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Ginger Beer vs Ginger Ale – Is There a Difference?
The thought of ginger ale takes many of us back to the days when we’d be told that the tried-and-tested cure for a stomach ache is simple; a glass of ginger ale. Skip a decade or two, and you’re at the supermarket buying ingredients to whip up a batch of Moscow Mules. You’re faced with two soft drinks that both have the word ginger in their name, and you think surely there’s not much of a difference between the two… Or is there? Overthink it no more, and allow us to explain what sets ginger beer apart from ginger ale.
What’s the difference?
Taste test the two side-by-side, and you’ll immediately notice the difference. Ginger beer has a far stronger flavour than ginger ale. While we can’t speak for all Ginger Beers, a true Ginger Beer is brewed (just like a beer) using real ginger. Bundaberg Ginger Beer is traditionally brewed over 3 days using real ginger, whereas ginger ale is often a version of carbonated water that’s flavoured with ginger syrup. Brewing is what gives a great Ginger Beer that zingy, ‘smack in the face’ kind of flavour, in comparison to its somewhat tame friend, ginger ale.
Why do we brew?
Whether it be a ‘slow brew’, ‘cold brew’, or ‘craft brew’, brewed is one of those words we seem to be hearing more and more often. We know it’s good because brands won’t stop talking about it, but what does it actually mean? Well, at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, we live up to our name – that’s for sure. Each one of our drinks is brewed for as long as it takes to extract maximum flavour from the real ingredients we use. The key is that we use real ingredients and follow a similar brewing process to alcoholic beer. As a result, our Ginger Beer has a strong ginger flavour that can’t be replicated.
How does brewing make ginger beer better?
Using locally grown Queensland ginger and sugar cane, we brew every batch over three days. We don’t take shortcuts or change the process because that’s how long it takes to give our Ginger Beer that spicy, gingery kick we’re world famous for.
By never compromising on ingredients or our brewing process, Bundaberg Ginger Beer sure stands out from the crowd. Packed with flavour, it’s good enough to be enjoyed on its own, or mixed to make a variety of different cocktails. But let’s set one thing straight – the key ingredient to a great Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe is a good ginger beer, not ginger ale!
