Coca Cola was pretty well unknown there -- I would have been in my teens before I tasted and heartily disliked it.
But it does pack a punch, and it's economical and easy to make. You'll need good strong bottles for it, with good caps too, because it has been known to blow the tops off when it's maturing! For this reason, it's a good idea to use big plastic pop bottles. Not as glamorous, but if you feel they are rock hard it's time to take them to the sink, and carefully release the pressure by slowly unscrewing the cap.
I've been surprised to know that some people here have never bought a pineapple because they don't know how to peel them. This is how you do it!
- Cut the spiny top off, and stand the flat surface on a cutting board
- With a large kitchen knife, cut straight down the peel. You may find you have some brown little spots all over it. That's fine.
- In the centre of the fruit you'll notice the lighter-coloured core. Cut straight down 4 times from top to bottom, and you'll be left with the skin, the core and the delicious fruit.
- The fruit can be enjoyed after it is cut into chunks.
- The skin, without the top, core and bottom, is used for the beer.
Here's the recipe!
- Skins from two large pineapples, rinsed with clean water
- 450 g white sugar
- 8 litres water
- 35g raisins
- 7.5g 1pkg dry yeast
This is what you do...
Add the water, sugar and raisins.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Sprinkle the dried yeast over the mixture.
Allow the yeast to activate for 30 minutes, then stir everything well.
Cover and leave in a cool place for 24 hours.
Strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth, and leave for 12 hours. (This is when the children can drink it)!
Fill the bottles, cap, refrigerate and use within two days! Or, keep refrigerated, and check the bottles and contents as I described above.