftover it in and refrigerate it for a day or two.

-Karen

[Lynnkay]

Thanks, Karen, for the good recipes. I will probably try all of them as well as the recipe I already have that calls for yeast, only I'll be using champagne (ale) yeast instead the next time. We will see which one tastes the best of all. Who would have thought that making soda pop would be fun, but it is.