Lemon ginger ale

Ginger ale and ginger beer often get mixed up, but they taste different. Ginger beer is robust, cloudy and sharp with ginger. Ginger ale is lighter, clearer and softer, with more citrus and a fresh fizz closer to a lemonade. A ginger beer plant makes both. For ginger ale you keep the ginger modest and let the lemon lead. In British pubs a ginger ale has long been one of the classic soft drinks behind the bar; this homemade one is drier, fresher and much more interesting.

What is a ginger beer plant?

A ginger beer plant is not a plant at all, but a living culture of yeasts and bacteria that together form small, translucent granules. They look a little like water kefir grains but are finer, and they give a different, fuller drink. Generations ago, plenty of households brewed their own ginger beer this way. More on its history and how it works is in what is a ginger beer plant.

The fixed proportions

The base is always the same: 20 g ginger beer plant, 1 litre water, 60 g sugar, 2 slices of fresh ginger and 1 dried fig, for 24 to 48 hours, then 48 hours in a closed bottle. For ginger ale you add the lemon only in the bottle. Lemon juice in the first jar would make the conditions too sharp for the culture. The full basic method is in How to make ginger beer.

Ginger ale or ginger beer: what is the difference?

The difference lies mainly in the amount of ginger and the role of the citrus. For a classic ginger beer you double the ginger and grate it, so the drink gets cloudy and sharp. For ginger ale you stick to two slices and give the lemon centre stage. Both use the same culture and the same rhythm. If you are still choosing between a ginger beer plant and water kefir, read ginger beer or water kefir.

Variations

• Lime ginger ale: the juice of 2 limes instead of the lemon. Sharper and a little more exotic.
• Ginger ale with mint: a sprig of mint in the bottle for the last 12 hours.
• Orange and ginger: the juice of half an orange and half a lemon, for a softer, round flavour.
• Ginger ale with honey: a teaspoon of honey in the bottle instead of the sugar.
• Elderflower ginger ale: a tablespoon of elderflower cordial in the bottle. Fragrant, for summer.

Serving

Drink it ice cold, on its own over ice with a slice of lemon, or use it as a mixer. It pairs well with tonic water, apple juice or a splash of cordial. For a more robust long drink, see the alcohol-free Moscow mule. Keep opened bottles in the fridge and drink within a few days, before the fizz fades.

Frequently asked questions

Start with our live ginger beer plant. All guides and recipes are on the ginger beer page.