Homemade Root Beer from the Great Depression
Learn how one resourceful mother brewed delicious root beer during the Great Depression with this charming newspaper clipping and recipe from the 1930s.
Great Depression Root Beer that You Make Yourself
Learn how a clever mother made root beer during the Great Depression through this wonderful newspaper clipping and recipe from the 1930s.
We’re sharing something special today—a link to a direct image from the past. A newspaper clipping from the 1970s shows a letter from Mrs. Garland H. Hope of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. In it, she remembers how her mother made root beer during the Great Depression. Her family made a fizzy drink from root beer extract, sugar and yeast in about five days. The hostess of the column, Melba, continued with a few more instructions and all-important safety tips to recreate this recipe.
This recipe is a great example of making do with what you have as well as a fun project to try today. Let’s dive into this piece of living history.
Original Great Depression Root Beer Recipe.
Ingredients.
1/2 cake compressed yeast (or 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast).
5 gallons lukewarm water.
Use 3 to 4 lbs. sugar.
1 (3 oz.) bottle root beer extract.
Instructions
Dissolve yeast in a cup of lukewarm water.
Mix all ingredients together and stir well. Adjust sugar and extract to taste.
Pour into sterilized bottles. Leave ½ inch at the top of each bottle to minimize spoilage.
Cork bottles securely or seal with a crown or stopper.
Put the bottles sideways in a warm spot (70-80°F) where they will ferment, and when they get effervescent, you will know they are ready. This will take roughly 5 days, but might take a bit longer in cooler weather.
After fermentation, move the bottles to a cool place, refrigerating just before drinking.
Important Safety Note.
Do not use non-returnable beverage bottles, fruit jars, or catsup bottles, as they may not withstand the pressure of fermentation.
Historical Insight.
Homemade root beer like this was quite the treat during the Depression years, allowing families to create their own special drink at little cost. Back then, it was easy to get root beer extract, and with the addition of yeast and sugar, families could enjoy their very own soda pop—which was often better than what they could buy with money.
Modern Tips.
You can find root beer extract in groceries or health food stores, or you can look online.
For a small batch, reduce the ingredients proportionally.
To prevent bottles from bursting with excess pressure, always sterilize bottles and check regularly.
Estimated Cost (Today).
Yeast: $0.25.
Sugar: $3.00.
Root Beer Extract: $2.50.
Total: Approx. 5 gallons of root beer for $5.75 (that’s less than $0.11 for a 12 oz).
Sources
Original newspaper clipping from the 1970s.
Library of Congress (www.loc.gov).
National Archives (www.archives.gov).
Smithsonian Institution (www.si.edu).
USDA Nutrition Resources (www.nutrition.gov).