Ginger ale is a soft drink flavored with ginger.
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History
Ginger ales come in two varieties: golden ginger ale and dry ginger ale. Golden ginger ale, dark colored and strong flavored, is the older style. Dry ginger ale was developed during Prohibition when ginger ale was used as a mixer for alcoholic beverages as the strong flavor of golden ginger ale was undesirable. Dry ginger ale quickly surpassed golden ginger ale in popularity, and today golden ginger ale is an uncommon, and usually regional, drink. Vernors, Blenheim, Chelmsford, and Red Rock are brands of golden ginger ale, while Canada Dry, Schweppes and Seagram's are major brands of dry ginger ale.
Manufacturing
Brands in North America include Canada Dry, Vernors, Seagram's, Schweppes, Sussex, Buffalo Rock, Boylan Bottling Company, Polar Beverages, Ale-8-One, Blenheim Ginger Ale, Foxon Park, Sprecher, Market Basket/Chelmsford, Red Rock, and Northern Neck Ginger Ale. Ginger content is often listed on labels in a general natural aroma or natural flavoring statement, to preserve secrecy of the complex proprietary mix of spices, fruits and other flavors used. Vernors is a flavored golden ginger ale aged for four years in oak barrels before bottling. It was the first U.S. soft drink, originating in 1866, although it was modeled on imported Irish ginger beers. In Detroit, Michigan, a drink made with vanilla ice cream and Vernors ginger ale is called a Boston cooler. The name is not taken from Boston, Massachusetts, where this combination is unknown, but from an establishment on Boston Boulevard in Detroit where it is said to have been invented.
Usage
Ginger ale is used as a home remedy to prevent or alleviate motion sickness, to relieve upset stomachs and to soothe coughs and sore throats. It contains high levels of sugar, which can cause an osmotic shift that can affect the bowels more than the desired effect of the ginger. It is popular in mixed drinks, especially in non-alcoholic mixed drinks. It is sometimes used as a non-alcoholic substitute for champagne, since the beverages resemble each other in appearance. In the USA, bartenders sometimes cheat and combine 1 part cola and 3 parts lemon-lime soda to create a mixer substitute, though it noticeably lacks the distinctive flavor of ginger.
Variations
Dry ginger ale is also sold with a mint flavoring added. Popular brands of mint ginger ale include Cott and Tom Tucker Southern Style. Some mint ginger ale brands have an artificial green color added, while others are clear in color. On September 29th Ale Weekly reported that the Coca-Cola company has begun research on cherry ginger-ale and special halloween colored ales. Some manufacturers have produced fruit-flavored ginger ales, including raspberry, cranberry and grape flavored versions of Schweppes. Ginger beer is a similar drink that is typically much more strongly ginger-flavored, less carbonated, and less sweet. Some brands may contain alcohol.
