Carbonating Root Beer

[Chris Alvey]

I'd like to make some Root Beer. Is there a trick to getting it carbonated correctly. Here is the conventional wisdom I have read thus far:

*Put cold water and root beer juice together in keg
*Shake
*Set at 30 PSI
*Don't try to carbonate the water then add root beer juice because it will foam over

It seems simple enough. For those who have done this successfully, is this about right ?

[john mills]

Sounds about right to me.
Don't forget the sugar.
It might also be a benefit to have whatever serving tubing/tap reserved only for the root beer. You don't want your summer saison tasting like sasparilla.
Oh, and a longer length hose to balance the increased keg pressure to keep foaming down a bit.

[Don]

I serve my root beer at 20 psi and have a 15' hose. This is perfect for serving at 43 degs doesn't foam up in the glass and is real fizzy. I keep it at 30 psi for the first couple of days.
If you want it to carbonate quicker put it in your car and drive around for a while.
I find my root beer takes about 4 to 7 days for it to taste just right.

My last couple of batches I have cut down on the amount of regular sugar and added 1 pound of dark cane sugar. (This is my secret don't tell anyone)
I'm going to try honey in my next batch.

And as John says keep the keg, hose and all other root beer stuff only for root beer.

[Chris Norrick]

I've added honey to batches and my brother does the same. Very tasty. I've never gotten that nice frothy head I wanted. I'm sure it takes some industrial chemicals to do that. At 20 to 30 it's nice and fizzy, it just doesn't stick around. Even with the honey.

[Chris Alvey]

Thanks all ... so far so good. I used a bit different product to make this one. It's actually a sugar-free mix that is supposed to go for those counter top units.

http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Diet-Root-Beer-P124.aspx

[john mills]

Sweet!
I haven't seen that one before.

[Don]

Thanks all ... so far so good. I used a bit different product to make this one. It's actually a sugar-free mix that is supposed to go for those counter top units.

http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Diet-Root-Beer-P124.aspx

Chris
Have you tried the rootbeer yet?
I'm curious to see how it taste.

[Chris Alvey]

I did - it was pretty good for 'diet' root beer. Drinkable, but 'chemically' if that makes sense. Not nearly as rich and tasty as the one I had at your (Don's) house.

[Dutch]

If this mix has some sugar substitute? you might have to be careful for sweetness "shelf-life" maybe only good for 90 days or so?

[Chris Alvey]

Yea, it had Splenda. I will keep an eye on that- thanks for the heads-up.