Old-fashioned Ginger Beer

Description

It is quite a long process but well worth the effort. The amount of sugar in the final stage can be varied according to taste.

Ingredients

For The Starter

• ½ oz yeast
• 2 tsp sugar
• enough water to swell to between three and four tablespoons full (45-60 ml)

To Feed the "Plant"

• 7 tsp ground ginger
• 7 tsp sugar
• 2 pints of water

To Flavour

• 1½ lbs sugar
• juice of 2 lemons

Directions

1. Stir the starter ingredients, cover and leave in a warm place for 24 hours. This is your starter "plant".
2. Feed the "plant" with 1 teaspoon each of ground ginger and sugar each day. After 7 days, strain through a fine sieve.
3. Dissolve the sugar in 2 pints of water.
4. Add the lemon juice and the liquid from the "plant".
5. Dilute with 5 pints of water, mix well and store in corked bottles for at least 7 days.
6. Use strong bottles as pressure may build up which will cause thin bottles to explode.
7. For the same reason use corked bottles rather than those with a more secure closure that will not "give" under pressure.