Ginger ale [Recipe]

Ingredients

Low-alcohol ginger ale:

Ginger root - 2-2.5 tbsp.

Water - 2 liters

Sugar - 150-200 gr

Yeast - 0.5-1 tsp.

Lemon - 1 spsp.

Non-alcoholic ginger ale:

Ginger root - 4-5 sm.

Lemon - 1 piece.

Carbonated water - 1,5-3 liters (to taste)

Sugar - 4-5 tbsp (to taste)

Mint/basil - to serve (optional)

Step by step recipe 

   Tired of coffee and tea! Not happy with juices and morsels? Prepare a ginger ale! This light, fizzy, moderately spicy drink is literally a breath of freshness and flavor in a succession of monotonous tea and coffee days.

   We are going to cook ginger ale in two variants. 

   Let's make a low-alcoholic and fast, non-alcoholic version of the drink. Shall we begin?!

   Prepare the ingredients according to the list.

Peel the ginger from the skin (the best way to do this is to use a regular spoon) and grate the root.

   To make the low-alcohol version: boil 2 liters of water. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and add the grated ginger and sugar. Stir everything thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved.

Add the juice of a lemon, stir it all again and cool to a temperature of 36-38 degrees.

Then add the yeast.

   Stir and pour the drink into plastic bottles, not filling 2-3 cm up to the neck of the bottle. Ideally choose darkened and thickened plastic bottles.

Infusion of ale in plastic bottles, in addition to convenience has a practical value - the stiffness of the bottle can be used to monitor the degree of readiness of the drink. Fill the bottle with the drink and wrap the cap tightly, squeeze the bottle with your fingers - at this stage it is pliable and fairly easy to squeeze.

   Leave the drink at room temperature for a day or two. After a few hours the bottle will be firmer to the touch - this means that the fermentation process inside is in full swing. When the bottle is completely hard, place it in the fridge for further aging and storage. A general recommendation: keep the drink for another 3-4 days before drinking it.

   Strain and bottle the drink again, so that it is ready for tasting in a few hours.

   Ginger ale made with this recipe usually contains about 2% alcohol.

   Now let's make a faster and no less tasty version of the drink - non-alcoholic ginger ale.

   Place grated ginger root in a small container. 

   Add sugar and lemon juice.

   Pour in about 1 cup of sparkling water and stir everything thoroughly until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to infuse for 5-10 minutes. Then strain the mixture and squeeze out the cake.

   Add a few slices of lemon and, if desired, some mint or basil to a pitcher or container to serve the drink.

   Pour in the concentrated ginger mixture and then dilute it with carbonated water to your liking. Stir gently and serve the drink.

       The ginger ale is ready!