teabag09

Brrr! Just looked up Algona, IA. 19* with a wind chill -. I'm too old for that now. 40* in eastern Va. is too cold for me now. Then again we have a damper cold. Mike

Dinty

kankune: I am an old buck being 90 this year. Kind of late to be moving at this late date. Would love to be back around Rolfe, West Bend and Algona area. I like Texas also.

Weewillynobeerspilly Loc: North central Texas

Mmmmmmm, Root beer.... i used to make homemade root beer at my restaurant, i actually was able to get hold of sassafrass root bark through my Farmers market connection ( it was banned way back in the 50s i think) this root beer caught on to where i was selling about 50 gallons a week....fairly simple to make, most ingredients can be purchased online or anywhere that sells home brewing ingredients. .....about a 5 day turn around, i purchased used pony kegs from miller coors in fort worth.....it had a pressure relief valve.....on occasion this will explode the bottles if you go that route ( been there, quite a mess).

The city of wautaga was giving me grief for about a yr about it because it is slightly alcoholic in nature...it is fermented, it takes about 12 -12oz glasses to equal 1 -12 oz beer.....i did not have a liquor license as i gave beer away, 2 per customer if they wanted it.....city didn't care for that either, but legal....so I was forced to stop selling it by the city code Nazis

I would recommend making it, novice skill level in the kitchen is all that is needed....if you can simmer liquid, you can make this easily...i used the Ires brand recipe if i recall, minor changes to the raw cane and juniper berries to achieve what i wanted ....but their recipe is more than adequate as is......like the old days.

A couple hours In the kitchen with a 5 day wait, will keep for quite awhile in the fridge when bottled ...well worth it.

kankune Loc: Iowa

Don't I know it , Mike. Not real fond of the cold weather anymore, but being in front of a nice fire with a cup of hot chocolate (little marshmallows included) sure helps it out a bit. : )

kankune Loc: Iowa

I just ran over to the locker in West Bend the other day to get some of their chocolate cheese. Tastes like the best fudge you've ever eaten. My granddaughters love it...

Nutter Loc: Fly Over Zone

I remember the Goto of the Redemption in West Bend. Very cool.

kankune Loc: Iowa

Pretty cool place for sure. I need to take my granddaughters there. Haven't been there in eons....

Dinty

Nutter, it has been a long time since I have been to the Grotto in West Bend. Have they done any more work on it?

teabag09

Sassafras tea is really good for you and sassafras grows like a weed almost everywhere. Indians and early settlers use it for almost any complaint. Learned to make it in the Scouts. Mike

teabag09

I'm jealous. My pellet stove is stoved up. I'm missing a nice fire. Mike

Weewillynobeerspilly Loc: North central Texas

It's the root i believe is the issue, not the leaves.....in massive quantities it caused some type of cancer in mice way back when...if i recall correctly, it has been several yrs since i was looking into it prior to making it.

I know it was banned in soda production many decades ago because of that, if i get a few moments i will research that again so my facts are correct, just going on memory now

kankune Loc: Iowa

Sorry bout that. I don't know much about pellet stoves. I do hear they can really kick out the heat tho. I'm burning some cherry wood. My son brought me a whole truck load from Michigan. I have to watch myself with it tho. I can tend to have that fire going 24/7 and it will go way to fast. lol

teabag09

Yes, it's the roots that have the root beer flavor. The leaves are use for a Cajun spice in their stews and jumbilia. It is called File as in File Gumbo. The leaves are also used to treat wounds. The bark has many uses as well. In other words, the sassafras plant (weed tree) has many useful purposes. Mike

Nutter Loc: Fly Over Zone

It has been over 50 years since I was there. As a young punk I though it was really cool what they did with all of the stones and gems.

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/grotto-redemption-facts-ia/

teabag09

Oh my GOD, what a beautiful and HOLY place. I've never heard of it. Thank you. I am putting that on my bucket list. Again, THANK YOU. Mike