Hard Root Beer

So I'm attempting a hard root beer experiment (2 gallons). I started with a traditional root beer from extract and made it the way the directions called for. I then cooled it down, placed it in my carboy, added 2 cups of DME, and plan to back sweeten it with 20 or so root beer barrels candy melted down into a syrup. See what I got after a few weeks and possibly bottle it or dump it.

That could be amazing!

Yea I hope! I love me some root beer and beer too. I will definitely post some results. Right now it's chugging away in my carboy.

hareebrownbeest said:

yea i hope! I love me some root beer and beer too. I will definitely post some results. Right now it's chugging away in my carboy.

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Nice and brown

HAREEBROWNBEEST said:

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=58815"/>

Nice and brown

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This is the extract on the right I started with and the candy I'm going to use in my secondary. I probably won't have to worry about carbonation in my bottles after adding the candy will I?

What yeast are you using on this?

onthekeg said:

What yeast are you using on this?

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You know what I'm not happy to admit this but...some fleishmans bread yeast I was desperate and it is an experiment so...I did place an order with northern brewer and have some yeasts and auto siphon on the way.

My hard root beer 12 pack. It defiantly tastes like a root beer and has a pretty high alcohol content! Just bottled today will keep posted

you added the syrup when you bottled?
i think youre going to have to be really really careful with those...

over pressurized glass vessels are fun!

been wanting to try this for forever!! what did your % come out to?? OG and FG?? this is simply awesome!!

I didn't think you should bottle root beer in glass because they become "bottle bombs". Have you look at this in the soda thread?

So I plan on waiting a week or two before throwing them (carefully) in the fridge to stop the fermentation. I did not take any readings, I should have but I was in a hurry when I bottled. Its a total experiment, I also placed them inside a cooler if any should blow up, it will be contained. From experience, why is root beer dangerous in glass? Besides bombs?

FreeLordBrewing said:

been wanting to try this for forever!! what did your % come out to?? OG and FG?? this is simply awesome!!

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Don't know the alcohol level but it's well over 8-10% I would say!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Bottle_bomb

Bottle bombs in soda making

Traditional root beer and other traditional soft drinks can be made at home through a process similar to brewing. However, in soda making, the beer is bottled during what brewers would consider primary fermentation, so that the yeast's first effect is to create a great deal of carbonation without consuming too much sugar or creating too much alcohol. The result is a sweet, basically nonalcoholic beverage. However, unless the bottles are chilled at the appropriate point in the fermentation to stop the yeast from continuing, the bottles will become overcarbonated and eventually explode. For this reason, home soda makers now generally use plastic soda bottles rather than glass bottles.

I guess if you did a primary before you bottled it might be ok.

Thanks for the article. However I'm going to risk it and let it sit at least a week, crack one open and see what I got. If its slightly carbed or over carbed I will place it in fridge, let it get cold and try it.

bplaughlin said:

I guess if you did a primary before you bottled it might be ok.

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Yea, I did. I'm also doing a red hots candy cider that's ready for the secondary. I want it slightly carbed also and this is basically the same process because I'm going to add some apple juice concentrate and some more candies in the secondary then bottle.

I'm very curious to see how these turn out. Keep us updated!

This sounds awesome! Two of my favorite things together... you've got me thinking, "damnit, now why didn't I think of that???"

Very nice! I've been thinking about the same concoction. Eventually I hope to make my own syrup and use it to brew a partigyle root beer after the mash for a big stout or a wee heavy. Some commercial syrup-based experiments seem like a good place to start though!

I placed some in a plastic bottle to keep track of the carbonation. It's getting there, but not quite done yet.

SO, how did it turn out?????

avpro91 said:

SO, how did it turn out?????

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I'm quite curious as well ^_^

Like this ha ha. No it had a nasty plasticky aftertaste. So nasty I couldn't bear it. Good news is there were no glass grenades even after three or more weeks of bottling at about 74-78F. Oh well, back to the lab.

HAREEBROWNBEEST said:

Like this ha ha. No it had a nasty plasticky aftertaste. So nasty I couldn't bear it. Good news is there were no glass grenades even after three or more weeks of bottling at about 74-78F. Oh well, back to the lab.

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Plasticky taste, eh? Weird... Did you taste it before you bottled it?

Yea and it did have that aftertaste but I thought it was "green". I think it has something to do with the artificial flavors in the root beer barrel candies.

HAREEBROWNBEEST said:

Yea and it did have that aftertaste but I thought it was "green". I think it has something to do with the artificial flavors in the root beer barrel candies.

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Quite possibly. I wonder how your brew would have turned out if you had just used some root beer flavoring instead? I still think you were really onto something here...

homebrewbeliever said:

Quite possibly. I wonder how your brew would have turned out if you had just used some root beer flavoring instead? I still think you were really onto something here...

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I might try it again sometime using all natural ingredients and the right yeast. I do have a mr.beer container that would be perfect for an experimental small batch.&#128077;

HAREEBROWNBEEST said:

I might try it again sometime using all natural ingredients and the right yeast. I do have a mr.beer container that would be perfect for an experimental small batch.ddc4d

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Well, if you do try this again, please please please post it! I tip my hat to you, sir!