Ginger Beer

(From Steve and Annie via the "Islands")

Ginger Beer is really not beer, rather Ginger Juice that can be served many different ways along with use for cooking.  Ginger Beer gets it name in part from when you shake it up it looks like Beer.  Ginger Beer is really just Sugar, Water, and Ginger Juice from fresh ginger.  Serve over ice with some Seven-up and Mont Gay or Capt. Morgan for a nice treat.  Ginger Beer has some medicinal value in that it is good for colds, sore throats, and upset stomachs due to Ginger Root natural healing qualities.  Ok, not that you have a little background, lets make some Ginger Beer!

Go to the store and get about 3-5Lbs of Ginger Root, 5 LBs of Crystal or white Sugar.  You will also need a cheese cloth or thin towel, a blender, water, and a couple of water jugs like what you get Juice in.  Take the Ginger and peel all the Ginger to remove the coverings.  Cut the Ginger up into about 1" cubes or chunks.  In your blender, add about 1/3 ginger chunks, 1/3 water, 1/3 sugar and blend into a runny pulp about the consistency of very pulpy fresh squeeze orange juice.   Place the pulp into one of the water Jugs and repeat until all Ginger has been blended and placed into the water jugs.  Place the water jugs after shaking vigorously into a fridge overnight or for about a day rotating and shaking now and then.

For some really good Ginger Beer, let the mix sit for an extra day!  Now after the mix sits for a day or overnight (the longer the better), take a large bowl and use the cheese cloth as a strainer and poor the mix into the cloth or towel to let the juices flow through but not the Ginger pieces.  After you have the mix in the towel, strain the mix by squeezing the towel to get all of the juice out kind of like making lemonade or Orange Juice.  Now take the ginger extract or strained juice and place this juice into empty jugs or containers and mix with about 1/3 water and 1/3 more sugar and shake.   Chill and serve when ready! 

* * * * * * Update * * * * * *

Steve tells me that to get a different flavor, don't peel the ginger completely, rather, leave some of the peel on for extra flavor. To simplify the straining and cut down on "glucose" or sugar residue in the jug, don't add much sugar during the first 24 hours. Annie says, give em both a try!

Ok, now that you have your ginger beer, serve it over ice with some rum (Capt. Morgan, Mont Gay, Myers, or Malibu). If you like it sweater, add a little sugar and some water! For ginger ale, add some seven up!

For fun, take the Ginger beer and poor about a cup full into a bowl and add 3 tablespoons of good curry along with some lemon pepper and a dash or two of soy.  Use this as part of an marinade and you will have some nice flavor!