388074 Tue Apr 03 19:53:32 -0700 2007 77 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2448251 I like Reeds a lot. However, I tried Stirrings recently and it was very good. Any others? Neigher Reeds nor Stirrings uses HFCS. Tue Apr 03 19:53:32 -0700 2007 10264 rworange 1 2448267 Vernor's. Is there others? Tue Apr 03 19:59:07 -0700 2007 2448251 67548 azhotdish 2 2449013 Second on the Vernors. Wed Apr 04 06:53:29 -0700 2007 2448267 29114 WineWidow 3 2449146 third on Vernors! :o) Wed Apr 04 07:38:00 -0700 2007 2449013 70556 kabrown 4 2449166 Vernors is okay but it tastes too much like a cream soda to me. I like Dr. Browns but when you get right down to it, Canada Dry is pretty solid if maybe a little sweet. I was also not too impressed with the Whole Foods house brand 365. So, Dr. Browns if I can find it but otherwise I'll take Canada Dry. Do I have to trade in my chowhound card now? Wed Apr 04 07:44:20 -0700 2007 2449146 19291 frankiii 5 2464608 Yes, you do - Canada Dry is artificially flavored; not an ounce of real ginger in it. Then again, I have to trade mine in as well because I haven't heard of half these brands. I like Schweppes. Mon Apr 09 14:39:21 -0700 2007 2449166 27312 lvecch 5 5159712 There is just no comparison. Vernors is a golden ginger ale Dr Browns and Canada Dry, and most all others are dry Ginger Ales BTW 4th on Vernors Thu Nov 05 18:17:06 -0800 2009 2449166 28577 Jack_ 4 3995606 While I have had many really good ones, plus some excellent ginger beers, I will also cast my vote for Vernor's. It is the best, in my vast experience. Hunt Thu Aug 28 20:03:59 -0700 2008 2449146 11329 Bill Hunt 4 5048149 fourth on Vernor's. Mon Sep 21 23:43:33 -0700 2009 2449146 290845 KristieB 4 5158894 Fourth on Vernors'! Thu Nov 05 13:05:13 -0800 2009 2449146 22427 gfr1111 2 2449293 another tally for vernor's Wed Apr 04 08:22:57 -0700 2007 2448267 26725 swsidejim 2 2481827 I don't know whether the Vernor's we get in Toronto is different from the US version. I used to like it, but it became rather insipid several years ago. I tend to mix my own using something called Aunt May's ginger syrup and seltzer. Sat Apr 14 20:48:31 -0700 2007 2448267 23411 embee 3 5048152 That's really too bad because I remember when Vernor's would tickle your nose and make you cough it was so effervesent and gingery. Mon Sep 21 23:44:25 -0700 2009 2481827 290845 KristieB 1 2448299 Blenheim used to be big in the Carolinas. I had a bottle of the spicier version and thought it would take my throat off. I don't know what the status is now. Tue Apr 03 20:10:19 -0700 2007 2448251 18981 Jimmy Buffet 2 2449989 Love blenheim! everyone else I know can't handle it though =/ Wed Apr 04 10:56:28 -0700 2007 2448299 82739 Jeters 2 2460089 A friend brought some home once and holy mother of god! It was like drinking ice cold liquid fire. Sat Apr 07 18:42:42 -0700 2007 2448299 10642 bryan 3 2468211 I am/was a major fan of Blenheim. Vernors is populare around here but i find it to be too vanilla-ish for rmy taste. Tue Apr 10 15:00:12 -0700 2007 2460089 10285 Candy 2 2460384 Oh how I miss Blenheim! Before they sold the place, they used to close for indeterminate amounts of time when they vacationed or whatever. Those were tough weeks! Haven't had one for ages. I wonder if it's still as good since they sold. Sat Apr 07 21:55:21 -0700 2007 2448299 49541 debbiel 1 2448927 Golden or Pale Dry.....Golden Ginger Ale is getting to be a scarce commodity Wed Apr 04 06:15:59 -0700 2007 2448251 11562 Hue 1 2449287 I think it depends upon how you like your ginger ale. The variety of responses so far points to a variety of different types of ginger ale. Here's my typology: One type are the widely-available and popular brands like Canada Dry (and others). To me, these barely taste to like ginger ale, but I know people who swear by the stuff. Another type is the Vernor's style, which has a stronger ginger taste than the popular brands, but also a creamy taste, and it doesn't have much sharpness (hence, Frankiii's posting about it tasting like cream soda). A third type are the sharp ginger ales, such as Reeds and Blenheim's (and probably most "crafted-style" ginger ales available at specialty stores). These actually taste like carbonated liquid ginger--esp. Blenheim. (Like Jimmy Buffet, I thought Blenheim was going to damage my throat: it's so strong that I had to hold my breath while putting the bottle to my mouth because the fumes coming out of the bottle would cause me to cough.) I love ginger and I love cream, so that's probably why I like Vernor's the best. Wed Apr 04 08:21:05 -0700 2007 2448251 16340 alanstotle 2 2460100 Exactly. I don't like cream soda-type flavours. I'm with frankiii; I like Canada Dry. Have never tried Blenheim but it sounds similar to Pangleheimers sparkling hot from Charlotte, NC, which just about killed me (and I like hot stuff). My father used to make a lovely hot ginger ale that was very drinkable. Pangleheimers, OTOH, seemed dangerous. I'll try Gus if I can find it. Sat Apr 07 18:50:37 -0700 2007 2449287 23874 spigot 1 2449292 Northern Neck Ginger Ale...regular or diet...both are very good and have a big "bite" to them. Wed Apr 04 08:22:47 -0700 2007 2448251 11990 Janet from Richmond 1 2449294 I forgot to mention that I have also made it at home and that has worked out pretty well Wed Apr 04 08:23:09 -0700 2007 2448251 19291 frankiii 1 2449755 Blenheim when I'm in the mood for some strong searing ginger down my throat. Gus when I prefer something lighter. Wed Apr 04 10:12:07 -0700 2007 2448251 10763 Miss Needle 1 2452278 Like others said for spicy you want Blenheims. I think it is much better than Reed's. Stirrings is ok but not great, sort of like a better version of canada Dry. Vernor's is good but like others say it seems like it is half ginger ale and half cream soda. But there is a brand new one on the market. Fever-Tree from the UK. Just released a week or so ago with limited west coast distribution. Very expensive, basically made as a mixer for premium spirits, but it is made with three types of ginger including young "green" ginger. It is a very unique ginger ale, not that hot and spicy but with a great flavor. http://www.slashfood.com/2007/03/28/fever-tree-premium-artisal-mixers-a-review-and-interview/ Wed Apr 04 21:01:57 -0700 2007 2448251 10732 JMF 1 2457759 Have you tried Cock and Bull? It's nice and spicy. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have HFCS. I've bought it at BevMo. Fri Apr 06 13:41:18 -0700 2007 2448251 43425 Sebby 2 2459572 I love this Cock and Bull when I'm at BevMo I pick up a six pack or 2 of this and Blenheim, there is also a spicy Jamaican brand from Boston I love as well! Sat Apr 07 14:56:38 -0700 2007 2457759 68007 wizardx 3 2465935 Any Jamaican Style Ginger Beer floats my boat. My son and I love the spicy taste- really helps on a hot day. Tue Apr 10 02:04:52 -0700 2007 2459572 55542 drmimi 4 2481862 I just had a british style ginger beer at a New Paltz NY restaurant with rum. It was incredibly spicy. The company that makes it is http://www.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk Loved it. Sat Apr 14 21:17:24 -0700 2007 2465935 79926 serveitforth 5 5158879 Is there a difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? I like Fentiman's and Old Jamaica Ginger Beer. Thu Nov 05 12:59:41 -0800 2009 2481862 110146 greedygirl 6 5172044 """Ginger beer is similar to ginger ale except that it has a significantly stronger ginger taste, often being described as ginger ale with a kick to it. Its other distinctive properties include its traditional cloudy appearance, its predominantly citrus sour taste base and its spicy ginger bite.""" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_beer Wed Nov 11 01:22:20 -0800 2009 5158879 105717 alkapal 7 5172332 Some ginger beer (Fentimans' Traditional Ginger Beer for example) may also be classified as an alcoholic beverage. I was carded yesterday buying some (along with a case of Bendaberg Ginger Beer - although I wasn't carded for it). The label states that the "Fermented Botanical Ginger Drink" contains "less than 0.5% alcohol by volume" (which I think is the same amount as non-alcoholic beer?). Wed Nov 11 06:37:09 -0800 2009 5172044 259475 blackoak 8 5174339 That's true, in thier original form, most of the Ginger beers got thier carbonation via fermentation , as did the ginger ales, root beers, Brich beers etc (which is proably why we still refer to them as ginger ale, not ginger soda). One of my favortie memories from Camp was when as one of the "modules", we made root and birch beer from scratch (digging up birch and sassafrass roots and harvesting wild wintergreen) , and to carbonate it the councelor had us use yeast (I actually knew enough abotu fermentation to ask about the alcohol, but the councelor (who I expect was not coginzant in fermentation) said that no, yeast doesn't make alcohol (wrong!) two weeks later we got to try the stuff and it still remisn some of the best root beer I ever tasted (bonus story since I was one of the the student wo took the opion to "pool" his rootbeer (we were each entitled to and entire bootle of our own, but some of us agreed to split a bottle the firs ttime around so that there would be extra bottles for us to take home at terms end. When I got to the end of the term however I discover that, the counselelor had made an addional mistake, he had forgotten to take some step (like heating the bottles) to kill the yeast, with the end resutls that, two weeks after we had taken our first sips all of the bottles exploded!) I'm actually rather suprised they caded you for the Fentimans. I certinly never have been anywhere around me that sells them (I'm quite fond of the Cola). This inculdes the place that sells the full Fentimans selection which incuded the bottled Shandy (which contains actual beer) which if any flavor would be the one to set of carding flags. Fact is as least in my state 1 proof isnt high enough to warrant carding (I looked it up and the federal cutoff is 5 proof (2.5% alcolhol) Your state (or the store's own policy) may be stricter. Wed Nov 11 17:53:17 -0800 2009 5172332 24492 jumpingmonk 1 2457847 At a Los Angeles restaurant, they serve Bundaberg ginger beer, which they describe as a "brewed n/a ginger soft ale." It is the best-tasting ginger ale style beverage that I've ever had. Fri Apr 06 14:23:05 -0700 2007 2448251 11028 DanaB 2 2468172 Oh yes Bundaberg!!! I got hooked on Bundaberg's ginger beer (and even their diet ginger beer) when I went to Australia recently, and am mourning the absence in the US (though I just found out from elsewhere on this board that Cost Plus sells it). I'm a spicy but not hell burning spicy kind of ginger ale gal. Before Bundaberg, Cock & Bull was my favorite. Tue Apr 10 14:52:04 -0700 2007 2457847 10961 Alice Patis 3 2470962 Bundaberg is really, really good...CostPlus Worldmarket carries it. Bundaberg also makes a root beer, but I like other root beers better (it's a little too gingery for a root beer, IMHO). My second favorite ginger ale is Sprecher, but it's hard to find in my area. It's made in Wisconsin, good stuff, with a really great root beer as well. Wed Apr 11 11:22:25 -0700 2007 2468172 12023 Hungry Celeste 2 5182264 Just tried Bundaberg which was at our premium wine and spirits store, see that it contains yeast but it tasted soapy to me and did not rank high at all in my own quest for the most wonderful ginger ale/beer I can find here in the states. Hate to see I have one more bottle to finish and it was $2 bucks a bottle at that. Yech. My all time best was something made from scratch at Coconut Lagoon in Kerela, India. British traditions and Indian fresh ginger is the standard, but who can come close in a bottle with sugar and no HFCS. Sat Nov 14 18:59:59 -0800 2009 2457847 12522 glbtrtr 3 5182304 You might want to aviod Thomas Kemper's as well, while the honey sweetening makes for an intersting up from flavor the ginger note itself is rather musty and woody. Sat Nov 14 19:26:11 -0800 2009 5182264 24492 jumpingmonk 3 5200489 Huh... I wonder if you got an old bottle? I'm VERY sensitive to soapy flavors but never tasted them in the Bundabergs I've had. Sun Nov 22 13:33:47 -0800 2009 5182264 256229 LauraGrace 1 2459665 I like the Whole Foods variety, but I make my own because I have a bunch of cornelius kegs lying around for homebrew and I can force carbonate without using yeast. Draft ginger ale. 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped 2 lemons, sliced ( use the whole lemon ) 4# turbinado sugar 20 oz organic ginger, sliced 5 gallons of RO water. Boil the ingredients in 1/3 of the water, strain into a keg, repeat twice more. Also, divide the sugar among the 3 boiling steps. Seal the keg and allow the GA to settle for a week. Rack GA off the sediment into another keg, chill to 40 deg F, and force carbonate. Ready to drink in about 3 days. The carbonation will improve over time. Sat Apr 07 15:37:03 -0700 2007 2448251 79234 hammerhead 1 2459683 Goya's Sat Apr 07 15:43:36 -0700 2007 2448251 61669 Quine 1 2460102 I like to make a ginger syrup using two nice sized knobs of ginger two cups sugar two cups water one habanero pepper a tablespoon of molasses rind from two lemons Put it over some heat, let it simmer for about twenty minutes, and mix about two ounces with a cup of sparkling water. It tastes goood. Sat Apr 07 18:53:48 -0700 2007 2448251 20664 therealbigtasty 2 2463156 schweppes!!!! Mon Apr 09 08:58:51 -0700 2007 2460102 57801 lollya 3 2465909 schweppes for me too! Tue Apr 10 00:52:38 -0700 2007 2463156 50431 chef chicklet 3 3978945 Ditto Schweppes! It doesn't have to be an obscure brand to be the best, and Schweppes is just about perfect. I think it's because it's made by Brits and they aren't afraid of the strong ginger flavor. Fri Aug 22 12:54:58 -0700 2008 2463156 159158 HSBSteveM 4 3991493 i like the schweppes' super-fine fizziness, too! Wed Aug 27 11:18:23 -0700 2008 3978945 105717 alkapal 1 2470158 Polar - limited availability, mostly NE US but I have seen it in NC Wed Apr 11 08:18:24 -0700 2007 2448251 22781 fatbob 2 2470298 I remember Polar from long ago. It was really good. Do they still use sugar or have they switched to HFCS? I Wed Apr 11 08:51:07 -0700 2007 2470158 10264 rworange 3 2480233 The bottle of Polar diet gingerale that I have states "all natural ginger " on the front label. The ingredients are carbonated water,natural flavors,citric acid,aspartame,potassium benzoate(a preservative)caramel color,ethyl maltol phenylketonurics;contains phenyalanine.I think that is has much more flavor and snap to it than other major brands. Sat Apr 14 07:29:55 -0700 2007 2470298 11492 sandramrma 1 2470253 Absolutely Northern Neck ginger ale. Bottled by Coke but only in Montross, VA and only available in the northern neck (between the potomac and rappahanock rivers) so far as I know. But if you're ever there, better buy some! Wed Apr 11 08:41:16 -0700 2007 2448251 83870 danbee1 1 3970287 Why do you people like Vernors ginger ale? It tastes like bad cough syrup. The best ginger ales are Reeds extra ginger and homemade ginger ale Tue Aug 19 15:51:19 -0700 2008 2448251 219798 SwissMan 2 3970719 GUS (Grown up Soda) Ginger is the best I have ever had, real sugar cane and ginger root extract and is less sweet. Stirrings is very good, champagne bubbles and cane sugar, but it is too expensive and only comes in 7 ounce bottles. http://www.drinkgus.com/ Tue Aug 19 18:57:40 -0700 2008 3970287 24648 Sean 3 3970833 Blenheim...had one this morning...delish! Tue Aug 19 19:45:39 -0700 2008 3970719 11854 LaLa 1 3971118 What about Boylan's in Jersey? Is it too 'cream soda' like, as some others have mentioned? Not sure if it has real ginger in it, but it tastes good, maybe a bit sweet. I like the real spicy ginger beer, but I find it different than ginger 'ale'. I think I've been brainwashed by Schweppes growing up, but I love the stuff still. Tue Aug 19 22:12:25 -0700 2008 2448251 160411 morefuuud 1 3971814 I'm a fan of Hansen's - strong up front ginger, with a little vanilla in there as well, utterly drinkable, and naturally flavored (they list "African ginger, Mexican limes, Californian lemons and Madagascan vanilla" on the ingredients). Caveat: I've only had the diet variety. Wed Aug 20 08:05:02 -0700 2008 2448251 217557 kilercow 2 5044918 Hansen's ginger ale gets my vote. The only pop consumed in my household. Sun Sep 20 19:56:09 -0700 2009 3971814 1110787 emcee_k 2 5182268 Happy to buy Hansen's because it is made with sugar, but it was way too sweet for me. Nice mild ginger flavor, but I guess I am looking for something fresher and a lot dryer. Still looking. Dang about Vernors and its HFCS. Wonder if there is a Mexican Coke version of Vernor's overseas or at a specialty store in the US. Sat Nov 14 19:03:41 -0800 2009 3971814 12522 glbtrtr 1 3971840 Related to the Northern Neck recommendations above, Carver's ginger ale is the best I have tasted. Real ginger and no HFCS and comes in glass bottles. http://www.realgingerale.com/ Wed Aug 20 08:14:34 -0700 2008 2448251 18385 CDouglas 1 3978239 I like homemade ginger ale a lot but if I had to pick a national/mainstream favorite...it would be Seagrams. Fri Aug 22 09:18:37 -0700 2008 2448251 112406 Chew on That 1 3978488 Mmmmmmm, put me firmly in the Vernor's camp! Fri Aug 22 10:32:33 -0700 2008 2448251 43228 TripChick 2 3978544 I like Maine Root Ginger Brew... Its nice and spicy... It makes me feel better when I overeat and my throat feels good after drinking it too! I got it from wholefoods... Fri Aug 22 10:50:25 -0700 2008 3978488 151574 Aimliz 3 3978746 Second that! Maine Root is the best- spicy, sweet but shades of savory, excellent on it's own or in any number of cocktails(house fav right right is a "punch" of Maine Root Ginger, watermelon juice or peach juice(whatever looked good at the farmer's market) and vodka... Fri Aug 22 11:54:29 -0700 2008 3978544 140744 Bunnyfood 4 5182271 Yuck, I am feeling very out of mainstream as I keep searching for my own favorites ginger ale/beer. Did not like WholeFoods "Maine Root" ginger either, but at least it was not too sweet and had punch. It just did not have a clear or fresh ginger flavor - again slightly on the soapy side for some reason but not as bad as that Australian Bunderberg (?) one which really was very unpleasant. Sat Nov 14 19:05:56 -0800 2009 3978746 12522 glbtrtr 1 3978984 BLENHEIMS...the hot and spicy is amazing...flavor and spice....but for the weak there is the mild. i will drink most ginger ale......i don't care for vernor's.....the jamaican style is real nice, but blenheims is the best. Fri Aug 22 13:07:37 -0700 2008 2448251 199728 scuffletown 2 3979010 I've recenly actually developed a taste for Fever Tree's ginger ale (even if it is tecnically desgined primarily as a mixer not a soft drink). The simple fact is, I Like a bite-free ginger ale. Fri Aug 22 13:16:58 -0700 2008 3978984 24492 jumpingmonk 1 3979662 Where do you guys buy your Ginger ale? Fri Aug 22 17:47:45 -0700 2008 2448251 219798 SwissMan 1 3979836 I second Reeds. Fri Aug 22 19:18:47 -0700 2008 2448251 16828 Judith 1 3979890 BLENHEIM! (nuff-said) Fri Aug 22 19:43:34 -0700 2008 2448251 209906 joshlane4 1 3992537 Bundaberg ginger beer from Australia, Blenheim (with the red cap) from back east, and Reed's for being readily available. Bundaberg and Reed's goes great with dark rum and a wedge of lime... Wed Aug 27 17:19:41 -0700 2008 2448251 64003 bulavinaka 1 5050519 Ok. Scratch my Blenheim and Gus rec. The best ginger ale I've had was not from a market but from home. Jean-George's recipe calls for ginger, lemongrass, sugar and chiles (for that lovely burn). The recipe says to leave the skin on, but I think it tastes better with the skin off (or to do a 50/50 skin on/off). If you leave the skin on, it imparts a bitterness. http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2009/06/homemade_ginger.html Tue Sep 22 16:57:19 -0700 2009 2448251 10763 Miss Needle 2 5172047 thanks for that link, miss n. it looks easy and like a delicious drink. Wed Nov 11 01:29:24 -0800 2009 5050519 105717 alkapal 1 5158770 Blenheim is still hanging in there...its owned by the South of the Border tourist place now i love blenheim old #3 ginger ale...its so spicy and sweet...and they were real sugar for the longest time..not sure about now though... they have an official site going up now too and they said you will be able to order blenhiem's off the site and have it shipped to you directly since its so hard to find in stores.... www.blenheimgingerale.com Thu Nov 05 12:23:35 -0800 2009 2448251 1113982 rs303909 1 5159419 Blenheim. The original peppery ginger ale. I ran into it in South Carolina and then saw it at the Raleigh Farmers Market. Two types. Peppery and Pepperier! What Vernors and Schwepps used to be..... Thu Nov 05 16:10:37 -0800 2009 2448251 1101903 lil magill 1 5159595 Never heard of Vernor's but I love Reed's. Wish it wasn't a dollar a pop, though. :-( Thu Nov 05 17:16:58 -0800 2009 2448251 70211 Beckyleach 1 5159699 I've sampled Fever Tree from England. OMG and their tonic water is also an OMG. When I can find it I buy all I can find and horde it. Thu Nov 05 18:09:21 -0800 2009 2448251 10285 Candy 2 5197392 Icidentally I finally got my hands on some of the Fever tree Ginger BEER (as opposed to the ale) after seaching for a very long time. And let me tell you, they are NOTHING alike. While the giger ales taste is quite subtle and tame (one of the reasons I liked it it's "burn" is minimal) The Beer on the other hand is like swallowing a red hot poker, it's THAT firey (I think my mouth actually went numb). Not to my taste but of you like your Ginger drinks with a lot of punch, the beer might be just up your alley. Fri Nov 20 17:55:37 -0800 2009 5159699 24492 jumpingmonk 1 5174362 Wasn't there a post somewhere about Stewart's ginger beer? It's my favorite. Wed Nov 11 18:04:28 -0800 2009 2448251 1119140 pdxgastro 1 5200493 Ale81 is a Kentucky concoction, and it's doggone good. Just about my favorite soda ever, ginger ale or not. Sun Nov 22 13:35:43 -0800 2009 2448251 256229 LauraGrace