August 14, 2012

Pat's Backcountry Beverages (with Ginger Ale Recipe)

Pat's Backcountry Beverages
This idea is quite possibly the best thing since sliced bread, and something I'll have to get my hands on someday: portable carbonated beverages.

"Gee Chris, we already have portable carbonated beverages.  What the hell do you think fits in your koozie, a handful of soda (or beer)?"

Pat's Backcountry Beverages: The Carbonator
Yes, technically the whole concept of the bottle or can is to store and transport beverages.  That is fine for 95%+ of your regular consumption needs, but let's say you are out backpacking.  Do you really want to have to lug around the weight of your cans or bottles plus what is essentially flavored water?  That six-pack may seem like a good idea when you leave the store, but get a few miles into your hike and then we'll see how great that beer or soda will taste.  We'll have to keep it cold and more than likely it won't do well getting sloshed around, but we can still take that for a test drive.


Pat's Carbonator is the answer.  With some soda or beer concentrate you can "have a cold one" out in the bush without having to lug it in yourself.  Of course you'd need access to cold water, which shouldn't be a problem if you are out in the mountains.  Out in the desert....well I guess a warm soda is better than no soda at all.

Here is a quick video of the Carbonator in action:


Right now the soda concentrates they have available are Terra Cola, Pomegranate Cola, Lemon-Lime, Root Beer, and Ginger Ale.

As an added bonus, they have four recipes for cola concentrates (I don't know if they are the same concentrates or basic home-use concentrates).  I'll share one here to whet your appetite.  You can find the rest of them on Pat's Backcountry Beverages.


Ginger Ale

1/2 quart of water
1/4 tsp citric acid
1/3 cup fresh grated ginger root
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups organic sugar

Simmer all flavorings with water for 20 to 30 min. remove from heat, strain out the pulp, and blend in sugar. Top off with cold water to make 1/2 quart of syrup total.

Store in Refrigerator.

When you are ready to make a drink, dilute the syrup at approximately 1 part syrup to 4 partswater, then carbonate.


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