Enter Crabbie's Ginger Beer. Made with real ginger and boasting a 4.8% abv, Crabbie's Ginger Beer is the first alcoholic ginger beer to be distributed in the U.S. The brand built a successful following in the UK before beginning distribution on this side of the pond a few years ago.
I first tried Crabbie's Ginger Beer at last year's Monterey Brew Fest. I remember our group being impressed with how good it was, but you know how beer fests are- things can get a little hazy. I was happy to oblige then when Crabbie's reached out to see if Kel and I would like a sample to review, .
We decided to include a tasting of Crabbie's as part of our March SALEP meeting. The reaction was certainly a positive one. Everyone agreed that Crabbie's packed a pleasant spicy gingery punch and wasn't as sweet as we expected it to be (that's a good thing). We liked how refreshing it was on its own but also thought it would be equally good as a substitute for regular ginger beer in cocktails.
If you'd like to try Crabbie's for yourself, it's available locally at most Fred Meyers and New Seasons as well as some independent retailers like Belmont Station. It's also available at several local bars including East Burn and Quimby's at 19th.
And if you want to make a cocktail using ginger beer on your own, here's the recipe for our two favorites:
Moscow Mule
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lime juice
- Ginger beer
Dark and Stormy
- 2oz rum
- Ginger beer
- Lime wedge
Cheers!
