What is the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? Which one should you choose? Here are the facts.
What’s the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? Both are ginger-based bubbly drinks, but there is a big difference. Which one should you use in a Moscow Mule, and one goes in a Shirley Temple or Pimm’s Cup. Here are the facts!
What’s the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale?
Ginger ale and ginger beer are two bubbly ginger drinks that can be enjoyed, but they have different tastes and are served in different ways. Here’s how it works:
- Ginger beer is very bubbly and has a strong ginger flavor. It also has a spicy finish. It is brewed and fermented. It was once an alcoholic beer. Today, ginger beer is not.
- Ginger ale is milder and sweeter than ginger beer. It is essentially a soft drink with ginger flavor and is non-alcoholic.
Ginger ale vs. ginger beer: When to use them?
Ginger beer and ginger ale are both delicious on their own. However, they are equally popular in cocktails! These non-alcoholic mixers give drinks a bubbly, bubbly flavor. They both have a ginger taste, but there are major differences.
- Ginger beer adds a strong and spicy ginger finish to cocktails. It is a popular ingredient in the Moscow Mule and the Dark & Stormy. These cocktails are not suitable for ginger ale substitutes.
- Ginger ale has a milder taste and can be used as a cocktail mixer if you like bubbles and sweetness. It can be used in mocktails and cocktails where the flavors blend, such as a Pimm’s Cup or Shirley Temple. Depending on your preference, you can use ginger beer in many of the cocktails that require ginger ale as a mixer.
Ginger ale and ginger beer cocktails are very popular.
What famous cocktails are made with ginger beer or ginger ale? Here are some to try:
Popular Ginger Beer Cocktails
These gingerbeer cocktails are worth a try if you have a few bottles. Which ginger beer brands are your favorites? Fever-Tree and Q Ginger Beer are our favorites.
- Classic Moscow Mule: Vodka and ginger beer in a copper cup is classic! It can also be used in the following ways:
- Dark and Stormy Black rums, ginger beer, and lime
- Kentucky Mule Bourbon ginger beer and lime
- Mexican Mule Tequila and ginger beer
- Gin Ginmule Gin and ginger beer, lime, mint, Simple Syrup
- Irish Mule Irish whiskey, ginger beer, and lime
Popular Ginger Ale Cocktails
These ginger beer cocktails can be made with most of the ingredients. You can’t swap one for the other!
- Whiskey Highball Whiskey, soda water, or ginger ale
- Shandy Beer, ginger ale, ginger beer, or sparkling Lemonade
- Pimm’s Cup No. 1, ginger ale, ginger beer, lemon
- Transfusion of Concord grape juice, vodka, lime, ginger ale
- Shirley Temple Lime Juice, Grenadine Ginger ale or ginger beer
Moscow Mule
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Ingredients
- 2 ounces ( 1/4 cup) vodka
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice
- 4 ounces ( 1/2 cup) ginger beer
- Garnish Fresh mint, lime wedge or wheel (if preferred).
Instructions
- Pour the vodka, lime juice and ginger beer into a copper cup or glass.
- Mix in the ice and garnish it with a lime wedge. Serve immediately