Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Recipes, Cooking tips and maybe some 'Home Made' secrets !
Totally Scrambled
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by Totally Scrambled »

I started my second batch on Tuesday evening making double the amount so 2 gallons this time.
I plan to bottle one lot on Friday or Saturday and leave the second lot to ferment until Tuesday or Wednesday.
I've had a play and added slightly more sugar to the second demijohn and I also upped the amount of ginger in the recipe to give it a bit more zing.
The fruits of my first effort have all gone now so I'm looking forward to the next batch. I plan to do a rolling system so that I have one lot fermenting, one lot settling in bottles and a third lot for drinking.
I might even do some with very little alcoholic content as a thirst quencher.
Dom
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p.penn
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by p.penn »

Sounds a plan! Won't more sugar just make it stronger? :?

I opened a 500ml bottle of cider tonight, and couldnt understand why I felt a little tipsy after half the bottle. Just looked and its well over 7% alcohol, so that would be why then.
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Totally Scrambled
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by Totally Scrambled »

p.penn wrote:Won't more sugar just make it stronger? :?

Sort of.
If you have the same amount of sugar in two batches and bottle one batch after a couple of days it will be sweeter and not very alcoholic. If you leave the second batch to ferment it will be less sweet but more alcoholic.
At least thats how I understand it to work.
I think if you want it sweet and alcoholic you just add more sugar so that when it reaches the strength you want it hasn't converted all the sugar to alcohol which gives a sweeter taste.
Dom
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Mo
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by Mo »

Can you be sure it won't continue to ferment in the bottle (and exploded)
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Totally Scrambled
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

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Before bottling you strain out the ginger beer plant which takes out the majority of the fermenting agents. It will still ferment a bit it the bottle but I use fizzy pop type bottles which are designed to take a lot of pressure far more than their glass counterparts and don't spray glass shards everywhere if they sould go bang.
It is easier to monitor the pressure build up by feel too and I can release the pressure if needed.
Dom
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p.penn
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by p.penn »

Are you driving Ali mad with this yet Dom? {rofwl}
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by Totally Scrambled »

She has demanded that I remove the demijohns from the kitchen counters and take them out to my workshop.
Dom
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p.penn
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

Post by p.penn »

Sounds fair - she doesn't have sewing machines all over the worktops, does she? >stir<
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Totally Scrambled
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Re: Thought I'd Try and Go Back To My Youth: Ginger Beer

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p.penn wrote:Sounds fair - she doesn't have sewing machines all over the worktops, does she? >stir<

No, but she does have other sewing materials and equipment liberally dotted around the house.
It's only two little demijohns that give off a wonderful gingery smell that wafts all round the house and they are such a pretty colour too.

Image
Dom
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