Recent content by Masterjuggler

I'll try making some pretty soon, I've been pretty busy and haven't had a chance. I'll let you know how it comes out.

Thanks. Just ordered some more yeast, I'm not sure I trust the stuff that's been sitting in the fridge for for over a year haha. Once it arrives in a few days, I'll make another attempt.

It's been a while since I tried brewing root beer. The last few times I tried I couldn't escape a funky feet taste and smell. I've still got all the bottling equipment and ingredients from a year ago - kept dry and sealed so I don't expect they've gone bad. I'll also be using bottled water to...

Thanks guys. All I have ever used is also the extract, but it's the most expensive ingredient and I can see it being a big money eater if I ever make root beer in the amounts I want. Maybe I'll try making my own too, if that is more cost effective.

Bump. Still trying to get answers for my previous three questions.

Does anyone know anything about either the vanilla or reusing the ingredients? I want to make a batch soon, but want to have all the facts right first.

There were some sassafras trees growing along the edge of the forest behind my house. I marked them a few summers ago with colorful ribbon to identify them in the winter, then dug them up once mid-winter came. I took a knife to the bark and peeled it like a carrot from the wood, then left them...

Got new raisins and used your method of putting yeast in, with 1/4tsp/gal. I used the recipe Crazy8 posted in post #7 of this thread, and it still tastes strange, but I think that's just the recipe's fault now. It's passable, but only barely. Definitely not the strong feet taste/smell I was...

How do you add yeast? Crazy8 said he was getting inconsistent fermentation in the bottles when he added yeast to the pot, so I always add straight to the bottles.

Thanks, I'll try your suggestions about the raisins and adding more yeast. Right now I add only as much yeast per bottle as can fit on the tip of a knife, and it took 5 days to carbonate (the 16.9oz bottles). Guess that's not enough. I'm pretty sure temperature isn't the problem, as my house...

I finally got around to making another batch after managing to make enough room in the fridge. I got the pbw cleaner and sanitized with starsan, and even used bottled water instead of filtered tap water. I swear, there is no possible way anything unsanitized touched my root beer to infect the...

Honestly I haven't made any root beer since I posted last. I got whatever strain this yeast is. I'm using water from the filter by my sink, every time. I'm not sure what you mean by temperature.

Yes, that's right. The recipe from the first page of this thread (that you just re-posted) and the instructions from the other thread. I just checked the sarsaparilla. I don't think that's the problem, but I'll try your suggestion. I'll make the batch either tomorrow or this weekend, and I'll...

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I used the instructions from the thread I linked to. The recipe is the one at the beginning of this thread. I could have sworn I linked the beginning of this thread too, but I must have only linked the other one.

I used the exact recipe (a half gallon batch though, so I cut all ingredients in 4) and the directions you posted here. The only thing I changed from those instructions/recipe is I put the yeast in the bottles instead of the pot, and I used vanilla extract instead of flavoring. I also haven't...