Gonna make some root beer...

[fretlessman71]

I got a brewer's best kit for my anniversary! I'm goign to get my feet wet by making some root beer (theory is that if I screw this up I won't be as broken hearted). Any good suggestions from people out there to make it interesting?

[sallad]

i've never made root beer, but i've read that it leaves a root beer taste in everything it touches, especially plastics. so, if any of your carboys are plastic, or your tubing... root beer might ruin it for real beer.

[kevin]

basically you boil some water add sugar, rootbeer extract cool and add champagne yeast and bottle in plastic bottles.

I've done it but think for the price I can get two litre bottles for .89 or .99 cents it taste better than the homemade.

[wortchillergoal]

It seems to me there was talk of this in another thread but I can't remember where. I have had some very good homemade root beer. I do think that different equipment is a good idea. I and several others I know have a bucket, tubing, and bottle filler just for root beer. I have done nothing but add the sugar and yeast type.

[YamahaXS]

I made a batch using the HomeBeer/HomeBrew brand extract. It has a distinct black licorice flavor, which if you are like me, sucks some major ass.

[fretlessman71]

You know, just sniffing the outside of the bottle I can smell some of that licorice flavor (I believe it's called anise). Is it really that bad? Is there something I can do when I make it to alleviate that? Could it have just been a matter of letting it age longer or needing more sugar to stay in the bottle instead of getting eaten by the yeast?

[YamahaXS]

I have had people they really like it, BUT i *hate* black licorice.

[Beerconnoisseur]

...there ARE root beer flavorings, other than the black licorice. Fermentap and Gnome are two you might try.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur
...there ARE root beer flavorings, other than the black licorice. Fermentap and Gnome are two you might try.

Yep, i plan too, though I suspect next time I will use some Sprecher (a wisconsin beer treasure in milwaukee) extract. A bit more $$$, but it's already sweetened and their rootbeer is excellent.

[shaken]

I, for one, happen to appreciate the licorice flavor of the "Homebrew" brand of root beer.
As for the "sucks major ass", I'm going to leave that as one's preference.
Anise oil is a dominate flavor and aroma, as is wintergreen, and other assorted oils. Sassafrass used to be the flavor, until banned in the '60's
Gnome brand is a very good extact. It reminds me of a cross-over brew for the new drinkers of root beer. As is a "session beer" for beer drinkers. I ususlly have to adjust the flavor with each bottle, for some reason, I don't know.
I have never tried Sprecher, but, however, it does contain Sodium Benzoate, which will kill yeast for the "natural" carbonation. I false carbonate all my sodas in corny kegs, (Oh no, I think I hit a touchy subject) as it won't leave sediment on the bottom of the keg.
Try not to boil the water, the steam will dissipate the flavor and aromas of the root beer. I simply use "hot" tap water, granulated sugar, and extract. A large word of caution, what ever the root beer touches, it will have to be a designated root beer keg, or mixing bucket. Glass is okay. I have used a 6 1/2 gallon carboy for mixing in, but it is not recommended.
For what it's worth, we sell about 2 - 3 corn kegs a week of root beer.
Another good one is "Sparkling lemonade", makes a good Shandy.

[brewmonkey]

I dont know if it is available through your local HBS but Northwestern Extract makes several rootbeer varieties as well as other sodas. They require nothing more then mixing with water and some sugar (we use some honey as well) and then carbonate.

My preference is to force carbonate in the keg as it is a cleaner flavor.