Ginger Beer is actually not a drink I particularly enjoyed as a youngster. Growing up it wasn't something I enjoyed drinking, the flavour was just too strong and we are even talking about the non-alcoholic versions here. As time as past I eventually gave it another go in the form of Crabbie's Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer. The taste is incomparable to the soft drinks ginger beer I tasted in my youth, I am more than happy to say that this grown up drink is delicious!
The taste of ginger is very apparent from the outset. Although the scent isn't too strong, the taste certainly has some 'kick' and 'bite' to it. My tastebuds have matured somewhat since my youth, but this is simply a completely different product to the cheap soft drink versions and really has some depth and character to the taste. The ginger gives me a warm feeling inside, possibly also due to the 4% alcohol content. The taste certainly cannot be described as artificial, as the fiery ginger taste lingers welcomingly in my mouth.
I must admit this drink won't be for everybody. When I first tried it in the pub I got mixed reactions from my friends that had a sip of it. Since then I have bought it as a multipack in my local supermarket for around a fiver. The 4 X 330ml bottles are just enough to ensure my tastebuds are tingling with joy.
The drink is very refreshing served with ice in the Summer months, but I am also enjoying it into Winter now, although just chilled and without the ice. The crisp and refreshing taste never fails to impress me, with its depth of flavour it really draws my attention to the detail put into the flavour. The colour could probably be described as golden brown when poured into a glass, but as it is often served in the dark glass bottles this is rarely revealed.
As the drink falls into the premium drinks category I am pleasantly surprised to say it doesn't hold a premium pricetag. Individual bottles can be sought for under £2, but I prefer the economies of scale of the 4 pack. The drink is quite fizzy, but if this is a concern for you then letting it rest for a few moments after pouring it into a glass should calm this down. Overall I am more than happy that Ginger Beer is on my personal drinks menu and I havn't been scarred for life with cheap immitations as a youngster.
