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Easy Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe

This Easy Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe is healthy, spicy, fizzy and delicious! Perfect for holiday cocktails like Moscow Mule and Dark ‘n’ Stormy!

Ginger Beer in a Wooden Mug.

I know, it sounds like ginger beer is very hard to make from scratch. I’m here to prove you that it’s not!

You are now less than 20 minutes away from delicious and healthy homemade ginger beer that you can use later for cocktails like Moscow Mule or Dark ‘n’ Stormy.

Ginger beer is often confused with ginger ale. However, the difference is enormous.

While ginger beer is produced by the natural fermentation, ginger ale is artificially carbonated and sweetened. And no, there isn’t any beer in either of them!

Since ginger beer is a fermented drink, it is naturally carbonated and sweetened.

Naturally fermented beverages like this ginger beer are packed with nutrients, probiotics and enzymes, as opposed to highly processed and overly sweetened commercial sodas.

Bottles of Homemade Ginger Beer.

Why Is It Better Than Store-Bought?

Well, the main incentive for me to make anything from scratch is that I’m in control of the ingredients. I don’t want any additives, preservatives and sweeteners in my ginger beer.

So what is in my ginger beer recipe? Obviously, the main ingredient is fresh ginger root.

In addition, I use lemon juice, brewer’s yeast and small amounts of brown sugar to activate and feed the yeast. I sweeten the ginger beer with more sugar or honey to taste once it’s fermented.

I like that I can regulate the sweetness, since most of the processed drinks taste overly sweet to me.

The taste of this homemade ginger beer is a bit more rich and intense. I like the authentic spiciness but if you don’t, you can always dissolve it with water.

This ginger beer is naturally fizzy because of the gas released during the fermentation process, so you’ll hear a nice “plop” sound and see a wisp of steam when you open a flip top (swing top) bottle with your freshly brewed ginger beer. It’s priceless!

Opening a Flip Top Bottle Gif.

Ginger beer is a great base for holiday cocktails like Moscow Mule and Dark ‘n’ Stormy. Believe me, it tastes amazing in cocktails and is much cheaper than store-bought.

Just think how impressive your cocktail party will be with cocktails based on your own ginger beer made from scratch! I bet your guests will love it!

Health Benefits

Naturally fermented ginger beer gives your immune system a boost which it needs so bad at this time of the year. Moreover, some of the health benefits the homemade ginger beer offers are:

  • has anti-inflammatory properties;
  • helps fight infection;
  • soothes respiratory symptoms;
  • helps lower cholesterol levels;
  • improves digestion.

Fermented food is great against common cold or flu. It contains probiotics that help you fight viruses and get well sooner.

Make sure to include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sourdough bread, pickles, tempeh, miso, kimchi and sauerkraut in your diet to prevent getting sick and/or fight viruses.

Collage: A Bottle and A Wooden Mug with Fizzy Ginger Beer.

How to Make Ginger Beer At Home

When it comes to making your own ginger beer, you have two options:

– use naturally fermented ginger bug;

– use brewer’s yeast.

Since my husband is a brewer, it was not a question for me which way to choose. Besides, it’s easier and faster.

Ingredients

To start with, prepare your ingredients:

  • ginger root,
  • lemons,
  • sugar,
  • brewer’s yeast.

Where to get it if you don’t have a husband interested in brewing? Thanks to Amazon, you can order it online, so it shouldn’t be a problem!

Brewer's Yeast in a Wooden Bowl with a Small Spoon.

Instructions

1. Grate ginger, squeeze juice out of lemons, prepare four 16 oz (0.5 l) flip top bottles (or equivalent) and a fennel.

2. In a pot bring grated ginger and 2 cups of water (0.5 l) to a boil. Add brown sugar (or molasses for the darker color), a pinch of salt and cook until the sugar is dissolved, for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Strain the liquid through a sieve covered with a few layers of cheesecloth and squeeze well into a bowl.

Collage of Ginger Root Next to Lemons.

4. Add the rest of the water, lemon juice and yeast. Stir to dissolve and pour into bottles using a funnel.

5. Let it ferment under room temperature for 48 hours, then transfer to the fridge to stop the fermentation process. Add extra sweetener of your choice before serving (honey, sugar, molasses or agave syrup). Enjoy!

Cook’s Tips

  • If you can’t find brewer’s yeast in your local store, order it online.
  • Use ginger beer for Moscow Mule, Dark’n’ Stormy or enjoy on its own.
  • Serve ginger beer chilled with a few ice cubes.
  • I found that 1 tablespoon of honey per bottle (16 oz) tastes the best. Make sure to dissolve your sweetener in a small amount of ginger beer before pouring it back into the bottle. Close the bottle and shake well. Don’t open directly after shaking!

A Copper Mug Filled with Cranberry Moscow Mule.

Recipe Variations

  • You can make ginger beer with naturally fermented ginger bug.
  • Use any sweetener of your choice: any kind of sugar, agave juice, honey, maple syrup or molasses.

What are some other cocktails you can incorporate ginger beer in? Any ideas?

If you try this ginger beer recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a star rating!

I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to every comment.

 
Easy Homemade Ginger Beer - Healthy and Delicious Drink
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4.95 from 53 votes

Homemade Ginger Beer

This Easy Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe is healthy, spicy, fizzy and delicious! Perfect for holiday cocktails like Moscow Mule and Dark 'n' Stormy!
Course Beverage
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 16 oz (0.5 l) bottles
Calories 55kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon ginger root freshly grated
  • 2 quarts or 2 l water divided
  • 4 tablespoon brown sugar or molasses
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • 1/2 cup or 120 ml lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon brewer's yeast
  • sweetener of your choice to taste see notes

Instructions

  • In a pot bring grated ginger and 2 cups of water (0.5 l) to a boil. Add brown sugar (or molasses for the darker color), a pinch of salt and cook until the sugar is dissolved, for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Strain the liquid through a sieve covered with a few layers of cheesecloth and squeeze well into a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the rest of the water (about 6 cups), lemon juice and brewer's yeast. Stir to dissolve and pour into four 16 oz (0.5 l) flip top bottles (or equivalent) using a funnel, then cap them.

  • Let it ferment under room temperature for 48 hours, then transfer to the fridge to stop the fermentation process. Add extra sweetener of your choice before serving (see notes). Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition information is calculated for a single serving which is 1 cup or 250 ml.

Cook’s Tips

  • If you can’t find brewer's yeast in your local store, order it online.
  • Use ginger beer for Moscow Mule, Dark’n’ Stormy or enjoy on its own.
  • Serve ginger beer chilled with a few ice cubes.
  • I found that 1 tablespoon of honey per bottle (16 oz) tastes the best. Make sure to dissolve your sweetener in a small amount of ginger beer before pouring it back into the bottle. Close the bottle and shake well. Don't open directly after shaking!

Recipe Variations

  • You can make ginger beer with naturally fermented ginger bug.
  • Use any sweetener of your choice: any kind of sugar, agave juice, honey, maple syrup or molasses.

Nutrition

Serving: 250ml | Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 63mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin C: 11.5mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Follow @happykitchen.rocks on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #happykitchenrocks!

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4.95 from 53 votes (10 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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Sam

Tuesday 11th of June 2024

Delicious! I use Molasses and double the recipe. Also used bakers yeast (1tsp for double the recipe in winter and 3/4tsp in the spring because it bubbles over)

Elena Szeliga

Sunday 16th of June 2024

Thank you for your feedback, Sam!

Dick

Saturday 4th of May 2024

How much ginger how much lemon juice equals how much ginger beer? I didn’t see any of the amounts posted.

Elena Szeliga

Sunday 5th of May 2024

Hey Dick, with the ingredient amounts listed in the recipe you'll end up with around 2 quarts ginger beer. Hope that helps!

Chris

Sunday 14th of April 2024

When do you add sweetener? After it ferments? Add sweetener then cap it back and refrigerate? or right before drinking

Elena Szeliga

Monday 15th of April 2024

Hi @Chris, you can add the sweetener either after it ferments or right before drinking. It's up to you. Just make sure not to add it before the fermentation process is over, as it will be eaten by the yeast, making it taste bland.

Amanda

Monday 11th of March 2024

Is it not recommended to add in the sweetener before fermenting?

Elena Szeliga

Monday 11th of March 2024

Hi Amanda, the sweetener you add before the fermentation process is finished, will be eaten by the yeast, leaving it taste bland. That's the reason you should add the sweetener after the fermentation process is over. Hope that helps!

Julie

Monday 5th of February 2024

Can you use artificial sweetener instead of sugar?

Elena Szeliga

Tuesday 6th of February 2024

Hi Julia, unfortunately not, as sugar is needed to activate the brewer's yeast, and it doesn't recognize artificial sweeteners.

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About Elena Szeliga

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Elena Szeliga is the founder of Happy Kitchen.Rocks, where she shares delicious and healthy vegetarian and vegan food, from weeknight dinners to veganized classics and gourmet appetizers. Her recipes have been featured at Better Homes & Gardens, BuzzFeed, Country Living, The Kitchn and Reader’s Digest. Her mission is to help cook easy vegetarian and vegan meals with simple and fresh ingredients. Read more about Elena.

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