Homemade ginger beer
Craft refreshing homemade ginger beer with just four ingredients: sugar, fresh ginger, yeast, and lemon. This easy recipe is perfect for a zesty, fizzy drink that’s both delicious and natural. Make your own ginger beer at home in no time!
Cook time 0 min
Prep time 370 min
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar1 tbsp ginger
1 tsp yeast
1 lemon
Homemade ginger beer is a refreshing, spicy beverage that you can easily make at home with just a few ingredients. This natural drink has a delightful kick from the ginger, balanced with the sweetness of sugar and the tanginess of lemon.
Instructions:
- Peel the ginger and finely grate or mince it.
- Zest the lemon first, taking care to avoid the bitter white pith, then cut the lemon in half and juice it.
- In a clean, large bottle or jug, add the grated ginger, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
3. Dissolve the Sugar:
- Pour about 1 cup of warm water (not hot, about body temperature) into the bottle or jug.
- Add the 3/4 cup sugar to the liquid and stir or shake well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the 1 tsp of active dry yeast to the mixture, stirring or shaking gently to combine.
- Pour in the remaining water (approximately 3 cups), making sure you leave some headspace at the top of the bottle or jug to accommodate fermentation gases.
- Seal the bottle or jug tightly and let it sit at room temperature for about 24-48 hours, away from direct sunlight.
- Check periodically to ensure pressure isn’t building up excessively. You may "burp" the bottle to release pressure by loosening the cap slightly and then resealing it.
- After fermentation, use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to filter out the ginger pieces and lemon zest.
- Transfer the ginger beer into clean, sealable bottles. It's recommended to use swing-top bottles or plastic bottles suitable for carbonation. If using plastic bottles, ensure the caps are screwed on tightly.
- Allow the bottled ginger beer to sit at room temperature for an additional 12-24 hours to build up carbonation (if using glass bottles, reduce this time to avoid bursting).
- Once carbonation is achieved to your liking, refrigerate the bottles. This will slow down the fermentation process and the ginger beer will be ready to drink.
- Chill well before serving.
- Open carefully as the carbonation may cause pressure.
- Pour into a glass over ice and enjoy your homemade ginger beer!
Tips:
- Use fresh ginger for the best flavor. You can grate it finely to extract more of its essence.
- Ensure that the water you add to the mixture is lukewarm, around 20-25°C (68-77°F), to activate the yeast without killing it.
- Seal your fermentation bottle tightly but check occasionally to release built-up pressure—this prevents the bottle from bursting.
- Let the ginger beer ferment for 24-48 hours depending on how strong you want the flavors. The longer you let it ferment, the stronger the taste.
- Always refrigerate the ginger beer after fermentation to halt the fermentation process and enjoy it chilled.
Making your own ginger beer at home is not only fun but also allows you to control the sweetness and spiciness of the drink. With just a handful of ingredients and a bit of patience, you can enjoy this zesty and refreshing beverage. Follow the tips to perfect your homemade ginger beer, and toast to a delightful, homemade treat!
Nutrition per serving
8 ServingsCalories 90kcal
Protein 0.57g
Carbohydrates 22g
Fiber 0.81g
Sugar 20g
Fat 0.23g
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