Maine Root, Root Beer Recipe

Infuse the Roots

In a large pot, combine the sassafras root, birch bark, fennel seeds, star anise, and cinnamon stick with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Strain the Mixture

After simmering, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl, discarding the solids.

Sweeten the Brew

Add the brown sugar and vanilla extract to the strained liquid, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Cool and Add Yeast

Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let it sit for 5 minutes before stirring gently.

Ferment

Pour the mixture into clean bottles, leaving some space at the top. Seal the bottles and let them sit at room temperature for 1-2 days to ferment.

Refrigerate

Once fermented, refrigerate the bottles to stop the fermentation process. After chilling, mix with carbonated water before serving.

Serve

Serve chilled over ice, garnished with a sprig of mint if desired.