How to Brew Alcoholic Ginger Beer

A classic drink recipe that has survived many generation, ginger beer requires only a few simple ingredients. You can make two varieties of ginger beer: alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Alcoholic ginger beer requires fermentation and brewing the beer until you achieve your desired taste. Many people make the recipe their own by adding more ginger and additional spices. You can try making your own ginger beer, but it will require patience and practice.

Things You'll Need

• Dried ginger
• Dried yeast
• Sugar
• Water
• 4 lemons (juiced)
• Jar
• Measuring cup
• Large pan
• Cheesecloth
• Rubber band
• 3 to 4 2-liter plastic bottles
• Funnel

Instructions

1. Add 1 tsp. of dried yeast, 2 tsp. of dried ginger, 4 tsp. of sugar and 1 pt. of cold water to a jar.

2. Stir all of the ingredients in the jar until the yeast, ginger and sugar dissolve. Keep the jar at room temperature, and cover it with a lid.

3. Feed the jar every day with 2 tsp. of dried ginger and 4 tsp. of sugar. Make sure that you stir the ingredients until they dissolve. Continue to feed the mixture for a full week.

4. Add 2 lbs. of sugar and 2 pt. of boiling water in a large pan. Stir the water until the sugar dissolves.

5. Add the juice from four lemons to the pan. Strain the contents from the jar into the pan. Place a piece of cheesecloth over the jar, and secure it tightly with rubber bands. The solid mixture will stay behind as the liquid pours through the cheesecloth into the pan.

6. Pour in 1 gallon and 4 pt. of warm water into the pan. Stir the ginger beer mixture.

7. Place a funnel into each bottle. Pour the mixture into the bottle until fill with ginger beer each bottle is about 7/8ths full. You need to leave room to allow the mixture to expand.

8. Squeeze each bottle to ensure that they do not explode. Place the lids loosely on each bottle, and allow them brew for three to four weeks. Continue to check on the containers to relieve any pressure.

9. Store the ginger beer in the refrigerator once it finishes fermenting. Taste the ginger beer, and once it reaches your desired taste you can safely store it in the refrigerator. Make sure you allow the beer to brew for at least two weeks and no longer than four weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the leftover solid from the jar to brew more beer. If you do not want to brew any more beer, simply discard the solid materials.

• If you do not relieve the pressure from the two-liter bottles, they will explode. When relieving the pressure, carefully unscrew the cap away from your face to avoid injury.

References

• NetCooks: Dave's Ginger Beer Recipe
• Beer Brewing Tips: How to Make Your Own Ginger Beer Home Brew
• U.C. Clermont College: David B. Fankhauser Ph.D.: Homemade Ginger Ale