Jean B. wrote:
> Sqwertz wrote:
>
>> I make my own very potent ginger ale.
>
> recipe? Coincidentally, I am sniffing around for recipes for root
> beer, sarsaparilla, birch beer.... I need to make a list of
> ingredients and go back to a few shops that carry the
> more-esoteric ingredients.

This weekend my wife was going through a box of ancient papers and in it
were ones I printed or copied in the late 1970s early 1980s. I'll see
if the page with root beer, birch beer and spruce beer is still
available.

> It is very hard to find sarsaparilla
> recipes that don't contain sassafras, and probably impossible to
> fond root beer ones that lack it. Birch beer I haven't yet looked
> for.

The one I've made did use sassafrass. I spent hours in the botany
section of the local university's library before I decided I was willing
to go "Yes, I know it's not allowed for human consumption. I'm using it
to make potpouri for the aroma" when I purchased it. No way will I
recommend anyne use sassafrass for their own consumption. Go read the
botany textbooks yourself and decide that for yourself.

> I think ginger ale is probably very easy. Do you get all
> the punch from the ginger, or do you use cayenne or some other
> chile? Do you use lemon?

I see very good Jamiacan style ginger ale in stores here in Chicao metro.