Homemade Ginger Ale Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in ginger ale? ›

Ginger Ale

Serving Size: 12 fl. Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND LESS THAN 2% OF: GINGER EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), CARAMEL COLOR.

Yeast. Ginger ale is a light, refreshing beverage, so neutral ale yeasts that throw off minimal esters and phenols are best. There's no need to get fancy; simple dry yeasts like S-04 and US-05 are great choices, with S-04 producing a slightly fruitier version and US-05 a little cleaner.

Traditional ginger ale is fermented using ginger, yeast, water, sugar, and possibly other flavourings. A ginger bug – a slurry of ginger and sugar used to propagate the yeast and bacteria found on the ginger skin – may be used in place of commercial yeast.

There are two primary forms of ginger ale; golden ginger ale and dry or pale, ginger ale. Golden ginger ale is darker, sweeter, and spicier, while dry ginger ale is lighter with a more subtle taste.

Drink Reed's - Real Ginger Ale & Real Ginger Beer.

“Canada Dry Ginger Ale has always been made using real ginger extract to provide its ginger flavour,” she said.

In the case of artificially flavored ginger ale, the beverage has no more health benefits than any other soda, which, of course, are zero. But in the case of ginger ale flavored by real ginger root, the beverage has marginally more health benefits than other soft drinks.

They're usually made with high-fructose corn syrup, citric acid, and caramel coloring. But when you're eating out at a restaurant, the ginger ale you order may not be from a ginger ale brand. It might just be a mixture of two other sodas — lemon-lime with a splash or two of cola.

If you're curious about the mixture and want to try making it yourself, the blog recommends a 70 percent Sprite and 30 percent Diet co*ke blend for the "most authentic ginger ale flavor."

Opting for a ginger ale made with natural ingredients and less added sugar like OLIPOP, or even making your own ginger ale at home using fresh ginger, can be a healthier alternative.

What is the oldest soft drink? ›

Vernor's boasts the oldest soda in America, but not the world. That belongs to Schweppe's, who created a carbonated mineral water in 1783. Other old sodas include Hires Root Beer (1876), Moxie 1876, Dr. Pepper (1885) Coca-Cola (1886) and Pepsi (1893.

Vernors is the oldest surviving ginger ale in the United States. According to the company, it was first served to the American public in 1866. Vernor opened a drugstore of his own in Detroit, Michigan, on Woodward Avenue, on the southwest corner of Clifford Street and sold his ginger pop at its pop fountain.

Vernors Ginger Ale

The drink was accidentally invented by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist, in the 1860s.

While ginger has numerous health benefits, the small amount of ginger in most commercial brands of ginger ale may not be enough to provide significant health benefits. Additionally, the high levels of sugar and carbonation in many brands of ginger ale can have negative health effects.

Ginger ale could actually do more harm than good.

“Too much sugar could trigger inflammation and may increase bloating and gas, which could further irritate an upset stomach,” he told HuffPost.