Ginger Beers, Ranked Worst To Best

One sip of spicy ginger beer usually packs a potent punch, unlike other carbonated drinks. It's slightly different than ginger ale (which is common for soothing an upset stomach) — traditional ginger beer is usually concocted by fermenting fresh ginger, water, sugar, and yeast, sort of emulating the same hard cider fermentation process, according to The Temper.

When this bubbly beverage was first introduced back in the 1700s, it most definitely contained alcohol (usually around 11 percent, per The Kitchn), but fast-forward to the modern day, and several commercialized ginger beers contain less than half a percent of alcohol or zero alcohol due to lack of fermentation. Boozy or not, ginger beer is an ultra-fizzy, spicy beverage that makes an invigorating solo drink (especially during the holiday season) or delightful mixing agent for fancy cocktails. According to The Temper, ginger beer matches exceptionally well with citrus-based spirits containing orange and lemon, but it also blends nicely with warmer spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

Since ginger beer is sort of a hybrid between beer and soda, you might scratch your head and wonder where to find it at your local store. Start in the soda aisle first, and if you're out of luck, check out the natural foods section or cocktail mix aisle. Now, if you find yourself frantically torn between which ginger beer to take home, no need to sweat. Here's a comprehensive list of the most popular ginger beers, ranked worst to best.

According to the Royalty Ginger Beer label, this UK-based ginger beer was decorated with "The Queen's Awards For Enterprise: International Trade" from 2011 to 2013. Essentially, this means that Royalty generated outstanding economic growth overseas, which lends to its popularity within the ginger beer sector. Royalty Ginger Beer is an age-old, non-alcoholic recipe and exudes an intense ginger flavor that complements any Moscow Mule, acting as a traditional mixing agent. Although the accolades seem promising, Royalty might not be as thirst-quenching as it seems, yielding a mixed bag of reviews. Many online buyers complain that it lacks enough of the strong ginger flavor you'd expect, and it's slightly over-sweetened.

According to Delicious Sparkling Temperance Drinks, Royalty is an enjoyable ginger beverage, despite its syrupy consistency. "Smells very peppery. But the taste is more mellow and sweet. A little syrupy even. It's smooth and gooey on my tongue. But meanwhile it's scraping the back of my throat!"

When it comes to specialty vegan ginger beer that's crafted to suit all taste buds, Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer does its job and more with a vast array of flavors. These non-alcoholic ginger beer blends are concocted with pure cane sugar, all-natural ingredients, and unfiltered ginger pieces that you can visibly point out. From Brooklyn Crafted Classic flavor to Extra Spicy and Lemon Lime, there's no holding back when it comes to flavor.

The Mango Ginger Beer seems to be a fan favorite, yielding a fruity twist with subtle spice, perfect for a flavored Mule or mocktail mimosa. Even though flavored beverages might initially seem gimmicky, we beg to differ. The mango flavor is surprisingly strong and then a piercing ginger zing follows — making it a refreshing twist on the classic ginger beer. Although it's a bold beverage, a bit more spice would be preferable, and the fruity notes definitely don't appeal to everyone. However, if you're in the mood for something slightly unconventional, Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mango is worth a shot.

For all of your Dark 'n' Stormy cocktail fans who want a quick, accessible way to drink them, Gosling's has you covered with their Stormy Ginger Beer — the only one of its kind. This non-alcoholic beverage is a delicate balance between sweet and spicy. It's got an intense heat to it, but it's not burning hot, which means that anyone can enjoy it. According to Goslings' site, this rendition echoes notes of "lime peel, crystallized ginger, meringue, and turmeric" — an enticing description that lures in any daring ginger beer drinker.

According to DrinkHacker's review, this non-alcoholic ginger beer is quite experimental while still giving a nod to traditional ginger beer: "The tagline 'a refreshing zip of ginger' is wholly appropriate: This is a classic ginger beer, nicely sweet on first sip then bracing with a hefty dose of fresh ginger flavor. The bite is moderate to strong but fades quickly. It really is just right: Several steps above a regular ginger ale, but not overpowering like too many ginger beer brands which are busy trying to impress you with how much ginger root they can cram into the bottle."

You've probably seen Maine Root Ginger Brew grace the shelves of several grocery stores, and for good reason too. Known for its spicy, gingery kick, Main Root also cranks up the bubbles in their household non-alcoholic ginger beer. You'll also notice that the ingredient list is very pure, only consisting of carbonated pure water, organic cane sugar, real ginger, and an array of special spices.

Soda Fry describes this ginger brew's appearance as cloudy due to the freshly pressed ginger. It also exudes earthy notes with a medium level of sweetness that doesn't overpower the ginger. Overall, it generated eight out of 10 stars from this passionate craft soda reviewer. Amazon buyers also exclaim that they appreciate the heavy carbonation and how it's not full of citric acid like other ginger beers on the market.

"This is a sweet and spicy carbonated beverage & tastes amazing. I am able to find it at Whole Foods and my local steak house. I highly recommend giving it a try if you love ginger," said Amazon reviewer mamabeethoven.

The alluring nautical, stormy packing on Trader Joe's Brewed Ginger Beer is symbolic of the innate characteristic of this ginger brew — it's slightly bubbly, bold, fierce and acutely intense. There are some qualities that directly mirror Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Beer, but overall, this one is a bit more tart and nuanced in flavor. According to Eating At Joes, along with the citrus notes from the lime and lemon juice concentrates, the added flavorings and various extracts make it quite venturesome, yet not ridiculously bitter or sweet.

You'll also see micro bits of ginger floating at the bottom, classifying it as an unfiltered option. So before drinking, we recommend giving it a gentle swirl so you can consume the maximum amount of flavor. In general, this particular blend of ingredients makes for a dynamic ginger beer and an exceptional cocktail mixer, especially for a full-flavored Dark & Stormy or Moscow Mule.

This vegan-friendly ginger beer brings botanicals to the bottle and exudes a natural, ginger taste that is quite prolific. Fentimans Ginger Beer keeps to the traditional bones of spicy ginger beer, but it simultaneously embodies a complex taste without the use of artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. We love the fermented Chinese ginger root that creates that pungent gingery fire. Each batch is skillfully fermented for a full seven days so the palette can fully grasp all of the rich botanical flavors. With so many five-star reviews on Amazon, Fentimans stands in a league of its own.

"I've ordered this ginger beer a few times now, I really like the extra zing at the back of the throat as all good ginger beers should give you, rather than the sometimes sickly sweet versions you get with other brands. It's not the cheapest ginger beer you can buy, but quality products always cost more," said Amazon reviewer Pete's Princess. So if you're looking for a high-quality product that never disappoints, this is it.

You've probably seen the classic Bundaberg bottle in various grocery stores, and to no surprise, the juice inside is the real deal. Bundaberg uses a proprietary family recipe with Australian roots, using authentic Australian-grown ginger grown in sub-tropical soils of Queensland, which is the major differentiator amongst other ginger beer brands. You can actually see small bits of ginger in the cloudy formula. Along with premium ingredients, Bundaberg also maximizes the brewing time to yield maximum flavor. The popular diet option only contains 25 calories per bottle, which makes it a superior alternative to regular ginger beer. With plenty of five-star reviews on Amazon, this one is a favorite amongst ginger beer aficionados.

"I am a ginger beer addict. I have tried many (all??) of the brands available and Bundaberg is by far the best and has the healthiest ingredients. (no nasty high fructose corn syrup) They may be a bit more expensive, but worth every penny," said Amazon buyer Mydogsmom.