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Conference turris::cooks

Title:How to Make them Goodies
Notice:Please Don't Start New Notes for Old Topics! Check 5.*
Moderator:FUTURE::DDESMAISONSec.com::winalski
Created:Tue Feb 18 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4127
Total number of notes:31160

1330.0. "Root Beer" by TOPDOC::AHERN (Where was George?) Mon Aug 15 1988 11:08

    While in New Mexico last month, I had occasion to buy some bottled
    root beer that was just like homemade.  According to the label,
    it's bottled somewhere in the midwest.  I've never seen it before
    and would like to know if anyone knows of a source for it anywhere
    in New England.  The brand name was I.B.R.  I have no idea what
    the initials stand for.
    
    Failing that, does anyone have any good recipes for homemade root beer? 

    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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1330.2McCormick's, *NOT* Hire'sLYMPH::RYDERAl Ryder, aquatic sanitary engineerTue Aug 16 1988 06:2613
>>    does anyone have any good recipes for homemade root beer? 

    We have never made root beer absolutely from scratch.  I suppose
    we could; we do have sassafras trees on the property.  We have always
    used a flavoring extract, adding only water, sugar, and yeast.
    
    Save a few dozen sturdy beer bottles, buy a bottle capper and a
    supply of caps, and seek out McCormick's Root Beer Extract.  Follow
    the directions.  Oh yes, McCormick's, *NOT* Hire's.
    
    Give me a call if you need help emptying either the beer bottles
    or the refills, especially the root beer refills.
    
1330.3DSSDEV::HOMEBREWCIM::GEOFFREYJIMTue Aug 16 1988 11:088
    
    
    	You might find a recipe in the Home Brewing notes file.
    
    			DSSDEV::HOMEBREW
    
    
    						jim
1330.5Beverage SourceCEDSWS::TEMPLETue Sep 13 1988 15:4240
A good supplier for root beer is
    
    Alternative Beverage
    114-O Freeland Ln
    Charlotte, N.C. 28217
    
    Order Line	800-365-2739
    Advice Line 704-527-9643
    
    			Root Beers
    
    R-010	Birch - A carbonated soft drink, in the root beer style,
    			containing an extract from the bark of the birch
  			tree
    
    R-170	Regular Root Beer - A carbonated soft drink flavored
    			with the extract juices of barks, and herbs.
   			Can be fermented.
    
    R-210	Sarsaparilla - Similar to root beer, made from an extract
    			from the roots of the Sarsaparilla plant.
    
    Cost is $2.65 / bottle of extract for a 4 gallon batch
    
    You will also need Champagne Yeast Y-552 @ .50
    
    You can also using the same sort of procedure make the following:
    
    R-030	Cherry Soda
    R-050	Cola
    R-070	Cream Soda
    R-090	Egg Nog
    R-110	Ginger Ale
    R-130	Ginger Beer
    R-150	Passion Fruit
    
    Alternative Beverage also has extracts to make Cordials (Liqueurs)
    for everything from Amaretto to Vandermint
    
    Bruce
1330.6Homebrew can be potentBAGELS::MONDOUTue Sep 20 1988 14:446
    I used to make home-made root beer simply following the recipe
    on the extract bottle.
    
    One caution is in order:  Do NOT experiment by adding more yeast
    !  A friend tried to "improve" the recipe and ended up with very
    dangerous bottles that exploded without warning.
1330.7several variations of root beer ca 1891 (cross posted from SCA)FIEVEL::FILGATEBruce Filgate SHR3-2/W4 237-6452Sat Oct 07 1995 11:4069
               <<< ASD::SYS$PROJECT:[NOTES$LIBRARY]SCA.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< * SCA Notes * >-
================================================================================
Note 121.15                    Need help with MEAD                      15 of 25
CIMNET::PIERSON "Milwaukee Road Track Inspector"     62 lines  14-DEC-1988 12:50
                            -< Knowledge shared... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK.  Somebody twisted my arm...
    This a psuedo spreadsheet, made up so I could study similarities
    and differences.  ITS 132 COL.  Save, and print for best results.
    My luck with these has been un_encouraging, but i suspect a high
    level of operator error 8)>>...  More documentaion available for
    anyone wishing to persue.
    
    And a question for the assembled host:
    	I have no knowledge on the history of Root Beer.  Some credit
    	Hires (yes _that one_) ca1880.  If anyone knows, or knows a
    	working SCA or other Brewer, who can add to that, would appreciate
    	it.
	thanks
    dwp
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------
several variations of root beer ca 1891
			   1		1.1	1.2	2 		 3	4	4.5

water 			15-17gals	2QTS	2qts	15-17gals	3 gals	6-10GAL 6-10GALS

molasses		1.5 gals	.375cp	.375cp	2 gals		(8 oz)	    TO TASTE

yeast			0.5 pt		1/8tsp	1/8tsp	1 pt		(4 oz)	"... FOR EIGHT LOAVES OF BREAD"

sassafrass		0.25 lb bark	2TSP(+.5)2TSP+1	2.5 oz		2 oz	----	1 OZ ESSENCE

sarsaparilla		0.25 lb root	2TSP+.5	2TSP+1	------		1 lb

wintergreen		0.25 lb bark	2TSP+.5	2TSP+1	2.5 oz bark	0.5 oz

hops			-----				0.5 oz		0.5 oz

wild cherry		-----				1.5 oz bark	to suit

coriander		-----				0.5 oz seed	-----

allspice		-----				2.5 oz		-----

prickly ash bark	-----				-----		.25 oz

birch bark		-----				-----		.125 lb

ginger			-----				-----	       4+.25 oz

spicewood		-----				-----		.25 lb

guaiacum chips		-----				-----		.5 lb

alchohol		-----				-----		1 pt

Common burdock root	-----				-----		------	3lbs		----

corn (roasted brown) 	-----				-----		------	1pt		1pt

the raw barks and roots should generally be boiled and strained, the yeast and
molasses added and left for 24 hours,

item 3 is apparently to make an extract, with the alcohol as a preservative.
the molasses should be added to 4 oz yeast,8 oz extract, and 3.5 gals water.

4 and 4.5 call for boiling flavors in six gallons water, untill "the strength 
be obtained" then strain and cool, add molasses and yeast.