Winding Up
Ginger beers were made for those who love ginger and don’t want to steer away from it. It is a ginger extract packed with an extra oomph of carbonation and blended flavors. We have seen tons of ginger beer brands, but luckily, this list has the best brands (if not the most popular). So grab your favorite brand or try out something new to kickstart your afternoon on the porch or with friends. A bottle of two would sure set up for an amazing time.
Ginger Beer FAQ
Is ginger beer good for your health?
First off, ginger itself has tons of benefits, including relieving digestion, boosting the immune system, lowering the risk of heart disease, pain relief, and more. However, consuming ginger beer may not necessarily give you these benefits, especially if it has additives.
What does ginger beer taste like?
The most pronounced taste of ginger beer is, of course, ginger. But depending on the ingredients used, it can be sweet, syrupy, and at times really spicy. Some ginger beers drinks contain chili p[epper extract to add to the hotness.
Is ginger beer alcoholic?
Ginger beer was alcoholic back in the day, but due to government laws and people’s preferences, ginger beer today is non-alcoholic. As a result, only a handful of companies manufacture alcoholic ginger beer.
What is the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale?
Ginger beer is fermented and goes through the same process used when making beer. Ginger ale, on the other hand, is carbonated water mixed with ginger syrup or ginger. But some ginger beers aren’t fermented and are basically stronger versions of ginger ale.
Do I need to refrigerate my ginger beer?
Not really. Ginger beer can be consumed as is, but like most sodas, it is better served when chilled.
How can I make my own ginger beer?
Ginger beer is made through the same process as real beer. But due to the alcoholic content, a few tweaks can make the alcoholic percentage a bit lower. So, I scoured through numerous recipes to get the simplest way to make ginger beer. This recipe should work for anyone and requires minimum ingredients. So, are you ready to make some ginger beer?
What you’ll need
- 1.8 ounces of fresh ginger
- 3.5 ounces of sugar
- 2 liters of water
Procedure
First off, you’ll need a container for the fermenting process and another small container. a few tweaks
GInger prep: thoroughly wash and peel your ginger, then add it into a small container; add one teaspoon of sugar and a little bit of water. Tightly close the container and let it sit at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Every day, add one teaspoon of sugar and about half a cup of water or until it starts to bubble. When the ginger starts to bubble, it is now time for our next step.
Ginger decoction: Add about one liter of water in a container and 1.8 ounces of ginger with peel. Boil the mix to a high temperature and once it is high enough, bring it down to a simmer for about 20 minutes. Once it has simmered, sieve the decoction into another bowl and remove all the ginger peelings.
Immediately add 4 ounces of sugar and stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Next, add an extra liter of water to cool down the decoction. Finally, add the ginger starter we earlier made to the decoction, cover the top with cheesecloth, and then fasten with a rubber band.
Let the mixture ferment for 1-3 days at room temperature. Ideally, we want to ferment until we see it bubbling. Fermentation depends on heat and not sunlight, so if you can maintain a temperature of 18C to 20C, it will ferment faster. Once you see bubbles forming, start pouring the mixture on bottles.
Keep one extra bottle with a small amount of ginger beer to watch the carbonation process. If you let it carbonate for too long, it will swell up and probably burst. Keep the rest of the bottles refrigerated for a few days. Remember, you can only keep the bottled ginger beer for up to 3 weeks; otherwise, it will be over carbonated.
The taste and spiciness of this ginger beer drink will entirely depend on how you balance the amounts of water, sugar, ginger, etc. You can play around with this recipe a few times until you get the right mix. As I said earlier, this was the simplest recipe for ginger beer, so feel free to add any variation you fancy.
