Ginger Beer

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound fresh ginger, roughly chopped
  • 2 quarts boiling hot water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • juice of two lemons
  • 1 teaspoon champagne or other yeast

Method

  1. Chop the ginger (no need to peel) and add to a large pitcher
  2. Cover with sugar and lemon juice and add the boiling water
  3. Stir well and allow to sit as the water temperature cools. When the water feels just lukewarm to touch, add the yeast and cover the pitcher (plastic wrap would work well). Allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours or so
  4. Pour the mixture through a strainer, cheesecloth, or a clean kitchen towel into a sealable jug. Taste the mixture and add more sugar if desired (adding more sugar will also give the yeast still living in the beer something to eat, which will carbonate the drink if you seal it). If you want carbonation, let it sit out for another day, then refrigerate to keep it from fermenting further. Every few days, open the cap to release gas buildup, or it might burst in your fridge