Homemade Ginger Beer

How to Make Homemade Ginger Beer

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1. Put the ginger, sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to the boil, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

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2. Take the pan off the heat and leave the syrup to steep for 1 hour, until it has cooled and the ginger flavour is strong.

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3. Strain through a fine sieve into a jug, pressing the ginger with the back of a spoon to extract all of the juice. Stir in the lemon juice and chill.

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4. For each glass, pour 90 ml of the syrup over ice and top with about 200 ml of sparkling water.

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5. Stir gently and serve with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

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Tips for Making Homemade Ginger Beer

• Grate the ginger coarsely without peeling it. The skin is thin and its flavour is strong, and grating exposes more of the flesh to the water.
• Steep it for the full hour. The heat carries over and draws out more of the fiery oils, and a syrup that is strained too soon is mild.
• Add the sparkling water at the glass. It keeps the fizz, and the syrup keeps well in the fridge for the next drink.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• Lemon is the everyday swap for lime in this kind of dish — the acidity plays the same role even though the flavour is not identical.
• A quarter-teaspoon of ground ginger per tablespoon of fresh is the standard ratio if you are working from the spice rack rather than a fresh root.

What to Serve with Homemade Ginger Beer

• Fish and chips
• Spicy prawns
• Barbecued sausages

Storing & Reheating Homemade Ginger Beer

The ginger syrup keeps in a sealed bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Mix with sparkling water only at the glass, as the mixed drink goes flat.

Homemade Ginger Beer FAQ: Common Questions

Homemade Ginger Beer Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.