Ginger Pale Ale

Ginger Pale Ale

 

Around these parts we don't drink all that much soda (or pop, or cola, or whatever you call it where you're from), but the one thing that we do enjoy is the occasional ginger ale. Effervescent and refreshing, the spicy ginger dances on the palate in ways that evoke colorful and exotic destinations. Ginger is almost always the star of whatever show it happens to be in, regardless of food or beverage. So we decided to us it in a beer.

Our Ginger Pale Ale is less of a ginger beer style beverage, and more of a lighter beer infused with fresh ginger. We wanted to make a warm weather beverage as interesting as the fizzy NA drink that we enjoy so much. We use copious amounts of fresh ginger, peeled and ground up in a food processor, to give fresh spice and flavor to a very generic beer, transforming it into an all-star drink. 

The ginger root has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In India, Ayurvedic medicine has implemented ginger in several ways for many purposes. Folkloric medicinal uses, like ginger ale when you are sick, have been around for generations, and now researchers are testing the scientific efficacy of ginger for myriad ailments. Thus far, there is evidence of anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits that can be proven, and it's high Vitamin-C content makes it useful against scurvy, a fact know by the Chinese military for hundreds of years. So far inconsistent or inconclusive results have been found regarding ginger's use against nausea in pregnant women and chemotherapy patients, as well as a preventative measure against cancer. However, claiming ginger as a benefit to overall health isn't crazy, so including it in your diet might be something to think about if you don't already. 

Apart from its clear functions in alternative medicine, ginger is a widely used cooking spice. Ginger ale is everywhere, and cuisines from across the globe are not hesitant to include ginger. Whether in a sauce or festive baking, ginger is very versatile and adds a distinct fragrance and spice to whatever it is used in. The root itself is a rhizome, replantable in gardens where growing it is possible. In some cultures ginger is used as the primary flavoring of liqueurs and syrups to add to other booze in fancy cocktails. 

We are using it as the primary flavor and aromatic in beer. The beer itself is extremely basic, just some base malt and low Alpha Acid hops to ensure that the ginger takes center stage. Whenever you have a strong flavoring adjunct, such as spice we find that a milder base beer is better for taking full advantage of the adjunct. If you add something as strong as fresh ginger, it seems counterproductive to stifle its potential by making the beer too complex. Use hops that compliment the flavors and aromas. Keep the grain bill simple, and pair the yeast with the other elements.

OUR RECIPE

11 lbs Pilsen Malt

1 oz Tradition Hops
1 oz Saaz Hops

K-97 German Ale Yeast

8 fl oz Freshly Ground Ginger Root

Malts We Use

Pilsner Malt: Pilsner Malt is a classic base malt. Extremely light in color, it is a perfect tableau for beers with a lot of specialty malts. Pilsner Malt has a delicate flavor and is very clean, making it a perfect malt for crisp clear beers. Originally used in most lager styles, it takes its name from the Pilsen beers of Bohemia, where it was developed. 

Hops We Use

Tradition: A noble German hop with a higher percentage of Alpha Acids than many of it's relatives, Tradition hops are uniquely suited as a first hop addition to Marzen beers. They will bitter without overpowering the malt aspects of the beer and leave a clean finish.

Saaz: Brewers in the Czech Republic have been using Saaz for over 700 years. It's a classic noble hop with a herbal spice and mellow bitterness. Saaz has a low Alpha Acid, making it one of the quintessential aromatic hops. 

Yeast We Use

K-97: Safale K-97 is a German Ale yeast strain developed so that anyone can make a traditional tasting beer without having to lager. Lagering is the cold fermentation process that can take many months to complete, however with this yeast strain that is no longer an obstacle for home brewers. K-97 will create the classic German beers without having to purchase expensive new equipment of take over your own refrigerator for 6 months.

Adjuncts We Use

Fresh Ginger Root: Ginger root imparts bold exotic spice and aroma to whatever it touches, and using it in beer is no exception. It has some health benefits, but the point of using it as a brewing adjunct is to make a flavorful and aromatic brew.