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**Coastarine** · 02-21-2011, 08:47 PM

Any thoughts on replacing half of the sugar with splenda? Obviously some real sugar needs to remain in order to carbonate but SWMBO is more likely to enjoy it if it's a little lighter on the sugar.

MikeRoBrew1 · 02-21-2011, 09:24 PM

I feel like a total idiot for asking this, but with sugar and yeast isn't this drink alcoholic??

SwampassJ · 02-21-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRoBrew1

I feel like a total idiot for asking this, but with sugar and yeast isn't this drink alcoholic??

It will have some alcohol in it but I couldn't tell you how much. The point in sticking it in the fridge is to stop the yeast from converting sugar and producing more CO2.

Frenchy · 02-21-2011, 09:52 PM

I was reading another thread on rootbeear, but that one was carb-ed in a keg. Could you take sodas, put them in glass bottles and carb with Cooper's carbonation drops rather than yeast or a keg?

MikeRoBrew1 · 02-21-2011, 09:59 PM

Would it be possible to formulate two recipes, one made to be nearly non-alcoholic like normal, and one purposely more alcoholic? I know I would prefer it that way.

**Coastarine** · 02-21-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy

I was reading another thread on rootbeear, but that one was carb-ed in a keg. Could you take sodas, put them in glass bottles and carb with Cooper's carbonation drops rather than yeast or a keg?

See the bold text in the original post.

This works with beer because we carefully control the amount of fermentable sugar that goes into the bottle. Ginger ale is full of fermentable sugar, which is why it needs to go in the fridge (to halt the fermenation) once it has appropriately carbonated. Which, by the way, is a LOT more carbonated than beer, which makes glass a risky choice.

**Coastarine** · 02-21-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRoBrew1

Would it be possible to formulate two recipes, one made to be nearly non-alcoholic like normal, and one purposely more alcoholic? I know I would prefer it that way.

To do what you're describing, mix up the original recipe, loosely put the cap on, and let it ferment out. Now, add another cup of sugar, tighten the lid, and proceed as before...you picturing this? It's not pretty. Ginger hooch. You're much better off just using it as a mixer, with scotch perhaps. Or just vodka.

Frenchy · 02-22-2011, 03:16 AM

I guess my question is more can you carbonate without yeast or using a keg system regardless of what type of bottling you are doing?

Chad · 02-22-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy

I guess my question is more can you carbonate without yeast or using a keg system regardless of what type of bottling you are doing?

No. Cooper's Carbonation Drops are just sugar (glucose and sucrose). They depend on the action of the yeast in your beer to carbonate. They are just another way to measure out sugar rather than swirling dextrose into your bottling bucket. Adding them to ginger ale with no yeast and no external source of CO2 would do nothing.

You could use a carbonator cap and mini-CO2 charger if you don't have a full kegging setup.

credible2 · 02-22-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastarine

Any thoughts on replacing half of the sugar with splenda? Obviously some real sugar needs to remain in order to carbonate but SWMBO is more likely to enjoy it if it's a little lighter on the sugar.

I was kinda thinking the same thing, but put in 100% Splenda (except the very small bit that is needed to carbonate the ginger ale.) You wouldn't have to worry about exploding bottles either.