Ginger Beer | Morsels of Life

Ginger Beer

Brew some refreshingly clean tasting Ginger Beer right at home! No special equipment required.

Morsels of Life - Ginger Beer - Brew some refreshingly clean tasting Ginger Beer right at home! No special equipment required.

When I first saw this recipe on Crumpets and Cakes, I got excited. Ginger Beer! I'd made Ginger Ale once before, but went way too overboard on the ginger (according to James - I thought it only a bit strong). I've been meaning to make some more, but never got the motivation - until now. This time, I made Ginger Beer, which you brew. Ginger Ale (and most commercially produced Ginger Beer of the non-alcoholic variety), on the other hand, is a carbonated soft drink. Originally, Ginger Beer was a fermented alcoholic solution with ginger, sugar, lemon, water, and ginger beer plant. The Ginger Beer I'm showing you is fermented with yeast (and I used lime instead of lemon juice since it's what I had on hand). You'll want a little of one or the other to establish a slightly acidic pH (you'll barely taste it).

This Ginger Beer amazed both James and I. James expected something ultra strong like last time, and I kinda expected a very yeasty taste. I'm excited to report neither was the case. When I shared with some folks at work, most thought it pretty tasty and refreshing too! James thought the amount of ginger perfect, and I wished for a bit more ginger flavor. Upon opening the bottle, I kinda expected Fizzy Lifting Drinks. So many bubbles - open carefully! When we drank this Ginger Beer, we found the level of fizz good. Not like Pop Rocks in your mouth, although that sounds fun too! We enjoyed this Ginger Beer by itself, but you could easily mix it up as part of a Moscow Mule or a Dark and Stormy.

What about you? How do you like your Ginger Beer/Ale - mild, gingery and spicy, or somewhere in between?


Morsels of Life - Ginger Beer - Brew some refreshingly clean tasting Ginger Beer right at home! No special equipment required.


Ginger Beer

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Brew some refreshingly clean tasting Ginger Beer right at home! No special equipment required.

Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Yield: 1 liter

Materials:

Mass Weight Volume Number Material Notes
2 tablespoons ginger, grated or minced
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon yeast You should be able to get away with less, but it'll take longer to carbonate.
1/2 cup sugar
just under 1 liter water

Methods:

  1. Gather all materials.
  2. Combine all materials except water into a bottle. (I used an old plastic soda bottle.)
  3. Add water, leaving about a two inch headspace, and seal bottle tightly.
  4. Shake until sugar dissolved.
  5. Leave at room temperature for a day or two.
  6. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Open the bottle slowly and carefully, there will be a surprising amount of bubbles - like a shaken bottle of soda!


Shared with: Full Plate Thursday, Artsy Fartsy Party, BFF Open House, Traffic Jam, Meal Plan Monday, Fiesta Friday, Saturday Sparks, What's for Dinner?, Hearth and Soul, Over the Moon, Inspire Me Monday, Farm Fresh Tuesday, Wine'd Down Wednesday, Your Whims Wednesday, Party in Your PJs, Homestead Blog Hop

11 comments:

  1. I love, love, love ginger beer! (and the spicier the better) Making it is on my 'bucket list'. I've pinned this, and definitely want to try it soon!

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    1. I'm with you on the spicy! Let me know how yours turns out once you try it. :)

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  2. That seems so much easier than what I expected! I'll be trying this tonight!

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    1. I was surprised too, and since you're using so little yeast, there's not much yeast taste either! Let me know how yours turns out. :)

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  3. Carrie @ My Favorite FindsMarch 05, 2012

    Thank you for linking this to Must Try Monday. This sounds so easy. It's something my husband has always wanted to try-brewing beer. Maybe we'll give it a shot!

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    1. This Ginger Beer could definitely be a very basic intro to brewing. Normal beer requires a bit more work though. This Ginger Beer only "brews" for a short amount of time, so other yeasts/bacteria aren't too much of a concern. "Normal" beer brews for much longer, so it also builds up a lot more pressure - soda bottle likely won't get you good results. :P Let me know how it goes if you or your husband give home brewing a try. :) (Or this ginger beer for that matter. It's pretty good, if I say so myself!)

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  4. I like it with lots of ginger.

    Thank you for sharing your post at this week's #TrafficJamWeekend Linky Party.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  5. You make it sound so easy :) I never knew! A perfect sharing recipe for Fiesta Friday!

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  6. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! Hope to see you there tomorrow!

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