INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup table sugar [sucrose] (Can be adjusted slightly for preferred sweetness)
* Root Beer Extract (1/2 tablespoon)
* Powdered baker's yeast (1/4 teaspoon)
* Cold fresh filtered water
* 1 two liter bottle

Using a clean bottle and a dry funnel, add the ingredients in sequence as stated in the steps that follow. First add a level cup of sugar(or cane sugar). Adjust the amount to achieve the desired sweetness.

Measure 1/4 teaspoon powdered baker's yeast and place in the funnel. The yeast should be fresh and active, and any brand that is available will work.

Shake well to make sure that the yeast grains are distributed evenly into the sugar.

Swirl the sugar/yeast mixture in the bottom in order to make it concave and enable it to catch the extract in the middle.

Replace the funnel, and add 1 Tbsp of root beer extract on top of the dry sugar.
Notice how the extract sticks to the sugar. This will help dissolve the extract as seen in the next few steps.

Fill the bottle halfway with fresh cool tap water that has little or no chlorine. Pour through the funnel and use this opportunity to rinse extract stuck to the funnel and tablespoon. Swirl to dissolve the ingredients.

Fill the bottle to the neck, this time with fresh water, leaving only about an inch (2.54cm) of head space. Securely screw the cap so as to seal the bottle. Invert repeatedly to thoroughly dissolve the contents.

Place the sealed bottle at room temperature for about three or four days until the bottle feels hard to a forceful squeeze. Then move it to a cool place (below 65 F (18 C)). Refrigerate overnight to thoroughly chill before serving. Crack the lid of the bottle just a little to release the pressure slowly.


Some warnings:

Artificial sweetener cannot be used to replace the sugar.

Do not leave the finished root beer in a warm place once the bottle feels hard. After a couple weeks or so at room temperature, especially in the summer when the temperature is high, enough pressure may build up to explode the bottle! There is no danger of this if the finished root beer is refrigerated. Move to a refrigerator overnight before opening.