Ginger Beer | Basics (2024)

Recipes

Ginger Beer

Serving Size:|Prep Time:10minutes|Cook Time:15minutes

Ginger Beer | Basics (1)

Ingredients

For the Ginger Bug

  • 4 tablespoons unpeeled organic ginger, washed and finely grated, divided
  • 4 teaspoons sugar, divided
  • ¾ cup ice water, divided

For Ginger Beer

  • 8 cups water, divided
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 5 inch piece fresh, unpeeled organic ginger, washed and coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup ginger bug

Directions

Print Recipe

To prepare the bug:

  1. Put 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger in a mason jar.

  2. Add 1 teaspoon sugar and stir in 3 tablespoons of the water.

  3. Cover jar with cheesecloth or a coffee filter secured with twine.

  4. For the next three days, add 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 teaspoon sugar and 3 tablespoons of water to the jar each day and mix well.

  5. The mixture should start to bubble within a couple days. Yields just over ½ cup.

For the Ginger Beer:

  1. Bring 3 cups of the water to a rapid boil in a deep sauce pan with at least 10-cup capacity. Add sugar, salt and ginger and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. The liquid should have a light golden hue at this point. Remove from heat.

  2. Add remaining 5 cups cold water and allow to cool. When completely cool, transfer to a large mason jar or crock and add lemon juice and ½ cup of ginger bug. Discard any extra bug, or refrigerate for future batches of ginger beer.

  3. Leave in the jar or crock covered with a coffee filter or cheesecloth for 3 -7 days or until bubbles appear. Strain ginger beer into bottles by placing a strainer on top of a funnel which is inserted into a swing top bottle. Leave at room temperature for 3-5 days, until bubbles appear at the top of the bottle and then refrigerate until cool and serve. Yields ½ gallon

  4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks – best served over ice.

Chef's Narrative

Do you love ginger and fizzy beverages? If you said YES, this is the recipe for you, a make-at-home bubbly and refreshing probiotic soda.

Recipe Substitutions

None

Nutrition Facts:

Total Calories Per 12 fl ounces: 110, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Sodium: 170mg, Potassium: 81mg, Carbohydrate: 29g, Dietary Fiber: 0g, Protein: 0g

Allergens:

None

Directions

Print Recipe

To prepare the bug:

  1. Put 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger in a mason jar.

  2. Add 1 teaspoon sugar and stir in 3 tablespoons of the water.

  3. Cover jar with cheesecloth or a coffee filter secured with twine.

  4. For the next three days, add 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 teaspoon sugar and 3 tablespoons of water to the jar each day and mix well.

  5. The mixture should start to bubble within a couple days. Yields just over ½ cup.

For the Ginger Beer:

  1. Bring 3 cups of the water to a rapid boil in a deep sauce pan with at least 10-cup capacity. Add sugar, salt and ginger and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. The liquid should have a light golden hue at this point. Remove from heat.

  2. Add remaining 5 cups cold water and allow to cool. When completely cool, transfer to a large mason jar or crock and add lemon juice and ½ cup of ginger bug. Discard any extra bug, or refrigerate for future batches of ginger beer.

  3. Leave in the jar or crock covered with a coffee filter or cheesecloth for 3 -7 days or until bubbles appear. Strain ginger beer into bottles by placing a strainer on top of a funnel which is inserted into a swing top bottle. Leave at room temperature for 3-5 days, until bubbles appear at the top of the bottle and then refrigerate until cool and serve. Yields ½ gallon

  4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks – best served over ice.

Chef's Narrative

Do you love ginger and fizzy beverages? If you said YES, this is the recipe for you, a make-at-home bubbly and refreshing probiotic soda.

Recipe Substitutions

None

Nutrition Facts:

Total Calories Per 12 fl ounces: 110, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Sodium: 170mg, Potassium: 81mg, Carbohydrate: 29g, Dietary Fiber: 0g, Protein: 0g

Allergens:

None

Ingredients

For the Ginger Bug

  • 4 tablespoons unpeeled organic ginger, washed and finely grated, divided
  • 4 teaspoons sugar, divided
  • ¾ cup ice water, divided

For Ginger Beer

  • 8 cups water, divided
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 5 inch piece fresh, unpeeled organic ginger, washed and coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup ginger bug

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Ginger Beer | Basics (2024)

FAQs

What are the four main components of ginger beer? ›

ginger beer, beverage, once popular in the United Kingdom, made by fermenting a mixture of ginger, water, sugar, cream of tartar, and yeast. Lemon peel and juice or citric acid may also be added.

What the heck is ginger beer? ›

Ginger beer is a sweetened, carbonated beverage with an intense ginger flavor and spicy kick. Ginger beer originated in England and it was made by fermenting and brewing sugar, ginger, water and sometimes lemon with a starter culture called the ginger beer plant.

Why is ginger beer no longer alcoholic? ›

Modern ginger beer is not fermented, but is instead carbonated, making it a soft drink. This ginger beer typically contains less than . 5 percent alcohol, and is not classified as an alcoholic beverage.

What are the reactants in ginger beer? ›

What are the reactants in the reaction to make ginger beer? The chemical reaction occurs between sugar and fermenting fruit and the yeast. So the reactants are the sugar and fruit (ginger and raisins).

Is ginger beer good for your stomach? ›

Ginger root, a plant indigenous to southern China, contains hundreds of compounds that provide several important benefits to those who ingest it. Drinking ginger beer can help reduce inflammation, promote digestion, relieve nausea, and even help in the prevention of cancer.

Is ginger beer good for your heart? ›

Research suggests that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ginger may help prevent heart attacks, and reduce the amount of cholesterol that your heart needs to produce.

Is ginger beer good or bad for you? ›

Yes, you read that right! Ginger beer is much healthier than most carbonated drinks, and it's also one of the most refreshing drinks you can easily prepare in your own home. The key ingredient in ginger beer is ginger root, which is known for its myriad of culinary and medicinal uses since ancient times.

Does ginger beer give you a buzz? ›

Ginger beer was once made by fermenting ginger, sugar, water, and occasionally lemon to create a drink with an alcohol content of around 11%. But today, ginger beer can be enjoyed by all ages with no added buzz, as the majority of commercial ginger beers are no longer produced with alcohol.

What is the slang for ginger beer? ›

'Ginger' ('Ginger beer' = 'queer')

Asked why they chose that name, the organisers replied: 'Gingerbeer is co*ckney rhyming slang for “queer”. We also like drinking beer with ginger-haired people.

Why is ginger beer so expensive? ›

It is expensive to do it, and ginger juice makes such a big component that to make it it's our highest cost per production beer that we make.

Can you drink straight ginger beer? ›

Packed with flavor, it's good enough to be enjoyed on its own, or mixed to make a variety of different co*cktails.

Can diabetics drink ginger beer? ›

First, keep in mind that you want to stick to the spice itself. That means processed drinks, like ginger ale and ginger beer, which contain loads of added sugar, are off-limits. These options have the opposite of the desired effect, potentially sending blood sugar levels soaring.

What bacteria is in ginger beer? ›

Ginger beer is still produced at home using a symbiotic colony of yeast and a Lactobacillus (bacteria) known as a "ginger beer plant" or from a "ginger bug" starter created from fermenting ginger, sugar, and water.

What's floating in my ginger beer? ›

A: The cloudy hazy appearance is caused by pure ginger in suspension. If the beverage is crystal clear look at the bottle bottom. Chances are the ginger has settled on the bottom. Definitely safe to drink.

What are the 4 components of beer? ›

There are four main ingredients in making beer: malt, hops, yeast, and water. Familiarize yourself with each ingredient and learn to use adjuncts and finings to expand your repertoire of recipes.

What are the major components of ginger? ›

Bioactive Components. Ginger is abundant in active constituents, such as phenolic and terpene compounds [13]. The phenolic compounds in ginger are mainly gingerols, shogaols, and paradols. In fresh ginger, gingerols are the major polyphenols, such as 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol.

What makes the alcohol in ginger beer? ›

Original ginger beer is brewed by leaving water, sugar, ginger, optional ingredients such as lemon juice and cream of tartar, and GBP to ferment for several days, converting some of the sugar into alcohol. GBP may be obtained from several commercial sources.

What are the notes of ginger beer? ›

Tasting Notes

A pale and cloudy liquid. A fresh and characteristically ginger aroma, with a light citrus top note. Complex, spicy and bold with aromatic herbal infusions, balanced by the sweetness of a hint of pear.

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