Homestead Root Beer!

The kids have been asking about doing some brewing, as they seem quite interested in the subject. When I learned that root beer could be brewed at home and was actually a pretty simple process, I figured that this was the perfect opportunity. So we proceeded to begin the process with everyone giving a hand to finish the process. The boys started it all off by sterilizing a cereal bowl, measuring spoons and cups, the brewing bottles, mixing bowl, thermometer, funnel, and mixing spoon. Once they were fresh and clean, the girls stepped in and started the process. They warmed up a gallon of water to 95 F [check with thermometer] and then poured a cup of it into the cereal bowl. To which they added a 1/4 teaspoon of brewer's yeast and then set it aside. The rest of the water was poured into the mixing bowl and then everyone took a turn adding 1 cup of packed dark brown sugar, 2 cups of white sugar, and 2 2/3 tablespoons of root beer extract [ 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons] and mixed it up until everything was dissolved. Once dissolved, the cereal bowl of yeast was added to the mixing bowl and then all mixed together. The 'mixture' was then poured through the funnel into the brewing bottles. Be sure to leave a nice gap between the top of the bottle and the lid as to allow the excess gases to escape and not cause the bottles to explode. [ Plastic brewing bottles can be obtained that have caps with a hole in them and a latex fitting which will allow gas to escape. We had some available from another brewing kit. If you are not using such bottles, you can leave the bottle uncapped and instead place a balloon over the lid and secure it in place. It will allow the mixture to breath. ] Then place the bottles in a dark, warm place for about three days - or until the bottles are firm when given a squeeze. We stuck ours on the top shelf of the pantry. The kids were sure to check on it each day. On the third day they were ready and so we placed them in the fridge and let them chill for 24 hours. The next day we broke them open to try. Consensus was 6 to 2 that it was great! I think the fact that it didn't taste like the root beer that they are used to made a difference. It was rich, creamy, and foamy -you could definitely taste the dark brown sugar in the mix. We are going to brew another gallon and see if it tastes any different. May substitute dark brown sugar with light brown sugar. I also found an original recipe for root beer. If we can get ahold of all the herbs it calls for, I think we will give it a shot as well.