How to Make Root Beer

If you like root beer soda, you can make your own at home. You'll find that it tastes every bit as good, if not better, than the root beer you buy in a can or bottle. Bottoms up!

Things You'll Need

• Clean bottles
• Measuring spoon
• Measuring cup
• Sugar
• Baker's yeast
• Root beer extract
• Tap or bottled water

Instructions

1. Place a funnel on a dry, clean bottle, and pour in one level cup of cane sugar. You also can substitute the sugar with fructose, stevia or an articial sweetener. Adjust the amount to your individual taste. Add 1/4 tsp. baker's yeast.

2. Cap bottle, and shake well. Once the sugar and yeast mixture settles to the bottom, uncap the bottle, place the funnel in the opening and add 1 tbsp. root beer extract. Get the extract from a brewing supply store, not from a grocery shelf.

3. Fill the bottle halfway with cool tap or bottled water. Swirl to mix the ingredients, making sure to wash any root beer extract that may have stuck to the sides of the bottle.

4. Add fresh water all the way to the top of the bottle.

5. Remove the funnel and cap the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down and upright several times to thoroughly mix the contents.

6. Leave at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, until the bottle feels hard when you squeeze it.

7. Refrigerate overnight to chill before serving. When opening, crack the cap slightly to allow pressure to escape before opening fully.

Tips & Warnings

• Add some honey, molasses, brown sugar or malt extract to this recipe for extra flavor.

• Make sure the bottle and the funnel are clean and that the bottle is capped during fermentation process to avoid bacteria from seeping into the root beer.

• Do not use distilled water for this recipe.