sassafras root beer

[Lazy Gardener]

Yep. In certain areas of the country, it's illegal to put it in a rain barrel.

 

[CrealCritter]

Speak of the devil, here you go... guess they don't want any businesses in NJ.

New Jersey residents face possible 'rain tax'

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-jersey-residents-may-be-hit-with-rain-tax

 

[NH Homesteader]

New Jersey is ridiculous

 

[wyoDreamer]

There are many states that already have that legislation, I am surprised that they are just now enacting it.
I know a city that taxed businesses that exact way. The more impervious surfaces, the less rainwater that soaks into the ground and more run-off for the storm sewer to handle. Many storm sewers are at/above capacity now and more water is just going to cause major problems. The money is used for flood reduction (more/bigger storm sewer systems) and pollutant control projects. The projects undertaken by that city have returned a mucky/dirty stream with nothing living in it to habitat for native trout to thrive.

 

[CrealCritter]

My ginger bug died I guess I'm not a very good bug keeper. I started a new one with fresh ginger root this time. Need to peel the root before you grate it or else the top of the water is covered with brown shredds.

Recipe:
1 1/2 cups spring (non clorinated) water
2 tea spoons fresh finely grated ginger root
2 tea spoons white sugar

Add 2 tea spoons fresh finely grated ginger root & 2 tea spoons white sugar every day, shake well. Continue untill critial mass is realized (bubbles form on top of the water). Indicating the bug is alive and ready to start fermenting your soda.

Ginger bug day 1

I decided I'm going to make a soft (non-alcoholic) root beer first with a ginger bug. Then I'm going to make a hard (alcoholic) root beer with a "high octane" yeast, like turbo 48 moon shine yeast. So it will be more like non distilled liqueur. If I don't like it I could always distill it into a high proof shine. If I still don't like it I'll use it as a gas additive for the bobcat which will run off just about anything -:lol

I would really like to find a few birch saplings to make birch beer, which is my favorite. Maybe later this spring though.

 

[CrealCritter]

My 2nd bug is alive now I just have to keep feeding it so it doesn't die. Most definitely easier with fresh grated ginger root.

Ginger Bug day 3 - is alive, smells wonderful.

 

[CrealCritter]

Still feeding my ginger bug 2 Table spoons grated fresh ginger root & 2 Table spoons of white sugar daily. After adding the ginger and sugar put the lid on tight and shake it and foam appears. Then loosen the lid slightly so it can burp and you hear it hiss just the same if you were going to open a soda bottle.

This is tall tale sign that the ginger yeast is active and reproducing. White sticky proteins, inactive, dead yeast forms on the bottom of the jar - its called trub.

Anyways I'll be brewing up my first batch of ginger beer this Saturday.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Interesting!

 

[wyoDreamer]

That is interesting.

So, you use the Ginger bug to make the root beer? or are you now making Ginger Beer?

 

[CrealCritter]

That is interesting.

So, you use the Ginger bug to make the root beer? or are you now making Ginger Beer?

I'm currently waiting on air locks to arrive. Should be here Friday.

This ginger bug will be used to make both ginger beer and root beer. I'm going to brew up the ginger beer first. Only because my daughter will be helping me and she absolutely loves my homemade ginger beer. I'm going to do a two stage ferment. First in a brew bucket, secondary in glass carboy. Then I'll bottle it along with some priming sugar.

Then follow that up with root beer brew also two stage ferment.

I'm shooting for a 4% alcohol content which is about the maximum anyone could hope to achieve with ginger bug yeast.

I did sneak a little ginger bug taste test last night. If my ginger beer tastes 1/2 as good as the bug its will be awesome.

I like fermenting foods and drinks. I guess making kraut was like a gateway drug for me, then pickles. Now that I have some brew equipment, I'm going to get back into sodas and some good wheat beers.