# What is your favorite kind of Ginger Beer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509 "2006-03-30T05:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/21 "2006-03-31T00:17:24Z")
Current favorite: Bundaberg! (They have a diet version available, but ehh: rather drink the regular stuff and work out a bit more. It’s worth it.) Problem with ginger beer is finding it at times. At the moment, my only real supply of it is through Cost Plus. * * * \<\< [SENILE.COM](http://SENILE.COM) found . . . Out Of Memory . . . \>\> ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/22 "2006-03-31T01:03:32Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > …Gingerale and Ginger Beer are not the same thing at all. Ginger Beer should be much, much stronger while gingerale is a mild-mannered soft-drink with little kick and way less flavor than ginger beer… If so, then **Blenheim’s** spicer versions would certainly qualify, even though they are _ginger-ales_. I’ve tried many different ginger beers and ales, but Blenheim sits at the top of the heap. Problem is, it’s hard to find west of the Mississippi. For a while, Restoration Hardware, of all places, stocked it. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/23 "2006-03-31T01:14:42Z")
Next up - [Pangleheimers.](http://www.pangleheimers.com/products.html) OK nose. Sharp bite right off the bat, up front. Not too sweet. Lingering burn in the back of the throat, but weaker than Stephans. A mixture of the two might get the right blend of all-around burn. This seems like it would go good with food that might coat the tastebuds. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/24 "2006-03-31T02:39:43Z")
Bleinheim’s Extra Hot is the best commercial ginger bubbly I’ve had . Alas, the best ginger beer I had was a homemade concoction in Jamaica, the like never gulped again. It was from a small stand in Negril, West Jamaica. The liquid was all murky and not so clean looking, but tasted wonderful, fermenty ginger, not too sweet. Drank it and bicycled around town; after ten minutes, felt a hot sweat through my whole body, then a quick cooling effect. It was a similar endorphin rush to when you have really spicy food. I’ve always loved ginger anything, but that brew was amazing! I’ve bookmarked Podkayne’s link to making your own…Thanks! ---
**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:** [March 31, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/25 "2006-03-31T02:40:49Z")
Last one for the night - [Red Rock Golden Ginger Ale](http://www.popsoda.com/redrocgolgin.html). Not much nose. Too sweet (as noted by their own description). Minimal bite. Don’t trust [this review](http://www.sodaking.com/product_info.php/products_id/354)…these people have no idea what they are talking about. Tonight’s rankings: Stephan’s - 93 Pangleheimers - 90 Red Rock - 75 ---
**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:** [March 31, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/26 "2006-03-31T03:21:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Tonight’s rankings: > > Stephan’s - 93 > Pangleheimers - 90 > Red Rock - 75 Don’t stop! I’m taking notes! ---
**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:** [April 1, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/27 "2006-04-01T02:36:44Z")
Tonight’s first - [Reed’s Original Ginger Brew](http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=29) Smooth. Ginger flavor, but not a not of snap. OK front end, but mostly carbonation, not heat. A notch above Canada Dry, but not my first choice. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/28 "2006-04-01T03:15:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Tonight’s first - [Reed’s Original Ginger Brew](http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=29) > > Smooth. Ginger flavor, but not a not of snap. OK front end, but mostly carbonation, not heat. A notch above Canada Dry, but not my first choice. I hope you’re doing Reeds Extra Ginger Ginger Brew next! C’mon, don’t keep me hanging! 😃 ---
**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:** [April 1, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/29 "2006-04-01T03:38:41Z")
[Vernors](http://www.dpsu.com/vernors.html) Surprisingly mild. Not at all what I remembered as a kid. Rather bland, to tell the truth. Canada Dry has more snap. Where is the elixer of my youth? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/30 "2006-04-01T04:23:14Z")
**Bundaberg** is, to me, the Ginger Beer By Which All Other Ginger Beers Are Judged. Having said that, **Cascade** do a very nice Ginger Beer, but it’s not quite the same, IMO… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/31 "2006-04-01T04:46:47Z")
Vernor’s is nectar of the gods. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2006, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/32 "2006-04-01T05:01:21Z")
Ok. The test is done for the present. I need to find some Blenheim’s, but so far my rankings are: Stephan’s - 93 Bundaberg - 92 Reed’s Extra - 91 Pangleheimer’s - 90 Reed’s - 90 Red Rock - 75 Vernor’s - 75 Canada Dry - 70 Anything in the 90’s is pretty good. The quest continues. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mame)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/33 "2006-04-01T15:10:57Z")
We drink a lot of soda water (US trans: Seltzer water) made using a "Soda Stream [sup]TM[/sup]. Bundaberg make a ginger beer concentrate which you can add to soda water to make stronger or weaker ginger beer. Maybe that would give you the extra ooomph you are looking for. Sorry - can’t find a link for it, but there are 2 bottles in the kitchen cupboard. 😉 Noticed references to “Dark and Stormy” - again a translation - it is a mix of Bundy rum and Bundy Ginger beer. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/34 "2006-04-07T22:57:53Z")
**Silenus** , do you have your next selections ready? I await your next rankings with bated breath!! I’d love to see where you place Ginger People, Ginger People with Lemon, and Old Tyme. Also Stewarts and Sioux City and Fentiman’s. I could help get you a few of those brands if they’re not available in your area. I must admit puzzlement that you found Reeds Extra scored only one point higher than Reeds. Could you elaborate? Must…find…Stephan’s! ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/35 "2006-04-07T23:04:38Z")
I have to admit, this thread is making me a little wet. All this talk of ginger beer…mmmmmmmm, dark and stormies…dangerous territory. 😃 ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/36 "2006-04-07T23:53:46Z")
Just cracked a Blenheim. Not too bad. OK bite with a lingering burn. Not anywhere near Stephan’s, but not bad at all. Not too sweet, either. I’ll give it a 91. **Qapgop** - You sent me a bottle of Sioux City, I believe. I wish I’d taken notes when I drank it. My local Bevmo has been out of Stewart’s for the last few weeks. As for Reed’s…both are good, but Stephan’s beats them both hands-down. It was either rank the Reed’s close, or recalibrate and raise the ranking for Stephan’s. 😃 5 minutes later, the Blenheim’s is still a pleasant burn in my throat. Niiiiice. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/37 "2006-04-08T00:30:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Stephan’s - 93 > Bundaberg - 92 > Reed’s Extra - 91 > Pangleheimer’s - 90 > Reed’s - 90 > Red Rock - 75 > Vernor’s - 75 > Canada Dry - 70 Thanks **Silenus**! I need to take a trip to a few large grocery stores now, and look around for those. I know Reeds is around, but it tends to become sold out, and stay sold out. Canada Dry is good with some grenadine, but alone is a little bland. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/38 "2006-04-08T01:06:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Qapgop** - You sent me a bottle of Sioux City, I believe. I wish I’d taken notes when I drank it. My local Bevmo has been out of Stewart’s for the last few weeks. As for Reed’s…both are good, but Stephan’s beats them both hands-down. It was either rank the Reed’s close, or recalibrate and raise the ranking for Stephan’s. 😃 Good to know. Yeah, I sent you a 4-pack of Sioux city and a single bottle of Fentiman’s. Now my source of Fentiman’s has dried up… :mad: Now I must seek out Blenheim too… Ever have “Loco” soda? It had capsaicin added to it. Mango, lime, blackberry, and one other flavor that I don’t presently recall. It had gone out of business by the time I discovered it, but I was able to stock up on some bottles at a local “everything’s a dollar” grocery store. Damn, it was tasty. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/39 "2006-04-08T01:38:14Z")
Make sure you don’t get Blenheim’s “Not-So-Hot.” The original is pretty good, and doesn’t need any “dumbing-down” for plebian palates. I neve got a chance to get “Loco” soda. More’s the pity, it seems. I might just try a mix of Blenheim’s and Stephan’s. They might fill the holes in each others flavor profiles. Maybe. Or it might just blow the roof of my mouth off. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509/40 "2006-04-08T01:39:12Z")
Hmm, it seems like I’ve seen Cock and Bull around here, but maybe it’s not as recently as I think. My favorite at the moment is Natural Brew Ginger Ale. Mmmmm I loves me some ginger ale. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-kind-of-ginger-beer/350509.md?page=3)