I have a six pack of Reeds ginger beer sitting untouched in my fridge. It's a decent beverage, but I can't drink it anymore after having "Q Ginger," billed as "a superior ginger ale." That reads to me like up-sell marketing, but in fact I have to agree. It's the best ginger beverage I've ever had.
I've done my research too. I've sampled at least a dozen different ginger beers -- from Australia to Jamaica. The Jamaican varieties tend to pack more of a kick, but are also very, very sweet. Others have a density to them that isn't quite as refreshing as I would like. And many use high-fructose corn syrup, which is the worst of the sweeteners you can put in your body.
They do come in some neat bottles though.
In contrast, Q Ginger has just these ingredients:
- Real ginger
- A dash of organic Agave for sweetener
- A touch of coriander, cardamom, cayenne, rose oil, and orange peel
- Water
The flavor balance of real ginger root, just slightly sweetened, and the spices as an afternote I find refreshing and complementary to whatever you are eating or just on its own. The fact that it is natural and only has 60 calories is nice as well.
Yes, it's spendy for a soda pop. But if you are non-alcie like me, it's a nice special occasion beverage, preferably with something salty and greasy.
In a close second, if you want more of a kick, Bruce Cost makes a superior ginger beer as well.
