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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:23 am
by GORDON
Making it truly from scratch seems like a supreme pain in the ass, what with the plethora of actual roots that go into it (one of which is actually carcinogenic), so I am going to make a batch from "extract." Just ordered this:

http://homemadesodacompany.com/rootbeerflavor1.aspx

Hilarious thing is that apparently the instructions for making the root beer come with the extract, so I don't know if it needs to be refrigerated during carbonation, which is sort of important since I don't think I have refrigerator space for 48 bottles.

Nigga's gonna hafta buy a beer fridge.

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:16 pm
by Paul
A beer fridge would open up the ability to make lager (need a thermostat that cuts the power when it gets cool enough).

And in can be converted into a kegerator.

If you get into this, you will be converting from bottles to kegs eventually.

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:04 pm
by GORDON
I plan on kegging within a year.

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:40 pm
by GORDON
Extract arrived today. Big warning on the front of the instructions saying it is hella easy to explode your bottles, so read the directions first. The warning even concludes with, "This is not a joke!"

Anywho, sposed to leave it at room temp for 12-24 hours, depending on how fizzy it is, then refrigerate. This means I will probably make a half batch... I think I might have room for 24 bottles in the fridge.

Might have to get rid of the milk and fruit for a while.

Might be doing this tomorrow.

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:27 pm
by GORDON
It is "brewed" and bottled. Supposed to wait 24 hours and then crack one: if I get a good "pshh," I am to refrigerate immediately. If there's no fizz yet, wait another 12 hours and try again.

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:10 pm
by Paul
Ba-da boom?
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Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:11 pm
by GORDON
Nothing broken yet. Going to test a bottle in about an hour.

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:48 pm
by GORDON
It wasn't very fizzy so I am going to leave it unrefrigerated for another 12 hours.

There was a small "psshh" as I popped the cap, and a few bubbles came up from the liquid, but generally, it is flat.

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:13 am
by GORDON
Just opened another one. Another weak "psssh" as I cracked the cap, but this time it actually bubbled up and overflowed the top a little. But then it still tasted flat, if not as flat as it did last night.

Going to wait another 12 hours. Brought them up out of the basement from where it is a few degrees cooler, to let the ale yeast carbonate warmer through the day. Leaning toward refrigerating tonight whether I am satisfied with the "pssshh" or not.

But I don't know. This is a learning process, and if cool it off under-carbonated before the "bottle exploding" stage I won't learn anything....

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:29 pm
by Cakedaddy
Keep opening testers and you won't have any left!

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:18 pm
by GORDON
Cakedaddy wrote:Keep opening testers and you won't have any left!
Half batch got me 27, 12 ounce bottles.... I figured I could burn 3 and still have a case. :)

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:22 pm
by GORDON
Refrigerated.

Cracked the 3rd one just now, and it overflowed for a good second. Poured it into a glass of ice, nice and fizzy. Tasted it, flat as hell.

From instructions: "Now keep the beer at room temperature for 24 hours. Open a bottle. If you get a nice hiss, then cool down all the remaining bottles immediately. If there's no hiss, wait another 12 hours and check again. Repeat until you get a hiss. Don't worry if the root beer isn't actually very fizzy at this stage. The CO2 will dissolve in the root beer after a few days in the fridge."

So we will see.




Edited By GORDON on 1313716939

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:32 pm
by Paul
If you shake it, the C02 will dissolve into the liquid faster.

To do a quick carbonation in a keg (which uses a C02 tank) you shake it. When you shake it you can hear the C02 hiss as more of it enters the keg.
After it settles a few hours you shake it again.
Repeat. (This is not ideal, as you can over carbonate)

I assume the same sorta thing would work with a bottle of soda.

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:17 pm
by GORDON
Just cracked a cold one, put it in a glass of ice. Bit of a hiss, no bubble-up/overflow.

Much better. Drinkable. Less 'bite' than I'd like.




Edited By GORDON on 1313878706

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:33 pm
by GORDON
Have had many compliments, and requests for commissions of batches.

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