Saturday, September 18, 2010

Ginger Beer !

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Here is my Ginger Beer recipe !
I have been making my own ginger beer for a few years now ! I remember making it with my dad many years ago as a child about 10 we bottled them all and then we realised we had forgotten the sugar so we had to tip it back into the bucket and add sugar ! I also remember my Nanna making it and mum opening a bottle and the top hit her on the jaw bone with such force she had the biggest bruise there for weeks and most of the ginger beer ended up on the ceiling in  my Nanna's kitchen ! And another time in our brick pantry it exploded and there is still glass embedded in the walls to this very day ! And another time I opened a bottle of ginger beer mum said open it outside and it all went over her clean washing , No wonder she wasn't happy with me ! Now as a parent I can understand why she was really cross with me ! I cannot remember if she rewashed the washing or not I was probably at school ! So after all that who wants to make ginger beer ! Well I always use the plastic bottles a lot safer option ! Yesterday I made the ginger beer plant up which you leave for 3 days then you start feeding it ginger and sugar for a week then you make up your ginger beer !
Recipe for the ginger beer plant !
Put into a screw top jar
1/2 cup lemon juice + 2 teaspoons lemon pulp.
8-10 sultanas
2 cups cold water
2 teaspoons powdered ginger
4 teaspoons sugar ( I use raw sugar )
Now leave for 3 days then feed  4 teaspoons sugar and two teaspoons ginger every day for one week !
To make up the ginger beer
In a large container dissolve ( I use my 15 litre stainless steel pot )4 cups of sugar and 4 cups of boiling water
Add the juice of 4 lemons =1 cup
Squeeze the ginger beer plant through an old clean stocking!
Now add 28 cups of cold water stir well and bottle up and leave in a cool place to brew ! check it in a few days. I feel the bottles and if they are really hard I know its ready ,then I put it into the fridge until ready to drink ! Don't leave it too long or when you open the bottles it will just fizz every where . I find in the warmer weather it only takes about 4 days ! check it every day !
To make further batches you can divide the plant pulp into 2 lots and put into 2 jars add 4 teaspoons sugar and 2 teaspoons of ginger , 2 cups of cold water and feed for a week you may like to give to family and friends for them to make a batch ! Makes 12 x 740ml bottles ! Its very refreshing in the warmer weather !
I love ginger beer but you cannot buy any without all the nasty additives, that's why I like to make my own that way I know exactly what's in it !It's a great drink to serve on Christmas day & New Years Eve !If you would like it not so sweet add an extra litre or 4 cups of water, I usually do ...

Note: I use the plastic brewing bottles and just the ordinary plastic bottles cool drinks come in ! I got my friends Vince and Vicki to save them for me as Vince loves pepsi ! I would imagine once in the fridge because the brewing process stops , it would last quite a while I would think ! We never have ours long enough for me to tell you how long it lasts ! If any one has made it and had it in the fridge a long time please post and tell us !

Note: I just did a costing for a batch of ginger beer and it cost me  $1.60 to make .
I buy homebrand raw sugar 2 kgs $2.49 which is enough to make 2 batches and I buy a 1 kilo bag of ginger at a cost of $10.00 and I use 35 grams a batch and I get my lemons free+ rainwater free !

3 comments:

  1. Oh, yummy! You've inspired me.

    One question - how long does it keep for, and what (okay, two questions) what sort of bottles do you use?

    I'm a ginger beer Learner (L plates) but keen to give it a go :-)

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  2. Hi Leanne
    we keep ours in the fridge in the shed I would think it would last quite a while ...as long as its kept in the fridge that way it stops brewing ..I use the plastic brewing bottles and a friend gave me a heap of plastic pepsi bottles...I don't use glass any more way to dangerous ...

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  3. I have heard you can top glass bottles with a balloon that has a pin hole in it. Then it can expand but still be "capped". I don't know what to think about that but I would love to use glass instead of plastic. By the way, I am new to this!

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