crc32
New Member
This is a bit of a tangent to TomSD's thread ("Two kegs in and I'm sold using syrups for variety rocks!"). There, Tom is using purchased syrup concentrate to flavor carbonated water. His experience sounds great, but I'm not one to buy my syrup, as I am very partial to my own recipes...
So, does anyone know how to make a syrup concentrate that is stable, similar to the commercial variety, so that TomSD's setup could be replicated with home-brew syrup? I am particularly interested in adapting my ginger-ale recipe.
My rough thoughts are that one would have to extract water from the syrup, but, of course, though boiling is nice, it also drives off good flavors. And, since we're super concentrating sugars (and hopefully refrigerating), sterilization issues are lessened (have you ever seen anything grow on super-concentrated syrup that's been refrigerated? 2x Simple Syrup is generally shelf stable).
Therefore, I think that vacuum evaporation or freeze concentration may be the way to go.
So, has anyone attempted anything like this, or know where I should look for more information?
PS: Yes, I am aware that this may be considered by some to be overboard, but I may be looking at scaling this up for friends/family who have the soda penguin, and I like to buy my ginger when it's cheaper.
So, does anyone know how to make a syrup concentrate that is stable, similar to the commercial variety, so that TomSD's setup could be replicated with home-brew syrup? I am particularly interested in adapting my ginger-ale recipe.
My rough thoughts are that one would have to extract water from the syrup, but, of course, though boiling is nice, it also drives off good flavors. And, since we're super concentrating sugars (and hopefully refrigerating), sterilization issues are lessened (have you ever seen anything grow on super-concentrated syrup that's been refrigerated? 2x Simple Syrup is generally shelf stable).
Therefore, I think that vacuum evaporation or freeze concentration may be the way to go.
So, has anyone attempted anything like this, or know where I should look for more information?
PS: Yes, I am aware that this may be considered by some to be overboard, but I may be looking at scaling this up for friends/family who have the soda penguin, and I like to buy my ginger when it's cheaper.