That's the only way I make mine. It's not the same as modern rootbeer, but it's very good. My whole family loves root beer floats at my place.
Here's the recipe I use:
Simmer the following ingredients in 5qts of water for about an hour or until everything has condensed down to 5qts again.
1 oz sarsparilla root
1 oz sassafras root bark
1 oz cherry bark
1/2 oz licorice root
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/8 oz cinnamon (about half a stick)
2 to 4 oz raisins (you can add more if you like their flavor)
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups honey
1/2 cup molasses
4 lb sugar
Once you have the base, strain the mixture and add...
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp wintergreen or birch extract, or 1/2 tsp pure essential oil
I don't usually add the wintergreen, but it makes it taste more modern if you want it.
This recipe makes a 1:4 ratio. I usually just add the entire 5qts to a keg and fill it up as much as possible with water. If you want it to look like real rootbeer, you'll need to add caramel coloring to it. As is...it looks like a cream soda.
Do you have a good source for some of these ingredients? It's looking a bit hard to find Sarsparilla Root, Sassafras root bark, cherry bark, licorice root. I'm seeing a little bit on amazon, but it's pretty sparse on information on what is actually being sold.
Alternatively you could go into the woods and look for them, though what time of the year you dig them up can change the taste. Sassafras is pretty distinct and when you dig up the roots, you'll definitely know when you have the right stuff. I think I am going to go out and get some this Thanksgiving for my own try at this. Thanks for posting.
-Techniker
mountainroseherbs.com
I got all of the stuff minus the cherry root bark here and not too expensive plus i got some coriander and it is alot fresher than store stuff.
Looks like they do have the cherry bark too but I didn't find it before.
I dig sassafras all the time. When the leaves are on look for leaves shaped like mittens. The same tree can have up to 3 different shape leaves.
The ends of the wtigs will be bright green and when broken have a very distinct smell. The best indication is the root but once you find the right root smell the twig so you can recognise it in the future.
Some people say you can dig the root when the sap is down but I like it the best in the spring before the leaves come out.
Make sure that you don't get the bark above the root
Just as a note, make sure you avoid the ones near power lines! I had a stash near some and I went to check on them today to dig them up...the power company had taken RoundUp to them!!! Glad I didn't put that in my root beer. Looks like I will have to wait to find some more.
-Techniker
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