Foo - Brewing root beer

Anyone home brew their own root beer? I remember doing it as a kid with my dad and I'm thinking about trying it again with the kiddos. Any suggestions would be great. I'm currently looking at getting this (http://www.meijer.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=108350&parentCategoryId=793&categoryId=1770&subCategoryId=1771&from=search) to start with and seeing how it goes.

This is cute. UA is bonding with the kids. :D

And here I thought you were allergic to anyone under the age of 17. :lol:

This is cute. UA is bonding with the kids. :D

And here I thought you were allergic to anyone under the age of 17. :lol:
I do sneeze a lot around them. :innocent:

We're going to build volcanoes tonight. :D And I found a dumpster kids bike that I'm going to fix up for them. :) It makes it easier because of how good they really are. They throw tantrums every once in a while, but not often and that makes it fun to be with them.

I did the same kit with my son, and it was a blast. We made a mess, and some pretty good root beer in the process. I like that the kit has everything you need for a small batch, and you can see what the process is. If you want to do larger batches after that, you can always buy more PET bottles, root beer extract, and sanitizer from any homebrew store.

Check out this forum for more on root beer: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f95/

I do sneeze a lot around them. :innocent:

We're going to build volcanoes tonight. :D And I found a dumpster kids bike that I'm going to fix up for them. :) It makes it easier because of how good they really are. They throw tantrums every once in a while, but not often and that makes it fun to be with them.

Almost as fun as having a cat, huh? :lol:

I told you kids aren't scary. You didn't believe me.

I did the same kit with my son, and it was a blast. We made a mess, and some pretty good root beer in the process. I like that the kit has everything you need for a small batch, and you can see what the process is. If you want to do larger batches after that, you can always buy more PET bottles, root beer extract, and sanitizer from any homebrew store.

Check out this forum for more on root beer: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f95/
Cool, thanks. For $20, it just seems like a fun thing to try out. If they like doing it, we can get more serious.


Almost as fun as having a cat, huh? :lol:

I told you kids aren't scary. You didn't believe me.
Oh no no no... They're still scary. :P I've had to just leave a couple of times. They bring a lot of noise and energy with them and sometimes it's just tough to deal with. I suppose as things keep going, I'll get more used to it.

They give me hugs. :o

Wait till they look at you with that evil grin and with a deep sneer walk away from you. From that day on you'll sleep lightly.

Wait till they look at you with that evil grin and with a deep sneer walk away from you. From that day on you'll sleep lightly.
Thanks for that. :notamused:

Okay that was bad. I'm just teasing you. I'm sure her kids are angels. :)

I only say that to mess with you because my co worker's daughter has a step son who is 6. He told her that he wants to kill her when she's asleep. :eek: But then again she treats him in a very bad way :( ...we are afraid all the kids will be taken away from her.

Okay that was bad. I'm just teasing you. I'm sure her kids are angels. :)

I only say that to mess with you because my co worker's daughter has a step son who is 6. He told her that he wants to kill her when she's asleep. :eek: But then again she treats him in a very bad way :( ...we are afraid all the kids will be taken away from her.
:eek: Holy crap! That sounds like a horrible situation for everyone! I just get to act goofy around them and they seem to like it. :) I'm staying out of the discipline thing and letting Joy handle all of that.

Just don't let them chug too much of that rootbeer or you'll spoil their appetites!

Just don't let them chug too much of that rootbeer or you'll spoil their appetites!

I want to get them musical instruments but then I realize I have to live with them... :twitchy:

air guitar and headphones for you and them.

Anyone home brew their own root beer? I remember doing it as a kid with my dad and I'm thinking about trying it again with the kiddos. Any suggestions would be great. I'm currently looking at getting this (http://www.meijer.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=108350&parentCategoryId=793&categoryId=1770&subCategoryId=1771&from=search) to start with and seeing how it goes.Why don't you ask your pops? :)


I told you kids aren't scary. You didn't believe me.I still believe kids are scary, despite UA's apparent acclimation.



Oh no no no... They're still scary. :P I've had to just leave a couple of times. They bring a lot of noise and energy with them and sometimes it's just tough to deal with. I suppose as things keep going, I'll get more used to it.

They give me hugs. :oha! see, siu? they are still scary.
hugs are good.! :)

Pop and I tried to make Ginger Ale recently.
It was very carbonated when it was done, but....
Well, let's just say that the carburetor from the lawn mower is sparkly clean.

Worst tasting most foul ichor I've ever encountered.

:love:

That is all.

My roomie and I (way before I got married) got a kit and did three 2L batches of root beer over the course of several months. The first was the best and the latter two never caught up to the first.

I love root beer, so send me some if the kids don't drink it all. :)

Mmmmm I remember making root beer when I was little. LOTS of sugar & some syrup/extract stuff. And stubby bottles.

Now I'm all nostalgic.

I'm curious to hear how it goes - keep us updated.

Mmmmm I remember making root beer when I was little. LOTS of sugar & some syrup/extract stuff. And stubby bottles.

Now I'm all nostalgic.

I'm curious to hear how it goes - keep us updated.
Will do. I'm going to see if my dad still has the resealable Grolsch bottles that we used. That would be awesome. :)

just make sure everything is clean....real clean.

just make sure everything is clean....real clean.
I've done some homebrew... That's the key tenet, I had sort of assumed it also applied to root beer. ;)

I've done some homebrew... That's the key tenet, I had sort of assumed it also applied to root beer. ;)

Just make sure you leave the fermentation out of it:beer::p

Just make sure you leave the fermentation out of it:beer::p
Wait, what?!? That would take the alcohol out of it... How are the kids... oh crap, <3 2 ride is going to read this...

Just make sure you leave the fermentation out of it:beer::p

incorrect
http://www.leeners.com/sodapop.html

incorrect
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/cheese/ROOTBEER_Jn0.htm

know it all:rolleyes:

Even I know that one. Jeeze! :p

know it all:rolleyes:

yep...especially when it comes to fermenting stuff :D

yep...especially when it comes to fermenting stuff :D

:thumb:

... and don't use champagne yeast.

Wait, what?!? That would take the alcohol out of it... How are the kids... oh crap, <3 2 ride is going to read this...

So why were you planning on getting the monkeys drunk?:twitchy::p

I haven't brewed, but if I were you, I would try sarsaparilla instead. ;)

... and don't use champagne yeast.
I just talked to my dad about this. He remembers using champagne yeast and it being the best. Of course, that was like 20 years ago, so his memory might be a little funny...

Been a long time since I made root beer. I just used the gear I had for brewing beer. THen used some root beer or sarsaparilla extract and sugar. If I made it again, I'd want to do a lot of research on yeasts and extracts.

First time I went to Mexico I was surprised at how good the Coca Cola tasted. Turned out it was because they used cane sugar instead of corn syrup. I'm sure you can make better root beer at home than you can buy in the store, but making it with your kids is probably the best part. You can also make root beer flavored ice cream. Home made ice cream is just about the only way to get the real stuff, ice cream without gum and other additives. Trouble is, when I make my triple vanilla ice cream at home, I eat 6 quarts in about 3 days.