# Ginger beer
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** beer
**Created:** [February 22, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835 "2016-02-22T21:22:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/1 "2016-02-22T21:22:57Z")
So I was at Metropolitan Market, grabbing a muffaletta while I can, and I picked up a bottle of Bundaberg ginger beer.
Problem: On the label it says ‘Invert bottle before opening.’ The bloody contents all spilled out onto the floor! :mad:
[j/k] Not a bad ginger beer. Not as ‘hot’ as the Buderim (I think it was) ‘Hot’ variety that I used to be able to get, but pretty good stuff.
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### Author:  [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/2 "2016-02-22T21:35:37Z")
Just had a Crabbies while I waited for my Mexican Lasagna take-out last night. But that’s not really what you were talking about.
We’ve a great ginger beer in the Hispanic section of the local grocery. It’s from Goya and it helps make a yummy Dark-n-Stormy.
Were you thinking [Blenheim](https://www.google.com/search?q=blenheim&biw=1253&bih=563&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9grjMqYzLAhXCeCYKHTIOAKQQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=blenheim+ginger+ale)? I just learned (well, was told in the bar) that they have different colored caps to denote _hotness_. Hmmmmm?
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/3 "2016-02-22T21:55:20Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#):
>
> Were you thinking [Blenheim](https://www.google.com/search?q=blenheim&biw=1253&bih=563&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9grjMqYzLAhXCeCYKHTIOAKQQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=blenheim+ginger+ale)? I just learned (well, was told in the bar) that they have different colored caps to denote _hotness_. Hmmmmm?
I’m _so_ glad you asked! Because that made me do a search. It’s [Buderim Aussie Hot Ginger Brew](http://www.bevmo.com/buderim-aussie-hot-ginger-brew--12-oz-.html), and they have it at Bevmo. And there happens to be a Bevmo in town. 🙂
EDIT: Oops. The local Bevmo can’t get it. ☹
.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/4 "2016-02-22T22:03:35Z")
I’m not a ginger beer connoisseur, but I’ll say that the Bundaberg and Blenheim “Not-as-Hot” are excellent in a Dark & Stormy (and/or whatever you call it when you use amber rum instead of dark).
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/5 "2016-02-22T23:11:57Z")
The single best ginger beer on the market is A. J. Stephan’s. It’s a Boston brand that rarely makes it out West. Weird, that, since most of their other flavors are a Bevmo staple. So I settle for Reed’s Extra, which is only slightly inferior to Stephans.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/6 "2016-02-22T23:33:26Z")
**Silenus** is right, tho sadly it’s been years since I’ve been able to get a bottle of A. J.'s Ginger Beer.
I make do with Bundaburg, Reed’s Extra, Fever Tree, Sioux City, Cock and Bull, and the occasional Old Tyme or Blenheim’s. Plus a few lesser known labels, from the Indian or Asian grocery stores.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/7 "2016-02-22T23:39:04Z")
My mom had Bundaberg ginger beer on a recent trip to Australia, and loved it, so she was excited to see it for sale at Costco. She picked up a bunch as a Christmas surprise for the family.
It’s really good, but I find it’s pretty intense: You pretty much need to set aside about three hours to drink it, or it’s overwhelming.
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### Author:  [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/8 "2016-02-22T23:41:37Z")
Johnny LA, have you ever considered just moving here to reduce your Vegemite and ginger beer costs? 😉
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/9 "2016-02-22T23:50:54Z")
> [@Eliahna](#):
>
> Johnny LA, have you ever considered just moving here to reduce your Vegemite and ginger beer costs? 😉
While I used to live in a desert, and appreciate them, and while I know you have a variety of climates down there, I’m thinking it’s probably too hot.
I’ve tried making my own ginger beer. It always comes out sulpher-y, probably from the fermentation. I think next time I try it I’ll make ginger syrup and use Mrs. L.A.'s fizzy-drink maker (I don’t remember what it’s called). And if it’s not hot enough, I’m I’ll put cayenne pepper in it! I will!
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### Author:  [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/10 "2016-02-22T23:58:39Z")
These are all alcoholic? I don’t drink anymore and I’ve really fallen for the NA ginger beers. (Cock and Bull is good and Maine Root has a nice strong one too.) You get that sweet burn!
Sad face ☹
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/11 "2016-02-23T00:22:21Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#):
>
> These are all alcoholic? I don’t drink anymore and I’ve really fallen for the NA ginger beers. (Cock and Bull is good and Maine Root has a nice strong one too.) You get that sweet burn!
>
> Sad face ☹
They’re all alcohol-free. I don’t drink either, but I loves me my ginger beer.
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### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/12 "2016-02-23T00:22:45Z")
Johnny - this place in Lynnwood had several ginger beers (but I did not study them closely).
[http://www.therootbeerstore.com](http://www.therootbeerstore.com)
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/13 "2016-02-23T03:25:18Z")
Homemade soft drinks (at least, made with the traditional methods, not something like SodaStream) are all slightly alcoholic: You let them ferment just enough to get the fizziness, but the same yeast that produces the carbon dioxide also produces ethanol. It’s probably not enough for most folks to bother worrying about, but there’s some.
Commercial soft drinks, however, either use different methods or distill the alcohol out (I’m not sure which), and are completely nonalcoholic.
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/14 "2016-02-23T16:32:02Z")
This massive soda shop near the Twin cities, [Blue Sun](http://bluesunsodashop.com/sodas/) carries over 70 varieties of ginger beer.
Looks like I need to make a trip over and put together a case.
Any must-haves besides the AJ Stephans?
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/15 "2016-02-23T16:49:36Z")
I’m a fan of [Barritts](http://www.barrittsgingerbeer.bm/).
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/16 "2016-02-24T04:02:39Z")
I’ve grown fond of Cock and Bull.
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### Author:  [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2016, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/17 "2016-02-24T07:51:45Z")
Anybody remember Vernor’s Ginger Soda? A little more “full” than typical ginger beers.
I miss ginger beer. Haven’t seen it for years at the supermarket. Now, thanks to this thread, I want some.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/18 "2016-02-24T13:17:24Z")
> [@Spoons](#):
>
> Anybody remember Vernor’s Ginger Soda? A little more “full” than typical ginger beers.
You mean Vernor’s Ginger Ale? I’d not call it more full than ginger beers, but it certainly was different from your typical ginger ales. I preferred it to other ginger ales, but it never was as good as a ginger beer, IMHO.
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/19 "2016-02-24T13:28:26Z")
I’m a die-hard fan of Blenheim hot but just recently discovered [Barritt’s](http://www.barrittsgingerbeer.bm/) Bermuda ginger beer. Not as hot, but very flavorful. Good with cinnamon whiskey and a little lime juice.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginger-beer/746835/20 "2016-02-24T16:53:16Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> You mean Vernor’s Ginger Ale? I’d not call it more full than ginger beers, but it certainly was different from your typical ginger ales. I preferred it to other ginger ales, but it never was as good as a ginger beer, IMHO.
Didn’t they call it ginger beer? I haven’t had any in, like, 30 years. I just don’t see it sold anywhere. As I recall, it was better (stronger) that Canada Dry, but not as strong as ginger beers I had later.
Off on a tangent…
I want to make some ginger ale using the wife’s Sodastream. (Thanks for the name, **Chronos**.) So I’ll need to make a syrup that will not be fermented. And I want it **HOT**. Any suggestions/recipes?
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