Introduction: Professor Phineas' Infamous Ginger Beer

I've been Making ginger beer for a couple of years now..... and thought I shall share with you the experience.....

Now there are two ways of making ginger beer.

The first way consists of shredding ginger root and boiling it up with water and sugar.

The second involves making a ginger 'plant' which can be re-used time and time again, This makes a batch once a week.


The brewing process in this instructable is the 2nd process with the GBP (Ginger Beer Plant).

Note: I will be updateing this instrucable with my next brew, (with pictures and extra notes)!!

Step 1: Equipment\ingredients

Before you start your version of this infamous Ginger Beer, you will need your Equipment......

Ingredients:

  • 1KG bag of caster sugar (you can use other sorts of sugar but caster is fine)
  • 4 lemons (you will need to juice these later)
  • Ground Ginger
  • Water
  • Beer Yeast (you can pick this up in Wilkinsons and\or Amazon)

Equipment:

  • A jar and lid which is big enough to contain a Ginger Beer plant.
  • One pint-sized measuring jug
  • 1 Gallon Demi john
  • A large pan
  • A fine cloth for straining the plant

Step 2: Step 2: Making the GBP (Ginger Beer Plant)

all you need for this bit is......

  • your jar with a lid thing,
  • Ground Ginger,
  • Sugar,
  • Yeast,
  • 1 pint (ENGLISH pint) of pure water.

  1. In the jar, place one sachet of beer yeast, two teaspoons of dried ground ginger, four teaspoons of sugar and a pint (568ml) of water.
  2. Stir and keep at room temperature.
  3. Feed the plant every day with two teaspoons of dried ginger and four teaspoons of sugar. Stir after feeding. (this bit is important).
  4. The plant will be ready after one week.

Step 3: Step 3: Making the Ginger Beer

Once your Ginger Beer Plant is ready, place 1kg (2lb) of sugar and two pints of boiling water in the large pan. The sugar will dissolve. Add the juice of the four lemons to the pan. Strain the contents of the jar - the plant - through the cloth into the pan. See below for what is to be done with the solid portion of the plant. Add enough water to fill the demi john. Stir and rack. Store the Demi john in a safe place at room temperature, and leave for three to four weeks to 'brew'. Discard half of the solid from the plant or give it to someone so they may start their own. Place the remaining half in a clean jar with a pint of water and continue to feed as above.

Step 4: And Finally.....

.... Once your brew has stopped fermenting (the bubbles have stopped), it is time to bottle up your brew..... you will need your....

  • Syphon
  • 8 500ml bottles
  • Bottle caps
  • Bottle Capper

(Note: make sure that the bottles and syphon have been sterilised before hand (milton sterilisation tablets are useful).

put your demi john on the worktop.. (the higher the better).

open it up and put the syphon in,

fill up all the bottles and then cap!!!

leave to mature for a day or so and then its ready to drink!

(note: will get a little fizzy in the bottle :- this is normal)