rootbeer

[wadedog]

Has anyone made their own rootbeer, I don't want a original real root recipe.
I have tried those rootbeer kits but they always taste lousy and not near as good as A&W.
Any advice or recipes.

 

[MN Driver]

I've tried the same twice. In the end all I can taste is the yeast that I used. I've always wondered if there was a different type of yeast that I could get that didn't have such a strong grainy taste to it.

 

[JavaMan]

A&W has spent many years and probably millions of dollars to have one of the finest products around. I don't think the average amature has much of a chance of duplicating their product, just like my favorite soft drink Coca-Cola. But, I do wish you the best.

 

[tom slick]

I never liked homemade rootbeer because of the yeast flavor. if you carbonate it with CO2 then it tastes much better.

 

[MN Driver]

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I never liked homemade rootbeer because of the yeast flavor. if you carbonate it with CO2 then it tastes much better.

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Is that difficult to do, what is involved?

 

[tom slick]

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I never liked homemade rootbeer because of the yeast flavor. if you carbonate it with CO2 then it tastes much better.

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Is that difficult to do, what is involved?

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buy CO2 bottling or kegging equipment for homebrewing beer. It's not difficult but it's not cheap.

 

[96 Cherokee]

What is the source of flavor for root beer? Some kind of root?

 

[MarkC]

Originally it came from the Sassafras tree, which is easily recognized in the woods by it's leaves, which can be one-,two-, or three-lobed on the same tree.

 

[96 Cherokee]

I have tasted sassafras candy, and I did not think it tasted like root beer. But I do not doubt what you say.

 

[MarkC]

Check this site out; http://www.rootbeerworld.com/questions.htm

I think sassafras grows in Indiana? If you find a tree, break a twig and smeel it, or better yet, get at the root and take a sniff.

 

[obbop]

Carbonation via yeast....

Is that not just millions and more of little bacteria farts?

 

[96 Cherokee]

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Check this site out; http://www.rootbeerworld.com/questions.htm

I think sassafras grows in Indiana? If you find a tree, break a twig and smeel it, or better yet, get at the root and take a sniff.

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Interesting site. Thanks for the link.

 

[MN Driver]

Yes, the bateria releases Carbon Dioxide which build up pressure inside dough or in this case root beer. I'm still wondering if there is a yeast out there that wouldn't make homemade root beer taste like junk. I tasted a sip of the 5 gallons of root beer before I added the yeast and it was nice, even though it was 90 degrees and not carbonated. I tried another time by cutting the yeast amount by 1/3 and it still produced enough carbonation but it tasted just as 'yeasty'. I'd hate to try it over and over again just to get a bad result unless I have a yeast that doesn't have a taste or doesn't taste bad.

 

[JavaMan]

We used to make sassafras tea. Yes, it does taste somewhat like rootbeer.