Root Beer Recipe

Root Beer Preparation

1. 1

   Prepare the Root Mixture

   In a large pot, combine 4 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of brown sugar. Stir over medium heat until the sugars dissolve completely.

2. 2

   Add Flavoring Ingredients

   Add 1 tablespoon of sassafras root, 1 tablespoon of sarsaparilla root, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of wintergreen extract to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

3. 3

   Cool the Mixture

   After simmering, remove the pot from heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. This can take about 30 minutes.

4. 4

   Activate the Yeast

   In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of yeast in 2 tablespoons of warm water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.

5. 5

   Combine and Ferment

   Once the root mixture has cooled, add the activated yeast to the pot. Stir to combine and cover the pot with a clean cloth. Let it sit at room temperature for about 24 hours to ferment.

6. 6

   Bottling the Root Beer

   After fermentation, stir the mixture gently to release excess carbonation. Use a funnel to pour the root beer into clean bottles, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top. Seal the bottles tightly.

7. 7

   Chill and Serve

   Refrigerate the sealed bottles for at least 2 days to allow the flavors to meld and the carbonation to develop. Serve chilled or over ice, and enjoy your homemade root beer!