Since the 18th century, ginger beer has been a popular drink among people all over the world. The way ginger beer is brewed has evolved and adapted to modern times. While some ginger beers on the market have strayed from their origin, OliKo has continued to focus on what makes it so deliciously simple. In this blog, we’ll explore a brief history of ginger beer, the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale, and how it’s enjoyed by most people today. Ready? Let’s dive in.

A brief history of ginger beer

As early as 500 BC, ginger was used as a medicine as well as for flavoring food in Ancient China and India. In the western hemisphere, ginger was used to spice up drinks. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s that ginger beer really got its start in Yorkshire, England during the colonial spice trade with the Orient and the sugar-producing islands of the Caribbean. It was popular in Britain and its colonies from the 18th century onward. Other spices were variously added and any alcohol content was limited to 2% by excise tax laws in 1855. Thanks to the availability of strong, earthenware bottles, it was also possible to export ginger beer worldwide in the 20th century. From then on, ginger beer quickly became a favorite of people living outside of England in countries like the United States, Ireland, South Africa, and Canada.

Before the advent of sodas and modern soft drinks, ginger beer was typically brewed at home and provided people with a safer alternative to often contaminated water. People used a symbiotic colony of yeast and a Lactobacillus (bacteria) known as a "ginger beer plant" or from a "ginger bug" starter created from fermenting ginger, sugar, and water and was originally produced as an alcoholic beverage. The English began exporting alcoholic ginger beer to the US, but a non-alcoholic version was soon created in response to the 1920s Prohibition laws.

Contrary to popular belief, ginger beer has never contained actual beer. In fact, it’s not even made via the same methods used to brew beer. The fermentation process involved in making traditional ginger beer is more similar to how hard cider is made. Unlike our cultured ginger beer, not all modern ginger beers are fermented. Traditional fermentation methods tend to yield some amount of alcohol (however small) and add carbonation to the beverage. But some newer ginger beers get their fizz through forced carbonation (aka pressurized with carbon dioxide) instead of natural fermentation.

“Contrary to popular belief, ginger beer has never contained actual beer.”

Meaning many of the ginger beers on the market today are simply carbonated drinks, so we take great pride in the fact that our cultured ginger beer is brewed using Peruvian ginger, fresh ingredients, and a decade-old SCOBY (sup, Jude) that gives it all of the probiotic goodness your body needs to maintain healthy digestion and microbiome. OliKo’s cultured ginger beer is truly brewed to be better, and we are proud to be a part of ginger beer history around the world.

Ginger Beer vs. Ginger Ale

Still unsure what ginger beer is, and how ginger ale and ginger beer differ? Think of it like this: Ginger ale is a flavored soda, whereas ginger beer is a fermented drink. Ginger ale is much sweeter in flavor and is made by mixing carbonated water with a ginger-flavored syrup. It’s highly carbonated and much lighter in color than ginger beer.

On the other hand, our cultured ginger beer packs more of a ginger-flavored punch. The fermentation process alters certain characteristics of smell and taste by way of the esters created as yeast digests sugars. This means that OliKo’s cultured ginger beer has a stronger, more dynamic flavor profile. When you compare OliKo’s Classic flavor to other non-cultured ginger beers on the market, you’ll notice a major difference in nutritional value. That’s because we don’t fill ours with syrups, unnecessary sugars, preservatives, artificial flavoring or ingredients. With OliKo, the ingredients you see on our labels is what you sip.

how ginger beer is enjoyed today

Nowadays, most people don’t brew their own ginger beer. Instead, they support businesses like ours by purchasing it. Although many believe that ginger beer is reserved for alcoholic drinks, such as the Moscow mules, there is an infinite number of ways you can enjoy this spicy beverage. Some people enjoy sipping on OliKo by itself to take in all of the untamed flavors, while others mix it with their favorite spirits or mocktails. There’s no wrong or right way to enjoy ginger beer, but we always store and sip ours chilled. To mix up cocktails or mocktails using your favorite OliKo flavor, browse our collection of recipes.

Just like there’s no wrong way to enjoy our ginger beer, there’s also no wrong place to enjoy it either. It’s the perfect road trip companion, instantly elevates picnics, and is always a fan favorite at parties and events. We’ve taken it on hikes through the Rocky Mountains and to music festivals in the cornfields of Iowa. Since it’s non-alcoholic, our cultured ginger beer can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. Alternative soda seekers, health-conscious, spice enthusiasts, and everyone in between—#drinkoliko and raise your bottle to something better.

Where will your OliKo go? Share your photos with us on social: use the hashtag #drinkoliko and tag us. We’d love to see how you stay spicy!