Teach Soap

Can anyone please tell me how to make beer soap and what types of beer are better and which ones I should try and stay away from please!! Thank you!!

You can use any type of beer. Just make sure it's very flat & very cold. I normally boil off the alcohol then leave it in the fridge for a couple of days. Be VERY careful when you add your lye. I would suggest that you do this in the sink, in case it overflows. Add the lye slowly. It will stink, but that will go away after the cure.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Here is a very good tutorial for making beer soap (Hot Process method). http://www.natural-skincare-made-easy.o ... -soap.html It is easier than it looks.

It is true that it is important to boil off the alcohol, because it will interfere in the saponification process. I made 2 batches (HP) For one of them, I forgot to boil off the alcohol ( ) and the soap is soft, even if I added sodium lactate (2%). I think it might be because there was alcohol into it... On one other hand, it lathers very well. I washed my hair with it and I really like it. Time will tell if it gets harder.

Quite honestly the best beer for making soap is the beer that will give you the best label appeal. Assuming you identify the type of beer you use on the label. Although some of the seasonal beers that have spices in them can cause overheating. Some of the pumpkin ales and such contain spices that can be a problem although they still make a great drink

I don't say on the label exactly what kind of beer I'm using. The reason for that is that I don't want the company that made the beer to come after me and demand royalties from the sale of my soaps. I realize that this is unlikely, but I'm not willing to take a chance. If it's a dark stout, I will say dark stout, but that's as far as I will go.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I make beer soap using the cold process method. I don't boil the beer. Instead, I pour it into a wide mouth container and try to create as big a head as possible. Then I stir it with a wisk several times per day for the next few days to make sure all of the carbonation is out... When it is completely flat, I slowly pour the lye into the cold beer. It fizzes a little, but I've never had a volcano (though it is still a good idea to mix it in the sink as was previously suggested). When it is the temperature I want, I just pour it into the oils and soap as usual. One thing to mention, whisking beer will ALWAYS create bubbles, no matter how flat the beer is... so I just use my best judgement and common sense to determine when it is flat enough to use... typically 3-4 days uncovered in the fridge is good.

My soap has always turned out nice and hard. I personally like to use dark beers like porter and stout because of the color they impart (typically a nice earthy tan).

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Funny...I didn't know to let it sit out and have always used beer straight out of the fridge! I make beer shampoo bars. This next batch though, my hubby didn't like the beer he'd bought because it didn't taste that great and really really foamed up just by taking off the cap so I poured it into a bowl to de-carbonate. Great use of his cast-offs!

You've got to watch the scent a bit though. The beer definitely makes a unique smelling soap. I usually add something vanilla or chocolate scented.

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"A baby goat can stand up within minutes of being born, and know what its looking for and pretty much where the udder is. Yet people think it happened by accident, and there is no Creator. Guess again!"

Katie M Molalla Oregon

I use stout beer. I just open the can and make ice cubes from the beer. I have never boiled off the alcohol or let it go flat and my soaps turn out great, no lye volcanoes so far. They have a great lather and a mild nutty scent which my guy customers tend to like. Also the color is great, kind of a tan. It is kind of stinky when mixing the lye in with the cubes but that does disappear.