Hank’s Gourmet Root Beer Recipe
Philadelphia style, caffeine free, 12 oz
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Root Beer Ingredients
Method
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Root Beer Base
In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the dried sassafras and sarsaparilla roots. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
- 2
Sweeten the Mixture
After simmering, remove from heat and strain the liquid to remove the roots. Stir in 1.5 cups of sugar until fully dissolved.
- 3
Flavor the Root Beer
Add the vanilla extract, wintergreen oil, and citric acid to the mixture. Stir well to combine.
- 4
Cool and Ferment
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add the yeast and stir gently. Cover the pot with a clean cloth and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
- 5
Bottling
After 24 hours, pour the mixture into clean bottles, leaving some space at the top. Add carbonated water to each bottle to fill them up, then cap them tightly.
- 6
Chill and Enjoy
Let the bottles sit at room temperature for another 2-3 days for carbonation. After that, refrigerate for at least 12 hours before serving. Enjoy chilled!