Spicy Ginger Beer Recipes

Steps:

• Take a 1.5-liter plastic bottle of spring water and empty it into a clean pitcher. Use some of it to make simple syrup by stirring 1/2 pound sugar into 1 cup hot water until fully dissolved.
• In a large measuring cup, mix all ingredients and stir well. Funnel back into the plastic bottle and cap tightly. Store in a warm, dark place for 24 to 48 hours. (I put mine inside a box, to contain it if it should blow.) The top of the bottle will expand and become tight. Check it and very slowly release the pressure if it's looking groaningly tight. Some people ferment it with no top, or with the top on loosely, to allow gas to escape. I suppose if you wanted to get fancy you could spend $1.50 on a fermentation lock and stop worrying about it. If the temperature is quite warm, above 80F, a single day may be sufficient. The longer you let it ferment, the drier the final mix will be.
• After 48 hours, refrigerate it to stop the fermentation. Once chilled, you can strain out the pulp and dead yeast, which will have made a sediment on the bottom. Makes 1 liter and will keep up to a week in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Grate enough ginger using Microplane to measure 3 1/2 tablespoons, then put in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl to collect juice, pressing on solids and then discarding.
• Place funnel in neck of bottle and pour in 3 tablespoons ginger juice (reserve any remaining for another use). Add sugar, lemon juice, yeast, and a pinch of salt.
• Fill bottle with water, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of space at top. Remove funnel and screw cap on tightly. Gently shake bottle to dissolve sugar.
• Let stand at room temperature until plastic feels hard and no longer indents when squeezed, 24 to 36 hours.
• Chill ginger beer until very cold.

Steps:

• Place the ginger and cucumber in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Pour them along with any juice into a large saucepan over medium heat and add the chilies, mint leaves, sugar, honey, water, juice, peppercorns, and soda. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid becomes syrupy enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and let cool overnight. Strain the ginger beer through a fine-mesh sieve into a food-safe container and refrigerate; it will keep for 4 days, refrigerated.
• The ratio of syrup to club soda is 1:3 when made to order. If using a soda siphon, pour 1 cup syrup and 3 cups water into a 1-liter soda siphon.

Steps:

• Arrange sweet onions in the bottom of a slow cooker.
• Mix salt, brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes together in a bowl until seasonings are well mixed; rub all over pork roast. Place roast in the slow cooker, fat-side up. Brush any leftover seasonings mixture from the work surface into the slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 1 hour. Pour ginger beer into slow cooker. Continue cooking until roast is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork, 9 to 11 hours.

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, and 1 3/4 plus 1/8 teaspoons yeast in a container. Mix together to make the bug. Cover loosely and let stand in a warm place for 24 hours.
• "Feed" the bug daily for 7 days by adding 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
• Strain the bug through muslin cloth, pouring the liquid into a separate large container.
• Mix the strained liquid with 3 quarts cold water. Add lemon juice to the brew.
• Dissolve 3 1/4 cups plus 2 1/4 tablespoons sugar in boiling water; add to the brew. Mix in grated ginger. Bottle the ginger beer. Let stand until fizzy, at least 1 week. Refrigerate before drinking.