ginger beer/ale

[weeds]

great forum idea

how easy is alcoholic ginger beer to make?

every other sunday i get to have a bottle or two of the home made stuff.....very refreshing to say the least

[Brian]

Pretty much the same as beer,
You can buy the necessary ingredients at your local brew shop.

Agree its a great drop, goes well with Bundy.

[Redback]

Very easy, my daughter has one brewing now, she uses recipies from online, but you can get Ginger beer kits from your local brew shop.

Daves ginger beer recipe
5 gallons water
1-1 1/2 lbs. ginger root, coarsley chopped
17 cups sugar
4 lemons, sliced
3/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 packet champagne yeast


Boil as much of the water as will fit in your largest pot.

Squeeze in lemons and add squeezed bits.

Add ginger root and cream of tartar.

Add as much sugar as you can if there's room.

Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

Put remaining sugar, if any, in 5 gallon plastic pail or similar.

Pour water mixture over.

Add remaining water to 5 gallons and cool to lukewarm.

Taste - this will approximate the taste of the finished product. If necessary add more ginger or ginger powder.

Dissolve yeast in a cup of the mixture, then stir it back in.
Cover and ferment for 7 days at 65-70�F.

Siphon into sterilised bottles (I use 2-litre pop bottles). Cap. Age upright for one week at 60-65�F then store in cool place at 60�F or less.

If necessary release pressure in bottles occasionally to prevent explosions! Take care when opening bottles - can be very lively!!

Drink as is (will be 5-7% alc. by volume). Is also very good, but deadly, mixer for gin on a hot summer's day.

I added 1 tsp. finely chopped Habenero Peppers to one batch - was excellent taste and good for clearing sinuses!!!

I have been making this for years, many of my friends are now making it too.

WARNING;

DO NOT USE GLASS BOTTLES WHEN BREWING GINGER BEER

[LandyAndy]

Thanks for that,will try.
Love GingerBeer but dont like any of the shop kits,I dislike the artificial sweetner taste they all have.
Andrew

[St Veronus]

how easy is alcoholic ginger beer to make?

It's super easy, you can get it from Brews Brothers near the Gabba. You can either brew it yourself, or just buy a 6-pack or case. Mike usually has it stocked.

There is also a location closer to you, but I've not been to this one:
Bru4U
Ron & Julie Address: 48 Zillmere Road,
Boondall QLD 4034 Phone: (07) 3865 5177 Email: bru4u@iprimus.com.au

Hope this helps. Need help or info, I have been brewing for a few years now.



Cheers,
Ryan

[LandyAndy]

Hi Baz
Im assuming you leave the ginger and lemon in for the full fermentation period???
Bought a heap of ginger yesterday
Andrew

[Bigbjorn]

Hi Baz
Im assuming you leave the ginger and lemon in for the full fermentation period???
Bought a heap of ginger yesterday
Andrew

Andrew, keep some of the root and plant it in spring. I assume Williams is the usual WA sandy soil. Ginger likes to be well drained. Easy to grow and home grown is best.

[LandyAndy]

You obviously dont know too much about WA Brian.
The only sand in my garden is imported in to lighten the havy loam.
No good growing ginger here,it cant handle frosts,its a tropical plant.
Andrew

[Bigbjorn]

You obviously dont know too much about WA Brian.
The only sand in my garden is imported in to lighten the havy loam.
No good growing ginger here,it cant handle frosts,its a tropical plant.
Andrew

It is grown commercially on the Sunshine Coast and I grow it as a spring plant annual in Brisbane. Technically these are warm temperate not tropical areas. However Williams is a long way south of SEQ. I don't have frost ever. You should be able to grow it by planting after the last frost. Rule of thumb, if you can get maize (sweet corn) to germinate then you can do your spring planting of most else. I usually plant first corn about 14-20 September, a week or two later than many but makes sure.Okra likes summer though.

[LandyAndy]

Brian
Will be trying to grow some,have a hot house.
We actually bought extra to try and grow,plus Tumaric and Galangal which are related root crops.
Andrew