Have ready two gallons of soft water; one quart of wheat bran; a
large handful of dried apples; half a pint of molasses; a small
handful of hops; half a pint of strong fresh yeast, and a piece of
sassafras root the size of an egg.
Put all the ingredients (except the molasses and yeast) at once
into a large kettle. Boil it till the apples are quite soft. Put
the molasses into a small clean tub or a large pan. Set a hair
sieve over the vessel, and strain the mixture through it. Let it
stand till it becomes only milk-warm, and then stir in the yeast.
Put the liquor immediately into the keg or jugs, and let it stand
uncorked to ferment. Fill the jugs quite full, that the liquor in
fermenting may run over. Set them in a large tub. When you see
that the fermentation or working has subsided, cork it, and it
will be fit for use next day.
Two large table-spoonfuls of ginger stirred into the molasses will
be found an improvement.
If the yeast is stirred in while the liquor is too warm, it will
be likely to turn sour.
If the liquor is not put immediately into the jugs, it will not
ferment well.
Keep it in a cold place. It will not in warm weather be good more
than two days. It is only made for present use.