How to Make Ginger Beer - The Victorian Way

Buy your copy of our 'Victorian Way' cookery book here: bit.ly/2RPyrvQ
Mrs Crocombe's recipe for Ginger Beer was copied from The Field newspaper, a field sports magazine first published in 1853 and still going today. Made by soaking ginger, lemon, bread and yeast in water, this Victorian ginger beer is a little insipid for modern tastes and far from the sweet varieties we enjoy in tin cans today. But with the addition of a sweetener such as honey or a dash of sweet whisky, this is a beautifully light and refreshing summer drink.
Special thanks to Louise and the gardening team for preparing the flowers in this video from the gardens at Audley End House. Plan your visit today: bit.ly/2S2vY2D
English Heritage is a charity that cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites. Find out how you can support our work here: bit.ly/38Cv9lA
INGREDIENTS
(Makes 4 litres / 7 pt / 4 1⁄4 quarts)
4 litres / 7 pt / 4 1⁄4 quarts water
2-3 tbsp sugar
30 g/1 oz fresh ginger, chopped
and bruised
zest of 1 lemon, cut off without pith
1 slice of thick-cut bread
4 tsp fresh (compressed) yeast, or 2 tsp dried yeast
METHOD
Heat the measured water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add the ginger and lemon zest. Allow to cool to room temperature and decant into a food-grade bucket or a large bowl.
Toast the bread. Mix the yeast with a little warm water to form a thick paste and spread this on the toast. Add the toast to the ginger beer mixture. Cover and leave to stand at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve lined with kitchen paper or, better still, muslin or a jelly bag. Decant into clip-top jars or bottles, which will allow any gas to escape if it gets a bit lively.
Leave for at least 4 days and up to a few months.
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[@spools.i1311]

When the world needed Mrs. Crocombe the most, she came back.

[@theunbearablejuan]

I need my daily poor shaming.

[@raphaelledesma9393]

I think I need her everyday.

[@idkwhatiamdoing7715]

@@theunbearablejuanyep same

[@leechowning2712]

With beer. I mean seriously... We really got lucky today.

[@stigyanblue1442]

The hero we want and need

[@takayanagi-senseissurprise2104]

“as Mr. Lincoln found out when he found a bottle at the back of the cupboard that must have been over a year and then later his footman asleep under a tree” OOOH! Spill the tea sis! 🍵 🫖 👌

[@VerneditheSnail]

Bahahaha! XD

[@adamthevirgo9297]

She would never spill tea. That would be quite unprofessional and would make a mess

[@rickrollrizal2747]

I wonder what Mr. Lincoln did to the footman

[@patrickmccurry1563]

@@rickrollrizal2747 Challenge him to a drinking contest, because if one strong drink knocked him out...

[@ANDY-ie7nh]

@@rickrollrizal2747 He probably bent him over.

[@raecrothers1420]

I want an episode of Mrs. Crocombe going to the grocer. Her grocer sounds so much better stocked than my current supermarket.

[@GeekyGirlsNightIn]

Right!?

[@padraicodomhnall2760]

That would be a treat!

[@note5819]

yea i wanna see how suet and gelatine are sold/purchased

[@NamNguyen-kc6ud]

we need this comment to be on TOP!!!!!! EVERYONE LET MAKE THIS COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!

[@KyrstOak]

@@harrietdean3460 What? What episode? I think you replied to the wrong comment.

[@FelinaofL2]

"There are some parts of London where the water is not nice." BROAD STREET PUMP

[@LeafHuntress]

John Snow knows.

[@ameliarussell5023]

when the cholera epidemic hits 😳😔👊

[@duong-chan5327]

Love the subtle shade.

[@adude8424]

(in german accent) "it's funny because it's an understatement "

[@MagicPlants]

facts!!!

[@rachelbrenner4092]

"Schweppes, they are everywhere." When did Schweppes start mass production of their gingerbeer?

[@adityasixviandyj7334]

I found this one Wikipedia. they start as a company selling Carbonated mineral water in 1783. Then they start London branch in 1792. then start produce & selling ginger ale in 1870... so if we taken by Mrs. Crocombe era (1880s), basically they already in production 10 years... that's why she said they are everywhere.

[@paraboo8994]

@@adityasixviandyj7334 thanks for looking that up for us! 👍🏼

[@mrbear1302]

They sell a popular ginger ale!

[@kirklurkpu4470]

@@adityasixviandyj7334 goddamn such entrepreneurs they are. 😂

[@saifullee4288]

What's the difference between a gingerbeer and a gingerale?

[@jakechandley6241]

Schweppes: I wonder where all our bottles have got to? Mrs Crocombe: 😏

[@naessaw]

Thought the same 😂

[@mamadragon2581]

Mrs. Crocombe AND ginger beer? This is what heaven must look like.

[@alexdavis5766]

She’s back!! Rejoice

[@raijinenel3116]

he

[@spacewolfcub]

🥳 Yay!

[@firstchord2323]

One of the new videos I truly get excited about! So lovely and wholesome.

[@lifeisfundisney6029]

Witch cackling rejoice!!!!!

[@ruthsoriano6886]

Let the trumpets SOUND!!!📯📯📯🎉

[@EnglishHeritage]

Thank you for watching! We hope you enjoy Mrs Crocombe's latest recipe, ideal for hot summer days. Here are the answers to some questions you might have about this recipe... DID PEOPLE AT AUDLEY END HOUSE REALLY DRINK WATER FROM THE ROOF? Yes they did! The water was brought down to a boiler behind the cooking range (ovens). That way it was kept nice and hot and most of what might be harmful would boil off. But we don’t recommend collecting your own roof water today. As Mrs Crocombe explains, drinking water came from standpipes which would be fresher and more pleasant to drink cold. IS THIS GINGER BEER SWEET? Certainly not by our standards today. If you decide to make this recipe, please note that when Mrs Crocombe says that it isn't sweet, it really isn't - this is very unlike a modern ginger beer. You may want to add sugar or honey for modern tastes. IS IT ALCOHOLIC? Yes, this is alcoholic, but not much. If drunk fresh, it should be under the 0.5% alcohol required for it to be labelled 'dealcoholised' in the UK. But the longer you leave it, the stronger it will get. WOULD IT BE SERVED COLD? Yes, this would generally be served as a cold drink. Though the Victorians didn't have freezers, ice was imported and so fairly easy to obtain. However, it had generally been chiselled from rivers and ice floes so would not be dropped directly into the drink. Instead, the bottles would likely be chilled in an ice bucket or a larger 'refrigerator' (a large box stuffed with ice). CAN I USE MODERN POWDERED YEAST Yes, absolutely. Use 4 teaspoons of fresh yeast, or 2 teaspoons of dried yeast. See the video description for the full recipe details. If you have any other questions, leave a comment and we'll do our our best to get back to you.

[@welcometotheinternet574]

I am sorry, but I don’t seem to understand one thing: Where were the bottles from and why were people supposed to send them back?

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

@@welcometotheinternet574 I think they are from beer purchased in pubs- you needed something in which to take the beverage away. Next time around, you take them back, and they would be washed and reused. I could be wrong, but I remember reading something like that.

[@MsRamington]

@@thekingsdaughter4233 Ironically that is still how alcohol I bought in the local taverns in the "hood" in Cape Town , South Africa -well in my area. You take the empty beer bottles to purchase others, minus the bottle fee. What you know - recycling lol

[@karentruempy397]

I was wondering what the bottles were made of-they're pretty neat!! Also, Kathy is a pretty lucky lady to have the opportunity to work with all those antique kitchen items!!

[@aurorapapillon4883]

Would one of the ginger beer recipes for keeping longer be in the Victorian Way cook book?

[@homewoodstoves]

What a beautiful copper funnel! 😍

[@EsmeChat]

Great to see you here. I love your videos!

[@OofusTwillip]

Ginger beer (with real ginger) is excellent for treating an upset stomach. Rainwater from a cistern or rain barrel was much prized for hair-washing.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

The days are gone when rain water was the softest and purest you could get... :-\

[@PeachPlastic]

@@thekingsdaughter4233 :,-(

[@VerneditheSnail]

Except when making Turbot... Mrs. Crocombe had said not to use cistern nor pipe water, instead to use spring water.

[@carolinefeoli1397]

@@VerneditheSnail what is spring water?

[@conradmills4977]

@@carolinefeoli1397 water that naturally bubbles up from underground in the same spot for an extended period of time.

[@thebratqueen]

I love how you included the bits of history along with the recipe, such as where the hot water came from. Great addition to the food.

[@TiffyVella1]

And where ingredients came from is fascinating. Indian ginger! Imported ice!

[@kyrab7914]

As well as Mrs Crocombe's personal history. In the behind the scenes they mention how some of her family actually donated a book with her old recipes. Included were many recipes for ginger beer, including this one from Lady Braybrooke (sp?). She also did work a few places before Lord and Lady Braybrooke

[@laurajayne5681]

I did a jiggle and sang “Mrs Crocombe is backkkk” honestly these videos make me so happy 🥺

[@aldikristianto2728]

I can't imagine what would happen to us when someday Miss Crocombe run out of recipes....

[@1223jfields]

I have thought about this so many times!

[@Diemme_]

May we never know such a time!

[@inisipisTV]

From the numbers of Mrs, Crocombe videos this would hardly even touch less than half of the recipes of any English manor's cook, where the rich nobility in those time are expected to host dinners and parties to countless guest. There also the normal daily fare to the master and the to the servants. So we still have a long way to go. Of course some in those recipes might be to exotic or too 'special' for todays audience, so they have to pick those that today are still practical but also interesting.

[@vtron9832]

Don’t worry, considering they upload every month or so, we’ll have plenty left.

[@dicksdrugsanddebutantes9305]

She can make modern recipes but the victorian way

[@unrulycrow6299]

Always a pleasure to have Mrs. Crocombe/Kathy grace our screens!

[@YouGetlost]

The fact that I have these ingredients at my house is weird

[@Woahitsaturtlegynecologist]

Same lol

[@VerdureVision]

Not weird…delightful! ❤️

[@johnhirschy3181]

First time that's ever happened for me with one of these videos. I even bought a microplane recently for grating citrus zest!

[@TiffyVella1]

Not weird..but perhaps you have a properly stocked pantry?

[@alexandratirello2251]

Yall all realised the Sweppes reference cuz they make ginger ale 😵 so cool

[@msmltvcktl]

*Schweppes

[@llantup]

They make "ginger ale", not ginger ale. Theirs is weak sauce.

[@hi-ve1cw]

They first started making ginger beer in 1870, ten years before this series with Mrs Crocombe is set

[@Wayward666]

@@hi-ve1cw or this could be like a foreshadowing?

[@hi-ve1cw]

@@Wayward666 Not foreshadowing, as schweppes started making ginger beer BEFORE this series is set. Its just historically accurate, the real Mrs Crocombe would have been able to buy schweppes at the time

[@heatherinparis]

How delightful to see Avis/Kathy on our screens once again!

[@salaltschul3604]

That's Mrs Crocombe to you!

[@thebeastfromwithin3024]

Who and who? All I know with Mrs. Crocombe

[@ladyghirahim5418]

@@thebeastfromwithin3024 Kathy Hipperson is the actress in these videos. She plays the role of Avis Crocombe, who used to be a real person in history in the 1800’s

[@thebeastfromwithin3024]

@@ladyghirahim5418 oh. She's great, she really plays this character well.

[@thepettiestpersonever6534]

I always thought Mr Lincoln made all the alcoholic beverages. 🤔 Side note: I wonder if Mrs. Crocombe ever had a few too many ginger beers and flat out told Mary Ann what she thought of her. 🤣

[@nezumixp6744]

Lmaoo 😂

[@pinkcupcake4717]

Poor Mary Ann, so much shade!

[@danielleking262]

LMAO

[@mrdasilver]

Mrs. Crocombe: "So I'm now going to bottle it. I've got quite a few [bottles] here. You ARE supposed to send them back. But not everyone does." Also Mrs. Crocombe: Shows a collection of bottles she was supposed to have returned. #thuglife

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

Thank you for the laugh

[@marycanary86]

"oh look! this one also happens to have come from a place i used to work! :D :D :D WHAT A FUNNY C O I N C I D E N C E"

[@matasa7463]

I mean, they had deposits, so she basically is renting them. If she keeps them then effectively she bought them.

[@mrdasilver]

​@@marycanary86 😂😂😂

[@corkscrewfork]

I love this series all the time, but I have to admit that it's one of my favorites to binge when I'm anxious. Something about watching Mrs. Crocombe cook and hearing her talking to us like we're there, is just really calming 🙂

[@izabela2709]

You too? 🤗😎

[@breakingbadheisenberg9703]

Me too ✋

[@clarkevander]

"There some parts of London where the water is not nice" *Cholera epidemic flashbacks*

[@christinemeleg4535]

The cause of cholera wasn't known then and the "not so nice" water was contaminated with feces,cholera epidemics in the making.

[@sba6796]

YES, WE MISSED MRS. CROCOMBE SO MUCH ❤️❤️❤️

[@athigogo7631]

Mrs Crocombe had me clapping my hands like a little girl.

[@ShellyS2060]

Me too

[@ednacole7148]

Same

[@rochelleb973]

I literally just squealed when this notification came across my screen🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@corvuscorone7735]

Me too :)

[@GPWfiles]

I love how she still wears the dress she made from the quilt lady braybrook gave her

[@bleh329]

Also, apparently Schweppes has been around for 238 years. 😲

[@NEWBOTANICA]

the ghosts at audley end must be tripping balls.. "she's dressed like she's from the 1800's but whats all this new fangled equipment she's talking to? im very confused"

[@RovingPunster]

For those who like ginger ale, and are not limited to traditional methods, you can make a much cleaner tasting and better carbonated version by skipping the bread and yeast, and force carbonating in a soda keg. I also find that honey, agave or a simple syrup made from jaggery (cane sugar) taste a LOT better than white granulated sugar.

[@DanielVartanov]

I'll come back later when the comments are brewed enough.

[@EnglishHeritage]

Give it about two days.

[@Andy_U]

She's here again at last! Must have been self-isolating all this time.

[@patrickmccurry1563]

Must have been that dreaded scarlet fever outbreak.

[@verezinek5536]

The Ultimate cooking channel for steampunk

[@ryanwagner7980]

Was half expecting her to plug the bottles with pigeons feet.

[@thepettiestpersonever6534]

I suspect when the ginger beer is poured into a drinking glass, then that's when the feet are added. *chefs kiss*

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

😂🤣😂😩😩

[@januzzell8631]

I think I bruised a finger clicking on the video! Yay for Mrs Crocombe ^*^

[@P3891]

I always wondered how to make ginger beer and then the notification pops up. How fortunate

[@chiuchiu1852]

I'm so happy for her comeback ♥️♥️♥️

[@indigothecat]

Ah, Mrs. Crocombe's Brewery. The Braybrookes are quite lucky.

[@chilibreath]

And the footmen.

[@jenniferbassfirstchannel]

I just ordered off Amazon the cookbook for this series I’m so excited to be getting it!

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

Brown noser 😉😉😉

[@fancypapercutz]

It's been to long since i heard " for this recipe you will need..."

[@thewitchykitchen]

In the video she says to strain it so it stops fermenting. That’s not correct. It wouldn’t get more alcoholic if the fermentation had stopped. What it does do, if slow it down and prevent flash fermentation which will pop the bottles. In our household we make ginger beer and several wines every year. Ginger beer are truly refreshing and easy to make. I do recommend though that you close it with an air lock instead of a cork or lid, just to be in the safe side. No one wants exploding bottles 😘

[@keitha.355]

Last time I was this early I was still a peasant. Well, I still am..but.. y'know what I mean.

[@user-os9mv2ur3q]

Oh MY GOD Here what we need is coming😭🙇🏻‍♀️

[@RavinRay]

I first learned about ginger beer from Enid Blyton's boarding school book series Malory Towers and St. Clare's where they would always be a staple of the girls' midnight feasts. I always wanted to know what exactly was in them and how they would taste!

[@shariwelch8760]

I'm American, but my mother had a friend in England who would send me Enid Blyton's books for my birthday and Christmas every year. I loved them! I wish I knew what happened to them.

[@KS-uv3rh]

Omg yes the girls from st clare!

[@imageez]

Do the girls know the beer is better if left for a year? I imagine that'd be a lit boarding school!

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

I still enjoy reading the Malory Towers and St Clares books, and i'm in my 40s. Great nostalgia and so entertaining 😂

[@laurarosas5899]

Please Ms Crocombe! Don't leave us for too long! From the Texas in USA in a bordertown next to Mexico. We need tou more often, in these perilous times. Blessings over you.

[@Grace-zr8vv]

More drinks! Yes, we stan!

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

So... not _everyone_ sends them bottles back, hmm? Hmm? ;-)

[@mochi4926]

This was delightful as always 😃 also, can confirm -- ginger beer will totally explode if not done right 😂

[@Emeraldwitch30]

And so does home made root beer. Oh boy! My kitchen ceiling still has one brown tile from the explosion lol. One day I'll buy new tiles maybe lol

[@SchoeneTante]

"You can, of course, buy ginger beer very easily. But *I* like to make my own." Stocks in commercial breweries drop.

[@buckydragon]

Who are the 14 people so miserable and unhappy that they'd dislike this video? Perhaps, they need a bit of ginger beer in their lives.

[@electricamethyst]

I wondered the same thing. Who would dislike our Mrs. Crocombe? Petty jerks!

[@justlikerunningabicycle3783]

You can see that? It never shows how many people dislike it

[@user-ph2wc1rz2n]

Yaaaay we missed you!!!!!

[@OhhowHelovesus777]

I've always wanted to see lord and lady braybrooke's dining table with a meal layed out. Every time Mrs. Crocombe makes a dish, I always want to follow her as she takes it to the table. I know it would take a lot, but it would be fun. Maybe it doesn't have to include the food, a Victorian style tablescape would be nice too.

[@syedmazharhasan6803]

Just for the reference, a cook would never carry a dish to the dining table, specially in a large house like Audley End. This job is done by footmen, who are being supervised by a butler. Women servants (other than the house keeper) would never be allowed to be seen by the family upstairs; their clothes would be dirtier and not fit to be seen.

[@jpclam3358]

She wouldn't "bring" anything to the table, that's the job of the footmen and the butler.

[@syedmazharhasan6803]

@@jpclam3358 Yeah exactly

[@extrude22]

I’ve been to Audley end house and the kitchen is a long way away from the dining room

[@rider8410]

When the world needed her the most she comes back.

[@somewhereupthere785]

Keep Calm and Crocombe On.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

She's back! I adore ginger beer.

[@peterk7931]

Our Queen has returned! And ginger beer too!

[@empi4106]

I love that big kettle, it's beautiful.

[@philipsolidum]

Give Mrs. Crocombe more of this episodes. I love watching her

[@weerobot]

Outstanding Production Quality and Mrs Crocombe is Great...!!!

[@sofiebech7410]

Mrs Crocombe reminds me so much of my grandma! strict, sassy and sweet all at the same time

[@danwu7429]

I really love this series!I am glad to see the update.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Love this channel

[@Janadu]

It's so lovely to see Mrs. Crocombe again!

[@Elfdaughter]

Oh, it's so good to see Mrs Crocombe back!!

[@mikeyd946]

So glad this is back!!

[@published1789]

Splendid ... and welcome back! Thank you to the Audley End crew for producing more of the very appreciated videos (and recipes!).

[@corvuscorone7735]

Beautiful! Also beautiful new shots from Audley End =)

[@jalbiindolcheey2049]

I've missed this segment so much, I'm so glad she's back!

[@meguma]

So excited to see a new episode!!!

[@doll2945]

Rejoice on her return 🎉

[@kirstenpaff8946]

Thank you for another relaxing and informative video.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

it is always a joy to catch up with you Mrs Crocumbe! Thank you for the video!

[@funnygurl181]

please don't ever stop this series!!!

[@roscluaran]

Love this series. Missed her so much.

[@StayVCA98]

Eyyy I miss this!! Welcome home Mrs. Crocombe!!

[@Magius61]

So nice to see Mrs. Crocombe back.

[@noahbuster4333]

Yes! Always a fantastic day with Mrs Crocombe

[@starquilt]

SHE'S BACK! ^_^ I love these videos so much and are very calming.

[@jarednil69]

Sooo HAPPY for another lesson in Mrs. Crocombe's Kitchen!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@VibeWithAshlie]

These are my favorite kind of episodes

[@amym7825]

Oh welcome back Mrs. Crocombe! Makes my heart so happy!

[@T.T.LovesAmbience]

Mrs. Crocombe is my favorite! I just love these videos.

[@theresanovak4199]

What a doubly delightful surprise! Ginger beer is one of my favorite summer drinks. Might have to try this one! Good to see you, Kathy! 👏☺️❤️

[@ysag.1227]

The unending sass and class of Mrs Crocombe is unmatched

[@59jlopez70]

This made my summer more delightful. Thank you Mrs. Crocombe and English Heritage.

[@justherbirdy]

Mrs Crocombe, we missed you so much! I hope everyone at Audley End is healthy and happy and staying safe

[@PrincessSophie83]

what a wonderful recipe and I loved the story of Mr. Lincoln's footman hahaha I can only imagine his face when he saw the poor boy passed out XD Thank you Mrs. Crocombe for making this lockdown a lot easier with all your wonderful recipes and stories ♥♥♥♥♥

[@02ujtb00626]

Yay I am so happy to see new videos from you guys! Welcome back, so happy to see you!

[@vickimus1987]

Yey, I'd just been rewatching these and love that there's a new one

[@claudiaf6637]

I tried it. It's simple to make and so delicious. Thank you!

[@_JoyceArt]

Ahhhh, just what I needed after a stressful day!

[@monicapiet.1433]

So glad you're back Mrs. Crocombe! Would love to see taste tests of these recipes!((:

[@Tala_Masca]

Yey! You're back!! Thank you English heritage and Kathy for bringing us Mrs Crocombe again!

[@maddyleon3316]

This was so cool to watch. I might have to try it. Please tell us how you clean the bottles!

[@philipsolidum]

Ahh yess.. When I see Mrs. Crocombe, I click instantly ❤️❤️

[@coconutman3073]

I am so happy you came back Mrs. Crocombe! 😃

[@michellebolen3892]

Welcome back!!! Have missed you guys so much!!!!!

[@rafammuhaimin29]

MRS. CROCOMBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How we have missed you!

[@phirion6341]

Crocombe Magic chemistry: her boiling water can MELT sugar

[@adedow1333]

I don't even need water to do that!

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

And her disapproving glare can freeze beer.

[@Kalibby22]

yay she's back! My mom makes a tea very similar to this, and I love it!

[@5MinutePsychology]

Amazing! I love and watch every episode and looking forward to another one.