Best Places To Buy Spicy Ginger Beer

Ginger beer is a popular drink that can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer in cocktails such as the Moscow Mule. It is known for its strong ginger flavour and carbonation, with varying levels of spice and sweetness depending on the brand. While it is called beer, ginger beer is usually non-alcoholic. However, some hard versions do contain alcohol, typically with an ABV between 4% and 6%. Ginger beer can be purchased from various online and physical retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Spicy ginger beer recipes

Fiery Hot Ginger Beer

This recipe from Insane in the Brine is a non-alcoholic soda with a kick from ginger and peppers. It takes around a week to make, including preparation and fermentation time.

Ingredients:

• 3.75 cups of filtered or distilled water
• Hot pepper(s) of choice, stems removed and halved (the amount depends on your preference for spice)
• 1/4 cup strained ginger bug culture
• Juice of 2 clementines (or an additional 1/4 cup of water)
• 1 tsp cloves, coarsely crushed by hand
• A pinch of whole grains of paradise or allspice
• Optional: include another pepper in the bottle for dramatic effect

Instructions:

• Rinse and grate the ginger. Combine it in a saucepan with the water, sugar, hot pepper(s), and any add-on spices (don't add the clementine juice yet).
• Bring the liquid to a boil, stirring periodically. Once it reaches a boil, cover the saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Add the clementine juice and stir.
• Strain the wort (sweetened liquid) through a mesh strainer several times, cleaning the strainer of its debris each time. Alternatively, pass the wort through a cheesecloth.
• Strain the 1/4 cup of ginger bug culture so that only liquid remains. Transfer this liquid culture to a flip-top bottle using a bottling funnel.
• Transfer the wort to the bottle using a bottling funnel, leaving around 3" of headspace. There may be some excess wort, which you can drink immediately.
• Seal the bottle and let it stand at room temperature for three days.
• Transfer the bottle to the fridge and let it stand overnight. The soda is now ready to drink.

Quick Spicy Ginger Beer

This recipe from Nest and Glow is a non-alcoholic, sugar-free, and healthy summer drink. It only takes 5 minutes to make, but the mixture should be left in the fridge for a week for the best results.

Ingredients:

• 2 lemons or limes, juiced (use whichever you prefer)
• Fresh ginger, finely diced
• Dates, ensure there are no stones
• Soda water
• Ice

Instructions:

• Finely dice the ginger.
• Juice the lemons or limes.
• Add all the ingredients (except the soda water and ice) to a blender and blend until combined.
• You can either sieve the mixture or not, depending on whether you like a smooth or chunky texture.
• Pour the blended mixture over ice and add the soda water. Use a ratio of 1 part mix to 4 parts water.
• Enjoy immediately or store the mixture in the fridge before adding the soda water.
• The ginger beer concentrate should last a week in the fridge.

Jamaican Ginger Beer

This recipe from That Girl Cooks Healthy is a non-fermented version of the traditional Caribbean drink. It takes 30 minutes to make, including 10 minutes of cooking time, and makes a strong spice-infused soft beverage.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh ginger, peeled
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon brown rice (optional)
• 10 cups water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Maple syrup to taste, or a sweetener of your choice
• Rum or rum essence (optional)

Instructions:

• Grate the ginger (grating brings out the flavour) or chop it up and blend with 1/2 cup of water (add more if required).
• In a large pot, add the ginger, cloves, cinnamon stick, rice (if using), and water.
• Simmer on low-medium heat for 5 minutes (this heats it through without destroying its properties).
• Remove the pot from the stove and let it cool. If you are using granulated sugar, stir it in now, then add the lime juice.
• Cover the pot and either store in a cool place or refrigerate for several hours or up to a week (the longer you leave it, the stronger it will taste).
• When you are ready to serve, strain the juice into a cheesecloth or extra-fine mesh strainer.
• Stir in your sweetener, vanilla, and rum/essence if using. Add more water if it's too strong or adjust to taste.
• For best results, completely chill and serve with ice.

Online shops selling spicy ginger beer

There are several online shops that sell spicy ginger beer. Here are some options:

Amazon

Amazon offers a wide variety of ginger beer brands, including spicy options such as Reed's Extra Ginger Brew, Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer, and Q Mixers Ginger Beer. Amazon provides a convenient platform for purchasing various products, with options for fast delivery and subscription discounts.

Drizly

Drizly is another online retailer that offers a range of ginger beers, including brands like Fever-Tree and Bundaberg. They provide delivery services, making it easy for customers to receive their favourite beverages without leaving home.

Liquor.com

Liquor.com is a website dedicated to beverages, and they offer a selection of ginger beers with detailed reviews. Their top pick for the best overall ginger beer is Maine Root Ginger Brew, known for its commitment to using Fair Trade Certified organic sugar cane and its bright and spicy taste. Other recommended options include Remedy Ginger Beer, Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer, and Q Mixers Ginger Beer.

Thomas Henry

Thomas Henry's Spicy Ginger Beer is an award-winning beverage known for its perfect harmony of sweetness and spiciness, achieved through natural ginger, a touch of natural chilli, and fresh citrus aromas. Their product is vegan and naturally gluten-free, making it an inclusive choice for various consumers.

Other Options

In addition to the above, there are other online shops like Walmart and Total Wine that offer ginger beer products, including spicy varieties. It's always a good idea to explore different retailers to find the specific brand and price that suits your preferences.

Supermarkets selling spicy ginger beer

Spicy ginger beer can be purchased from a variety of supermarkets, depending on your location. In the US, ginger beer is available at Safeway and Kroger, as well as Whole Foods, Walgreens, and Publix. Publix offers both Kraken Black Spiced Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer at select locations.

If you're in the UK, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Waitrose all stock ginger beer, although availability may vary by store. Tesco sells Fentimans GB, which one Reddit user describes as "awesome stuff". Morrisons sells single cans of Stones Ginger Joe for 39p, according to another user.

For those in the US or UK, Amazon is also an option for purchasing spicy ginger beer, with brands such as Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer and Brooklyn Crafted Extra Spicy available.

When shopping for ginger beer, it's important to note that it's typically located near other soft drinks like cola and root beer, and not in the liquor aisle. This is because ginger beer is usually non-alcoholic, although alcoholic versions do exist.

Bars that serve spicy ginger beer

If you're looking for bars that serve spicy ginger beer, you're in luck! Ginger beer is a popular mixer in cocktails, known for its crisp, spicy ginger flavour and refreshing taste. Here are some bars that serve cocktails featuring spicy ginger beer:

Lost Lake, Chicago

Lost Lake in Chicago is a bar that takes its mixers seriously. Paul McGee, a partner at Lost Lake, recommends Fever-Tree's "premium" ginger beer, which has less sugar than most and a flavour that won't overpower the other ingredients in the cocktail.

Donna, New York

Fanny Chu, the head bartender at Donna in New York, recommends Bundaberg Ginger Beer for a Dark 'n Stormy cocktail. She says it has "a great balance of sweet and spice with a warm foamy fizz".

Land and Sea Dept, Chicago

The beverage director of Land and Sea Dept in Chicago, Paul McGee, suggests looking for a balanced ginger beer with less sugar, moderate spice, and bright effervescence. He recommends Barritt's Sugar-Free Diet Ginger Beer, which has "sweet, pleasant spice with nice effervescence".

Craft Bars

If you're looking for a more sophisticated ginger beer experience, seek out craft bars that use small-batch or handcrafted ginger beers. These bars may feature ginger beers like Maine Root Ginger Brew, which is handcrafted with organic sugar cane, or Remedy Ginger Beer, a small-batch kombucha company that also brews ginger beer.

Moscow Mule Bars

The Moscow Mule is a classic cocktail that uses ginger beer, so any bar serving this cocktail is likely to have ginger beer in stock. The cocktail typically includes vodka, lime, and ginger beer, served in a copper mug.

Dark and Stormy Bars

Another classic cocktail, the Dark and Stormy, calls for ginger beer, specifically Gosling's Ginger Beer. This cocktail is a mix of dark rum and ginger beer, so any bar serving this drink is sure to have a supply of spicy ginger beer.

Countries where spicy ginger beer is popular

Spicy ginger beer is a popular drink in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Bermuda, Scotland, Jamaica, and Australia. In the US, for example, ginger beer is commonly used as a mixer in cocktails like the Moscow Mule and Dark 'n Stormy. It is also enjoyed as a non-alcoholic beverage, with some brands offering sugar-free and diet options.

In the UK, ginger beer has a long history, dating back to the 1800s. Royalty Ginger Beer, for instance, is a UK-based brand that has received awards for its economic growth and popularity in the ginger beer sector. Old Jamaica Ginger Beer, another UK brand, is known for its Regular, Light, and Extra Fiery options, blended with Jamaican root ginger.

Bermuda is also known for its ginger beer, with Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer being a classic ingredient in the Dark 'n Stormy cocktail. The Bermuda Tourism Authority even recommends using Goslings in the recipe for an authentic taste of the island.

Scotland is home to Crabbie's Ginger Beer, one of the few alcoholic ginger beers available in the US market. This beverage has a long history, dating back to 1801, and is made with steeped ginger, resulting in a slightly spicy flavour.

Jamaica also has a connection to ginger beer, with Reed's taking pride in brewing the "highest-quality Jamaican ginger beer" using ingredients such as fresh ginger root, sparkling water, and pineapple juice. Their "Extra" version is a fan favourite, containing twice as much ginger as the original recipe.

Australia is represented in the world of spicy ginger beer by Bundaberg Ginger Beer, which is made with Australian-grown ginger and has a strong following, with many considering it the "best ginger beer on the market".

Frequently asked questions