To make Ginger Beer you will need:
1c sugar
freshly grated ginger root (1 1/2-2 tablespoons), use the fresh ginger root you can find, it really makes a difference
juice of one lemon
1/4tsp baker's yeast
cold fresh spring or filtered water
special equipment:
clean 2L plastic bottle, funnel, patienceDirections:
Through a funnel add sugar and yeast to a plastic bottle. Mix grated ginger root and lemon juice and then transfer it to a bottle, add water to fill it half way and shake well to mix all ingredients. Add more water, leaving about an inch head space, screw the cap on and shake again. You can also mix all the ingredients in a jar and then transfer to a plastic bottle (as I did). Leave in a warm place for about two days and then transfer to refrigerator, to stop fermentation process. Refrigerate overnight. Pour it trough a strainer and enjoy!
(adapted from here)
Ginger Ale, an instant gratification version:
(adapted from here)
1 cup fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
club soda
juice of one or two limes, juice from half lemon
mint for garnish
Directions:
Combine ginger, sugar and water in a saucepan. Simmer slowly for 10 minutes, until sugar is dissolved and ginger is softened.
Strain warm syrup and allow to cool. Fill a tall glass with ice, add 1 part(used 2oz shot glass) of ginger syrup and 3 parts of club soda.
Squeeze lime and lemon wedge into glass. Use more syrup if desired. Garnish with mint. Stir and enjoy the zing.
Still thirsty??? Hop over to Yummy Supper for some Watermelon Punch.
thats a great idea and it cannot be more simple, i really want to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI never know you could make this yourself. I do make my own Limoncella sometimes. This looks very lovely and easy to make.( the short version for me too :))
ReplyDeleteHave a happy, happy day.
XX
How did the instant version taste? I've tried the longer fermentation bit before, but it bore little resemblance to proper ginger beer. Made a killer dark 'n stormy, though.
ReplyDeleteLiz, it was great, with intense ginger flavor, sooooo much better than store bought,
ReplyDeleteilovemyhouse, it is so easy to make and so refreshing, great summer drink
z-ic, let me know if you do :)
What a refreshing and exquisite drink! A beautiful post as usual...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
this is perfect timing! i'm hoping to put a post up next week that features a bunch of my friend's vintage kitchen glasses and cookie cutters that she's selling on etsy. i took pictures of the kids with the dishes but i made really bad homemade ginger ale and i wanted to link to a great recipe instead. do you mind if i link on over to you? was thinking i'd link to yummysupper's watermelon drink as well. a drink round-up. lovely post, as usual.
ReplyDeletePhyllis, I would love it :)
ReplyDeleteRosa, thank you :)
When I was younger I used to drink ginger ale feverishly. I love the simplicity of the recipe. It does look quite refreshing. Ginger is so good for you. All hail ginger ale...
ReplyDeleteThe flavor of freshly made ginger ale must be amazing! I want to try both versions.
ReplyDeleteM, we cannot resist making the quick version today. Just bought the ginger. The kids and I are psyched. Yum!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out on my watermelon punch:)
This sounds and looks so good. I need all the refreshment I can get this unbearably hot summer!
ReplyDeleteXiaolu, I wish I could say the same, but it's so cold and foggy here, in SF :(
ReplyDeleteE, this is great! let me know if you liked :)
lisa, I was surprised how great and refreshing it tasted, store bought version just doesn't compare,
Tracy, good and good for you :)
M, It's official... your Ginger Ale is delectable - refreshing, bubbly, sweet yet earthy with fresh ginger.
ReplyDeleteP and I will try it this evening with a little Gin. Why not?
Thanks for yet another great recipe!
thanks for the recipe
ReplyDeleteit was awsome!
awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you guys liked it :)
cheers!
That ginger ale looks delicious, love the photos!
ReplyDeleteAs a brewer, this seems overly simple; but as a baker, this seems simply delightful. Maybe I'll use some wine yeast instead of bread yeast and see how it turns out!!!
ReplyDeleteI just had a great cocktail that was like an alcoholic ginger ale. It was so good! I love that you can make ginger ale at home and so easily.
ReplyDeleteYou are making me crave summery drinks in the middle of the winter here, sweetie! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, M.!
Wow, great job here. Awesome picture too! You should really consider submitting this to Recipe4Living's Summertime Sipper Contest! It looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteSophia, thanks for the tip :)
ReplyDeletePatricia, it's always fun to create summer in a middle of winter :)
Esi, I imagine it was delicious,so you should try making this one and add a little gin to it :)
Laurel, I'm curious about wine yeast, would using them create a different flavor?
Chocolate Shavings, thank you, it's always great to hear from you :)
Both these drinks sound wonderful. I played with homemade ginger ale a while back and really loved it. Your recipes are really lovely. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I used to hate ginger. It's definitely become an acquired taste for me. Now I order extra, EXTRA ginger with my sushi. I'm officially in love with it. I'm thinking the impatient version will be my best best! Pictures are absolutely beautiful, as usual. :)
ReplyDeleteboth versions sound really good....but I tend to lean towards the immediate gratification type!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing!
i'm more of like a screwdriver kind of gal, but this certainly looks yum... i should learn to love ginger a little more, working on it! the pictures are wonderful
ReplyDeleteAlthough i would love to try the longer version, I think that I'm like you and a bit impatient. Hopefully I can give the second recipe a try this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't really considering making my own until you mentioned that it would be good as a Gin and Ginger! Now I'm tempted :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I've featured it over on Foodwhirl in the spotlight today!
http://foodwhirl.com/spotlight/homemade-ginger-ale-two-ways
i imagine this is so good for a sore throat...filed :)
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought to make my own ginger ale. You've done a beautiful job of it (as usual). I am now tempted :)
ReplyDelete*kisses* HH
I love that you gave both versions. I tend to stick with simple too! Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteHomemade ginger beer- wow! It sounds awesome. Refreshing and perfect for summer. As always, your photographs are gorgeous! I love that green and white swirled straw.
ReplyDeleteA- mazing.
ReplyDeleteDoes the mixture have to be fermented in a plastic bottle? Or would a glass bottle with a seal similar to the one pictured serve the same function?
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe and gorgeous pictures :)
Se Young, it's not recommended to do it in a glass jar as it might explode, it's more dangerous with glass, than it is with plastic. I tried both and think plastic bottle works better.
ReplyDeletethese juices seem simple... but very tasty....!!!
ReplyDeletethanks for this very nice post....!!!
How much yeast is used? 1/4 of what--a teaspoon? a tablespoon? a package? a cup?
ReplyDeleteKit, sorry I overlooked that, it's a 1/4 of a teaspoon.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photography as usual.. if the sun ever peeks out again in Seattle I'll try this - much better than buying canned soda.
ReplyDeleteI make ginger ale by the yeast method, and just started making ginger beer the real old fashioned way, with a "Ginger Beer Plant" (a symbiotic critter of yeast and bacteria AKA Ginger Bees, you can google it) It is a really neat experiment and very addicting for the kitchen alchemist!
ReplyDeletestonemaven, thank you for your suggestion, I might actually experiment with it a little :)
ReplyDeletebalsamicandbasil, thank you :) I'm waiting for the sun to peek out here in SF, too :) it's been soooo long....
I tried the non alcoholic ale and its awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've made the fermented version like this and also with wild yeast which I think tastes better, more rounded.
ReplyDeleteTo start your yeast put 1 tablespoon of ginger and one of sugar in a clean cup with 1 cup of water. Leave on the counter with a cheesecloth covering the opening, keeping out the flies.
add 1 tablespoon of ginger and sugar every other day until it starts to bubble. Use this as your yeast.
Try adding cinnamon to the ginger beer as well and maybe some molasses.
You can also make all sorts of soft drinks this way, lemon, orange, mint ect.
I would assume that wild yest make better ginger ale, I'll be experimenting with it more :)
ReplyDeleteand addition of cinnamon sounds soooo good!!!
thanks for all of your great suggestions :)
we made the quick version with dinner tonight. so so so so delicious. next time i'm mixing mine with whiskey. :)
ReplyDeleteit's great to hear that :)
ReplyDeleteSo I have a bottle of ginger ale that is in day one of fermentation and I have a rather dumb question...
ReplyDeleteIs the alcohol in the finished product negligible? Am I going to get buzzed? Is it okay for kids to try?
Thoughts?
@Mike H. I don't think you can get buzzed from drinking ginger ale, amount of alcohol in it is negligible, it shouldn't be more than 0.5% in a finished product.
ReplyDeletethis looks so very lovely and refreshing! your photos have totally sucked me in. bravo!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really refreshing drink. I will have to give it a try. I may even experiment with adding different flavors to it. Maybe a touch of cherry for cherry ginger ale.
ReplyDeleteEmily, experimenting with different flavors sounds interesting
ReplyDeletecarolyn, thank you :)
Thanks so much! I can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteCould a blue agave sweetener or stevia be used instead of sugar (in both recipes)?
I haven't tried it myself but I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work, especially if it comes to an "instant version".
ReplyDelete:)
Bracing brews! I'll take the quick fix in one hand while I wait to pour from the fizzy bottle with the other.
ReplyDeleteThese sound wonderful! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDear Crumpets and Cake:
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic but might you better re-position the music player on your blog? I was listening to music when I went to the site and all of the sudden I have competing songs. And while the song you decided to play for me ("Sleeping at Last" by Umbrellas) was nice it wasn't what I wanted to listen to. Not only that but since the music plater is pretty much buried I had no idea where the music was coming from. Please don't think I'm that upset but this was very confusing for me...
Thanks!
ps: love the ginger ale recipe!
thanks, I'll try to fix it. :)
ReplyDeletehow warm does it need to be for the first 2 day part of the fermenting? I'm not detecting that there's much pressure from carbon dioxide build up - and I've left it 2 1/2 days now. I'll try leaving it somewhere warmer. (It was in the kitchen sink for the first 2 days) Anyone else leave it fermenting for longer than 2 days?
ReplyDeleteBy baker's yeast, do you mean that I can use the stuff in the little packets that you make bread with? Just want to check first.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Flynn
yes.
ReplyDeletewe made the quick version with dinner tonight. so so so so delicious. next time i'm mixing mine with whiskey. :)
ReplyDeleteThe flavor of freshly made ginger ale must be amazing! I want to try both versions.
ReplyDeletei just made the quicker one and it tastes lovely :) But for some reason the carbonation doesn't feel as strong as I would like. It's kind of like an almost-flat-but-not-quite-flat soda. Still tasty though!
ReplyDeleteWow this is such a great idea i will try it very soon.Thanks for taking time to share your creative ideas here with us keep it up!
ReplyDelete