Add molasses and turbinado sugar to water.
Add powdered/chopped ginger.
Squeeze juice from one lemon into the mash (remove seeds). Add zest of lemon, if desired.
Heat to boiling, and boil for 10 minutes.
Strain ginger out and let cool until "blood warm" or body temperature (feels not hot or cold when touching).
Pitch the yeast.
Ferment for 12-16 hours, then bottle. Put in fridge and drink while fresh. Alternatively, ferment for a few days then bottle with a raisin or two, or a dash of turbinado or table sugar, for carbonation.
Thank you to Townsends on YouTube for this awesome ginger beer recipe! As he describes, it's based on a 1737 William Alice recipe for "Philadelphia Molasses Beer" as well as an 1811 recipe from the New Family Receipt Book.