Better Libations | Healthy Drink Reviews

Greetings, brave surfer of the collective internets!  I’m here to give you the down-low on an old-time Australian beverage that has gradually made its way to just about every section of the world – Bundaberg Ginger Beer!  We already introduced you to the Bundaberg Root Beer a while back, which was a big hit with us.  But the Ginger Beer flavor is evidently what started it all as the first Bundaberg product way back in 1960.  And even though they have added plenty of other items to their product line, Bundaberg credits Ginger Beer as the impetus for their startling worldwide growth.

As with the root beer, what really sets this apart is the fact that it’s naturally yeast-brewed, which is about as old-fashioned as you can get in the world of soda.  But unlike my own experiments with yeast-brewing the sweet stuff, Bundaberg’s Ginger Beer does not have a strong yeasty presence at all.  On the contrary, as I pop open the distinctive pull-tab and take a deep whiff, I am greeted by nothing but a fresh, spicy-sweet ginger scent.

And even after taking my first sip, the fermentation flavor is extremely elusive.  I can tell that something is different from typical ginger sodas, but that something works very well for it.  The spicy ginger is extremely refreshing, and it is balanced by just the right amount of sweet cane sugar to make this one delicious fizzy nectar.  I love a nice full-bodied ginger ale/beer, and this one delivers in spades.

When considering what rating to give this drink, I had a very strong urge to give it a full five stars.  But after some deliberation, I finally decided to temper my enthusiasm and go with 4.5 instead.  Here’s why:

1. Sugar!  Yes, I was tempted to glaze over (no pun intended) the rather high amount of sugar grams in this little bottle, citing its many positive health points as an excuse.  For example, they do use natural cane sugar (+1 health point).  And they only use natural and local ingredients (+2 health points).  Plus this is a naturally brewed drink and a ginger drink, both of which are  purported to have health benefits.  But in the end, 40g of sugar per bottle is still 40g of sugar.

2. Shipping!  It is a fact that we do take a look at eco-friendliness as part of our “healthy” judging criteria for companies.  And having a glass bottle full of liquid sent to you across an ocean is not exactly the most practical way to quench your thirst, especially in regards to carbon footprints and whatnot.

But damn, it’s so good!  If you’re fortunate enough to find this, definitely give it a try.

Rating – 4.5 out of 5

-Danithius-

User Ratings: (4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
 Loading ...

5-Star Reviews, Bundaberg drink reviews

Straight up from down under

The wife of my girlfriend’s co-worker hails from Australia, and Bundaberg is his favorite soda from the big island.  He was kind enough to offer a bottle for her/our private consumption.  Apparently, Pepsi has started distributing it locally, but I have no official confirmation of this.  Little did he  know I swiped it and reviewed it.  Hooray for freebies!

First thing, this has an awesome little pull tab on it, but, being the American I am, I’m not quite familiar with this method of opening a bottle, so my pull is slow and careful.  It comes off without incident, and this foreign drink is subjected to the first test of any drink, the aroma test.  It smells awesome and super sweet; there’s 44 g of the white stuff in this 12.7 oz bottle.  The first taste I recognize is the spicy, dark sweet of molasses.  I catch hints of ginger and vanilla, and the licorice shows up in the aftertaste.  This is brewed using yeast, which often turns a soda fermenty and unpleasant to most people, but I can hardly tell with this, except for the malty-sweet taste and beer-like mouth-feel after I swallow.  The carbonation is light and the sweetness is surprisingly mellow and doesn’t stick to your tongue too long.

It has a nice spice and an interesting tang to it, something many American root beers lack, besides originality. The cane sugar and molasses give it a perfect, rich sweetness that the darker sugar tones down.  The flavor combination is perfect, leaving nothing to be desired of this Australian treat.  That’s exactly what it should be considered, a treat, if you can find it.  It currently isn’t distributed in the U.S.  Their slogan on the bottle, Naturally Brewed to be Better, seems apt.  I have nothing negative to say about this soda, despite the large amount of sugar in it.  This may be the best root beer I’ve ever had.

You can get it shipped your way from The Soda Shop.

Score: 5 out of 5. Root beers rarely get better than this.

– WiseGuise

*Danithius Review Rebuttal*

Wow.  So this is what real, naturally brewed root beer tastes like.  My palate is buzzing from this brewed root tonic, which packs a champagne-y tang  from the actual fermentation process that it went through (although it is totally non-alcoholic.)  Real sarsaparilla root, licorice root, vanilla bean, and molasses make this drink about as real as any root beer you’ll ever drink in your life.   Yes, it is a helluva lot of sugar, but WiseGuise is right.  This is a treat that is meant to be savored as an experience – guzzling it would be a crime!  I dig it as much as he did.

User Reviews: (4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
 Loading ...

5-Star Reviews, Bundaberg drink reviews