Ginger Beer
New City Brewery

unique style. I love reeds ginger beer and it’s nice to see a real fermented alcohol version. This is a prohibition style ale with no artificial preservatives and great flavor. Strong at 8% but hidden well By the flavors. Sweet but not too sweet like many “soda” style alcohols which consist of malt liquor this is 4x what a “not your fathers” brand would ever do. Nice change up and probably best with a couple ice cubes or ice cold. Local food co-Op has this in new london ct and I am a big fan of this rare style

There is a wide array of ratings and reviews on this beer, in part because the style covers a huge range from herbs to spices and ginger is largely different from most spices. So, there is not a lot of peer beers to compare to.

But that does not explain all the low ratings of what is a refreshing and interesting beer. So, let's talk about that.

Ginger Beer is a pretty blonde... so what if there is no foam ? (Foam is a function of yeast working on barley, neither key in this beer.) Smells like ginger. Tastes like ginger; but I'm wondering how it would Taste without all that sugar. I like the bite from the ginger. Transcend the sugar, and Ginger Beer really stimulates the mouth.

As for the brewer, New City's website indicates they hit all the buttons: high quality ingredients, community center, restoration of an old warehouse, sustainability. What they also have is dedication to making the best ginger beer. And that is a niche that could be their ticket. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind if my second beer from them is their saison.

 

 

Pours with minimal white head that disappears almost instantly. Light golden in color. Strong aroma of ginger and tropical fruit (pineapple juice?). Drinks strong and highly carbonated. Much better than other ginger beers I have tried that I mostly haven't liked. This is REAL ginger beer.

Wow. First impression: hot and spicy.
Although it looks like a golden ale, I wouldn't really call this a beer...it's in a category by itself.
While I'm aware of the health benefits of ginger, I'm not sure how fermentation might factor in. If you're into health drinks, or like to go gluten free, then this beer could be for you.

 

Huge biting and spicy ginger flavor. Medium bodied, lower in carbonation. Finished on the dry side, with a sprinkling of sugar sweetness. Pairs well with sushi.

 

Had on a sampler flight from New City. The beer had a slightly silver-green appearance to a generally clear liquid drink. No head or lacing. Smelled exactly like a very strong ginger ale drink with an attractive ginger spice smell and some citrus, like lemon, hinted in the aromas. The drink tasted really interesting. At first, I felt like the drink was simply a ginger ale drink mixed with alcohol, but I thought the flavors balanced well and it made for an interesting drink to try. Very high carbonation to me, so the drink felt very crisp and oddly refreshing. Overall, this is an interesting drink to try and although the appearance is unique, it may look a bit lackluster looking to some.

 

 

 

Ginger beer from one of my new local breweries. The whole idea seemed bad... I'm familiar with several varieties of non-alcoholic Jamaican Ginger beer, which can be refreshing on a hot day, but putting alcohol in it and branding it as a beer? Quite a stretch, in my opinion. Bought one bottle and shared it with several housemates... the verdict? Tastes, looks, smells, very gingery like its non-alcohol cousin and isn't something that anyone present would consider drinking rather than an ale. In fact, it was quite a long time before the bottle got finished. Definitely something for the chosen few.