CHOW Root Beer Recipe

• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 (5-inch) licorice root, broken into pieces
• 3/4 cup chopped dried sarsaparilla root
• 2 tablespoons dried sassafras root bark
• 1 tablespoon chopped dried burdock root
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
• 3 heads star anise
• 3 quarts distilled water (12 cups)
• 2 cups lightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 (1/8-inch-wide) strips of orange zest
• 1/8 teaspoon ale yeast (also called brewers yeast)

1. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise.
2. Place vanilla bean, roots, and spices in a medium saucepan filled with 2 quarts (8 cups) of the distilled water, and bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
4. Stir in sugar, molasses, and orange zest, and continue to simmer for 10 minutes more, stirring often until sugar is completely dissolved.
5. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes.
6. Pour remaining 1 quart (4 cups) of distilled water into the clean glass jug.
7. Line a fine mesh strainer with several layers of rinsed cheesecloth.
8. Set the strainer inside the large funnel, and strain root mixture into the jug.
9. Place the cap on and allow mixture to cool, aiming for a lukewarm temperature (about 70 degrees F to 75 degrees F).
10. This will take several hours.
11. Once mixture is cooled, shake vigorously.
12. Combine yeast and 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl.
13. Let sit about 5 minutes.
14. Add yeast liquid to the jug through the funnel, screw the cap back on, and shake vigorously.
15. Now youre ready to .
16. Place the 4 filled and sealed bottles and the test bottle upright in a cool spot at room temperature (about 70 degrees F to 75 degrees F) to ferment (we found that the bathtub is ideal).
17. After about 48 hours, check the carbonation by sampling your test bottle.
18. If its sufficient, place labels on the bottles and refrigerate them to halt the fermentation process; if not, let them sit for another day.
19. We found that 3 days was perfect each time.

vanilla bean, licorice root, sarsaparilla root, root bark, burdock root, cinnamon stick, anise, water, brown sugar, molasses, orange zest, yeast

Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/chow-root-beer-10681 (may not work)