Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Review/Giveaway: Rocky's Ginger Beer



If you've never tried ginger beer, your first question is probably, “How is ginger beer different from ginger ale?”

The non-alcoholic versions of both drinks are essentially carbonated water flavored with ginger. Ginger beer, however, has a stronger ginger flavor, spicy and robust, while ginger ale is usually more water, less ginger, so that sweetness predominates.

Rocky’s Ginger Beer calls itself “the world’s finest ginger beer.” We can’t back up that grandiose slogan, but we can confirm that Rocky’s makes a very good ginger beer.

The ginger is up front, tickling the nose before the glass ever gets to the lips. In the mouth, it is strong and crisp, finishing clean.

Rocky’s uses pure cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup, and the difference is apparent in the genuineness of the flavor.  They also avoid artificially coloring it with caramel coloring, so it is a clear liquid that is nothing but true flavor.

Your next question, then, might be, “What can I do with it?”

Well, the first and most basic thing you can do is to pour it over ice and drink it like any soda. That makes for a satisfying, thirst-quenching beverage.

Ginger beer is also useful as a mixer in several popular cocktails. I used Rocky’s for two favorites, and found it to be more than excellent in both.  

Moscow Mule
I don’t have the copper cups that are the traditional serving vessel for the Moscow Mule (yet), but it’s not bad in a glass.

Here is the basic recipe:
1 ½ ounces of vodka.
Juice of ¼ lime.
Rocky’s Ginger Beer

Pour the vodka over ice. Add the lime juice and fill the glass with Rocky’s. Garnish with a lime wedge and stir.

Rocky’s Ginger Beer combined with New Amsterdam Vodka made a flavorful Moscow Mule, one which hides the alcohol bite so well you have be on guard against it sneaking up on you.


The other cocktail I tried, the Dark and Stormy, is almost exactly the same, except you make it with rum rather than vodka.

Dark & Stormy

1 ½ ounces of dark rum.
Juice of ¼ lime.
Rocky’s Ginger Beer

Pour the rum over ice. Add the lime juice and fill the glass with Rocky’s. Garnish with a lime wedge and stir.

I used Kraken Black, a spiced rum, and again had flavor sensation. The ginger beer added a vivacious touch to the silky rum, and the lime brings a tart touch to offset the sweetness.

The website for Rocky’s Ginger Beer has versions of these and other cocktail recipes, and plenty more are available online and in bartender guides. Rocky’s Ginger Beer is a versatile addition to bar stock.

Rocky's Ginger Bear is made in the USA and has no caffeine and fewer calories than its competitors.  You can buy Rocky’s directly from their website or on  Amazon.com for $22 for a case of 24 12-ounce bottles. The company offers free shipping for orders of two cases or more.

Rocky's is giving FOUR of our US readers an opportunity to give their Ginger Beer a try - read on to see how you can enter this Giveaway!







Four winners in the US will win one 6 pack each of Rocky's Ginger Beer!

To enter the giveaway, you must leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY and will end just before midnight ET on 3-15. 

The winner will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winner has responded and confirmed, their first name will be posted on our Giveaways  page.

Good luck!

62 comments:

  1. What I've learned:
    No Artificial Color
    Pure Cane Sugar
    Natural Flavors
    50 Fewer calories than the leading brand
    Caffeine Free
    Made in the USA

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  2. I learned it can be used in multiple mixed drink ideas or be consumed as is. I would like to use it in my scotch and sodas

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  3. I learned it can be used in multiple mixed drink ideas or be consumed as is. I would like to use it in my scotch and sodas

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  4. I would use it to make some of the The Mighty Kentucky Mule recipe.

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  5. The recipe Rocky's Southern Cousin looks good. I would try it.

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  6. I learned that they have 50 fewer calories than the leading brand.

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  7. I am really surprised ! I thought this would be something completely different but it sounds really good, I like that its made with cane sugar, no caffeine, and it was made in the USA!

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  8. It uses Cane sugar and is made in the USA.

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  9. I'd love to add some rum to it! I spotted a recipe on their site - that looks so good!

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  10. I would mix this with Gin!

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  11. I would like to try their recipe Dark and Stormy!

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  12. I love they use triple filtered water in their ginger beer and I wish all companies would be that careful. I would make a Moscow Mule with fresh mint.

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  13. I'd like to try the Rye Mule not sure if I'd like it but always worth a try I know my husband would love it. He loves anything.

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  14. I would use this in a moscow mule drink!

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  15. I learned that they are 50 calories less than other similar products.

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  16. 50 Fewer calories than the leading brand
    Ginger beer is hard to find round these parts.. sure i could drive to the fancy W store..but thats 30 minutes away. id love to try this brand! we love the Dark and Stormys here in Pa.
    Addrienne M.

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  17. I like that they have less calories than other brands. Brittney House

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  18. I learned it is made in the USA.

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  19. I learned it's caffeine free which actually surprised me.

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  20. I learned that it has 50 FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING BRAND.

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  21. It's made with pure cane sugar. Yum! And better for you than artificial sweeteners.

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  22. I learned that it's caffeine free!!

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  23. THE best quality is its made in the USA!

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  24. I learned that Rocky's Ginger Beer is caffeine free.

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  25. I've never heard of Rocky's before - but I love a good ginger beer!! Thanks for sharing on the "What's for Dinner" link up~

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  26. Based in Glenview, Illinois, Rocky's Ginger Beer is hand-crafted in small batches and shipped throughout the country.

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  27. I'd use it to make Moscow Mules.

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  28. I honestly love that Rocky's Ginger Beer has less calories than other leading brands. I would love to make a Mighty Kentucky Mule with the ginger beer.

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  29. I'm unsure if I'm going to like this since I don't like soda. But I like the fact that it's caffeine free and low on calories. #ProductReviewParty

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  30. I love products that use pure cane sugar. much better than high fructose. I use ginger beer in a great bloody mary mix.

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  31. My husband loves ginger, so I might just have to check this out (and we have my grandma's set of copper cups, so we're all set there, too!) Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrivolity and hope to see you again!

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  32. I like to put interesting things in my adult children's Easter baskets. I might add some to my daughter's so she can make Moscow Mules.

    Thanks for sharing at SYC.

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  33. I learned that it is caffeine free. Thank you

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  34. The recipe Rocky's Southern Cousin looks good.

    agnesye@hotmail.com

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  35. I learned they use No Artificial Color and pure sugar cane

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  36. Thanks for sharing this give away with SYC.
    Jann

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  37. I would love to make the Rye Mule it sounds so good really refreshing to drink.

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  38. I love that there are so few ingredients and no artificial colors are added! I've never tried Ginger Beer before, so this would be fun to try! (:

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  39. I would drink it with ice just the way it is:) I read that it is made in the USA and caffeine free.

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  40. My husband is very picky on his beer and this sounds amazing for him to try out.

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  41. I would use this for medicinal purposes. Ginger is VERY good for an upset stimach. My mom drinks ginger ale, but there's not enough real ginger in it. This would be better!

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  42. Ginger beer has been around since the 1700s and I have been drinking it since the 1970s! I'll drink it straight out of the bottle.

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  43. I like that it has fewer calories. I'll be happy to drink one. (jozywails@gmail.com)

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  44. I learned they use no GMO ingredients!!~

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  45. I would use the ginger beer to make a moscow mule! deana

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  46. i learned that ginger beer doesn't have as many calories as regular beer, yay!

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  47. I'm curious to know what this tastes like!! Looks good!

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  48. Looks like nice thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe with Hearth and soul blog hop.

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  49. I learned that they use pure cane sugar with an infusion of natural ginger flavoring for extra snap.
    Laurie Emerson
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

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  50. I learned that Ginger Beer has no artificial colors, it is made with natural flavors, and it is caffeine free.

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  51. I learned that the Ingredients: Triple Filtered Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)

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  52. I would make the Mighty Kentucky Mule recipe.

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  53. Extremely pleasant article, I appreciated perusing your post, exceptionally decent share, I need to twit this to my adherents. Much appreciated!.  Ginger Drinks Online

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