Why Is It Called Ginger Beer?

Ginger beer is a drink originating from England, where sugar, ginger, water, and sometimes lemon were fermented and brewed with a starter culture called the ginger beer plant, resulting in a brew with about 11 percent alcohol. This also explains how the word ‘beer’ is part of the name.

Why is ginger beer not alcoholic?

Contrary to popular belief, ginger beer has never contained actual beer. – Contrary to popular belief, ginger beer has never contained actual beer. In fact, it’s not even made via the same methods used to brew beer. The fermentation process involved in making traditional ginger beer is more similar to how hard cider is made.

Not all modern ginger beers are fermented, either, which means there is absolutely zero alcoholic content. Traditional fermentation methods tend to yield some amount of alcohol (however small), and add carbonation to the beverage. But some newer ginger beers get their fizz through forced carbonation (aka pressurized with carbon dioxide) instead of fermentation, which means they are alcohol-free.

Still unsure what ginger beer is, and how ginger ale and ginger beer differ? Think of it like this: Ginger ale is a flavored soda, whereas ginger beer is a fermented drink. Ginger ale is much sweeter in flavor and is made by mixing carbonated water with a ginger-flavored syrup.

It’s highly carbonated and much lighter in color than ginger beer. Because ginger ale is much milder in flavor, it’s a good substitute for club soda in mocktails. On the other hand, ginger beer packs more of a ginger-flavored punch. The fermentation process alters certain characteristics of smell and taste by way of the esters created as yeast digests sugars.

This means that ginger beer tends to have a stronger, more dynamic flavor profile. Although ginger beer is often reserved for alcoholic drinks, such as the Moscow mule, there are an infinite number of mocktails and punches you can make with this spicy beverage.

Why is ginger ale called ginger?

ginger ale, a sweetened carbonated beverage of which the predominating flavour and pleasant warmth are derived mainly from the underground stem, or rhizome, of ginger Zingiber officinale, Though originally carbonated by fermentation, modern ginger ales are artificially saturated with carbon dioxide gas.

1. The Jamaican and African varieties of ginger rhizome yield the finest-flavoured beverages, the flavour and pungency of the rhizome being dependent upon the essential oil and oleoresin, which are its principal active constituents,
2. Other flavouring materials are frequently added—for example, spices, citrus essences, fruit juices, foam-producing substances, and occasionally peppery materials, such as capsicum, to increase the pungency of the beverage.

There are two general types of ginger ale. Pale dry ginger ales tend to be less sweet, more acid, lighter, milder, and highly carbonated. Golden, or aromatic, ginger ales tend to be sweeter, less acid, darker, and generally more pungent. The Joint Committee of Definitions and Standards of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture in 1922 defined ginger ale as a carbonated beverage prepared from ginger ale flavour, sugar syrup, harmless organic acid, potable water, and caramel colour. Ginger ale flavour, or ginger ale concentrate, was defined as the flavouring product in which ginger is the essential constituent, with or without the addition of other aromatic and pungent ingredients, citrus oils, and fruit juices.

In preparing a carbonated ginger ale, a syrup is first made, this being compounded from water, sugar, ginger ale flavour or extract, citric or tartaric acid, caramel colour, and possibly foam essence. Such a syrup is then employed in making the carbonated beverage in the manner similar to other soft drinks,

Was ginger beer originally alcoholic?

Ginger Beer Origins – Ginger beer – the delicious, brewed, fermented beverage that we all know and love – first appeared around the mid-1700s in England. It was initially made as a fermented alcoholic beverage using ginger, sugar and water. Thanks to the availability of strong, earthenware bottles, it was also possible to export ginger beer worldwide.

Is ginger beer made with ginger?

What’s the difference? – Taste test the two side-by-side, and you’ll immediately notice the difference. Ginger beer has a far stronger flavor 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.

Is ginger beer bad for health?

Introduction – There is so much more to ginger beer than being a key ingredient to making the perfect moscow mule. When consumed on its own, ginger beer can have some amazing health benefits. In fact, one of the most popular ways to consume ginger is in its beer form.

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.

The ginger root holds an active compound called gingerol, a natural oil which is a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, and vitamin B6. This active compound is responsible for ginger’s medicinal properties. Additionally, gingerol is also responsible for the rich unique fragrance of the root.

Why would someone drink ginger beer?

Is ginger beer healthy to drink? – Yes, there are a number of health benefits associated with drinking ginger beer. Some of these benefits include reduced inflammation and improved gut health due to the active ingredients in ginger root. Additionally, some brands of ginger beer may also contain other nutrients like B vitamins, which can provide additional health benefits.

Is ginger beer a British thing?

A Brief History of Ginger Beer — OliKo Ginger Beer For all of you that read my blog, I apologize for the long length of time since I last wrote. I took a hiatus from all things social media including blogging. As the fall approaches and life moves on I feel a need to start sharing my love of ginger with you, the people.

This post will be a shortened history lesson about Ginger Beer, its origins and the different ways it exists in our cultures today. My sources include: the Ginger Beer Wikipedia page which has it’s own list of references, The Art of Fermentation and thetemper.com) Ginger Beer Origins Ginger Beer was first created in Yorkshire, England in the 1700s during the colonial spice trade.

It was made by mixing ginger, sugar water and optional lemon and/or cream of tarter together and leaving it to sit and ferment. Once the mixture was bubbly and slightly alcoholic it would be strained off and a portion of the old batch would be used to make the new.

Though the name is deceiving, it was never actually a beer, but rather the production methods were similar. Ginger Beer “Plant” The Ginger Beer “Plant” is the community of bacteria and yeast that make up the fermented solids of the Ginger Beer. This gelatinous mass that floats on the top of the liquid is made up of the yeast Saccharomyces florentinus (formerly S.

pyriformis) and the bacterium Lactobacillus hilgardii (formerly Brevibacterium vermiforme). this “Plant” is also referred to as a SCOBY and is similar to kefir, kombucha and tibicos production. The Ginger Beer Confusion of Today Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale get thrown in the same category together, but are by no means the same thing.

1. Ginger Ale is a sweet soda that is flavored with ginger extract while Ginger Beer is a drier, fermented beverage containing real ginger root and probiotics.
2. Since the resurgence of Ginger Beer in modern culture, helped by the craft cocktail movement, many companies will call their product a Ginger Beer, when it is in fact a Ginger Ale.

If you’re unsure of what you are buying just look at the back of the label. Ginger Beer ingredients should include: real ginger root (non of that “extract” nonsense,) lower sugar content (if it’s above 20-30 grams of sugar per serving, guess what, it’s a soda,) and some kind of fermented or soured ingredient (take our House Cultured Ginger Vinegar for example.) I hope you enjoyed my brief history of this amazing drink and spark your thirst for a cold, spicy Ginger Beer.

Can you drink ginger beer by itself?

Recipe FAQ – Can you drink ginger beer by itself? Yes, ginger beer is delicious by itself as well. It’s sparkling and sweet, but not too sweet, with a distinct ginger flavor, and it’s often a bit spicy from the ginger. What does ginger beer go well with? Ginger beer goes well with anything ginger goes well with.

• Some examples are mint and lime, like in this Ginger Beer Mocktail recipe, but some other great pairings are pineapple, cucumber, mango, apple and passion fruit,
• Is ginger beer usually non-alcoholic and is there a non-alcoholic ginger beer? Ginger beer is usually non-alcoholic, but you can find ginger beer both with and without alcohol,

Make sure to choose the right one for your needs! What’s the difference between Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale, and can you interchange them? Ginger Beer is brewed and fermented, like a beer, while Ginger Ale is carbonated water with ginger flavor – like a soda.

Why is it called ginger beer if it’s not beer?

Ginger beer is a drink originating from England, where sugar, ginger, water, and sometimes lemon were fermented and brewed with a starter culture called the ginger beer plant, resulting in a brew with about 11 percent alcohol. This also explains how the word ‘beer’ is part of the name.

Why is ginger beer so expensive?

Brew or seltzer? – When it comes to making ginger beer, there are a “million ways to do it,” according to Aether Brewing’s Dave Ward, owners of the Ginger Beer’d brand which the Brisbane brewery launched in 2018. Like other brewers, Aether was looking for a beer-adjacent option to meet the needs of customers – in Aether’s case, a demand for gluten-free options.

1. We wanted to keep it gluten-free as there were lots of calls to have a gluten-free beer on the market and I personally have never enjoyed gluten-free beers.
2. But the ginger beer, I knew I could pull it off,” explained Ward.
3. It’s our gluten-free option instead of going into seltzers just yet.” There are multiple ways to make ginger beer with different implications on cost and excise.

“We ferment ours, it is produced the same way we produce a beer,” Ward said. “We don’t believe in RTDs and would never want to pay an RTD tax because it’s ludicrous!” This raises the excise question. Depending on how ginger beer is made and its sugar and alcohol levels, it can fall into different categories.

• Anything over 8% abv for example could fall under the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) regime.
• That’s a much nicer regime, but you might need a whole other licence, and producing an 8 per cent ginger beer, that’s just not going to be a consistent-selling product by volume,” explained Ward.
• But there are a number of other options to create ginger beer, all with different tax implications.

Drinks manufacturers can use a a sweet neutral wine base with added ginger flavours, bringing the drink into the wine category, or use a seltzer-style production method with a spirit base and ginger flavouring. This may prove easier and quicker than a long fermentation, but it could also fall under the RTD category and therefore taxed at a much higher rate than fermented products.

1. But Aether chose the fermentation method for a reason.
2. Fermentation is our jam as brewers, and I don’t want to take that away from the products we produce,” Ward explained.
3. Aether’s Ginger Beer’d starts with a base of sorghum and corn, which is then put through the brewhouse “like any other batch”.
4. Then we use a ginger beer base, it is a flavour but it makes a small component of ginger beer flavour, and it does provide some depth to the ginger character.

We ferment it out like any other beer, and there’s a small amount of hops in there too. “Like with a fruit beer, we then add a shit-tonne of fresh ginger juice.” Ward explained it was important to Aether to source its ginger locally, even if it was more expensive than other options.

• We’re contracted to Buderim ginger, so Queensland Sunny Coast ginger.
• 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.
• So our gross profit isn’t what it is on other beers, but what we lose in GP we make up in volume.” Ward said it was their highest-selling beer, with the brewery selling more ginger beer than any other product in their range, but he had never intended it to work out like that.

“I fought it for a long time. I thought it didn’t fit with our brand and our style, but quickly I’ve come to love it, because it’s all the challenges of a normal beer, plus some more; getting yeast to play with gluten-free products is hard, there’s a long fermentation time.

What country is ginger beer from?

The Short History of Ginger Ale What is behind one of the worlds most well known mixers? Ginger ale has an extremely diverse and interesting story, from travelling across the Atlantic and becoming a home remedy staple. Originally, ginger beer came first invented in England around the 1800s with Ireland following hot on their heels developing ginger ale in the 1851.

Ginger beer was brewed using ginger, sugar, water. It travelled across the Atlantic, soon to become one of Canada’s favourite soft drinks. John McLaughlin re-invented the Irish style of ginger ale, developing what we know today as Canada Dry Ginger Ale. In the 1900s, the ginger ale was available in two types – Golden and Dry.

Golden Ginger Ale had a much more distinctive ginger flavour and rich in colour and is the lesser known of the two today.

What countries drink ginger beer?

Alcoholic ginger beer – Brewed ginger beer originated in the UK, but is sold worldwide. Crabbie’s is a popular brand in the UK. It is usually labelled “alcoholic ginger beer” to distinguish it from the more established commercial ginger beers, which are often not brewed using fermentation but carbonated with pressurized carbon dioxide, though traditional non-alcoholic ginger beer may also be produced by brewing.

Will ginger beer settle my stomach?

Ginger Beer – There’s a reason your parents gave you ginger ale when you were sick with the flu as a child. Ginger helps to settle the stomach, whether you’re suffering from nausea or the effects of over eating or drinking. While a natural ginger ale is always a good option, ginger beer contains a (very) light alcoholic kick (about,5 percent) to make you feel extra fine.

Can kids drink ginger ale?

A bottle of Canada Dry Ginger Ale. Ginger ale is a soft drink flavored with the root of a plant known as ginger, It has a sweet yet spicy flavor. Even though it has the name ale, which can be another word for beer, it is not beer. It can be enjoyed by all ages. Canada Dry is a well known maker of ginger ale. Most drinks that are ginger ale come in a green can.

Is ginger beer healthier than Coke?

Why ginger beer is WORSE for you than a can of Coke: Shocking study reveals that the popular soft drink contains eight teaspoons of sugar –

A study has found the average glass of ginger beer contains 38.5g sugar The amount is more than any other fizzy drink – including Coca-Cola Supermarket own-brands contain far less sugar than branded equivalents

Updated: 18:55 BST, 15 November 2016 Ginger beer has undergone a major rebrand in the last few years as companies target the middle classes with artisan bottles that boast traditional recipes and botanical ingredients. But despite its sophisticated image, a shocking new study published today has revealed that the fiery beverage contains more sugar than any other fizzy drink – even beating Coca-Cola.

1. The average glass of ginger beer contains a whopping 38.5g of sugar – the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons – according to the research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open.
2. Scroll down for video A new study has revealed that the average glass of ginger beer contains 38.5g, which is the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons and more sugar than any other fizzy drink – even beating Coca-Cola to the top spot A glass of Coke, on the other hand, contains 35g – that’s about seven teaspoons.

But ginger beer’s cousin, ginger ale, was found to be the fizzy drink with the lowest amount of sugar on average. A glass contains around 22.9g, according to the findings – but that’s still 4.9 teaspoons. The findings come after Tesco announced it has reduced the amount of sugar in its own-brand soft drinks, including its cola and juice drinks.

Its cola now contains 4.8g of sugar per 100ml, compared to 9.7g previously. The BMJ’s study revealed that supermarket own-brands contained far less sugar than their branded equivalents, even before any sugar reductions. The average glass of Coca-Cola contains 35g of sugar – that’s about seven teaspoons – while 73 per cent of soft drinks exceed the daily recommended allowance for children of 24g Supermarket cola drinks on average contain 27.9g of sugar per glass, while branded products contained 31.6g, according to the research.

But taking together both branded products and own-brand cola drinks, a glass of cola on average contained 35g of sugar – the same amount as in Coca-Cola. More than half of all soft drinks exceed the adult’s daily recommendation for sugar intake of 30g.

HOW MUCH SUGAR IS IN YOUR FAVOURITE FIZZY DRINK?

Drink	Average sugar content (g) per 330ml	Equivalent amount of sugar in teaspoons
Ginger beer	38.5	8.2
Coca Cola	35	7.5
Other branded colas	31.6	6.7
Supermarket own-brand cola	27.9	6
Ginger ale	22.9	5

A soft drinks levy is being proposed for companies who continue to sell drinks high in sugar but Action on Sugar urges them to act sooner. Kawther Hashem, co-author of the BMJ Open study and researcher for Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London, said: ‘It’s not possible to state that carbonated sugar-sweetened drinks can be consumed as part of a “healthy, balanced diet,” even though drinks companies claim it can be.

Is ginger beer good for hangover?

Many will be waking up with sore heads this morning after a night of celebrating the new year. Hangovers are never welcome the morning after, but we’ve found what could help cure it and make it more bearable. Ginger Ginger is a good remedy for settling an upset stomach, which can come in very handy when it comes to hangovers.

It can help get rid of symptoms of nausea, dizziness and pain. Try a ginger ale, ginger beer or – if you can stomach it – munching on fresh or pickled ginger. Bananas Bananas are loaded with potassium and magnesium, which the body loses when drinking alcohol, with potassium helping to reduce nausea and tiredness the morning after.

Full English breakfast Many swear by getting over a heavy hangover by demolishing a greasy fry up, bacon sandwich or eggs. They can help restore the body’s glucose levels, with eggs providing the much-needed amino acid cysteine, which helps breakdown acetaldehyde, the root cause of hangovers.

Virgin Bloody Mary Spicy things are supposed to be good for hangovers as they make you sweat, ridding your body of toxins and making you want to drink more water. It’s been reported that tomato juice can also accelerate the rate at which enzymes process alcohol, with tomatoes containing compounds that protect against liver injury.

However, if you swear by hair of the dog to get you through a hangover, you can always have a traditional Bloody Mary. Watermelon For those who just can’s stomach a Full English Breakfast after a night out – or any food and liquids for that matter – watermelon is a great way to stay hydrated.

1. Headaches associated with hangovers are usually due to dehydration and decreased blood flow to the brain, two things watermelon can help restore.
2. Coconut water Similarly to watermelon, coconut water can help hydrate you during a hangover.
3. It contains lost of electrolytes which help rehydrate the body.

Fizzy drink Many people opt for a fizzy drink to get them through their hangovers. Carbonated drinks, such as Coca Cola, can settle the stomach, the caffeine boosts energy and the sugar can help glucose levels.

Is ginger ale as bad as Coke?

The high amounts of sugar or artificial sweetener in this tasty bevvy also aren’t doing your body any nutritional favors. In the end, ginger ale isn’t much different from any ol’ soda.

Does ginger beer detox?

Ginger Beer: The Healthy Alternative – As with other carbonated and alcoholic beverages, you should drink Ginger beer in moderation. As we know, there are many studies about the health effects of ginger on our bodies. While chewing on fresh ginger might be too extreme for our liking, we have something like Ginger beer as a stand-in.

One of the benefits of consuming something made of ginger, like this beer, is its anti-inflammatory properties, Inflammation is something that damages the body, especially if it happens often. It can destroy your healthy cells, accelerating the development of severe illnesses. If you are feeling some musculoskeletal pain, drinking Ginger beer might help alleviate the discomfort.

Drinking too many alcoholic beers would often leave you with a hangover. You might have a headache, nausea, and whatnot. Well, that is not the case with Ginger beer. It helps with relieving various kinds of pain. If you also need to detoxify your body, grab a Ginger beer as soon as you can.

• It might aid in getting rid of toxins and cleaning your body.
• The process of making Ginger beer involves fermentation.
• And it produces probiotics that are beneficial to the body, specifically the digestive system.
• The probiotics found in Ginger beer might be able to maintain and improve healthy gut health.

You can’t always find probiotics in other drinks, so drinking Ginger beer is something we should try from time to time.

Does ginger beer help with weight loss?

Simple ginger tea – Here is how to make a simple ginger tea.

1. Chop up a piece of ginger the size of a person’s little finger.
2. Place chopped ginger in 150 milliliters of boiling water.
3. Simmer for 5–10 minutes, then strain before drinking.

Grocery stores also sell ginger tea in tea bags. According to some scientific research and anecdotal reports, other remedies, such as apple cider vinegar, green tea, and lemon, may help with weight loss. It is important to note that there is not much evidence backing the weight loss effects of these foods, depending on the food.

1. As with ginger, scientists need to carry out more research to further investigate their effects.
2. People can try combining ginger and lemon with green tea or making a spicy dressing with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and grated fresh ginger.
3. It is also worth noting that the amount of ginger present in ginger tea is likely to be a lot less than the quantities used in the studies cited here.

It is not advisable to drink ginger beer or ginger ale for weight loss. These drinks usually contain high amounts of added sugar, However, drinking or making ginger kombucha or kefir without added sugar may be beneficial. These drinks contain natural probiotic bacteria.

• Probiotics may be helpful for weight loss, according to some research,
• People that prefer the convenience of supplements or do not like the taste of ginger can also take ginger supplements in capsule form.
• Adverse effects of ginger are rare with doses of 500–1,000 milligrams per day, according to a 2017 review.

The main side effect seems to be gastrointestinal discomfort. The daily dose of ginger should not be higher than 1 g for pregnant people and 4 g for the general public. Taking ginger as a powder may give some people heartburn. In these cases, people may prefer to take encapsulated ginger tablets.

1. Ginger may also increase the risk of bleeding, so people should stop taking ginger 1–2 weeks before they have any planned surgical procedures.
2. People taking medications that thin the blood, such as warfarin or aspirin, should speak with their doctor before taking ginger.
3. Limited evidence suggests that ginger may interfere with some medications by increasing stomach acid production.

People taking antacids, H2 antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors should consult their doctor before taking ginger. Some people have an allergy or sensitivity to plants in the Zingiberaceae family, to which ginger belongs. These individuals may experience symptoms such as dermatitis when using ginger.

• Set small, specific, realistic goals about how much weight to lose.
• Eat a whole foods diet and limit processed foods,
• Do some physical activity or some exercise daily.
• Practice mindful eating.
• Get enough sleep.
• Drink enough water,
• Keep a food diary,
• Find support from a weight loss buddy or group.

Some studies suggest that ginger may be beneficial for weight loss. Compounds in ginger have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They may help a person burn fat and regulate their blood sugar. However, the research support for ginger’s weight loss effect is limited, and therefore more research into its properties is needed.

How much alcohol is in ginger beer?

Alcohol content: Ginger ale is completely alcohol-free, while ginger beer contains around 0.5 percent alcohol by volume (though this is low enough to technically still be considered non-alcoholic). Brewing storage: Ginger ale can be stored in glass bottles during the brewing process, but commercial ginger beers cannot.

When did ginger beer stop being alcoholic?

For the most part, you can thank the Prohibition Era of the 1920s when ginger beer lovers sought a completely non-alcoholic version. Nowadays, ginger beers are made in a variety of ways.

What’s the difference between non-alcoholic ginger beer and ginger ale?

Ginger beer vs ginger ale: what’s the difference? – Ginger beer and ginger ale are both bubbly ginger drinks, but they taste different and are used in different ways. Here’s a breakdown:

• Ginger beer is very bubbly with a strong ginger flavor, with a spicy finish. It’s brewed and fermented. Years ago it was an alcoholic beer, but today’s ginger beer is non-alcoholic.
• Ginger ale has a mild, mellow flavor and is sweeter than ginger beer. It’s essentially a ginger flavored soft drink and is also non-alcoholic.

How does ginger beer become fermented?

WHAT IS GINGER BEER? – Ginger beer is a naturally fizzy beverage with a sweet and spicy bite. Grated ginger is fermented in sugar water and lemon juice, allowing the natural yeasts in ginger to feed and multiply, creating a probiotic beverage. While ginger beer is a sweet, spicy, delicious beverage all on its own, it is famous for its role in cocktails, particularly the Dark & Stormy cocktail, a mixture of ginger beer and rum, garnished with a slice of lime.

Why is alcoholic ginger beer so expensive?

Brew or seltzer? – When it comes to making ginger beer, there are a “million ways to do it,” according to Aether Brewing’s Dave Ward, owners of the Ginger Beer’d brand which the Brisbane brewery launched in 2018. Like other brewers, Aether was looking for a beer-adjacent option to meet the needs of customers – in Aether’s case, a demand for gluten-free options.

1. We wanted to keep it gluten-free as there were lots of calls to have a gluten-free beer on the market and I personally have never enjoyed gluten-free beers.
2. But the ginger beer, I knew I could pull it off,” explained Ward.
3. It’s our gluten-free option instead of going into seltzers just yet.” There are multiple ways to make ginger beer with different implications on cost and excise.

“We ferment ours, it is produced the same way we produce a beer,” Ward said. “We don’t believe in RTDs and would never want to pay an RTD tax because it’s ludicrous!” This raises the excise question. Depending on how ginger beer is made and its sugar and alcohol levels, it can fall into different categories.

Anything over 8% abv for example could fall under the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) regime. “That’s a much nicer regime, but you might need a whole other licence, and producing an 8 per cent ginger beer, that’s just not going to be a consistent-selling product by volume,” explained Ward. But there are a number of other options to create ginger beer, all with different tax implications.

Drinks manufacturers can use a a sweet neutral wine base with added ginger flavours, bringing the drink into the wine category, or use a seltzer-style production method with a spirit base and ginger flavouring. This may prove easier and quicker than a long fermentation, but it could also fall under the RTD category and therefore taxed at a much higher rate than fermented products.

• But Aether chose the fermentation method for a reason.
• Fermentation is our jam as brewers, and I don’t want to take that away from the products we produce,” Ward explained.
• Aether’s Ginger Beer’d starts with a base of sorghum and corn, which is then put through the brewhouse “like any other batch”.
• Then we use a ginger beer base, it is a flavour but it makes a small component of ginger beer flavour, and it does provide some depth to the ginger character.

We ferment it out like any other beer, and there’s a small amount of hops in there too. “Like with a fruit beer, we then add a shit-tonne of fresh ginger juice.” Ward explained it was important to Aether to source its ginger locally, even if it was more expensive than other options.

We’re contracted to Buderim ginger, so Queensland Sunny Coast ginger. 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. “So our gross profit isn’t what it is on other beers, but what we lose in GP we make up in volume.” Ward said it was their highest-selling beer, with the brewery selling more ginger beer than any other product in their range, but he had never intended it to work out like that.

“I fought it for a long time. I thought it didn’t fit with our brand and our style, but quickly I’ve come to love it, because it’s all the challenges of a normal beer, plus some more; getting yeast to play with gluten-free products is hard, there’s a long fermentation time.