First of all, this ginger beer doesn’t have beer in it. My homemade ginger juice and soda version is non-alcoholic… unless you add liquor, of course.
Second, have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate you all? Thank you for visiting. Thank you for investing your time and energy (and money) into making my recipes. Your comments and emails brighten my days and make this crazy food blogging thing worthwhile. I’m not sure when this dark cloud over my head will clear, but I know that I have to make the most of this one wild and precious life. I’m working on it.
Let’s lighten the mood with ginger. I’ve been totally obsessed with ginger lately. On its own, ginger is fiercely spicy and fragrant. Used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine since forever, it’s a powerful anti-inflammatory that boosts circulation and cleanses the body. It can calm nausea and soothe upset stomachs (source: The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia). There’s really not much it can’t do.
Just a hint of fresh ginger lends peppery spice and complexity to savory dishes, and powdered or fresh ginger brightens up baked goods. Ginger has been a predominant flavor in my recipes lately, making its way into ice cream, banana bread, two soups, granola, couscous and pancakes. Ginger beer features the flavor most prominently, which I love. One sip warms me up from the inside.
Ginger beer has traditionally been brewed with a live culture, which creates carbonation as it ferments. These days, most ginger beers available in stores are non-alcoholic. Ginger beer is like ginger ale, but with a lot more kick. It tends to be more cloudy and less sweet than ginger ale, and the ginger flavor is unapologetically in your face. Most recipes for ginger beer and ginger ale have you cook the ginger in sugar water to mellow the flavor, but this recipe uses raw, pungent ginger. Beware: my ginger beer concentrate is for serious ginger lovers only.
To make this ginger beer, you’ll just need a blender or food processor and a good fine mesh strainer. My rusted hand-me-down strainer let too much ginger pulp through, so an upgrade is in order. You’ll also need a big spoon, lots of raw ginger, lime and club soda (because you won’t want to drink the undiluted concentrate).
Ginger beer is delicious on its own, but it also happens to make the best cocktails EVER. Mix ginger beer with a healthy splash of any basic liquor, squeeze in some lime, and you have your self a simple and refreshing highball. You could just buy ginger beer at the store, but most (like Reed’s) are too sweet for my taste.
Here’s a basic list of ginger beer cocktails (let me know if you have any to add):
- Dark ‘n Stormy: ginger beer + Gosling’s spiced rum + lime
- Moscow Mule: ginger beer + vodka + lime
- Gin-Gin Mule: ginger beer + gin + lime
- Pimm’s Cup: ginger beer + Pimm’s No. 1 (add gin for more kick) + lime
- Horsefeather: ginger beer + whiskey/bourbon
Ginger Beer Concentrate
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 36 oz 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Food processor
- Cuisine: American
Mix this fiery ginger beer concentrate with club soda to make homemade ginger beer. Adjust the amounts of sweetener, club soda and lime to suit your tastes. Preserve leftover concentrate by freezing it in ice cube trays.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pounds fresh ginger, roughly peeled and chopped into 1-inch chunks
- 2 cups filtered water, divided
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from 4 to 5 limes), plus more as garnish
- 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups of agave nectar, honey or pure cane sugar (to taste, see note)
- club soda
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, liquefy the ginger and 1 cup of water for 3 minutes. Strain the juice into a large bowl or pitcher. Transfer the ginger pulp back to to the blender or food processor, add another ½ cup of water, and liquefy again. Strain again, adding the liquid to the first batch. Again transfer the pulp along with another ½ cup water, liquefy again, and add to the liquid. Press on the solids with the back of a big spoon to squeeze out as much of the juice as you can.
- Discard the mashed solids and rinse out your blender/food processor. Pour the liquid into the blender/food processor. Pour in the lime juice and 1 ¼ cups sweetener. Blend for 30 seconds. To taste for sweetness, pour about 2 ounces ginger concentrate into a glass along with about 8 ounces of club soda. If it’s not sweet enough, blend in more sweetener until it reaches your preferred sweetness.
- Refrigerate up to 3 weeks. Shake before serving. Add a squeeze of fresh lime to your ginger beer before serving. Fresh mint and/or candied ginger make nice garnishes as well.
Notes
- Adapted from Lottie and Doof, originally from Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It by Karen Solomon.
- Yields about 36 ounces ginger beer concentrate. If you are using 2 ounces ginger beer concentrate per ginger beer, that means you can make 18 ginger beers. Feel free to double the recipe if you’re throwing a party.
- I’ve tried this recipe with agave nectar and honey. I prefer the neutral taste of agave nectar. Pure cane sugar is traditionally used in Jamaican ginger beer recipes and may produce the best flavor of all.
- If you want a ginger ale syrup recipe, check out Joy the Baker’s recipe.
- If you’re not sure what to do with all that ginger beer concentrate, freeze it in ice cube trays! The cubes will last for several months in the freezer (store them in an airtight freezer bag). See photo below.
▸ Nutrition Information
P.s. If you’re looking for a simple savory dish to put together this week, I highly recommend this Greek quinoa with avocado, arugula and cherry tomatoes. Find my version of BHG’s recipe at the Delish Dish blog.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Kathryn
Yes! I’m on a total ginger beer kick at the moment. Can’t wait to try making my own.
Sending lots of good thoughts your way.
Christine
Just tried your recipe; it is delicious. I find most store bought Ginger beers/ales are too sweet for my taste. This was perfect without any recipe adjustments needed. This is definitely worth the effort! THANK YOU
Melissa
Finally, a beer I can drink :) Kathryne, you may have just saved my drink dilemma-filled life. Water at night, every night, just doesn’t compete with a glass of wine. Hoping the clouds part for you soon my friend. Much love!
Virginia
Opened your recipe because I really love ginger and then I read your message and fund myself with tears in my eyes! Going through a really bad day and I felt it was me! I hope to see some blue skies soon! Wish you the best and will try your beer soon! Love, from brazil!
Kate
Thank you for commenting, Virginia. I hope your days since visiting have been brighter.
Ellen
It looks like you are peeling the ginger root with a spoon?
Other recipes say to shred the ginger??
Kate
Hi Ellen, yes, I peeled the ginger with a spoon and then shredded it in a food processor.
Kate
So glad you’re enjoying the ginger beer, friend! If you want to switch things up, I love just about any type of fruit juice mixed with club soda and lemon/lime.
Sue
The Dark ‘n Stormy is one of my favorite cocktails, and I can just imagine how intense it would be with this homemade ‘brew’. Thanks!
★★★★★
Cassie
I love ginger and this is genius. So versatile. Cheers!
DessertForTwo
I’m an avid ginger lover! I’ve got to try this! Thanks for sharing :)
★★★★★
Nicole
I love ginger beer so much, but I really love a good ginger beer cocktail. I can’t wait until it’s warm out and I can sip Moscow Mules on the porch. Your ginger beer looks so gorg!
Jenna
Kathryne – As a fellow 20-something, I so enjoy your words of wisdom wrapped up in a recipe. It’s amazing how tumultuous one’s 20s can be, but it’s nice to hear from others who go through hard times and can still see the light. Thanks for doing what you do!
Kate
Thank you, Jenna. Glad to hear that you find hints of wisdom in my writing. I’ve just been feeling really lost lately. Our twenties can be rough, huh?
Stephanie C.
Wow, this sounds amazing! I love ginger and I’m SO excited to try this recipe! What a great choice to lighten up the mood. Ginger has such a clean, refreshing, purifying taste… perfect for the spring cleaning I’ve been doing (both physically and emotionally). I’m so glad I got to talk to you last week. Let’s make a habit of it! I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
★★★★★
Jeff
Why do people rate a recipe without making it! Does not help at all.
Leanne
Agreed. Encouraging comments are wonderful but please don’t rate until you’ve actually made the recipe.
Grace
Girl, you are just my fav. It seems like we enjoy all of the same foods. For real. I made gin-gin mule variations last night. Crazy! I agree that Reefs is too sweet so I’m going to make this ginger beer ASAP. Thank you for all of your recipes and inspiration! I (often) gladly make impulse trips to the store because of you.
Kate
Grace, I love love love hearing that you have made my recipes. We’re totally on the same wavelength! Wish you lived closer so we could eat together in real life.
Katrina @ WVS
Heck, yes! This looks so freaking delicious!!
Beth @ Tasty Yummies
Yes!! I am obsessed with ginger beer. I have never tried to make it myself though. I love this recipe and how simple it is. I cannot wait to try it. Thank you!
ashley-bakerbynature
Wow, Kate! Your photos are stunning. And as always your words are wise and touch straight to the heart.
Anna
This looks delicious! And probably much healthier than ginger ale. I will definitely give it a try!
Angela
Very cool recipe! As a kid, I remember my mum absolutely adored ginger beer. Not knowing any better, thinking ginger wasn’t anything special and detesting beer (which I still haven’t acquired a taste for), I never felt compelled to try it. Having said that, I now absolutely LOVE ginger so I have a feeling I’d love this drink too! Thanks so much for sharing all the recipe combos!
Kate
Angela, I hope you’ll give ginger beer a try! If you love ginger, I have no doubt you would absolutely love it.
Lauren@La Dolce Pita
You DO have readers who are about you and appreciate all the hard work that goes into your posts/recipes/photography. Thanks for continuing to post despite the fact you’re going through a challenging time… I know it must be tough to find the energy & motivation….And, bee-tee-dubs, these ginger drinks look delish :)
Kate
Thank you very much, Lauren.
HH @ EatGreatBEGreat
I love ginger! This sounds so refreshing…a perfect drink for summer!
Tieghan
I want a tall glass of this right now! Sounds so good and I love the idea of making my own drink and I love that there is no beer in it (19 and not a drinker)!
Tracy Burns
Wow…thanks! I have been thinking about trying to make my own for a while now and tonight, after a very long, week and a long day and things are just generally not going so well, here is your recipe! Take care, and thanks, again! xo
Kate
Thank you, Tracy! Glad to hear my post brightened your day. Hope you’re enjoying some homemade ginger beer!
ami@naivecookcooks
I am a big fan of ginger beer! Thanks for giving this recipe!
Dan
Love this post. I’ve been on a ginger kick for a couple of years now, myself. It’s incredible how much zing and goodness it can add to so many dishes. Ginger is inherently refreshing and it’s fitting that your post shows how it it’s not just for food recipes but drinks as well. Thanks for another great piece!
Rachel
This is BRILLIANT!! You have no idea how ecstatic I am to see this recipe! I’ve been struggling with a very upset stomach all week and have tried three different grocery store ginger ales/beers and none have really tasted quite right to me. (Not to mention buying ginger brews all week adds up!) I will definitely be making this and freezing the concentrate for later. I adore your blog and always get excited when I see you’ve posted a new recipe! Thank you for sharing with us.
Kate
Thank you, Rachel! Have you tried the ginger beer concentrate? I hope you’re enjoying it. I went through a spell with frequent stomachaches this winter and the homemade ginger beer definitely helped calm my stomach.
thelittleloaf
Oh wow, I absolutely adore ginger beer (not ginger ale, yuck!) and have always wanted to make mine own. Your version looks so delicious – I’m going to make some for a party we’re having this weekend!
Jennie @themessybake
This looks like the perfect beverage–so light and refreshing!
Grace @ FoodFitnessF
I frickin’ love ginger! Lately I’ve been adding extra to my kombucha. It’s the best. I know I’d love this too. And for this weekend, perhaps with a splash of rum too.
Maria @ Orchard Bloo
I love your tip to freeze the leftover concentrate. Such a great tip! I like to do that with lemons and limes if they are starting to go bad in my fridge.
Kate
That’s a great idea, Maria! I never thought to freeze lemon and lime juice. I’ll do that the next time mine start going bad.
Nicole
What a delicious looking drink for summer! From your descriptions of your recent hard times, it sounds like we may be going through a similar kind of heartbreak. My boyfriend and I broke up a week ago, and it’s been one of the hardest and saddest weeks of my life. I just keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason and that I’ll feel better in time. I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone and to remember those two hopefully helpful mantras!
Heather/snacktive
Hi Kate, I feel worried about you just reading about how you’re feeling, and I sincerely hope things improve for you. It sounds like you know you have tons of people to turn to for support. xoxo
Janel Gradowski
My kids and I love making homemade soda in the summertime. We’ve even made our own soda water maker, kind of like a homemade Soda Stream.
Kate
That’s so awesome, Janel! Did you make your DIY soda water maker like this one? http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-home-carbonation-system I’m intrigued.
Joanne
I’m pretty enamored with ginger also and we definitely need it right now to add some brightness to these dark days! Ginger beer definitely seems like the way to do it.
Amanda
Now that you mention it, Reed’s is too sweet. I love the intense ginger flavor, but I can usually only take a few swigs before I’ve reached my sugar threshold. I cannot wait to try this concentrate; I got so excited when I saw the heading in my reader.
I’m so glad that you keep doing what you’re doing, even when times are rough. I’ve found cooking and creating to be a panacea for my problems. It always cheers me up, even if only for a short while. I’ve been following your blog for just a little while but I’ve been enjoying it so. Your sincerity and passion comes through clearly. I’m always eager to see what you come up with, as well as to go through your archives and try old recipes I missed.
It will pass. Have a happy weekend.
Kate
Thank you so much, Amanda. I’ve been easing back into cooking lately, though I admit I haven’t felt very motivated to do it. I hope you enjoy the ginger beer concentrate.
Molly Steffen
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret…Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.” Psalm 37:7,8, and 5.
I’ve enjoyed many of your recipes…the text is thought-provoking as well :)
Kate
Thank you, Molly.
Jill G.
Hi there. I’ve been doing research about homemade ginger beer and came across your blog. From what I’ve read, what you’re making here is ginger ale NOT ginger beer. Ginger beer is actually made with fermentation and has a very small quantity of alcohol (~0.5%). Ginger ale is simple ginger juice mixed with carbonated water, sugar, etc. Anyway, I’m glad I found your blog and will keep checking it!
Kate
Thanks, Jill. I’ve researched the differences between ginger beer and ginger ale as well. I found an article on Serious Eats that says that these days, the difference is really only a matter of taste. This recipe tastes like ginger beer, even if it is not by some definitions.
Nikki
I made this last night for Moscow mules and it was totally awesome! Since I didn’t have a strainer I ended up squeezing the pulp through a pair of nylons and it worked out perfectly.
★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Nikki! I’m so glad you enjoyed the ginger beer. Using nylons as a strainer is genius.
Stefanie
Oh my! This is going to save me so much money! Thanks for sharing this beautiful recipe even though you are going through a rough time!
Kate
You’re welcome, Stefanie! Hope you love your homemade ginger beer!
G-Fred
Hey Kathryne! Thanks for posting this! Alex was very exited to give it a try!! We bought our pound + of ginger yesterday, and got to peeling and pressing today. The result was awesome! I love the idea of customizing the sweetness and spiciness of the ginger beer!
We’re going to split the batch into different containers and experiment with some infusions: cinnamon, clove, hibiscus, etc. I’ll let you know how they turn out! :) Wishing you well, friend!!
Kate
Hey friend! I’m so glad you two are enjoying the ginger beer concentrate. I love your infusion ideas! Eager to hear how they turn out. P.s. Let’s set dates for my Minneapolis trip.
Rob U
Holy cow that is SPICY! Tastes great at first but it’s just too spicy. Not sure how this could be toned down, but if it were 90% less intense I would love it. Find a way to do that and it’d get 5 stars
★★★
Kate
Hey Rob, did you add club soda? Dilute it until it reaches your desired taste. You might prefer to add extra sweetener, too.
Kankana
I love making home made ginger syrup and it always makes a great drink any time with or without alcohol!
Stacey
Kate – if your mood is related to your most recent friend, I will just say try and remember you were a whole person before him and you remain a whole person now. Try and focus on where (or who) you want to be 6 months from now and start working towards that! Best to you.
Kate
Thank you, Stacey.
Stephanie
Damn! I forgot to weigh my ginger before I bought it and just bought one giant chunk, assuming it would be enough. Any idea how many cups of roughly chopped ginger you would need? Or how much pulp you should end up with after step 1?
Kate
Bummer! Check your grocery store receipt if you have it for the weight. If not, I think you can wing it. I used roughly two cups chopped ginger chunks. Just blend up the ginger as described and add some sweetener. Dilute it with club soda, taste it, add more sweetener if needed. See you soon!
Shannon@TheDrinkBuzz
Your Ginger Beer looks delicious, such a refreshing drink for summer :)
Mindy
I found this post via Pinterest while my hubs and I were on our way to the grocery store. I added all of the ingredients to my list and came straight home and made it. I’ve always wanted to try ginger beer, and I am so very glad I did. This is amazing! I love that it’s not over the top sweet, the bite is just the right intensity for me. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe with us. I sincerely hope that you are feeling better. I’m now going to poke around the rest of your blog.
Kate
Thank you for commenting, Mindy! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the ginger beer and hope you’ll give some of my other recipes a try, too.
kathryn
this brings back sweet memories since I was born and raised in Jamaica and we drank ginger beer all the time. So refreshing. thanks for sharing the recipe
★★★★
dervla @ the curator
Kate, just checking in on you to make sure all is okay. Oooh, i feel the same way about ginger! Hope it warms your heart up and helps dispell whatever you’re going through.
Katherine Sacks
Just catching up on some blogs and read this. I totally understand the dark cloud, sometimes life is tough. But you always offer some positive, healthy wisdom, and that’s a great way to liven up your readers and yourself. Thanks for encouraging words, as always. Oh, and I made fresh ginger ale a few summers ago and love it! http://katherinesacks.com/2010/08/dark-and-stormy-summertime/
erin @ yummy supper
Kathryne,
I’m so sorry to hear that you have a dark cloud these days. And I hope you know just how much we all appreciate you back! You are sharing deliciousness with us all the time, even when you’re feeling down… that’s grace and kindness at it’s best.
Your ginger beer looks awesome! I have to tell you… I just met Karen Soloman the other day. She’s super cool.
I hope spring cheers you up.
xoxo
E
Kiran
I hope Spring blooms would cheer you up soon, Kate. Love the use of ginger here. Yum!
Kirsten
I’ve been searching Pinterest high and low to find a ginger beer recipe like this: one that doesn’t require sugar in order to ferment yeast and that you could adapt the sweetener to fit your needs. Now we’re talking. Thanks! You read my mind!
Molly
Can’t wait to try this Kate! (and to try all the cocktails that go along with it). Your recipes are always so inspiring. Sending good thoughts your way.
Liren
Ginger tea was always a must when I needed a little comfort growing up, but I say I like your idea of making this ginger beer concentrate and adding a little oomph with some liquor. Wishing you a extra comfort, Kathryne.
Courtney
I love ginger. Thanks for this delicious recipe and the tips on how to get it into other foods! :)
Kirsten
I need to make this. Ginger tea has been my go-to during these past 6 months. This could be really great, too. Thanks for the recipe! Hope you are doing well, lady!
Kathy
Ginger beer and spiced rum. Try it, you will love it!
Jim
I see that nice spoon technique for peeling ginger. I wonder now if it is the way to peel Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, which is quite tedious. Thank you!
Kate
Hey Jim, I’m sorry for my delayed response and I’m sorry I don’t know how to peel Jerusalem artichokes! I’ve been too intimidated by the peeling process to attempt cooking those. The spoon trick just might work, though.
AmyFJ
I made this today and I LOVE it. I cut the sweetener because I love the zing! I was wondering about how much ginger “juice” you ended up with. Also, I didn’t work ahead so the ginger had to sit while I juiced the limes and a lot of the tiny bits that did get through the strainer ended up settling nicely to the bottom. Maybe that will get rid of some of your extra bits? So glad I found you, keep up the good work!
Kate
Thanks, Amy! So glad you love the ginger beer. I ended up with about 4.5 cups of the concentrate.
crystal
can you juice the ginger in a juicer?
Kate
Yes, I believe so! That would be super easy. Just add water (maybe a little less than instructed here) and sweetener to the ginger juice.
Claire
I made this last night, and holy crap! You weren’t kidding- it is INTENSE! I might have over or under done something in the process, or maybe I’m just a ginger wuss. I think I might add another juice to tone it down for my wimpy taste buds. Strawberry? Carrot?
Kate
Hey Claire, the concentrate is intensely gingery! You are mixing it with club soda, right? The concentrate is way too strong on its own. I bet a splash of strawberry, carrot or orange juice would be good with it, too.
Claire
yup, mixing! I diluted it way beyond the recommendation and that was a little more up my alley. Even still, it’s still a tad too much for me. I blended it with an apple last night, orange juice the day before. I really like it as a quick ice cube added to other juices with bubbly mineral water. (I even used it when making some curry because I didn’t want to run to the store for more ginger) I hope the health benefits of ginger are preserved with the freezing! I’m going to experiment with strawberry pineapple or pears later! Thanks for the recipe!
Strict Hardwork
Everything looks amazing!
Breaking cloths
Thanks for the really nice recipe! I really love ginger, and ginger beer and ginger mead. I´ve broken three strainers in two years, so I bought my last one and also some kitchen cloths (those thin, usually blue and white which have tiny holes in. Including that the fact is you can´t find those nice strainers at this corner of the world). I´ve mainly used those cloths though they are usually not reusable because they tend to break, so I recommend to use strainer so the pulp doesn´t fall to the juice if the cloth breaks. But using the cloth gives you more of that lovely liquid you are squeesing. And if the cloth doesn´t break, it´s washable, of course.
★★★★★
Jason
Stumbled on your recipe via Google…just finished making the concentrate and it is fabulous. Perfect for our Memorial Day BBQ….Pim’s Cups and Dark & Stormy’s, here we come!
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Jason! Glad you enjoyed the ginger beer!
Maria Hart
Wow! I am so glad I decided to google Ginger Beer because I found your wonderful website for super good food!
Thank you for making me a fan!
★★★★★
Isaac
Tried this recipe after trying a couple different ones that required fermenting to carbonate. I followed the recipe exactly, but it just tastes like slightly flavored spicy water. The ginger flavor isn’t very strong compared to others I’ve tried.
★★
Kate
Hey Isaac, sorry for the delayed response. Did you try diluting the concentrate with less club soda? Either you didn’t press out enough of the juice or you diluted it too much.
Polly
Perfect taste! I used cheese cloth with the strainer and was able to get every last drop. I cut the agave nectar to 2/3 c. (that’s all I had). I dilute my concentrate with a diet ginger ale using your 2oz:8oz ratio and I see a wonderful summer ahead, sitting on my porch and sipping this ginger delight. Thanks for posting it!
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for commenting, Polly! I’m so glad you are enjoying the ginger beer.
Lasse
Hi!
I’ve been browsing for different ginger beer recipes, and yours looks very convenient! I’ve been fermenting a few batches for carbonation, but the yeast precipitate is a bit off putting to me. And filtering it just loses the bubbles. :-/
Anyhow; your recipe in totalt equals about 325 grammes of ginger pr liter of finished drink. The one I’ve been fermenting equals about 94 grammes of ginger pr liter of finished drink. I find the one I’ve brewed quite spicy — but yours would be about 3½ times as spicy! Is this for real? The ratio of ginger to lime is also way different than other recipes I’ve seen..
Any input? Thanks. :)
Kate
Hey Lasse, I’m not sure how my concentrate would compare to your finished ginger beers. Keep in mind that mine is a concentrate, basically just sweetened ginger juice with lime, that you dilute with club soda. If it’s too spicy for you, you could always just dilute it with more club soda to reach your desired level of spice.
rachel
Hello
This looks amazing! Has anyone tried putting the ginger in a juicer and making it that way? Just curious…I’ll give it a try and post results
thanks!
Kate
Hey Rachel! I don’t have a juicer, so I haven’t tried, but I believe that other commenters have had good luck with theirs. You might need to adjust the amount of sweetener or club soda to taste.
Kathy
Hi Kate,
I LOVE ginger, and I really want to try your recipe. Unfortunately I have diabetes. Do you think the recipe would work with an artificial sweetener like Splenda?
Thanks!
Shawna
I’ve had good luck with adding truvia to each individual drink after the ginger beer is done. I also sweeten mine far less than is called for though.
Kate
Hi Kathy, I wish I could say with certainty, but I’ve never used Splenda. I heard from another commenter that she sweetens hers with Truvia. As long as the sweetener dissolves in water, I think it will work.
Shawna
I just finished my first batch and oh my goodness, it is amazing! My husband and I absolutely adore strong ginger flavors and most ginger beer recipes just don’t have the kick we like and across the board are FAR too sweet. The concentrate let me play with both elements and it turned out fantastic! Lowered the amount of sweetener (about a 1/2 cup), had to lower the lime (4 limes only yielded about a 1/2 cup but I’ll add more next time) and significantly lowered the concentrate to club soda ratio. More about 2 ounces concentrate to 4 ounces club soda…fantastic! Add to all that, I’m a wine drinker and have been looking for something for an after dinner drink for when I can’t have alcohol. This absolutely fits the bill.
Kate
Thanks, Shawna! So glad you appreciate the strong ginger flavor and made the recipe work for you. Enjoy!
Elisabeth Conran
I made this today and am delighted with it. I enjoy Old Jamaica ginger beer, but the price has recently gone up a lot and I needed to find a substitute. This is IT! It has real punch and flavour (I needed to increase the sugar content a little) and is a whole lot cheaper and healthier than a canned drink. Thanks so very much for the recipe.
Kate
Thanks, Elisabeth! I’m so glad you are enjoying the ginger beer. Thank you for commenting to let me know.
Thahera
Loved your blog, and I can’t wait to try this recipe!.. But, one question, (sorry if I’m being really stupid) am I supposed wait three weeks before I can serve it or can it just be stored for three weeks?
Thanks! X
Kate
Hey Thahera, you can drink it right away. It will keep in the fridge for a few weeks, or you can freeze it in an ice cube tray to preserve it longer.
Marissa
I am beyond thrilled having found this recipe! I’m currently living in Chile and they do not have ginger beer here. It’s summer and that means I’ve been craving my fave Dark n’ Stormy. You are a lifesaver!
Kate
Marissa, I hope you loved the ginger beer!
Joe Fab
We have a Sodastream that carbonates water for us and we love ginger beer so I’m excited to try out this recipe. Our favorite cocktail is the Montana Mule, whiskey and ginger beer + lime, but we’re going to infuse some moonshine with ginger for an extra zing!
Kate
Hope you love the ginger beer! Sodastreams are so cool. We call our Montana Mules “Horse Feathers” in Kansas City. I bet ginger moonshine is awesome.
Cerrucho
Great recipe! Definitely recalls the flavor of Caribbean and Australian ginger beers. I added 1/2 tsp. of vanilla and about 1 tsp. of turmeric powder (another rhizome!) I also left out the sweetener so that folks could add however much or little they prefer. I used agave syrup because it dissolves in cold water.
Kate
Thanks for commenting, Cerrucho! I’m glad you enjoyed the ginger beer. Your version sounds excellent!
Mary
Love this recipe! I add a glug or two to boiling water (my 1.2 litre bottle that I take to work) and have something delicious to drink all day.
★★★★★
Kate
Oh, that sounds delicious! Thanks, Mary!
Steve
I tried this and it tastes great but my concentrate turns pink when I add the lime juice (also tried lemon juice with same result). Any idea what’s going on?
Kate
Hmm! That’s strange! I googled the matter out of curiosity. Apparently young ginger turns pink when pickled. Sounds like you used some super fresh ginger!
Anita T
This will be the third time I’ve made this concentrate. It’s just my husband and I but this never lasts long in our house. We are ginger beer addicts and this is perfect for our taste, as we love ginger beer, but not the sweet that comes with the commercial versions. And once we get through “sober October” (our yearly no-cocktails cleansing month) we’ll get to enjoy it again in our favorite drinks! Cheers!
Kate
Thanks, Anita! I’m so glad you both enjoy it. Sober October sounds like a good detox method! Cheers to ginger beer.
Jenny
Hi Kate,
Quick question – I plan on making this tonight (as I am obsessed with Moscow Mules but generally find the canned stuff too sweet), and want to know if I can refrigerate the syrup/soda combination for up to three weeks? Or should the syrup be stored separately and just mixed with the soda on an as needed basis? Thanks again!
Kate
Hey Jenny! You’ll definitely want to store them separately because the soda water loses carbonation over time.
Colin
I recently made this wonderful concentrate and have absolutely enjoyed it. I don’t know if anyone else commented on this, but I found another great concoction to make with the frozen cubes. Hot tea!
Boil enough water for a small pot of tea and then pour it over the concentrated cube. It makes for a delicious spicy ginger tea that is just slightly sweet enough. Give it a shot!!
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Colin! Your ginger tea sounds awesome!
Chris Gagne
I discovered a few things when making this recipe:
* Pineapple juice is a nice addition.
* You don’t need much, if any sugar. Stevia works well for sweetening this if you’d like a sweeter flavor.
* I didn’t bother peeling the ginger and it came out just fine. I just washed it carefully.
* I have a high-quality blender but was unable to get 1 cup of liquid to blend even half a pound of ginger. Perhaps easier with a food processor but I don’t have one. Regardless, I just added more water, resulting in more concentrate. Maybe it’s more diluted but it works just fine for my needs.
* Blending in a stalk of lemongrass was an interesting touch.
★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing your recipe notes, Chris!
Amber
Your recipe for ginger-beer looks great!!! However I would not discard the ginger solids after straining, you can freeze them in ice cube trays and then use them later in a stir fry, or soup, they work wonderfully! The less waste the better.
Kate
That is a great idea! Thanks, Amber!
Greta Blamire
Love it! Did not realize how sickly sweet the canned ginger beer was until we tried them side by side. Yours is so much better. I did squeeze the ginger residue through cheesecloth before I thfew it out and I ended up with a couple more ounces of product. Thanks for posting, I appreciate it!
Kate
Thank you, Greta! Glad you’re enjoying it!
Patrick
Dude, ginger beer with any kind of coconut liquor is the bomb’s knees! Try it!
★★★★★
Kate
Yum!
Sara Hawker
Made this morning as I’ve just not been myself – it’s got a lovely burn but still not as fiery as I like it Does anyone have an idea for what Blenheim puts into their #3 Hot Ginger Beer? It will clear the sinus but makes the best cocktails on earth and to be honest is the holy grail of diy for me.
Kate
Hey Sara! Hope you are feeling better. Have you tried just diluting the concentrate less? I don’t think you can get much hotter than pure ginger concentrate. I looked up Blenheim’s #3. Here are the ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sucrose, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavoring & Caramel Color.
Mike
I’ve tried a lot of different variations of ginger beer recipes, from the fermentation methods with no addins to those that require full boils and cream of tartar!
In short, this is by far the best recipe I’ve followed – it has now become the staple recipe and the only one I’ve used.
As anyone tried making fruit blends?
★★★★★
Kate
Woohoo! Glad to hear that, Mike! I haven’t tried fruit blends, but please let me know if you do!
Mike
Hi Kate.I made this and ended up with a lot of white “slurry” at the bottom of the jar. Is this normal? Can I just drink it or should I strain the mixture a little more?
Thank you!
★★★★
Kate
Hi Mike! I’m guessing that slurry is just some larger particles of ginger. I think mine settled a bit with time, too. As long as it doesn’t smell funky, I think it will be fine to drink that way.
Cam
I have been making this recipe at least every other week for over a year. My husband and I have it in iced tea and juice or just plain water – daily. I use my blender to shred it.
I found several things:
*I buy organic ginger and don’t peel it, just cut off any bad spots and check for growing medium in between roots.Rinse well.
*I could put the lime juice in the first blending along with the water.
*My blender struggled with the amount of water so I practically doubled it. Just makes a weaker concentrate but I use more accordingly.
*I sometimes do a 4th blending if the ginger seems stronger.
*I put the last blending in a clean terry cloth and squeeze as much liquid out as possible by hand.
*At first I used less sweetener, but now I use none. You can always add juice to sweeten, if desired. I now like it in just water and nothing else. Tart and strong, the way I like it.
*The cornstarch-like sediment that settles out can be used as a tasty thickener in soups, stew, chili, fruit pie filling, cranberry relish, etc.
*The mash leftover can be used in banana bread, pancakes or other recipes like you would use fiber from a juicer. It is strong and not for everyone’s taste.
Kate
This is great! Thank you for sharing, Cam.
clarice
I like your suggestions. Thanks.
Cam
Forgot to rate this recipe.
★★★★★
Sandra Bryant
This is the third time I have made your Ginger Beer. Love it and can drink it with water only. Made a ginger bug and mixed up a 1/2 gal., of your ginger beer in a container and put 1/2 of a cup of the ginger bug and let it sit on the counter for 2 to 3 days. Then put the beer in bottles with caps and let them sit for another 12 -24 hours (not sure about the hours).
Put the bottles into the fridge and forgot about them. A month later tried one bottle, and it was great. Just as good as any you could buy!
★★★★★
clarice
Where to get the ginger bug.
Jenelle Wilkinson
Hi! Im from Bermuda and I’m enthused to find our “”dark n stormy” made ur list! I share your love of ginger as well. I’ve been in Florida for 20 or so years and ginger beer brings back all those lovely childhood memories being raised on the island! Thank you so much for your recipes. I’m 7 weeks pregnant with my first child and have been craving all things Bermudian lol. I plan on making traditional Bermuda glass candy with one of your ginger extract recipes! You have made my day! Thank you!
★★★★★
Shawna
Love this recipe, making it sugar free with NuStevia syrup. I squeeze the ginger down to a solid (mostly dry) pulp using a nut milk bag, have not reblended since first batch because it would not blend without adding a lot more water. Just made batch 3, thank you very much!! =)
★★★★★
Jennifer
While on the Candida diet, I am not allowed to have alcohol or sugar or sugar substitute, except for stevia (nasty) or xylitol (natural and yummm), but if I decide I am going to cheat with some alcohol, I have read that vodka is the best choice. With that being said, I absolutely love moscow mules. So I made a superquick and slightly different version of your recipe by grating fresh ginger directly into a mug filled with club soda. I then added lots of lime juice and some sugar syrup made with a tiny bit of hot water (to help dissolve) and xylitol . Then I added an ounce of vodka and lots of ice. Yum!
Kate
Thanks, Jennifer! Smart thinking!
Cynthia
Finally, I can quench my thirst for ginger beer with no calories! I’ve tried every US brand available, including diet brands, but there’s always a problem (too sweet, too spicy, not spicy enough, etc). I made your recipe with 3/4 cup baking type Splenda and it’s perfect. I prefer to leave the lime out of the mix and use a fresh squeeze when I add the soda water. PS, have you tried using the remaining ginger sludge in cooking recipes calling for ginger?
★★★★★
Paige
Hi Kate! I love all of your recipes and am so excited to make this ginger beer! What is the benefit of blending the ginger and water multiple times? Would you be able to reach the same level of flavor and spice by blending the ginger and all of the water at once and then straining?
Kate
Hey Paige! The idea behind that is to extract as much ginger flavor as possible. I really think it helps, but you can try it your way if you’d like!
Cam
I have been making this a couple times a month for over a year now. I have found I had to add more water so my blender could handle the first blend. So my concentrate is still plenty strong but not as strong as the exact recipe. I also stopped adding sweetener all together. Some 100% juices make a good sweetener if you need one later but I put a TBS or so in 2 cups of water and nothing else and it makes for a great electrolyte hydrating refreshing drink. I crave it daily now!
Kate
Thanks, Cam! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the ginger concentrate.
Bob
Since eliminating alcohol at the beginning of the year, Ginger Beer has come into my life (along with a lot of coffee) to fill the void. But it’s pricey, and I can easily go through a lot of it.
We’ve been toying with getting a Sodastream and finding a good recipe for Ginger Beer for a go at making out own. Any experience with using this recipe with that product, and how much concentrate you’d use for a typical batch?
Personally, I DO like the sweetness of some of the storeboughts (like Fever Tree and Reeds) so if I wanted to tweak this to add more sweetness than it sound like you might have, would it just be a simple case of adding more sugar?
David
Just made a batch this afternoon. It had a bitter taste and I wonder whether my use of a lime juicer (squeeze type) might have brought out more of the peel and hence the bitterness. Thoughts?
Chad
Does ginger contain starch? I noticed a pasty residue that settled to the bottom of my stainless steel mixing bowl. It looks exactly like the non-newtonian putty we made in grade school science class. Maybe the metal has a reaction with the ginger juice?
Thanks for the syrup recipe! The rinsing technique is great for getting the most essence out of my ginger. I’m using this technique for my 4th batch of ginger beer; will be carbonating with champagne yeast and adding turmeric as my prior batches have been.
Cheers!
★★★★★
Kate
Hmmm, it’s either starch or fiber! I’m not sure. Your ginger beer sounds awesome!
Eric R
I got that, too! Stainless should be non-reactive, but I was making a large batch, so maybe it was just the extra time the ginger extract was sitting there that allowed it to settle out? It was much closer to white than the yellowish extract. Didn’t taste bad; didn’t taste like much.
★★★★★
katrina
Hello Kate,
So glad to have found your recipe. I live in small island and we cannot always find everything especially Ginger beer cordial so your recipe is a blessing. And it is delicious. It has a real zing to it. I managed to get so much juice I was amazed. I might halve proportions next time and make it more often.
Anyway thanks again
★★★★★
Kimberly
HELP! I love your ginger concentrate recipe. I’ve made it many times in a food processor but I just got a vitamix! How would you adjust the times to liquify the chopped ginger and water? 3 mins, repeated 3 times, works for food processor but I assume the time would be shorter for high performance blender. Thanks in advance for advising!
Amy
Don’t forget the Kentucky Mule! Ginger Beer, bourbon and lime!
Kate
How could I forget the Moscow Mule’s Southern cousin?! Thanks, Amy!
Patti
I came upon this recipe as I love Cock N Bull Ginger Beer and Fever Tree Ginger Beer (I also like Bundaberg, but it is a bit sweet for my taste unless it’s in a mixed drink, not straight from the bottle). I was hoping that it would be the more natural, homemade tasting ginger beer that was similar to Cock N Bull or Fever Tree, but with my batch (made 100% to the recipe posted here) while making a tasty gingery drink, it is not he substitute I was looking for. I tried mixing it with club soda, ginger ale, etc… and none of those ways turned out to taste anything close to what I was looking for, but that said, is it a gingery drink, and I think I would try to mix it with other things instead, so we will see, but it is a tasty gingery recipe! I’ll keep experimenting a bit more with mixes/additions, but if you are looking for a Cock N Bull or Fever Tree similar drink this may not be the recipe you are looking for. Thank you for posting it, it gives me many ideas of things I can try in my quest to create a cheaper, homemade alternative, that is less expensive to my favorite ginger beer brands.
Kate
Thanks, Patti. I’m sorry this wasn’t exactly what you were looking for, but I’m glad it was inspirational!
Julie
I used prepared organic ginger juice since I had it on hand, and sweetened with stevia extract. I love the spicy, fresh ginger taste. Great recipe!
Kate
Yum! Sounds so good, Julie.