Best Stores To Buy Ginger Beer For Moscow Mule

Ginger beer is a key ingredient in the making of a Moscow Mule, a cocktail that also includes vodka and lime juice. The drink is traditionally served in a copper mug, which enhances the chill factor and makes the cocktail seem colder than it would in a regular glass. The best ginger beer for Moscow mules is said to be Fever-Tree Ginger Beer, which can be found at Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, World Market, and Amazon. Other recommended ginger beers include Bottoms Up Ginger Beer, Fentiman's Ginger Beer, and Reed's Extra Ginger Brew.

Online: Amazon, Whole Foods, World Market

Amazon

Amazon offers a wide range of ginger beer options suitable for Moscow Mules, including:

• Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer, a popular choice known for its intense ginger flavor.
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer, which is also available in a pack of 24 cans.
• Gosling's Diet Ginger Beer, a sugar-free alternative.
• Cock n Bull Ginger Beer, available in various pack sizes.
• Q Mixers Premium Ginger Beer, made with real ingredients.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods stocks Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer, which is highly recommended for Moscow Mules due to its strong and clear ginger flavor.

World Market

World Market is another retailer that sells Fever-Tree Ginger Beer, which, as mentioned, is a popular choice for Moscow Mules due to its authentic ginger taste.

In-store: Natural Grocers, Costco

Ginger beer is a key ingredient in the making of a Moscow Mule, a cocktail with a strong ginger flavour. The good news is that you can buy ginger beer in-store at both Natural Grocers and Costco.

In-store: Natural Grocers

Natural Grocers stocks the Fever-Tree brand of ginger beer, which has been described as having the "most clear and pronounced fresh ginger flavour". This is thanks to its blend of three gingers from Nigeria, Cochin and the Ivory Coast.

Natural Grocers also has a recipe for a non-alcoholic Moscow Mule on its website, which includes the addition of fresh, grated ginger along with ginger beer, sparkling water, and fresh lime. For the most ginger flavour, the recipe recommends Maine Root Spicy Ginger Brew. For a milder flavour, it suggests Reed's Extra Ginger Brew.

In-store: Costco

Costco sells canned craft ginger mules from the cocktail manufacturer, Reed's Mule. These are sold in packs of 12 12-ounce cans for $24.99. However, it appears that these are only available at Costco stores in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Costco also sells Fever-Tree ginger beer, which one customer described as having a "good" and "really strong" ginger taste.

So, if you're looking to buy ginger beer for your Moscow Mules, both Natural Grocers and Costco are great options!

Ginger beer vs ginger ale

Ginger beer and ginger ale are both fizzy drinks with spicy and sweet notes, but they have distinct differences.

History

Ginger beer is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom in the 18th century, although some sources claim it is much older. Early versions of the drink were fermented, resulting in an alcoholic beverage with an ABV of around 11%. Today, most commercial ginger beers contain little to no alcohol, with some containing trace amounts of up to 0.5% alcohol.

Ginger ale, on the other hand, has more recent origins. In 1866, Detroit-based pharmacist James Vernor created Vernor's Ginger Ale, which became one of the oldest soft drinks in America. A few decades later, in the early 1900s, John J. McLaughlin introduced a drier style of ginger ale, which he trademarked as Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. It became popular as a non-alcoholic drink, especially during the temperance movement and prohibition.

Ingredients and Flavour

The main difference between ginger beer and ginger ale lies in their ingredients and resulting flavour profiles. Ginger beer is typically made with fresh, finely grated ginger, sugar, and citrus, while ginger ale often contains artificial dyes, flavourings, and caramel colouring. Ginger beer is spicier and less sweet than ginger ale, although the sugar content of packaged versions may be similar.

Carbonation

The carbonation process also sets the two drinks apart. Ginger beer is traditionally made effervescent through fermentation, while ginger ale is usually artificially carbonated.

Use in Cocktails

When it comes to cocktails, ginger beer and ginger ale also have different roles. Ginger beer is commonly used in cocktails like the Moscow Mule and Dark and Stormy, where its bold and spicy flavour takes centre stage. On the other hand, ginger ale is a popular highball mixer, often paired with whiskey or rye, as its delicate ginger flavour takes a back seat to the other ingredients in drinks like a Horse's Neck or Pimm's Cup.

Availability

Both ginger beer and ginger ale can be purchased from various retailers, and some brands worth noting include Fever-Tree, Crabbie's, Goslings, and Royal Jamaican. You can also make your own ginger beer or ginger ale at home, although it requires some time and experimentation to perfect the recipe.

What is a Moscow Mule?

A Moscow Mule is a vodka-based cocktail made with lime juice and ginger beer. It is a sweet and refreshing drink that is served cold over ice. Although the name suggests Russian origins, the Moscow Mule was invented in Los Angeles in the 1940s as part of a marketing push for vodka, which was a new spirit in the United States at the time. The drink is typically served in a copper mug, as the cold metal helps to insulate the liquid, keeping the cocktail cool.

The Moscow Mule is known for its iconic copper mug, which, besides being a visually distinct presentation, serves a functional purpose. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, meaning that cold temperatures spread rapidly through the mug, helping to keep the cocktail chilled. The copper mug is not essential, however, and the drink can be served in a highball or rocks glass if needed.

To make a Moscow Mule, fill a copper mug or glass with ice, then add vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. The drink is then stirred to combine the ingredients. It is typically garnished with a lime wedge, and sometimes a sprig of mint is added for extra colour and flavour.

The Moscow Mule has spawned several variations, including the Mezcal Mule (made with mezcal) and the Kentucky Mule (made with bourbon). The choice of vodka is flexible, and any unflavoured vodka can be used. However, the choice of ginger beer can make a big difference to the taste of the cocktail. Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer is a popular choice for its strong ginger flavour.

History of ginger beer

Ginger beer was first created in Yorkshire, England, in the 1700s during the colonial spice trade. It was initially made as a fermented alcoholic beverage using ginger, sugar, and water. The mixture was left to sit and ferment until it became bubbly and slightly alcoholic, after which it was strained, and a portion of the old batch was used to make the new one. This "plant" or "ginger bug" is a community of bacteria and yeast that make up the fermented solids of the ginger beer. The name "ginger beer" is somewhat misleading, as it was never actually a beer; rather, the production methods were similar.

Brewed ginger beer became popular throughout Britain, the United States, Ireland, South Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada, reaching its peak of popularity in the early 20th century. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the large-scale breweries favoured the use of yeast as it was easier for scaled production.

Today, many ginger beers are manufactured rather than brewed, often with flavour and colour additives, and artificial carbonation. However, some companies, like Bundaberg, still brew their ginger beer using real ginger, fermenting it with special yeast over three days.

Frequently asked questions