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6/26/2011 -- I make old fashion root beer with yeast can I use the plastic bottles and turn caps instead of glass bottles. They are very old bottles and if I break any more I need a replacement.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, the plastic bottles will work just fine!
9/30/2010 -- I plan on mixing rootbeer and force carbonating it. Do I still add the sugar, or do I just use the extract and water?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You'll need to add sugar to the extract in order to sweeten it, but no additional sugar to carbonate it.
In other words, just sweeten to taste, force carbonate, and enjoy!
5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865
Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739
9/14/2009 -- Can I reuse the plastic caps on the plastic bottles?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, they can be re-used. Just be sure to sanitize both the bottle AND the caps before refilling. Iodophor works best for that.
6/10/2009 -- Im trying to find some heavy, unthreaded glass 12 oz. bottles for my root beer brewing...Do you have any idea where I can find them?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sure, from us!
Here is a link to that product:
http://store.homebrewheaven.com/Product57
6/13/2008 -- We make root beer; have for years using glass bottles & crimp caps. Will these bottles & caps work for root beer, which keeps building up carbonation pressure? And, can the screw-caps be reused? Thank you.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, these bottles work very nicely for soda pops. They are much safer than glass, and you can feel them to see how much pressure there is.
Yes, the screw on caps can be reused.
2/16/2008 -- can i use twist off beer bottles to bottle my homebrew and if so where can i get the caps
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, you can use the plastic twist-off bottles. Here is a link to the replacement caps:
http://store.homebrewheaven.com/Product610
1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!
Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
Here is a video of our shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will actually answer as long as it's business hours!
1/12/2007 -- I am getting ready to make my first kit which I got from you (West Coast Blonde Ale). In anticipating bottling is there a big difference in plastic versus glass? I'm refering specifically to the 25 oz plastic bottle on your site - seems like a good size and easy with twist tops. Shipping would be very reasonable comparatively also. Are they reuseable?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Very little difference at all. Maybe for LONG term storage glass is better, but hey...who does that? I prefer to drink my beer than to look at it.
Yes, they are re-usable.
1/4/2007 -- if i order a soda extract what else do i need ie:yeast? etc
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Just use the concentrate, some champagne yeast and sugar.
As far as equipment, you'll need something to mix it in, and strong bottles and caps. These can be glass, and you can apply caps with a capper, or you can use plastic screw type bottle. Don't forget some sanitizer, too.
11/30/2006 -- I make a homemade egg-nog at Christmas. Will the plastic bottles be ok to use? Would the egg-nog stay as well in plastic as it does in glass bottles?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Can't say we're experts in egg nog, sorry. Plastic bottles should work just fine, as far as we know.
11/5/2006 -- I live in Seattle, can I come and pick up the bottles in Everett? Do you have a "brick and mortar" store?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You sure can. It is literally made of bricks and mortar, in South Everett. Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
425-355-8865
Hours are 10-6:30 M-F
and 9:30-5 on Saturdays
Here is a video of the place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Take a look around!
1/6/2006 -- Will these twist off bottles work for homebrew? Does the twist cap make a good seal? If not, can these bottles accept a regular cap?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, these bottles work just fine for short term storage (less than say, 6 months) for homebrew. The caps we provide makes a good seal.
9/10/2005 -- Can you also put the root beer in a 5 gallon keg?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Absolutely. That is what they were originally designed for.
5/20/2005 -- Hi - Love your store and am now just about a regular - I hope. Can you give me a Cliff Notes version of soda making - what I need, supplies, how to, etc. I think it would be fun for my kids. They would love to make rootbeer, I think.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Thank YOU, Kim.
Making soda pop is easy, real easy. To give it a try, order a few flavors, and start saving your plastic soda bottles...the kind you buy soda in now. They will wash out nicely, just save the caps.
The soda flavors come with complete instructions, but here is the "Cliff Notes" version:
To make 4 gallons:
Stir together the flavoring, the recommended amount of (table) sugar, and a little champagne yeast. Bottle the soda into plastic bottles (the 2 liter type bottles are handy). Store your bottles in a warm place, and check them every now and then. When they are HARD (not squishy) they are ready to drink. It may take a week, it may take four weeks, depending on temperature. Refrigerate and enjoy!
We have LOTS of teachers who make rootbeer as a class science project, so be prepared to tell the kids HOW it happens. They'll want to know! :)
4/9/2005 -- This isn’t really a question but a tip for the soda pop makers out there: After you bottle your soda place bottles in a plastic storage bin (with cover) and place bin in an out of the way spot for fermentation to take place. Should you have a bottle burst it will greatly minimize the cleanup!
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Good advice, if using glass bottles. Plastic is much safer.
10/25/2004 -- is it possible to make soda into beer minus the hops or is there somthing in the extract that prevents over fermantation?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: No; there are preservatives in the soda extracts to prevent too much fermentation.
7/19/2004 -- My favorite soda is Vanilla Coke. I'd like to make it and put on tap in a 5 gallon keg. Should I mix cola extract with cream soda extract, or cola with a vanilla flavoring? I'd hate to ruin 5 gallons of soda to figure this out.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I'll confess that I haven't tried this modification. My guess, however, is to use the cola extract with vanilla flavoring. You would probably have to use a lot of cream soda flavoring to get the flavor you are after. Just a guess!
Another twist is to add a whole vanilla bean, and let it sit for a week or two before drinking. We do this with our Vanilla Weizen beer kit, and it works well.
7/15/2004 -- I have the 1/2 litre green plastic bottles and obviously plan on reusing the bottles. Can I purchase the caps separately? I can't find them on line.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes you can. I just added them to our website. Here is a link to them:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=1301
6/23/2004 -- If I order a soda extract, what else do I need to make a batch of soda?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: For ingredients, you'll need water, sugar and yeast. We recommend champagne yeast.
For equipment, you'll need a bucket, a long spoon, some bottles, caps and capper. Oh yes, some sanitizer is good too.
3/19/2004 -- I would like to know how you would rate you soda extract kits if I followed the direction's that they come with. Would you rate the end product as like a name brand soda or an off brand or possibly somewhere in between? I usally only drink pepsi and good root beer and cream soda. Do you think that it is possible to add a little carmel to the cola to get a taste similar to adding Jack.
Thanks
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I'll confess that I'm no soda pop connoisseur, but I would rate them as very good. I've made root beer, ginger beer (my favorite) and cream soda.
With any of the extracts, it's easy to "alter" them to your tastes by using more (or less) extract to obtain a "premium" soda flavor. Many people also use honey in their root beer for added flavor and maltodextrin to boost the body. In short, you can create the flavor you want! Adding carmel should be just as easy as long as it doesn't contain preservatives.
Jack? If you mean Jack Daniels, that can be simulated too, by using our alcohol flavorings (in the Distillation section) to make a non-alcoholic soda with an attitude.
1/27/2004 -- What grade of plastic are these? Are they HDPE or PETE?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: They are commonly called PET, NOT HDPE.
1/24/2004 -- How come the yeast does not create alcohol? And what is the yeast for?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Wine yeast DOES create alcohol. The function of yeast in making wine is to convert sugars into alcohol and CO2.
When making soda pops, there is a preservative that prevents the yeast from converting too much of the sugars into alcohol, however. Normally you end up with less than 1/2 of 1 percent alcohol. The yeast in this case is used to produce CO2 to carbonate the soda pop.
11/21/2003 -- Can you make any of the soda pop sugar free?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: To make it completely sugar free, you must use a keg to force carbonate it.
There is a LOW calorie version recipe in the box, however, using artificial sweetener and just a very small amount of real sugar (for the bottle carbonation).
11/2/2003 -- My father wants to make root beer. I understand that you have ingredients for the root beer but where can i get the equipment to bottle and make the root beer in?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Right here at Homebrew Heaven! We have bottling equipment in the Beer Brewing section, and food grade buckets etc in the Carboys/Fermenters section.
Here are links to take you there:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&CategoryID=10
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&CategoryID=26
10/25/2003 -- With the Soda kits, is it as simple as mixing it together and then bottle it? Is there heating, cooling, etc? I assume I can use glass bottles and my bench capper. How much does the kit yield?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It's that simple. Mix it together, add yeast, and bottle. No heating, cooling etc., just wait for it to carbonate. Yes, standard bottles and a capper work just fine. Each bottle of extract makes about 4 U.S. gallons (about 42 standard size, 12 oz bottles).
10/25/2003 -- I've been a home winemaker and am diving into brewing now. If I drink it all within six month, is their any problem with these plastic bottles "breathing" and causing oxidation that glass bottles don't have a problem with?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Not really. I wouldn't go much beyond 6 months, however.
If you need help drinking it all, we can help!
10/14/2003 -- Can you mix the soda extract with water in a 5 gal. cornelius keg and then force carbonate it?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Absolutely! That's the best way possible, in my ( not so) humble opinion.
10/3/2003 -- If you make rootbeer and let it sit long enough, does the yeast fermentation create any significant amount of alcohol?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Not really. It produces less than 1/2 of 1% alcohol. It would take a heckofalota soda pop to give a buzz.
9/24/2003 -- My husband wants to make homemade root beer and bottle it for future use, what kind of supplies do we need to start?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The easy way is to use the concentrate that we sell, some wine yeast and sugar.
As far as equipment, you'll need something to mix it in, and strong bottles and caps. These can be glass, and you can apply caps with a capper, or you can use plastic screw type bottle. Don't forget some sanitizer, too.
9/6/2003 -- As with your beer brewing kits, are the soda making kits complete? Nothing like brewing with the family, but the kids aren't going to be allowed to test the beer.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The soda extracts are the flavorings necessary to make soda pop, and have instructions on how to use them. We sell the yeast separately. You can use plain, household sugar, or corn sugar (we sell that separately also). Oh yes..you'll need water!
It will also be necessary to provide bottles, caps etc. and something to stir it all together in. They are not part of the kit.
8/19/2003 -- Will these green tinted bottles protect the beer from sunlight like the brown bottles do? As you can tell I am new at this.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: No, they don't protect from sunlight as well, but if you keep your bottled beer out of sunlight (or fluorescent lights)it doesn't matter. It is more of a concern for commercial beers that sit on shelves for years than it is for homebrew. We tend to ahhh...consume it more quickly.
Hey, we were ALL new to this at one time. No shame in that!
8/17/2003 -- Is this the proper champagne wine yeast to use in making home rootbeer? If not what is? I was told to use dry ice or champagne yeast. If this is right , how do I use it and how much?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, this yeast will work well.
For our soda flavors, use about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 4 gallons. One 5 gram package is more than enough for this much. For "other" recipes, flavors etc...frankly, I don't know.
7/28/2003 -- I have never made soda. How long does it take, and what is the shelf life? I was thinking about making some for my children at Christmas.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Good idea! Kids love seeing (and helping) with the process, as well as drinking the product. It takes about a half-hour to stir it together, and about 2-3 weeks for the soda to fully carbonate. If you bottle into plastic (soda) bottles, you can tell it's ready when the bottles are hard.
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