How to Make Root Beer - Keg Method
HOMEMADE ROOT BEER
4 GALLONS - KEGGING METHOD
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup Maltodextrin
- 2 oz. Root Beer Extract
- 4 cups White Sugar
- 6 cups Dark Brown Sugar
- 4 gallons water
EQUIPMENT
- 1 Gallon Jug
- 1.5 Gallon or more Boiling Pot
- Thermometer
- Keg System
The secret to kegging and force carbonating soft drinks is to carbonate most of the water first; the sugar content makes it more difficult to carbonate the finished beverage.
DAY 1: Prepare the Keg and Water
- Clean and sanitize your keg.
- Place 3 gallons of cold water into the keg.
- Seal the keg and pressurize by setting your CO2 regulator to 25 pounds.
- Shake the keg until you no longer hear gas running from the regulator.
- Refrigerate the keg under pressure for 24 hours.
DAY 2: Make the Syrup and Extract
- Place 1 gallon of water into a pot and begin to heat it. It is not necessary to bring the water to a boil.
- Add the white sugar, brown sugar and maltodextrin to the pot and stir until the sugars are completely dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved turn off the heat.
- Refrigerate the mixture until it reaches the same temperature as the keg of water.
- Remove keg from the refrigerator and disconnect the CO2
- Release the pressure on the keg and open the top.
- Carefully, without splashing pour the sugar mixture into the keg.
- Add 2 oz. Root Beer extract.
- Close the keg and reattach the CO2 at 25 pounds of pressure.
- Refrigerate under pressure for 24 hours.
DAY 3: Serve
- Reduce regulator pressure to 5 pounds.
- Attach dispensing line and serve as you would beer.