Homemade Ginger Ale or Beer...or HOOCH

HOMEMADE GINGER HOOCH

the non-alcoholic kind

positively the most satisfying best tasting ginger ale i've ever had in my life!

and it's HEALTHY.

well...as you might have guessed i'm on a quest for the best, funnest, most interesting and out of the ordinary drinks of the NON-ALCOHOLIC NATURE.

as stated in a previous post... 

the most important person at your summer party is the designated driver.

if that person is bored and ain't havin' a good time...if THAT person wants to go...everybody goes...

THE PARTY'S OVER!

so take some time and make some special concoctions to keep the party going.

THIS RECIPE IS NOT DIFFICULT...

IT JUST TAKES PATIENCE

start with a "ginger bug"...wait...

make a "wort"...

add the "BUG" to the "WORT"...wait...

bottle and wait some more...

in about 2 weeks...you'll have  HOOCH

i like saying "hooch", but this is KID FRIENDLY.  i read that you'd have to drink a gallon or two of the stuff just to possibly equal 1 light beer.  i'm not an expert, i'm just going by what i have researched on quite a few different sites...so if you are worried, please do some more research and please let me know.

GINGER BUG

1 heaping Tbsp fresh grated ginger, (clean or peel knob)

1 large Tbsp of sugar

filtered water

fill a quart mason(sterilized) jar 2/3 full with filtered water.  add ginger and sugar, stir until the sugar dissolves.  cover, as shown, with canning ring and cheese cloth...or a rubber band and cheese cloth.

before you go to sleep, give it another stir.

in the morning add another 1 Tbsp ginger and 1 Tbsp sugar...stir.

repeat this for 3-4 days or until you see some action happening on the surface.  there will be some visible fermenting bubbling "action".  if this does not happen within 5 days, you might want to consider starting over.

NOTE...always try to use sterilized equipment so as not to introduce any odd bacterias...even when going in for a simple stirring.  just a good wash with antibacterial soap should do, but i sterilize the jar in the oven for 15 minutes at 220 degrees.

GINGER WORT

1 1/2 to 2 cups pure cane sugar

1/3 cup fresh grated ginger

2 qts filtered water

bring this mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.  let this steep (covered for  while) and come to room temperature.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER...or ALE

or GINGER HOOCH

NOTE...this is NOT AN ALCOHOL version.

i just like saying GINGER HOOCH

1 cup strained "ginger bug"

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, strained

"ginger wort" from recipe above

add above items into 1 gallon glass jar.  fill the rest with filtered water.  stir to combine.  cover with cheesecloth and rubber band and let sit on the counter for 5 days.  taste it the 2nd or 3rd day.  does it need more sugar or lemon or ginger?

i added juice from 2 more lemons, a little more grated ginger and 1/8 cup sugar.

stir very morning and night for 3-7 days.

i waited 5 days

now strain the gallon of liquid into glass bottles with locking tops (as shown)...like Grolsch beer bottles.  it's cheaper to buy the Grolsch beer and have someone drink it then buy the bottles alone.  strain into pourable container then USE A FUNNEL.

let this sit somewhere safe...i read in a lot of blogs that said thiese could possibly explode...YIKES!   so, depending on the weather and where you live...keep a close eye on them.  i had one plastic bottle so that i could squeeze it to check the pressure and i tested a sealed glass bottle after 5 days. .  

I BABIED MY BOTTLES FOR 12 DAYS.

after 5 days...a little effervescent fizz

after 9 days...a little more fizz

after 17 days of tender loving care....?

bubbles...beautiful  effervescent bubbles.  nothing like the fake store bought stuff.  these were very gentle sparkles and the flavor is far beyond...

this is best served "NEAT"...chilled sans ice