# What Does Ginger Beer Taste Like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [November 23, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667 "2009-11-23T18:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/21 "2009-11-24T03:42:25Z")
Dunno straight, but I had a fantastic drink at a restaurant that a co-worker was a partial owner: Can’t remember the name. But it was dark rum mixed with ginger beer. Fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/22 "2009-11-24T03:42:46Z")
It’s like ginger ale with a “kick” or a “bite.” I don’t know why it isn’t more popular than it is. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/23 "2009-11-24T03:56:56Z")
There are different types of ginger beer, Jamaican ginger beer is a lot stronger than what comes out of other countries. Really spicy ginger beer is great with bourbon (most things are). ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/24 "2009-11-24T04:22:56Z")
> [@gregwarwick](#): > > a mean Moscow Mule (vodka) My favorite cocktail and a very common one in Japan. Sadly, I’ve yet to encounter a bartender in the US who knows how to make them. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/25 "2009-11-24T05:24:44Z")
As others have said, it’s similar to Ginger Ale, but with an _extremely_ strong ginger flavor—it’s actually got quite a “bite” to it. You can get it at Beverages & More (or “BevMo!” as they’re calling themselves nowadays) in California, for about a buck per bottle. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/26 "2009-11-24T05:49:18Z")
It’s similar to the distinction between butterscotch and butterbeer… ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/27 "2009-11-24T06:35:40Z")
Ginger ALE is like that last swig of melty ice and Coke at the bottom of your McDonald’s cup. Ginger BEER is like a fresh glass bottle of real (with sugar) Coke poured over ice. My favorite ginger beer to date is [Barritt’s](http://www.barrittsgingerbeer.bm/). ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/28 "2009-11-24T09:30:18Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Let us not forget [Blenheim Ginger Ale](http://blenheimshrine.com/). It’ll strip paint, it’s so strong. I love it. So do I. It’s the only soft drink that needs a chaser. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/29 "2009-11-24T09:45:36Z")
Damn - I need to make me some Ginger Beer. We have a 24 hour recipe that is easy and _awesome_. But it needs to be handled with care. The last batch I made, I left one bottle a bit too long. I opened it really, really carefully, and thought I had released all the pressure. Then I flicked the cap off. It was like watching a mentos/diet coke explosion, only it was inside on my kitchen bench. 2 litres of CO[sub]2[/sub] driven ginger beer hit the ceiling. :smack: Waste of good ginger beer. I’m gonna start collecting plastic bottles. Si ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/30 "2009-11-24T09:48:22Z")
You can find ginger beer in a lot of super markets. Also Target that has food often has ginger beer (Jones brand?). ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/31 "2009-11-24T10:44:03Z")
So what’s root beer? I grew up hearing everyone from Beaver to Gidget drinking it always assumed it was US for ginger beer, which my neighbour used to brew and which I hated. Seems I was wrong about root beer, at least. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/32 "2009-11-24T10:59:47Z")
Root beer is really sweet. It’s kind of what ginger beer morphed into in the US. ETA my recipe for Petworth Punch. Tall glass with ice Ginger beer bourbon mar. cherry Must be enjoyed sitting on a porch in Petworth making fun of passersby. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/33 "2009-11-24T11:33:57Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > So what’s root beer? I grew up hearing everyone from Beaver to Gidget drinking it always assumed it was US for ginger beer, which my neighbour used to brew and which I hated. Seems I was wrong about root beer, at least. Root beer isn’t related to ginger beer at all at least in the most general sense. Root beer resembles the old fashioned carbonated beverage sarsaparilla which is also plant based. U.S. root beer tends to have lots of plant based ingredients like sassafras and vanilla but ginger isn’t generally on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/34 "2009-11-24T13:19:14Z")
> [@gregwarwick](#): > > Greg Warwick, here, from Fentimans. We’re now producing Fentimans Ginger Beer on both sides of the Atlantic, in Newcastle and in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Good to know. I’ll continue searching locally. Your ginger beer and lemonade are both very fine. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/35 "2009-11-24T14:38:37Z")
Chop up some ginger root into a saucepan, add water and sugar, boil, strain, add club soda and \*voila \*- you’ve got homemade ginger beer. You can make it as strong and as sweet as you like. I think I’ll have some now. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/36 "2009-11-24T18:12:17Z")
Should be noted that “golden” ginger ales have much stronger flavors than the more common “dry” ginger ales. The difference between Vernor’s and Canada Dry is substantial. If you like Vernor’s, you’d love ginger beer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/37 "2009-11-24T18:56:06Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > I opened it really, really carefully, and thought I had released all the pressure. Then I flicked the cap off. > > It was like watching a mentos/diet coke explosion, only it was inside on my kitchen bench. 2 litres of CO[sub]2[/sub] driven ginger beer hit the ceiling. :smack:i When my mother made ginger beer way back when we used to open the bottles in the backyard. Put gently handled bottle upright in large bowl, open at arms length, avoid the geyser, then pour the ginger beer out of the bowl. 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 24, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/38 "2009-11-24T19:05:24Z")
A [previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=365101&highlight=ginger+beer) on the subject. I stand by my evaluations. **Vernor’s** is weak crap. **Blenheim’s** - ditto. The only one that really gets my sinuses clear is **A.J. Stephan’s**. ---
**Author:** ![ThirdOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@ThirdOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThirdOne)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/39 "2009-11-24T20:58:48Z")
I grew up drinking Vernor’s - a much more flavorful one than Canada Dry, imo. I don’t drink much pop anymore, except the more naturally made types. Virgil’s makes a kick-ass ginger drink, don’t remember if it’s beer or ale, off the top of my head, but it’s way better than Vernor’s or Canada Dry. Never heard of Blenheim’s so can’t comment on it or A.J. Stephan’s. I once had a ginger ale that was so strong, it burned my mouth and throat and I could only sip it. It was quite tasty though 😛 Alas, I don’t know the maker, it was years ago and I don’t remember where I was, just that I was on vacation. Root beer, is, indeed, much like Sarsparilla, but doesn’t have that slight minty flavour to it. It’s easily found in local grocery stores. I don’t remember the last time I saw Sarsparilla anywhere. Root beer and chocolate ice cream is delicious, imo, of course. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667/40 "2009-11-24T21:27:04Z")
I had some ginger beer at The Ginger Man (a bar in Manhattan). Strangely enough it was called The Ginger Man Ale. It was very gingery, like these three sentences. More so than ginger ale. I couldn’t drink more than half a pint… too strong with the ginger. Maybe if it wasn’t as strong it would have been better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ginger-beer-taste-like/518667.md?page=3)