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Did you know that you can make your own root beer at home? Once you gather the supplies, it can be a fun family project. Homemade root beer is delicious, and much more natural than the kind you find in aluminum cans.
Step 1:

 Ingredients and supplies:

  • 1 cup cane sugar or table sugar
  • 1 tablespoon root beer extract (for best results, visit a local brewing supply store, not a grocery store)
  • 1/4 teaspoon powdered baker's yeast (you can also use specialized brewing yeast)
  • Cold fresh water
  • Clean 2 liter bottle
  • 1/2 ounce maltodextrin (optional)
  • Funnel
Step 2:

Combine the sugar and yeast. Using a funnel, combine a cup of sugar and the yeast. Do not use artificial sweeteners, like Splenda, or this recipe will not work. Make sure the yeast is activated before you add it to the bottle. Read the yeast package if you have any questions about whether it's activated. Now shake well to make sure that the yeast and sugar are well mixed.

Step 3:

Add the root beer extract. Next, add a tablespoon of root beer extract on top of the sugar and yeast mixture. The extract will stick to the sugar, which will help it dissolve as you add water. Add maltodextrin if you want to make root beer with more body and better texture.

Step 4:

Add water. Fill the bottle halfway with fresh tap water. You can also use bottled water, but not distilled water. Use running water to rinse any extract stuck to the funnel. Swirl the bottle to make sure all of the ingredients are dissolving. Then continue to fill the bottle until there is about an inch of space left at the top. Screw the cap on tightly, and shake gently to make sure all of the sugar, yeast, and root beer extract have dissolved.

Step 5:

Let the bottle sit. Once all of the contents are mixed, let the bottle sit at room temperature for about 3 to 4 days without disturbing it. The bottle should feel hard when you squeeze it. Then move it to a cool place where the temperature stays below 65 degrees. If you do not move it to a cool place, the bottle could explode due to the pressure buildup, especially if you are making root beer during the summer.

Step 6:

Serve the root beer. Refrigerate the bottle overnight to chill the root beer. Be aware that pressure is built up inside the bottle, so open it slowly the first time. Pour carefully, as there will be a little yeast left at the bottom of the bottle, and this should be discarded.

Your homemade root beer may taste a little different than the kind you buy in cans, but that's because it is all natural. Making root beer at home is a fun project, and you can even get your kids involved.

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