If this is anything like the Mr. Beer kit I just bought, the sanitizing is the most important step. Make sure you follow all the instructions or your root beer might taste a little funky.

Mr. Beer was a lot of fun (still about 2 weeks from drinking time, but we're enjoying it so far) I think I might pick one of these up. The refill pack really makes the whole deal worth it.

D'awwwwwww. Nice write-up there, guys (and/or gals).

"Mr. Root Beer mixes are designed specifically to be carbonated in the bottle. Due to this carbonation process your root beer contains trace amounts of alcohol (about 1% ABW)" Making sure everyone sees this, in case they don't read through everything. I think we should see how much of this stuff we have to drink before we get drunk (or have to run off to the bathroom in a panic).

To hell with the Child Labor Laws.
About time my 5 year old started earning his keep.

ummmmmmmmmmmmmm:
www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-20041-Root-Beer-Making/dp/B0033UX8A8
cheaper on amazon?

ah, never mind. kids.woot kit include an additional refill pack so you can make 4 gallons total. right?

cornellbigred wrote:ummmmmmmmmmmmmm:
www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-20041-Root-Beer-Making/dp/B0033UX8A8
cheaper on amazon?

You forgot the refill kit

Edit: Ah you figured it out!

cornellbigred wrote:ummmmmmmmmmmmmm:
www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-20041-Root-Beer-Making/dp/B0033UX8A8
cheaper on amazon?

Back in my day, when woot wasn't so rootin-tootin fancy, we had to buy this kit for $12.99, and we didn't get this fancy-dancy refill kit with it (and neither does the Amazon offer). Even Nightghost was here back then:
http://kids.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?PostID=4108297

You even get 2 packets of cleanser now, you spoiled brats. Now get off my lawn! (sorry, that's all I have time for tonight) Edit: oh well, ya young whipper snappers are too fast for me now. Dag nab it!

cornellbigred wrote:ummmmmmmmmmmmmm:
www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-20041-Root-Beer-Making/dp/B0033UX8A8
cheaper on amazon?

Doesn't include refill kit, sold here


Ah, you figured it out.

So you can only make 1 gallon at a time?

Kids.woot: $24.99 after shipping.
Amazon: $15.20 (kit) + $10.13 (refill kit) = $25.33 with free Super Saver shipping (or two-day shipping with Amazon Prime).

Come on, Woot. You can do better than that!

cornellbigred wrote:Kids.woot: $24.99 after shipping.
Amazon: $15.20 (kit) + $10.13 (refill kit) = $25.33 with free Super Saver shipping (or two-day shipping with Amazon Prime).

Come on, Woot. You can do better than that!

I'd rather spend the extra $0.34 and get it in 2 days instead if 2 months.

We bought a Mr. Root Beer kit a while ago when they had a Woot! discount weekend. We've made two batches of root beer and both came out really good!! With a little practice you can choose how much carbonation you want (we like it slightly low so it's easier to drink).

Anyway...highly recommend this!! The kids had fun making it and it turns out very yummy...especially with ice cream!!!

whatsamattaU wrote:Back in my day, when woot wasn't so rootin-tootin fancy, we had to buy this kit for $12.99, and we didn't get this fancy-dancy refill kit with it (and neither does the Amazon offer). Even Nightghost was here back then:
http://kids.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?PostID=4108297

You even get 2 packets of cleanser now, you spoiled brats. Now get off my lawn! (sorry, that's all I have time for tonight) Edit: oh well, ya young whipper snappers are too fast for me now. Dag nab it!

Thanks for the link to the previous woot. Hope you're feeling better, glad you were able to stop by! Always a pleasure to see you.

Pay attention here... Two day and one day shipping are free,, standard shipping is $5 ... Go figure that one.

cornellbigred wrote:Kids.woot: $24.99 after shipping.
Amazon: $15.20 (kit) + $10.13 (refill kit) = $25.33 with free Super Saver shipping (or two-day shipping with Amazon Prime).

Come on, Woot. You can do better than that!

ITS FREE TWO DAY SHIPPING< PUT IN YOUR CART AND CHECK IT OUT>

CowboyDann wrote:Thanks for the link to the previous woot. Hope you're feeling better, glad you were able to stop by! Always a pleasure to see you.

I really shouldn't be, since I'm better but still coughing, but thanks. Miss you all--keep up the good work, CD. By the way, the Amazon ones have fewer packets it looks like in both the regular and refill kits (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm going to sleep (no choice, migraine on top of all of this).

You can also "burp" these bottles (lossen the cap slightly to allow the CO2 out, then retighten) and then let them sit and continue to "carbonate."

This has the side effect of reducing the sweetness (and increasing the alcohol content).

The Mr. Beer kits work really, really well. I'd be willing to bet that these are just as good.

This actually looks like a great Father's Day gift. In for one, probably should have gone in for 3, but gotta make sure my husband likes it first. My dad doesn't drink soda.

And thank you RRYKNAPS for the heads up on the free shipping!

"contains trace amounts of alcohol" Ever hear of that old contributing to the delinquency of law?

mikemiracle wrote:"contains trace amounts of alcohol" Ever hear of that old contributing to the delinquency of law?

It depends on the state and whether they are your kids or not.

mikemiracle wrote:"contains trace amounts of alcohol" Ever hear of that old contributing to the delinquency of law?

According to Mr. Root Beer site, its more like 1/2 of 1%. Which means your kid would have to drink the entire batch to catch a buzz and if they did that, the sugar overload is what would make your kid buzzed (or sick), not the alcohol. Apple Cider has more alcohol than root beer.

CowboyDann wrote:If this is anything like the Mr. Beer kit I just bought, the sanitizing is the most important step. Make sure you follow all the instructions or your root beer might taste a little funky.

Yeah, three quarters of the instructions are about sanitizing the equipment using the included no-rinse sanitizer. The rest is just priming the yeast, mixing in the flavor concentrate and sugar then filling the bottles.

For my next batch, I'm going to try leaving out the flavoring and adding a whole lot of finely grated ginger instead.

Any idea if there is an Expiration Date on the contents? Wondering if I can save this for a Christmas gift?

rryknaps wrote:Pay attention here... Two day and one day shipping are free,, standard shipping is $5 ... Go figure that one.

The free 1 day and 2 day shipping seems to be dead

Shouldn't this be on wine woot? Or obese American Woot? Or Fast Food Nation Woot? I could go on and on...

horsetrainer wrote:1 day shipping is free as well ! ! !

Looks like any free 1/2 day shipping up there was a mistake and is now dead.

Cheaper on Amazon for me, since Woot charges tax and Amazon isn't. Saving 2 bucks!

Isnt the price on Amazon the same? (add in the refill kit) making it 25$,which thats what it is on Woot, with shipping. Sorry Amazon's shipping > woot's

Bought this in a previous woot, http://home.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?postid=5015486

I've made one batch so far (you can only make 1 gallon at a time. It is WONDERFUL! Everyone who's tasted it has been impressed. Granted it's not the best root beer (First A&W in Lodi, CA) I've ever had. It is damn close.

If you read reviews online it says that people had issues with it not being very carbonated. I put my bottles in a dark closet and they were ready in a day with the perfect ammount of carbonation. Just don't expect it to be carbonated like store bought soda.

cheapskate5 wrote:Shouldn't this be on wine woot? Or obese American Woot? Or Fast Food Nation Woot? I could go on and on...

Funny. Although this line of thought is fairly popular currently, no one said that you had to force feed all four quarts to your only child. Buy the kit. Make it with the kid. Use it as a real life learning opportunity to apply what the yeast is doing and why this is scientifically relevant. Then in two days when the root beer is done you can invite sixteen of your kids' friends over and they can all have a cup or two of root beer while they play outside. The amount of calories that is in a cup of root beer is approximately equal to the tablespoon of margerine you put on your toast this morning and even less than the syrup in your latte.

tgggd86 wrote:Bought this in a previous woot, http://home.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?postid=5015486

I've made one batch so far (you can only make 1 gallon at a time. It is WONDERFUL! Everyone who's tasted it has been impressed. Granted it's not the best root beer (First A&W in Lodi, CA) I've ever had. It is damn close.

If you read reviews online it says that people had issues with it not being very carbonated. I put my bottles in a dark closet and they were ready in a day with the perfect ammount of carbonation. Just don't expect it to be carbonated like store bought soda.

This is to be expected. Real root beer is produced differently than "regular" sodas. It is made and contains it's own natural gasses (bubbles). Regular sodas are essentially flavored syrups that are than mixed under pressurized conditions with carbonated water. The carbonation in regular sodas is going to be heightened and therefore somewhat harsh. A true root beer will be smooth and will lack the harsh fizz, which if that is what you are used to, may seem weak.

I thought the vignette for this product was really cool by the way. Very nice.

mikemiracle wrote:"contains trace amounts of alcohol" Ever hear of that old contributing to the delinquency of law?

It's never too early to introduce your kids to the joy of producing their own (even slightly) alcoholic beverages.

scoopace wrote:According to Mr. Root Beer site, its more like 1/2 of 1%. Which means your kid would have to drink the entire batch to catch a buzz and if they did that, the sugar overload is what would make your kid buzzed (or sick), not the alcohol. Apple Cider has more alcohol than root beer.

The apple cider that you buy in the fruit juice isle contains no alcohol. It's just plain old reconstituted apple juice. The "Hard Cider" that you buy in the beer/wine/liquor section (or store, depending on local laws) contains @5.5% alcohol. The stuff I make in my basement is closer to 18%.

vanillagrl1 wrote:Isnt the price on Amazon the same? (add in the refill kit) making it 25$,which thats what it is on Woot, with shipping. Sorry Amazon's shipping > woot's

I just bought at Amazon using 'free one day shipping'. Receipt shows Estimated delivery: June 11, 2012 - June 14, 2012. So option was still there, reality wasn't.

i dont know why everyone is calling woot's shipping slow. I received 3 woots last week, within 4-5 days of buying it. I even got one package the day before woot even told me it shipped.

First I was very skeptical about this kit, my kids LOVE rootbear like I do and really I just bought it for something the three of them could do with me, dear old dad. What was so suprising besides it was fun to make was that how good it was, it ranks up their with most of the great specialty ones, as long as you like all have said before clean, and put in fridge when ready.
I was so skeptical last time I just opted for the Amazon version so I did not get the refill with it, not as great a deal even with free shipping. I should have gotten the woot one, the kids love it, I love it, and so do family and friends.

Warning though, watch out when it get's to much carbonation it starts to come out of the slit in the top, I dropped one and it sprayed a bit.

Happy Wooting.

vanillagrl1 wrote:Isnt the price on Amazon the same? (add in the refill kit) making it 25$,which thats what it is on Woot, with shipping. Sorry Amazon's shipping > woot's

As I noted earlier, Amazon appears to be selling the older kit with fewer packets, and the refill kit MIGHT have fewer packets (it's more clearly noted with the kit--count the number of packets listed and compare. At least one more cleanser packet, not sure on quick look of rest). Correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: it was also $19.99 at woot-off mentioned above
http://home.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?postid=5015486&PageIndex=1&ReplyCount=12

and at previous regular woot with comments:
http://home.woot.com/forums/viewpost.aspx?postid=4985306&PageIndex=1&ReplyCount=65

cheapskate5 wrote:Shouldn't this be on wine woot? Or obese American Woot? Or Fast Food Nation Woot? I could go on and on...

You "could go on and on" or you could read the instructions included with the kit and substitute Splenda for the sugar.

My daughter and I made the first batch Saturday and it was ready Sunday. Really good root beer with a very strong root beer flavor.

It's a little more than twice the price per ounce of buying a 12 pack of A&W, but my daughter and I had fun together.