Ginger Beer

Ginger beer originated in England, in the mid-1700s, where it became the favourite drink for over 150 years. The forerunners of ginger beer were mead and metheglin, which is mead flavoured with herbs or spices. Mead is a yeast-fermented honey and water drink and has been around for a very long time. Records show that the Celts were drinking it as long ago as 500 AD. It is reputed to be one of the oldest recorded fermented beverages. Ginger beer also uses yeast for fermentation and is sweetened with honey, molasses or cane sugar. The yeast converts the sugar into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide (gas). Other ingredients include fresh whole ginger although in Libby's recipe this has been replaced with ground ginger and lemons or lemon juice. The yeast is also said to add a special flavour to the beer, which is similar to that of home-baked bread. In England and Canada, the popularity of ginger beer peaked in 1935. The USA had 300 breweries, Canada had over 1,000 and England had 3,000!Today Old Jamaica Ginger Beer is the baddest and best Ginger Beer around, weather in a can or a bottle it'll give you that kick that you need to get you through the day!