Ginger Beer Mocktail

Spicy but sweet, my pineapple ginger beer mocktail is perfect for those who love bold flavors. It's fun to make and perfect for a party.

this recipe

A fun twist on the traditional, my ginger beer mocktail is the perfect choice for those who love their drinks with a bit of kick.

A ginger beer base is complemented with sweet pineapple and fresh lime juice to leave a delicious tingle in your mouth. The rich flavors work well with a barbeque or to sip on a warm afternoon.

This ginger beer mocktail is wonderfully aromatic with a refreshing fizz. It’s similar to a pineapple Moscow mule, and you’ll love it because it's:

• Easy: no special skills are required to make this pineapple mule. With just four simple steps, plus a garnish, you’ll have your drink ready in no time.

• Perfectly grownup: the earthy spice of this mocktail lends itself perfectly to an adult palate. Perfect for sipping, this one for the adults. Hint: Just tell the kids that it’s ‘spicy’ and you won’t have to share.

• Healthy: ginger is loaded with antioxidants, so pick a naturally brewed variety to reap the benefits. Although some nutrients are lost in processing, pineapple and lime juice are sources of vitamin C. Choose a reduced sugar or diet ginger beer for a lower sugar mocktail. 

IS GINGER BEER USUALLY NON-ALCOHOLIC?

Traditionally, ginger beer was an alcoholic drink. It was made by fermenting ginger root, sugar and water. The drink originated in England in the 1800s as ginger became available due to the international spice trade.

These days ginger beer is predominantly a non-alcoholic drink, although alcoholic varieties are available. Buy from the grocery store shelf rather than from a liquor store. It’s delicious on its own and as a base for this ginger beer mocktail.

Like many drinks that originated from natural flavors, many ginger beers are made using artificial ingredients. They’re manufactured rather than brewed.

A brewed ginger beer will offer a more natural taste and allow ginger’s health benefits to shine through.

INGREDIENTS

My ginger beer mocktail calls for readily available ingredients that come together to make a mocktail with just the right amount of oomph!

• Pineapple juice: fresh pineapple juice works wonders with the spice of the ginger ale. Find freshly squeezed if you can as more vitamins and fibre will be retained.

• Fresh mint: being a mocktail lover and gardener goes hand in hand. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, a pot of fresh mint on your windowsill is a must. The heat of the mint balances the ginger beer’s spice and adds a lovely freshness to the drink. It’s also full of Vitamins A and K, so you can’t go wrong.

• Salt: a pinch of salt really makes the flavors in this mocktail come alive. Unlike fancier salts used to rim glasses, use regular table salt so it dissolves evenly.

• Lime juice: you can’t go past fresh lime juice for that deliciously tart tang. This recipe uses just a teaspoon, so buy in-season limes and freeze their juice in small ice cube trays. That way, you’ll always have fresh lime juice. If you’ve found an exceptional brand of bottled lime juice (please, do tell) or can’t find limes, bottled juice works too.

• Ginger beer: batch brewed and satisfyingly spicy, ginger beer is the hero of this mocktail. For the best ginger flavor, you want a ginger beer brewed using ginger root. Read the back of the label to avoid products that are ginger flavor. For a healthier ginger beer mocktail, use low sugar or diet ginger beer. Hint: when it comes to food and beverages, ‘flavor’ is code for artificial additives. 

• Apple cider vinegar: you’ve come to my (not so) secret ingredient. Non-alcoholic cocktails can often lack the ‘zing’ of their alcoholic counterparts. The good news is, apple cider vinegar has similar characteristics. As a by-product of alcohol, it offers a little bit of ‘bite’ but without the alcohol content. Select an organic apple cider to make the most of its antioxidant properties.

CAN GINGER ALE BE SUBSTITUTED FOR GINGER BEER?

They’ve both got ginger in their name, but can you interchange them? Yes, and no. 

My ginger beer mocktail relies on a rich, spicy ginger base like my Moscow mule mocktail. Unlike traditional ginger beer, which is brewed, ginger ale is more similar to soda. It usually has a carbonated water base with either natural or artificial ginger flavor added. 

Ginger beer has a deeper and more complex flavor than ginger ale. It’s also sweeter with a more syrupy consistency. So, whilst you’ll still get a ginger flavor, it will be less intense. 

For this mocktail, I’d recommend sticking with ginger beer. Ginger ale is a better substitute for mocktails where ginger is a complementary rather than the prominent flavor.

EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED

This recipe doesn’t require any special equipment. You’ll find everything you need to make my pineapple mule inspired mocktail in your kitchen!

• Muddler: a muddle is a rolling pin like tool used to lightly mash fruit and herbs. It’s an excellent investment for mocktail making. If you don’t own one, the handle end of a wooden spoon works just as well.

• Glasses: you're not entirely wrong if you’ve been picking up some Moscow mule vibes from my recipe. My ginger beer mocktail looks fantastic in a traditional copper mug. However, feel free to serve it in a glass of your choice.

• Citrus juicer: use a juicer or squeeze by hand. Either way, fresh lime juice is definitely worth the effort for this drink. Remember to roll limes before juicing to get the most liquid.

HOW TO MAKE A GINGER BEER MOCKTAIL

Clap the mint in your hands a few times until your hands smell minty. 

Add mint, salt and lime juice to your glass and gently press a couple of times with your muddler. If you don’t have a muddler, use the handle end of a wooden spoon or similar.

Add ice to the glass. 

Pour in pineapple juice and apple cider vinegar. Stir well. 

Add the ginger beer and stir gently - don’t disturb the bubbles too much!

Garnish with pineapple and/or mint.

If you love mocktails that transport your taste buds to the tropics, these recipes are for you:

• Pina Colada Mocktail
• Ginger Mojito Mocktail
• Pineapple Mocktails

I hope you love this ginger beer mocktail recipe as much as I enjoyed creating it for you.