The quickest answer is IT'S GOOD!

With it’s soaring popularity in the UK, it was only a matter of time before alcoholic ginger beer starting crossing the pond and making its way to our shores.

Crabbie’s has been the most sought after variety from our guests. With Far East Ginger and four closely guarded secret ingredients, it is steeped for up to six weeks to produce its deep spicy flavor. With its clever catch phrase “serve over ice with a slice,” it aims to introduce us to a new way to drink our bottled ginger beer over ice with a slice of what ever fruit is applicable. A popular combination is the regular 4.8% ABV ginger beer with a slice of lime, or the spiced orange with a slice of your favorite orange varietal. As its popularity grows, expect to see other flavors, like Scottish raspberry, strawberry and lime, and Crabbie’s Black, show up in the near future. 

Another company getting into the ginger beer craze is Big City Brewing Co LTD out of Kingston, Jamaica, with its 4.4% ABV Royal Jamaican alcoholic ginger beer. It exhibits a pale cloudy pour with a sweet and spicy tang, lightly carbonated and perfect for a sweltering hot Florida day sitting by the pool.

A huge hit so far has been the arrival of Wisconsin’s Sprecher Fire-brewed Hard Root Beer a 5% ABC. It's a very easy drinking alcoholic root beer. This adults-only beverage is a great idea if you have any friends or relatives who refuse to drink a beer but are looking for something to carry around at the beach or a summertime BBQ. 

With these and many other non-traditional beer choices, it’s a perfect time to come in to ABC Beer Country and talk to your local beer consultants to learn and maybe find something new and different to keep your fridge full and exciting

Brett Hallenbeck, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant

Follow me on Twitter @abcbeerbretth