Where to buy ginger beer?

[kcrawford55]

I'm putting together a "dark and stormy" basket for a gift and I'm having trouble finding ginger beer! I just moved to the area, so I'm not sure where to look. Recommendations?

[sfernando]

Of all places, Barritt's is sold at Virginia ABC stores (at least the one near me in Alexandria) as a "dark and stormy" package with Goslings.

[Transplanted Texan]

The Barritts distributor tells me they're sold at Bradley Food and Beverage.

[msarap]

I have bought ginger beer at Total WIne & More stores.

[MelandEd]

Rodmans in Wheaton/Silver Spring

[treetop tom]

By chance, me and my workplace soda tasting crew are testing 10 different ginger beers this afternoon: BARRITT’S, MAINE ROOT, D&G GENUINE, JAMAICA’S FINEST, REED’S EXTRA GINGER, GOYA, GOSLING’S, COCK ‘N BULL, SARANAC, & STEWART’S. I was able to find them at various stores along the DC/Baltimore Corridor including Roots, Fresh Market, Giant, Harris Teeter etc. The Barritt's was found at a liquor store on US 40 in Ellicott City. Almost every Giant will have the D&G Genuine Old Jamaican Ginger Beer in their ethnic food section - it is very good. Can one of the American upstarts take down D&G and Barritt's? We'll soon know.

[ivysmom]

Roots in Clarksville, MD carries a good ginger beer, but I don't remember the maker. My husband is a ginger beer fan and he thought it was good.

[biscuit]

Maine Root is amazing. Reed's just ok. Haven't tried the others.

[treetop tom]

According to the 14 people who participated in our ginger beer tasting, Barritt's had the best mix of taste, bite and burn, followed closely by Jamaica's Finest (bottled in Natrona, PA, of all places). Third place went to Cock 'N Bull. Reed's Extra Ginger was voted worst - it had a completely different taste due to being sweetened by pineapple juice and honey. Probably OK on its own, but such a different taste it didn't compare well to the other 10 (we tried Australia's Bundaberg also). The Maine Root had the biggest bite - probably twice the ginger of any of the others. Barritt's we found at the Pine Orchard Liquor Store on 40 West in Ellicott City and the Jamaica's Finest was at Wilson's Country Store just west of Hagerstown.

[scala]

Barritt's has been sold; bought by Gosling's. I have been meaning to do a taste comparison, but haven't yet. If you see Barritt's buy it; it'll soon be gone.

updated: Barritt's is trying to get their production back up; in the meantime Gosling's is aggressively getting their product onto shelves.

[discojing]

almost all supermarkets sell them.
I've seen them at Safeway, Wegman's, and Whole Foods.

I like the Ginger People brand the best ^_^.
It'll be by the cream soda and root beer as it's a "soft" beer and has no alcohol content. There are also some usually in the international aisle as there are Jamaican brands that are quite popular.

[jck]

Do yourself and the gift basket recipient a favor.....look for Barrett's Ginger Beer. It is the only brand they use in Bermuda (made there) and nothing else tastes the same when mixed with Goslings Rum. Take no substitutions...I have tried them all. That being said, you should call around to quality wine/liquor stores to find it. I have a couple of secret locations in Balto area but you should be able to find same in DC.

[daves_32]

Barrett's can also be bought online from their website.

[Jack Burden]

Definitely seek out Barritts. http://www.barrittsgingerbeer.bm/. Barritts and Goslings makes the quintessential dark and stormy. I brought some back from the Bahamas but now its all gone (sigh). Reeds is an adequate substitute but not nearly as good.

Please post if you find Barritts anywhere around DC.

Stay away from Goya Ginger Beer. I bought some and found it undrinkable. Ginger Beer should have some bite, but this stuff burns. One of the ingredients is capsaicin -- ouch!

[ChrisTendle]

I had a Barritts ginger beer last night at Redwood (bethesda) (dark and stormy cocktail.) Love that stuff, it burns so good!!!!

You could ask them where they buy it from...

[jillycakes]

would you be willing to share the identity of any of the Baltimore locations? I'm desparate to find some and haven't had any luck. I'd be most grateful. Thank you!

[jck]

Jillycakes....here you go: Graul's Liquor Store in Ruxton (not the grocery store), Ridgely Liquors in Timonium (my main depot!) & I believe the Wine Merchant in Lutherville may also stock. At Ridgely you can buy by the case..I do!

As I said in earlier message.....there are no substitutions!!!! jck

[Transplanted Texan]

Oh, gosh, I love Barrett's. A friend gave us a case for Christmas. It is wonderful.

[HSBSteveM]

This post brings back the best of memories of BDA!! Have been through two hurricanes there.

[homesmax]

Reed's ginger beer is awesome. Along with the classic stuff, it comes in a few flavors, including extra ginger and cherry ginger, which is really good...you can get it at whole foods for sure...maybe trader joes....hit it don't quit it

(they also make delicious ginger ice cream, although it is kind of hard to come by)

[Puller9]

I just had Gosling's Ginger Beer and it knocked Reed's out of the ballpark. Now, other than Bermuda, where can I find Gosling Ginger Beer?

Ginger beer can also be found at Apple (or Red Apple) Market in Langley, MD near College Park.

[Doh]

Gosling is sold by the MoCo liquor store near me (in one of those odd quirks, I think they aren't allowed to sell most mixers, but since Gosling primarily sells rum they are allowed to sell the ginger beer too). The Giant near me also has it.

Last summer I found Barritts at the small Brookeville Supermarket in Chevy Chase but I don't shop there regularly so I don't know if they always carry it.

Barritts is a little better than Goslings, but either is much better than Reeds.

[Indy 67]

Ditto for finding Goslings in the Virginia ABC stores.

Our friends swear by Goya Ginger Beer which is really cheap and available at Giant stores in the international aisles. Drinking the soda straight, it definitely had a strong ginger bite and made a perfectly acceptable Dark and Stormy.

I use Goslings, but I add grated fresh ginger. I buy a piece of ginger root, peel it, and then, grate it on a very fine micro plane. I do this by instinct but I'd say I rub the ginger root back and forth about six time times. When I scoop the grated ginger pulp off the underside of the micro plane, I'm probably adding about 1/2 teaspoon of ginger. My husband and I definitely like the addition of the fresh ginger! This gets close to the version at RIS which I think has no equal!

[katecm]

Gosling's is at Premium Liquor on 9th by the Convention Center.

[agarnett100]

You should try a Dark and Stormy with some homemade ginger beer

[Indy 67]

Happy to do so! Do you have a great recipe you'd care to share?

[katecm]

I finely chop a good-sized gnob of ginger. Say a cup. Throw it in a pan with an equal amount of sugar if you like it sweet and less if you want it more spicy. Top off with a good deal of water, then simmer it down until it's syrupy. Keep tasting so you can get it to the right stage. Pour some in a glass and top off with club soda.

[Transplanted Texan]

They sell Goslings and Barritts at Wegmans in Frederick.

[HowChowBlog]

Minger's suggestion of Shopper's Food Warehouse is probably the most likely to be near you.

But if you don't have a Shopper's, look at West African markets. I know that Julie's International Market in Elkridge carries ginger beer. I think that Accra Foods in Laurel may as well. Those are Howard County, but you may have West African markets near you.

This is a link to addresses for Julie's and Accra: http://howchow.blogspot.com/search/la...

[katecm]

World Market usually has a few options.

[CIAinDC]

whole foods has "reeds" ginger beer which is the best

[Minger]

Trader Joe's, Whole Wallet, Shoppers Food Warehouse.