ROOT BEER v's GINGER BEER

[buttons]

Can you help solve an office debate?? Is root beer the same as ginger beer, or are they two different drinks? I think they are the same - ginger being a root and all but on of my work mates swear they are different. WHO IS RIGHT???

[rinkytink]

Buttons - time to swallow some humble pie. Your work mates are correct, they are two different drinks. I've no idea what is in Root beer, but it is the same colour as cola and tastes a bit like dental mouthwash ! They sell it in Macdonalds in the U.S.
Obviously ginger beer tastes of ginger and is a sort of lemon colour.

[rinkytink]

Here we go - definition of root beer:

Not really a beer! It was created in the mid-1800s by Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Hires, the original root beer was a (very) low-alcohol, naturally effervescent beverage made by fermenting a blend of sugar and yeast with various roots, herbs and barks such as sarsaparilla, sassafras, wild cherry, wintergreen and ginger. Today's commercial root beer is completely non-alcoholic and generally contains sugar, caramel colouring, a combination of artificial and natural flavourings (including some of those originally used) and carbonated water for sparkle.

Definition of ginger beer:

carbonated slightly alcoholic drink flavored with fermented ginger

[buttons]

Hmm not sure i really want to commit myself into apologising quite yet!! I was absolutly sure that they were the same thing

[incitatus]

rinky- your definitoin of ginger beer is a bit off- thats the commercial stuff. Real ginger beer is a slightly to very alcoholic drink made by the fermentation of lemons, ginger and sugar. for a definition with recipe see mrs beaton

[BenDToy]

Whatever the definition of ginger beer is, it is definitely NOT the same as root beer. Anyone who thinks it is even vaguley similar has not tasted root beer, I can guarantee it. Root beer, as rinkytink says, tastes like mouthwash and you could not confuse it with any other taste. Buttons, you should back down immediately because you have my 100% assurance that not only are they not the same thing, they are not even vaguley similar.

[BenDToy]

.....or perhaps that should be "vaguely"! The medicinal flavour is I would guess wintergreen. It does taste a bit like a cold remedy for external use only!

[Janetex]

Sorry buttons, our sarsparilla is basically the equivalent of their root beer. I delight in offerning my guests "SARS" in recent time.

[buttons]

Ok - Time to eat Humble Pie. Danny & Ian I apologise for not beleiving you, you were both quite correct, and I was very Wrong. That's the last time i argue with you two!!