I picked up the "Homemade Root Beer, Soda and Pop" book, but wasn't sure about making rootbeer from scratch. Wasn't quite comfortable with sassafras (for me, I have no concerns. Not sure about my kids, though). I did head out yesterday and picked up supplies to make ginger ale and cream soda (might not have enough vanilla bean, I'll need to double check - that stuff is expensive!). Haven't decided which one to make next.
For the first go, I figured I'd use an extract to simplify things. I saw a recipe on here that I used, so can't claim it as mine. I used 1 gallon water, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1.5 T rootbeer extract (I used McCormick). 1/2 t vanilla extract. I warmed it up to dissolve the sugar, then tasted it. It seemed bland and weak, so I added another 1/2 T root beer extract, another 1/2 t vanilla and a little bit of honey. Seemed a little better (I should try a different extract).
I put 1/8 t brewers yeast in a 1/4 cup of lukewarm water to get it started, then put the rootbeer mix in a 1 gallon glass jug. I popped the yeast mixture in, capped the bottle and shook it gently. After letting it sit for 15 minutes, I bottled it. 1 12 oz plastic bottle and 10 12 oz glass bottles. They're sitting in a cooler now. (I took your idea!). Tonight will be 48 hours and the plastic bottle is getting firmer. Not sure if I need to let it go for 72 hours, or if I'll put ice in the cooler in the morning.
Hoping it tastes good! We have plans to ice the root beer mugs and do it up right!