I just recently discovered this brand of “ginger beer” at Atwoods. It’s very good. You can actually taste the ginger in it. Of course it doesn’t come in a sugar free, calorie free version so I can only indulge occasionally.
That “you can actually taste the ginger” might seem like a strange thing to say but I grew up with the notion that Canada Dry was the standard by which all ginger ales were judged. Moreover, the words “ginger ale” merged in my mind into one thing and when I heard it I no more thought of ginger than I thought of ale.
My husband’s experience is different though. He has memories of a superior, more gingery, ginger ale from the past and since he first mentioned it I’ve been on the lookout for different brands to try. This one gets a thumbs up though it is not The One.
By the way, I’ve always thought that ginger ale and ginger beer were the same thing but apparently there is, or was, a difference but it’s become somewhat blurry.
July 30th, 2012 - 9:16 pm
Ginger beer tends to a stronger and spicier flavor than ginger ale, for some reason. I love ginger beer, especially as it is one of the key ingredients in what I have officially made my Signature Drink (ahem), the ‘Dark and Stormy’. (The other is spiced rum, or dark rum, or dark spiced rum.)
A good ginger ale with a nice kick of a flavor is Vernor’s, which is one of my favorite beverages in the universe. In terms of intensity it’s rather between something like Canada Dry (which is downright bland) and some of the more intense ginger beers I’ve had. If you can find Vernor’s in your neck of the woods, give it a shot!
July 30th, 2012 - 11:31 pm
I was about to suggest Vernor’s, but Jaquandor has beat me to it. The Cock ‘n Bull Ginger Beer is quite good.