Ginger beer - Any brands with real bite?

[PaulSecteur]

Im not planning on drinking much over the hols - going to be doing some study and if the weather is decent getting out on the bike.

When I was a nipper I used to really enjoy ginger beer. I have tried a few that claim to "fiery". I don't know if they have been cooled down over the years or if my tastebuds have become dulled by Saturday night curries but non of the high street brands have any real bite to them.

Idris (my old favourite), Crabbies, Ginger Joes, Levi Roots... all a disappointment.

Can anyone suggest a good brand? Or is there any ingredient I can use to pep it up?

 

[User33236]

My brand of preference at the moment is old Jamaica.

 

[vernon]

When I was a nipper I used to really enjoy ginger beer. I have tried a few that claim to "fiery". I don't know if they have been cooled down over the years or if my tastebuds have become dulled by Saturday night curries but non of the high street brands have any real bite to them.

Can anyone suggest a good brand? Or is there any ingredient I can use to pep it up?

I occasionally make my own ginger beer and the thing that peps it up is dried chillies.

Sadly I left it too late to have a batch ready for Xmas so I've not bothered this year.

 

[MarkF]

Old Jamaica is ok but Old Jamaica "Extra Fiery" is the one you want/need, I have to go to Tesco for it, the local Sainsburys and Asda don't stock it.

 

[ufkacbln]

Personal tastes but try:

Ginger Grouse

Wychwoods Gingerbeard

 

[2Loose]

Grandmas Weapons Grade Ginger Beer from Wheal Maiden - If you can find it then you'll love it.

 

[coffeejo]

I find the locally made ones tend to be better than the mass produced supermarket varieties.

 

[Puddles]

Im not planning on drinking much over the hols - going to be doing some study and if the weather is decent getting out on the bike.

When I was a nipper I used to really enjoy ginger beer. I have tried a few that claim to "fiery". I don't know if they have been cooled down over the years or if my tastebuds have become dulled by Saturday night curries but non of the high street brands have any real bite to them.

Idris (my old favourite), Crabbies, Ginger Joes, Levi Roots... all a disappointment.

Can anyone suggest a good brand? Or is there any ingredient I can use to pep it up?

Try Rochester stuff, it is not bubbley but it is fiery and you can add it to lemonade if you want the fizz. It is the dark stuff you want as they also do a normal one

Or try Dorset Strong & Dark Ginger that is fiery too, again it is not bubbley it is more of a non-alcoholic ginger wine but it has a big kick to it.

 

[srw]

Another vote for Rochester ginger. It comes as a cordial, so you can either drink it neat or dilute to taste with sparkling water.

 

[Doseone]

Yes, agree with @Puddles and @srw Rochester is the way to go. You could actually use it like a cordial but instead of adding water add Idris or whatever other brand of Ginger Beer.

When I was a kid my Mum used to make proper strong home made ginger beer, but we learnt the hard way that she should have used corks in the bottles instead of screw tops. We had a load explode one day and I swear that if anyone had been in the room at the time they would have been killed. We were picking lumps of glass out of the walls for ages after!

 

[User482]

I like Fentiman's, but remember to invert the bottle before pouring or you end up with all the spicy ginger bits in the dregs.