Root Beer

My wife and I recently had discussions about starting a business called the Soda Counter and Emporium here in Chicago. It specializes in sodas from across the US and internationally. You want Moxie from Maine or Cheerwine from North Carolina? Yep...we have it. Anyway, this took her on a tangent and she bought me a gift... a Mr. Root Beer kit.


I have never made soda, beer, wine or any drink myself except tea and coffee. So the idea of making my own soft drink has a huge appeal. Root Beer is one of those drinks that everyone loves. Root Beer is even a featured drink in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

Quark: I want you to try something for me. Take a sip of this.

Garak: What is it?

Quark: A human drink. It's called root beer.

Garak: I don't know.

     { Garak scowls/snears }

Quark: Come on. Aren't you just a little bit curious?

     { Garak sighs, and cautiously drinks... }

Quark: What do you think?

Garak: It's vile.

Quark: I know. It's so bubbly and cloying and happy.

     { Garak smiles slowly as Quark speaks }

Garak: Just like the Federation.

Quark: But you know what's really frightening?

If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it.

Garak: It's insidious.

Quark: Just like the Federation.

     { later... }

Garak: Do you think they'll be able to save us?

Quark: I hope so.

Yesterday, besides making my kick-ass Bison Chili, I made two loaves of french bread, and took out the Root Beer kit and brewed my first batch. The process is a lot more than I originally assumed. There is extracts, flavor crystals, brown sugar, white sugar, and yeast involved. The instructions said the root beer can take 1-3 days to proof. Today, we tested the 1 day proof. It still tastes of yeast which was a bit of a surprise. The bubbles were considerably less than I expected. Granted we tested the root beer at room temperature, but all of the flavors were there...especially the yeast.

I have 3 more unopened bottles. Tomorrow, we will test another. Experimentation is the key to this I think. I look forward to the next bottle. Meanwhile, let me clear that taste out with this diet coke.

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