DianneB wrote: |
Hi everybody! I am new to the site and new to brewing (ANYTHING!) but am seriously considering brewing root beer.
I am retired so money is always a concern - the less equipment I have to buy, the better! I live in a rural area of Manitoba so finding ingredients can mean a long drive (but the water is chemical-free).
I am diabetic so looking for sugar-free alternatives. I also take a medication that increases thirst so I have been drinking 2 to 4 Litres of Diet Coke per day for years and would like to sever my dependence on store-bought, commercially made drinks. This also means brewing and bottling in quantity!
I have been searching the Net for root beer recipes and methods but when I discovered this forum, it seemed the best place to ask questions.
Question 1 - Bottling
a - Can root beer be packaged in plastic bottle?
b -Does it require refrigeration during storage to stay 'fresh' or can it be stored in a cool area?
Question 2 - Making
a - Can root beer be made in large batches (like 40 or 60L) and then bottled before storage?
b - Does it REQUIRE bottling or can it be drawn from the batch container for use? If so, I assume the batch container needs to be "pressure proof" and refrigerated?
Question 3 - Sugar-free
What are some of your favourite sugar-free recipes?
I am sure I will have more questions as I go along! |
1.a. Yes, are you familiar with 2 liter plastic bottles of soda sold in the United States? I find it difficult to believe that Canada doesn't have them or A&W Root Beer.
1.b. It depends on the ingredients. In particular, solutions of aspartame lose potency after several years at room temperature.
2.a. Yes
2.b. Yes.
3. In my experience, the best tasting high intensity sweetener is a combination of 60% Aspartame and 40% Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K). For 5 gallons of diet root beer, use 5 grams aspartame and 3.4 grams Ace-K.
There is a 130 year old recipe for "Ottawa Root Beer" that I assume originated in Canada. See
https://archive.org/details/treatiseonbevera00sulzrich (page 723). I have tasted it and it is my favorite flavor-wise, but, you will find the key ingredient, sassafras oil, nearly impossible to get.
Before you ask any more questions, please, make sure that they haven't already been answered elsewhere in this forum.