Ginger Beer Plant

Tiggrx · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:26 PM

Was just wondering if anyone here has ever had a 'Ginger Beer Plant'? By this I mean a weird gelatinous substance (apparently a combination of a yeast and a bacteria) which you feed with sugar and ginger to make ginger beer.

I obtained a culture of this recently and have just bottled up the first batch of ginger beer. However it smells pretty revolting - was just wondering if this was normal. It is supposed to be left for a few days to get some fizz, so maybe the smell will disappear.

here's a picture of the beast

LynM · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 10:12 PM

Made gallons of the stuff in the dim and distant past (like 40 years ago!), but don't ever recall it looking anything like that! Shall go away and see if I can find the recipe.....I may be some time....!

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 10:14 PM

I had one years ago..It never ever smelt revolting..
Tasted fantastic bottled.

Did you have to feed it every day with sugar.

Maybe you should throw this one and start a fresh one.

look on google to see what it should look like for comparison.

Tiggrx · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 06:35 AM

Thanks for the responses.

It seems there are two types of Ginger Beer Plant. Firstly a 'sediment type' mixture of yeast, ginger and sugar which you can create yourself and secondly the gelatinous culture type which I have (which apparently is the 'real ginger beer plant').

I shall persevere and see how it matures. The instructions which came with it are rather different to some I have seen on the web. I shall try and different method with the next batch.

LynM · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 09:32 AM

Yes, my recipe was for the sediment type. A bit messy when you make it up and divide the sediment for the next batch, but definitely a simple way of doing it. OH used to drink it as fast as I could make with it when he was harvesting and getting the straw bales in. Somehow, I seem to remember that those summers were longer, drier and hotter than recently....but that's another story.

Let us know how you get on.

tufftie · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:50 AM

Old yeast can smell rank!

Hobjob · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 05:20 PM

First time I got tiddly was on home made ginger beer!

Had two bottles explode over the years - floors
stay sticky for months and glass goes eerywhere!!

Jim Ford · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynM

OH used to drink it as fast as I could make with it when he was harvesting and getting the straw bales in. Somehow, I seem to remember that those summers were longer, drier and hotter than recently....

.... and the scenery blurrier and wobblier!
;^)

Jim

Tiggrx · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 06:11 PM

The first batch is still sitting in bottles (plastic!) waiting for fizz to develop - which doesn't seem to be happening - think this batch was a bit of a dud.

The plant is currently making a new batch and so far no nasty smell so fingers crossed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobjob

First time I got tiddly was on home made ginger beer!

My first time was neat vodka - as far as I can remember...