Ginger Beer vs Ginger Ale. Both are refreshing beverages on their own and modifiers in mixed drinks. But what is the difference?
Ginger Beer / Ginger Ale – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Ginger Beer vs Ginger Ale
Both have ginger as their key ingredient, a plant that is easy to grow in an edible garden. The main difference between ginger beer and ginger ale is that ginger beer is brewed and fermented whereas ginger ale is a carbonated drink that is flavoured with ginger.
Ginger ale tends to be lighter in colour with a ginger flavour that’s not overly strong. Ginger beer tends to have a more predominant ginger flavour as a result of the fermentation process and tends to be less carbonated than its counterpart. Naturally-brewed ginger beer can have minute traces of alcohol but these are so low that the alcohol level is less than 0.5%
Naturally, differences exist between brands. Some ginger beer can be cloudy with a floating ginger sediment while some ginger ales can be less carbonated and some can have additional flavours such as chilli.
Ginger beer and ginger ale are used in cocktails and mixed drinks sometimes interchangeably. Drinks include the Dark n Stormy (rum), Moscow Mule (vodka), Añejo Highball (rum), Kentucky Mule (bourbon), Foghorn (gin), Gin Buck (gin), El Diablo (tequila) and the Chilcano (pisco).
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