Fermented Ginger Ale Recipe
Who doesn’t love a spicy, grown-up soda, packed with probiotics, that is perfect for both sipping chilled or as a sophisticated mixer? This recipe creates a warm and peppery kick of ginger that is balanced in sweetness and tanginess. The natural fermentation develops lively bubbles, making each sip crisp and refreshing.
Yield: ~3 liters
Fermentation Time: ~36 hours + 12 hours chilling
Ingredients:
– 3 liters (12 cups) water
– 140g (5 oz) fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated (*no need to peel*)
– 360g (1¾ cups) brown sugar (*adjust to taste*)
– 3 lemons, juiced (~½ cup juice)
– 60g (¼ cup) ginger bug starter (*active & bubbly*)
Equipment:
– Large pot
– Fine-mesh strainer + funnel
– 3–4 fermentation bottles (swing-top or plastic soda bottles, pressure-safe)
– Thermometer (optional, for checking cooling temp)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ginger Syrup:
– Bring 3L water to a boil in a pot.
– Add ginger and brown sugar, stir to dissolve.
– Boil for 5 minutes, then turn off heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
– Cool the mixture to room temperature or lukewarm temperature.
- Mix & Bottle:
– Stir in lemon juice and ginger bug starter.
– Once cooled, strain out ginger pieces (and any lemon seeds if added early).
– Pour into clean bottles, leaving 2–3 inches of headspace.
- Ferment:
– Stage 1 (Carbonation):
– Place bottles in a fermentation chamber and set the temperature to 34°C (93°F) for 12 hours.
– Stage 2 (Flavor Development):
– Reduce temp to 22°C (72°F) for 24 hours.
– Burp Bottles: Open lids briefly to release excess CO₂ (carefully—overcarbonation may foam!).
– Stage 3 (Chill before serve):
– Refrigerate for 12+ hours to slow fermentation and chill the beverage.
– Serve cold!
Storage:
Drink within 2–3 weeks. The longer it ferments the dryer the ginger ale.
Tips:
– Ginger Bug: Ensure it is active and bubbly before use (feed 24hrs prior).
– Sweetness: Adjust sweetness by adding more or less sugar. For drier ale, reduce sugar to 300g.
– Safety: Use plastic bottles to gauge pressure (they harden when carbonated).
Enjoy your homemade, probiotic-rich spicy ginger ale!
