Birch Beer Recipe

Combine Birch Sap and Sugar

In a large pot, combine 4 cups of birch sap and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Stir the mixture gently until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Add Water

Pour in 2 cups of water into the pot and mix well. This will help dilute the sweetness of the mixture.

Add Flavoring Ingredients

To the mixture in the pot, add 1 tsp of sassafras root, 1 tsp of wintergreen leaves, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, and a cinnamon stick. Stir well to combine.

Simmer the Mixture

Heat the mixture over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer. Allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cool the Mixture

After simmering, remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Remove the cinnamon stick.

Prepare Yeast Starter

In a small bowl, add 1 tsp of active dry yeast to 1 cup of warm water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.

Combine Yeast with Mixture

Once the birch beer mixture is cool, pour the yeast starter into the pot and stir well to combine.

Ferment

Cover the pot with a clean cloth and let it sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours to ferment. You may notice bubbles forming as it ferments.

Bottle the Birch Beer

Once fermentation is complete, carefully pour the birch beer into clean bottles, leaving some space at the top. Seal the bottles tightly.

Chill and Serve

Refrigerate the bottled birch beer for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve chilled over ice or on its own.