Do you know what’s the secret to the perfect Moscow Mule recipe? The right ginger beer brand!
Unfortunately, not all ginger beers are created equal.
If you don’t choose wisely, you might end up with one that won’t give your drink enough flavor.
Or worse, one that contains too much sugar that it may end up ruining your diet.
Well, we’re here to help you avoid all these issues.
In this article, we’ll give you the low down on some of the best ginger beer brands in the market.
Not only that, we’ll also provide you with the information you need to know to choose the right one.
So are you ready to get your cocktail on? If so, let’s get started!
Best Ginger Beer Brands Summary
| Best Ginger Beer Brands | Ingredients | Calorie Count | Best For | Price |
| Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer | Carbonated Spring Water, Sugar, Ginger Root, Natural Ginger Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, and Tartaric Acid | 80 | People who want the distinct ginger flavor | $$$ |
| Q Ginger Beer | Organic Agave, Carbonated Water, Ginger Extract, Citric Acid,Chili Pepper Extracts,Lime, Orange, Coriander, and Cardamom | 80 | People who love balanced taste | $ |
| Zevia Zero Calorie Mixer | Carbonated Water, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract | 0 | People who wish to lose weight and reduce their sugar consumption | $ |
| Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer | Sparkling Filtered Water, Pressed Organic Ginger, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, and Natural Flavors | 0 | People who want the extra ginger kick and those on a low-carb or keto diet | $ |
| Cawston Sparkling Ginger Beer | Pressed apple juice, carbonated water, ginger extracts, and ascorbic acid | 90 | $ |
Learn more: Where to find and buy ginger beer in the grocery store
What to Look for in the Best Ginger Beer?
the Best Ginger Beer
Even though, we’ve already narrowed down your choices to these top 5 brands, choosing the right product can get still get quite overwhelming.
To help you determine which brand will suit your need the best. Here are some of the things that you may want to keep in mind:
Taste
To be honest, the taste of a high-quality ginger beer is quite complex. For us, ginger beer should deliver a bright fresh ginger flavor laced with a bit of heat and slight sweetness.
The spiciness is often characterized by a pleasant tingly sensation in the throat and your lips. On the other hand, it must also have a hint of sweetness. But overall, the fresh ginger taste should be the star of the show.
The sweetness and spiciness level of this drink varies greatly among brands, so it’s a must that you consider your personal preference when choosing the right one.
That’s why we recommend doing a taste test first before buying plenty of bottles of one brand.
Additionally, you may want to check out customer reviews so you can have an idea of what the product really tastes like.
Ingredients
The best beer is one that’s made of only the basic ingredients—sugar, yeast, water, and ginger root.
Some manufacturers also add natural flavors like citrus fruits, herbs, and spices to give the drink a tasty twist. That’s okay as long as they use only natural ingredients.
With that said, avoid products that contain added sugar, artificial flavorings, and preservatives.
Nutritional Needs
If you wish to lose weight or need to cut down on your sugar consumption, you should look for sugar-free products.
When choosing from these product types, make sure to go for ones that contain natural sweeteners only—no artificial sweeteners. (*)
If you’re on a keto diet, opt for ones that contain keto-friendly sweeteners. (*)
Carbonation
The fizz and bubbling make ginger beer more palatable. But of course, it should have the right amount of carbonation.
With that said, don’t expect it to be as fizzy as ginger ale but it should still have enough carbonation to satisfy your cravings.
Size
When choosing which size to buy, you should determine what’s your purpose for buying the drink first.
If you’ll use it as a mixer, you can go for the smaller bottles. On the other hand, go for the larger sizes if you plan on drinking it all by itself.
2023’s Reviews of the Best Ginger Beer Brands
Get to know more details about these brands. Check out our comprehensive reviews below:
1. Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer– Best Overall
While it’s small in size, this beer is big on flavors, especially its ginger taste.
It’s the only ginger beer brand that’s made with three types of ginger that come from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Cochin, India. With these, you get a well-rounded ginger flavor you can’t find in any other drink.
Not only that, it also contains natural stabilizers like tartaric acid and ascorbic acid which prolong its shelf life and give the drink an extra acidic flavor.
Aside from these, another thing that reviewers love about this product is it’s widely available in major retailers so you can get your hands on it easily.
Things We Liked:
· Made with three types of ginger
· Not overly carbonated
· No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and flavorings
· Has spring water as the base
Things We Didn’t Like:
· Glass bottle packaging is prone to breakage
· Hard-to-open bottle cap
· Some products taste flat upon delivery
2. Q Ginger Beer– Runner Up
Made with real ingredients and perfectly carbonated, there’s no doubt that Q Ginger Beer is one of the best-tasting and high-quality options that you have out there.
What we love most about this brand is they offer a ginger beer with a well-balanced taste. It gives off a refreshing ginger flavor with only a bit of sweetness. It’s less sweet than most alternatives in the market. That’s because the drink is sweetened with organic agave and doesn’t contain high-fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners.
According to some reviews, this drink is perfect as a mixer or a standalone drink if you like less sweet drinks.
Things We Liked:
· Refreshing ginger scent
· Light sweet taste
· Comes in conveniently small cans
· Available in bulk (24 cans)
Things We Didn’t Like:
· A bit pricey
· Bitter aftertaste
· Damaged cans
3. Zevia Zero Calorie Mixer– Best Sugar-Free Beer
With Zevia Zero Calorie Mixer, giving up sugar doesn’t need to be a bit of a challenge. It will make the process a whole lot tastier and yummier.
Despite its addicting taste, the most surprising part is this drink contains zero calories as it contains zero sugar and is made with organic Stevia leaf extract.
Some reviewers love how the drink’s refreshingly good taste was able to satisfy their cravings without boosting their sugar intake.
Things We Liked:
· Zero-plastic packaging
· Certified gluten-free
· Non-GMO verified
· Vegan-friendly
Things We Didn’t Like:
· Not for people who want a strong ginger taste
· Weird Stevia aftertaste
· High price, small cans
4. Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer– Spiciest Ginger Beer
If you love the extra kick of ginger, you may want to check out Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer. This Jamaican-style non-alcoholic drink contains 100% more ginger than most drinks and hits the medium rank on the spice level.
The best news is you can enjoy all the extra flavor without all the calories. It contains zero calories which makes it perfect for people who are on a low-carb or keto diet.
With all its added zing and the extra bite, some reviewers claim that this is one of the best options for making a Moscow mule.
Things We Liked:
· All-natural ingredients
· Smooth taste
· Zero calorie
· Extra strong ginger flavor
· Keto-friendly formulation
Things We Didn’t Like:
· Expensive
· Not for people who love sweet drinks
· Cans get damaged easily
5. Cawston Sparkling Beer– Best in Carbonation
Cawston Sparkling Beer takes ginger beer to a whole new level by adding an extra fizzy twist to it. This is all thanks to the drink’s pressed apple juice and sparkling water content.
The addition of sparkling water to the mix gives this product that extra boost of fizziness, making it one highly carbonated beverage.
As per reviews, its fizzy texture is perfect for people who are starting to ease into the ginger beer game.
Things We Liked:
· No added sugar or sweeteners
· Just the right flavor—not too sweet or gingery
· Good amount of carbonation
· Great choice for beginners
Things We Didn’t Like:
· Contains the most calories on the list
· Apple juice brings added sugar
· Apple flavor overpowers the ginger taste
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ginger Beer Healthy?
Ginger beer is healthy as long as it’s only consumed in moderation.
While it may contain some of the benefits of ginger, keep in mind that it’s still a carbonated beverage that contains a bit of sugar.
Because of this, it’s best to limit your consumption to a minimum and opt for water whenever possible.
What Cocktails Can You Make With Ginger Beer?
Here’s a list of some of the best cocktails you can make using ginger beer:
- With Rum: Appley Ever After, Aussie Mule, Caribbean Mule, Dark and Stormy, and Ginger Peach Fizz. (*)
- With Vodka: Moscow Mule, Sherry Sweet of You, and Spicy Mule.
- With Tequila: Mexican Mule and El Diablo.
Learn more: Cocktail vs mixed drinks
Final Words
So which of the best ginger beer brands should you choose? The answer totally depends on your personal preference and taste.
For us, the obvious winner of this roundup is Fever-Tree because it contains three types of ginger that give it a well-rounded flavor.
If you want something less sweet, go for the Q, and choose Reed’s Extra if you want your drink extra spicy.
On the other hand, check out the Cawston Sparkling if you want a highly carbonated drink, and look for the Zevia Zero Calorie Mixer if you want to satisfy your cravings without increasing your sugar consumption.
