ginger beer

American  

noun

1. a soft drink similar to ginger ale but containing more ginger flavor.

---

ginger beer British  

noun

1. a slightly alcoholic drink made by fermenting a mixture of syrup and root ginger

---

Etymology

Origin of ginger beer

First recorded in 1800–10

Compare meaning

How does ginger-beer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ginger ale vs. ginger beer

Example Sentences

A Moscow Mule is easy to turn into a mocktail, considering that much of the cocktail’s flavor comes from both the ginger beer and fresh lime juice.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

When teacher Elaine Fraser collapsed at home after drinking a ginger beer, she had no idea she had an allergy.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2024

Doctors still haven't been able to work out which ingredient in the ginger beer triggered Elaine’s allergic reaction.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2024

“Yummy, tastes like ginger beer, lover the burn,” wrote one of the testers.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2023

Boys and girls carried coolers on their heads, shouting, “Cold ice, cold ice . .“Cold ginger beer .

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah