Several brands make ginger ale with real ginger, and the clearest category leaders are Reed's, Bruce Cost, Fever-Tree, and Bundaberg. Most supermarket ginger ales contain none at all.
What "Real Ginger" Means on a Label
The phrase "real ginger" sounds straightforward. In practice, it covers a wide range of actual ginger content, and the label alone rarely tells you how much you're getting.
Federal labeling rules in the United States require that ingredients appear in descending order by weight, so ginger's position in the list is your first clue. If ginger root, ginger extract, or ginger juice appears near the top – ahead of citric acid, preservatives, and natural flavors – there's a meaningful amount present. If it appears at the tail end of a long list, or not at all, the "ginger flavor" in your glass is almost certainly synthetic.
A few specific terms are worth knowing:
- Ginger root or fresh ginger: pressed or pulped whole root, the most potent form, and the hardest to keep stable in a carbonated drink.
- Ginger extract: a concentrated form, often used in premium sodas; intensity varies widely by source and method.
- Ginger juice: pressed from fresh root; carries real heat and flavor compounds (primarily gingerols and shogaols).
- Natural ginger flavor: a legal gray zone. It may derive from ginger, but it can be highly processed and diluted to the point where little meaningful ginger character remains.
The compound that gives ginger its heat – gingerol, which converts to the spicier shogaol when dried or heated – is largely absent from mass-market sodas. Brands like Canada Dry and Schweppes have, at various points, faced legal scrutiny over "made with real ginger" marketing when the actual ginger content was vanishingly small. The settlement terms in those cases are public record; the underlying problem is that no regulatory standard defines a minimum ginger threshold for the claim.
So: read the ingredient list, not the front-of-pack copy.
The Best Real-Ginger Ales (Updated 2025)
The brands below all use ginger root, juice, or meaningful extract as a genuine ingredient – not a marketing footnote. Ranking reflects ginger intensity, ingredient transparency, and availability across the US market.
1. Reed's Extra Ginger Brew
Reed's has been the benchmark for American craft ginger ale since the late 1980s. The Extra Ginger Brew uses a reported 26 grams of fresh ginger per bottle – more than any other widely distributed brand. The heat is real: a slow, building warmth rather than the brief tingle of a conventional soda. Reed's also produces a regular Ginger Brew (roughly 17 grams) and a Strongest Ginger Brew for those who want the experience to border on medicinal. All three are made with cane sugar, no high-fructose corn syrup. Reed's is the answer to "which ginger ale has the most ginger" for most US shoppers.
2. Bruce Cost Ginger Ale
Bruce Cost makes what is probably the most honest ginger ale on the American market. The base recipe is unfiltered fresh ginger, cane sugar, and water – the ginger sediment settles visibly at the bottom of the bottle, which is a feature, not a flaw. Shake gently before opening. The flavor is bright and grassy rather than fiery, closer to fresh ginger tea than to a conventional soda. Bruce Cost also produces jasmine tea and turmeric variations. It's harder to find than Reed's but worth seeking out at specialty grocers and online.
3. Fever-Tree Ginger Ale
Fever-Tree sources three varieties of ginger – from Nigeria, Cochin, and the Ivory Coast – to build a layered, aromatic profile without excessive heat. The result is more refined than Reed's, designed as a mixer as much as a standalone drink. It's made with a blend of natural ginger extracts and no artificial sweeteners or colors. Fever-Tree Ginger Ale is widely available at upmarket grocery stores and spirits retailers, and it's the standard choice in cocktail bars that care about their highballs.
4. Bundaberg Ginger Beer
Technically a ginger beer rather than a ginger ale – a distinction worth making, since ginger beer is traditionally brewed with ginger and a starter culture, producing a fuller, cloudier product – Bundaberg from Australia uses real ginger root brewed over three days. The flavor is robust and slightly yeasty. It's widely available in the US at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and many supermarkets. If you want genuine ginger character and aren't committed to the "ale" category specifically, Bundaberg is excellent value.
5. Cock 'n Bull Ginger Beer
One of the oldest names in American ginger beer, Cock 'n Bull is made with real ginger and cane sugar. It's less intense than Reed's Extra but more assertive than Fever-Tree, and it's the original mixer for the Moscow Mule. Availability varies by region; check specialty retailers and online.
6. Maine Root Ginger Brew
Maine Root uses fair-trade certified organic cane sugar and real ginger. The ginger presence is moderate – more than a mainstream soda, less than Reed's Extra – and the overall sweetness is well-balanced. It's a good everyday option for those who find Reed's too aggressive.
Spiciest Picks
If heat is the priority, the ranking is fairly clear. Reed's Strongest Ginger Brew leads the field among nationally distributed products. Bruce Cost's unfiltered ale delivers a sharper, greener bite from fresh ginger rather than the slow warmth of dried or extracted ginger. Fever-Tree's Ginger Beer (distinct from their Ginger Ale) is spicier than the ale version and worth trying if you want something between the two extremes.
For a genuine burn, a small number of craft producers – often found at farmers' markets or through regional distributors – press their own ginger juice and carbonate it with minimal dilution. These aren't shelf-stable products and rarely travel far, but if you encounter one, it's worth the price.
Where to Buy
Reed's is the most accessible: Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and most natural-food stores carry at least the regular Ginger Brew. The Extra and Strongest versions are more reliably found at Whole Foods or online through Reed's own site or major retailers.
Bruce Cost is stocked at Whole Foods, specialty grocers, and directly through the brand's website. Fever-Tree is now widely available at Kroger, Publix, Total Wine, and most spirits retailers.
If you're wondering what fast food has ginger ale: mainstream quick-service chains – McDonald's, Burger King, and similar – typically stock Canada Dry or a house-brand equivalent, which contains little to no real ginger. Ginger ale at fast food restaurants is a mixer-grade product, not a craft one. Your best source for real-ginger options remains a grocery store, a specialty retailer, or an online order.
For those interested in ginger ale with real sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup: Reed's, Bruce Cost, Fever-Tree, Bundaberg, and Maine Root all use cane sugar. This matters both for flavor (cane sugar has a cleaner, rounder sweetness) and for those avoiding corn-derived sweeteners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ginger ale has real ginger in it?
Reed's, Bruce Cost, Fever-Tree, Bundaberg, Cock 'n Bull, and Maine Root all use real ginger root or extract. Most mainstream supermarket brands – Canada Dry, Schweppes, Canada Dry Bold – use synthetic ginger flavoring or trace amounts of ginger extract insufficient to produce meaningful heat or flavor.
Which ginger ale has the most ginger?
Reed's Extra Ginger Brew contains more ginger per bottle than any other widely available US product – the brand reports roughly 26 grams of fresh ginger per bottle, though you should verify current formulation details on Reed's own site. Reed's Strongest Ginger Brew pushes further still.
Does Canada Dry have real ginger?
Canada Dry has marketed itself as "made with real ginger," but the actual ginger content is extremely low – low enough that the brand faced class-action litigation over the claim. The ingredient list includes "ginger extract" at the very end, after artificial flavors. In practical terms, the ginger character in Canada Dry comes primarily from flavoring, not from a meaningful quantity of the root.
Is ginger ale good for nausea or an upset stomach?
This is a question worth taking seriously rather than brushing aside. There is some evidence that ginger – the root itself – can ease nausea, particularly motion sickness and pregnancy-related nausea. However, most mass-market ginger ales contain so little real ginger that they're unlikely to deliver that effect. A soda with real ginger content (Reed's, Bruce Cost) is a better candidate than Canada Dry, but no ginger ale should be treated as a medical remedy. If nausea is persistent or severe, speak with a clinician.
What is the difference between ginger ale and ginger beer?
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger, typically lighter in body and milder in heat. Ginger beer is traditionally brewed – using a ginger culture or starter – which produces a fuller, slightly fermented character and often more pronounced spice. Both are non-alcoholic in their commercial forms (with rare exceptions). For more on this distinction, see our ginger ale vs. ginger beer guide on Artisan Ales.
Is Fever-Tree ginger ale made with real ginger?
Yes. Fever-Tree uses natural ginger extracts sourced from multiple origins. It doesn't use artificial flavors or sweeteners. The ginger heat is moderate – it's designed to complement spirits in a highball rather than to deliver maximum spice on its own.
What ginger ale is best for cocktails?
Fever-Tree Ginger Ale is the standard choice for mixing – its aromatic complexity holds up against spirits without overwhelming them. For a Moscow Mule or a Dark 'n' Stormy, a ginger beer with more heat (Bundaberg, Cock 'n Bull, or Fever-Tree Ginger Beer) is the traditional call. Reed's works well in cocktails where you want ginger to be the dominant note.
Can I make real ginger ale at home?
Yes, and it's one of the more rewarding simple projects in home beverage-making. The basic method involves making a fresh ginger syrup – simmered ginger root, sugar, water, strained – then combining it with sparkling water and a little citrus. No fermentation required, no special equipment. The result tastes closer to Bruce Cost's unfiltered style than to anything you'll find in a supermarket. For a step-by-step approach, our homemade ginger ale recipe walks through the process in detail.
Lineup last reviewed: January 2025. Brand formulations can change; always check the current ingredient list on the product label or the brand's website before purchasing.
