Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer

In the summer this is a good non-alcoholic thirst quencher for young and old. It may stir a few memories for those of us who grew up in New Zealand with home-brewed ginger beer in the garden shed and got their kicks out of the excitement and danger of opening a bottle left a little too long...how times have changed! It will get fizzier with age, so take care opening it.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 181 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups water
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 2 ½ tablespoons water
• 1 quart boiling water
• 2 ¼ tablespoons white sugar
• 3 quarts cold water
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• 3 ¼ cups white sugar
• 9 teaspoons white sugar, divided
• 9 teaspoons ground ginger, divided
• 1 ¾ teaspoons brewers' yeast
• ⅛ teaspoon brewers' yeast

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine 1 1/2 cups plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, and 1 3/4 plus 1/8 teaspoons yeast in a container. Mix together to make the bug. Cover loosely and let stand in a warm place for 24 hours.

Step 2

"Feed" the bug daily for 7 days by adding 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.

Step 3

Strain the bug through muslin cloth, pouring the liquid into a separate large container.

Step 4

Mix the strained liquid with 3 quarts cold water. Add lemon juice to the brew.

Step 5

Dissolve 3 1/4 cups plus 2 1/4 tablespoons sugar in boiling water; add to the brew. Mix in grated ginger. Bottle the ginger beer. Let stand until fizzy, at least 1 week. Refrigerate before drinking.