Week 48 in The Year of Drinking Adventurously. Ginger beer.
Right about now you’re asking yourself what business ginger beer has being part of a drinking adventure. Ginger beer, as well as ginger ale is a non-alcholic beverage. Right? Right? Well, it so happens, ginger beer is a product of fermentation and as such does contain a trace amount of alcohol -less than 0.5%, the legal threshold for marketing something as non-alcoholic. And in fact, ’twas not always the case. Ginger beer, when it originated, was a much more potent potable than its modern day counterparts. Today’s ginger beers are heated to kill off the fermenting yeast and to boil off the majority of the alcohol, leaving a scant remnant behind.
According to our guide, several ginger beer brewers have returned to their roots and rather than halt the fermentation process, are allowing the yeast to work its magic and produce more alcohol. I was unable to sample the products recommended, however, but I’ll list them here in case you want to give them a try: Crabbie’s, Ginger Grouse, Hollows & Fentimans -all companies in the United Kingdom. Maybe Lula had better luck…
I do occasionally indulge in a cocktail that makes use of the ‘non-alcoholic’ ginger beer, however, and this is the connection to Snoopy if you hadn’t figured it out…
The Dark and Stormy: dark spiced rum (I like the Captain Morgan Black Rum) over ice mixed with ginger beer. Basically it’s a Cuba Libre with ginger beer instead of Coke. And it’s definitely better in the summertime by the pool. But why not sip as you sit in front of the typewriter, composing your noir thriller.
And an update from a couple weeks ago… Remember the pickle back? A shot of whiskey or other spirit followed by a shot of pickle juice? Well, in an attempt to be a good sport, I tried it. I had a shot of Woodford reserve bourbon followed by a shot of Klaussen’s kosher dill pickle juice. And…. it wasn’t awful. I can’t quite grasp the point of covering over the flavor and warmth of a nice whiskey with the brine of pickle, though. At least I can say I’ve tried it. Cheers!
Image (of course) from Peanuts by Charles Schulz
Great post, Meg! I think I’d like to try that Dark and Stormy. Sounds good! 🙂
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Thanks, Eric. It’s a great drink, especially for pirates! 😉
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Arrrr! LOL!
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Hahahaha!
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I’m a big fan of ginger beer, and I associate it with autumn and winter. Maybe the ginger in pumpkin pie and apple pie gives me that association? Crabbie’s is great by itself, and the Dark and Stormy drink is very tasty!
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I’ll have to try harder to find it! And I think the ginger-pumpkin-apple to fall connection was why the ginger beer found itself placed this week in the guide!
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Ginger beer? I’m thinking that I may not be adventurous at all!
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In the world of fermented beverages, ginger beer is a healthier option! Might want to think again, Rob! Try it mixed with a little apple cider – yum!
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But does it taste like beer? The sour beer has me playing my consumption more cautiously.
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Not exactly… it’s unique. But not sweet like ginger ale. You didn’t like the sour beer? I thought you would!
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I suppose that if I were told that it was another carbonate beverage, I would have thought about it differently. I was expected more ‘beer’ flavor. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t think that I could have more than one. Now light beer? Bring that all day long! 😀
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Sigh… I’ll never convert you will I? 😉
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You must keep trying, though. 😀
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I am tenacious! 😀
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A wonderful quality! 😀
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Hehehe! I am glad you appreciate it! 😉
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I love ginger beer and rum! It’s also not bad with gin.
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Oh, I’ll have to try that. Thanks, Kay! 😀
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Yep! 💜
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I love ginger beers! And there are so many delicious varieties. The Dark and Stormy sounds fabulous. Whiskey and pickle brine…not so much, Meg. You are brave to try that one!
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Yeah, the pickle back was a once and done experience! You’ll love the dark and stormy!
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Yay Meg, you came through with the pickle back. 😉 I’m still thinking no way. ~ Mia
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No, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ll save the pickle juice for the Bloody Mary and sip the bourbon by itself! 😀 Have a great day, Mia!
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I like that plan better. 🙂 Meg, have a great day too!
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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I like ginger beer…never knew it used to be alcoholic…it’s a great mixer
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Neither did I before the book. It is a great mixer. But now I must find some of these stronger brews to sample.
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Indeed if I come across any I will tell you
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Great!
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I posted a Delvaux with a skeleton as you wanted a skeleton
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Oh excellent, I’ll be over shortly…
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Hmmm I hope so… don’t forget about Cake
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Never!
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We do ginger beer shandies on a regular basis. Love them.
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Oh, wonderful! I like ginger beer, too.
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The shandy is the thing: lemonade = okay; ginger beer = wow and spicy!
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I’ll have to give that a try this summer!
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Love a good Dark & Stormy. And I really love you keep revisiting the picklebrine 😆
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I didn’t really see the point of the pickleback – why would you need a briny chaser for a good whisky? Maybe a clear spirit? Vodka or gin? Anyway, love the dark and stormy! And it gave me a chance to use Snoopy!
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I was just at a restaurant that made their own ginger beer. Whew! Was it strong! I like it but it was spicy. Maybe with rum!
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Mm I like it spicy! Try the dark and stormy, it’s s great cocktail!
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I don’t know if I’ve ever had spiced rum…I tend to drink tequila or whiskey. Haven’t even had run in hmm…probably a decade!
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Do you ever notice how different alcohols bring out different moods? Well rum makes me very silly! I associate it with summer even in the middle of winter – maybe that’s why!
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Yes, i think that’s true…at least until you’ve had too much and then it’s all just crazy, lol. I used to drink rum and vodka in college so I associate it with that wild time.Of course…I used to drink tequila too…hmm…
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I’m a whiskey drinker primarily. Then gin probably after that. Love a real martini.
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I’m not sure about gin. Haven’t had it much but I didn’t like it. I like bourbon mostly but I’ve been trying things like armagnac and ice wine when I’m out. I want to get a good bottle of brandy or cognac or something- do you have any suggestions?
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My last bottle of cognac was Courvoisier VSOP – very nice. The VS styles are lighter on the palate but if you drink bourbon you’ll like the VSOP. There’s also an XO but I’ve never tried one.
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Oh thanks. I’ll look for it. 🙂
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You’re welcome! 😘
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I don’t drink, but the ginger-beer caught my eye, if only for the “ginger-beer trick” mentioned in Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch.
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As a young lad it was a popular pastime to make our own Ginger Beer. First you had to acquire a portion of someone else’s “Ginger Beer plant” then feed it every week and use the result as the basis of a new batch, not forgetting to keep a portion to feed on, and produce ad infinitum. I kid you not! There were many cases of the batches exploding. Ah…..the joys of youth!!!!
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That’s fun! I’ve just made a batch of hard cider – 6 gallons (24 liters, I think…) that is fermenting nicely!
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I still think in gallons, although US and UK are slightly different.
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I can’t believe the US has stuck so doggedly to the old system. Metric makes so much more sense. I remember when I was in school, having to ‘learn’ it because surely we were going to change over…
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Ginger beer shandy is my favorite British pub drink. Trouble is you often get a blank look from the bar staff these days. It’s a pint – half ginger beer and half on tap bitter.
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That sounds wonderful! I’ll have to give that a try!
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