# The Mighty Ginger Ale **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627 "2004-12-07T21:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Composer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Composer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Composer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/21 "2004-12-08T14:22:36Z")
Red Rock Ginger Ale is my favorite. Hot and spicy…mmm! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/22 "2004-12-08T14:44:23Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Canada Dry. Pfffft. Gimme Blenheim’s red cap. Absoluely! Great on it’s own and excellent for adding a real kick to punches or mixed drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/23 "2004-12-08T15:27:40Z")
How in hell could a bar try to pass of a mixture of Sprite (not gingery) and Coke (also not gingery) as ginger ale (gingery) and hope to get away with it? Other than being liquid, and fizzy, how could they possibly be similar? On the other hand, Canada Dry is so bland and non-gingery that I could almost believe it. If you’re going to have ginger ale, have proper ginger ale. Canada Dry ain’t it. You want Idris, or Bundaberg, or even most British supermarket brands are far better than Canada Dry. But **don’t** make the mistake of inhaling shortly before taking a sip – the vapours that this stuff gives off will have you choking and spluttering like a TB victim… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/24 "2004-12-08T15:35:51Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > How in hell could a bar try to pass of a mixture of Sprite (not gingery) and Coke (also not gingery) as ginger ale (gingery) and hope to get away with it? Other than being liquid, and fizzy, how could they possibly be similar? From what my bartender friends tell me, it’s very, very common (which I why I learned to ask first.) I think the reason they get away with it is because very few people order a plain ginger ale - they order it as part of a mixed drink. In a mixed drink, apparently it’s not too dissimilar. Now, I always thought that ginger ale was the default designated driver’s drink, or the default “I’m not drinking tonight, but people keep bugging me about it” drink. In fact, it’s a common stripper thing, when patrons want to buy you a drink, you order “champagne” and the bar tender knows to pour you a ginger ale. But apparently these quaint traditions are no longer prevelant enough for bars to stock actual ginger ale. Hence the switcheroo. ---
**Author:** ![Thinks2Much](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/25 "2004-12-08T15:48:41Z")
I love a good ginger ale, too. Not to change the subject, but have any of you tried the Altoids Ginger flavor? It is very spicy and strong. I spit the first one out because it was so strong, but tried another one the next day and got hooked. I am tempted to throw one in a Sprite and see if it doesn’t end up tasting like ginger ale - in a pinch. (Better than a splash of cola, that’s for sure!) ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/26 "2004-12-08T23:19:55Z")
I end up hospitalized a couple of times in an average year, and the only brand of sodas the hospital stocks is Fanta. Well, I only drink diet soda, and Fanta Diet Cola just might as well be named Fanta Diet Satanic Sperm. But Fanta Diet Ginger Ale isn’t too bad at all. 😛 The smiley was added at the request of my four-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/27 "2004-12-09T00:10:35Z")
I really wish I could get my hands on some ginger beer, I’ve never had it. Canada Dry might not qualify as true ginger ale, but it sure is tasty. Plus, it’s the only thing my stomach can handle when I have the stomach flu. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/28 "2004-12-09T00:56:28Z")
**Odin** , look around. I’m sure that a store near you carries some. Try a smaller specialty store. I don’t think Trader Joe’s is anywhere near you, but they carry some good ginger beers. Or shop online. Several mailorder soda places carry a selection. **Bundaberg** is the best. Aussie, with a bite like a Great White! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/29 "2004-12-09T04:48:11Z")
I adore ginger ale, but I confess I can’t stand Vernor’s. I saw it at the grocery store and bought some on a whim once, and even after three or four tastings (“C’mon, it’s _got_ to get better this time!”) it still reminded me of spoiled honey\*. [sub]\*Yes, I know honey doesn’t spoil.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/30 "2004-12-09T05:16:23Z")
If you enjoy spicy ginger ales, you must try Blenheim’s Old #3. The first time I opened a bottle and sniffed it, it sent me into extended coughing fits, and I actually reached the level of spice euphoria (read: stoned off my ass) usually reserved for mainlining habaneros. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/31 "2004-12-09T06:12:42Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > If you enjoy spicy ginger ales, you must try Blenheim’s Old #3. In other words, what I said earlier. 🙂 Incidentally, it make for _great_ Moscow Mules. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/32 "2004-12-09T10:51:34Z")
My wife lives on cranberry-ginger ales when we go out (and fooled eveyone all summer by pretending there was vodka in it 😉 ) There’s a bar around here called the Ginger Man that has great birch beer (like root beer, but not as syrupy). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/33 "2004-12-09T15:51:59Z")
**Odin** - Try [here](http://www.gingerpeople.com/index.html) for the wonder that is ginger beer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/34 "2004-12-09T21:03:36Z")
I taste the difference between the sprite/coke combo, especially if it’s not done right. It still tastes similar to ginger ale to me though. I love that they **always** have ginger ale on commercial flights. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/35 "2004-12-09T21:09:54Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > spice euphoria I like that phrase. I am something of a ginger nut (Ha! Make him stop, somebody!) myself. I once bought some ginger travel-sickness tablets, and they were great. I used to eat them like sweets (I never get seasick, but I was going on a whale-watching boat and thought it prudent…) Twinings [Lemon & Ginger Herb Tea](http://www.englishteastore.com/twlegitea20t.html) is great stuff too, but you have to let it steep for a good five minutes (10 is better) to get the full ginger flavour 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/36 "2004-12-09T21:46:19Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > If you enjoy spicy ginger ales, you must try Blenheim’s Old #3. The first time I opened a bottle and sniffed it, it sent me into extended coughing fits, and I actually reached the level of spice euphoria (read: stoned off my ass) usually reserved for mainlining habaneros. And you can order it [here.](http://www.beveragesdirect.com/products/blenheim/index.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/37 "2004-12-09T22:41:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Odin** - Try [here](http://www.gingerpeople.com/index.html) for the wonder that is ginger beer. 😃 I guess I should mention, I’m diabetic, so I need a version that is sugar free. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/38 "2004-12-09T22:57:04Z")
Not a problem. [Diet Blenheim’s.](http://www.sodaking.com/product_info.php?products_id=49) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/39 "2004-12-09T23:02:15Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > I guess I should mention, I’m diabetic, so I need a version that is sugar free. Well then I definitely recommend the Twinings Lemon & Ginger tea. It’s caffeine free and sugar free. More of a winter drink than a summer one, obviously, but I love the stuff. It’s great if you have a cold, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627/40 "2004-12-09T23:23:03Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > In other words, what I said earlier. 🙂 > > Incidentally, it make for _great_ Moscow Mules. Sorry, buddy. I somehow completely missed it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mighty-ginger-ale/278627.md?page=3)