Ginger beer - ginger ale's bolder, spicier (and still nonalcoholic) sibling. It has a flavor that doesn't disappear into the background completely, with those kicky ginger notes and bubbles making sure it remains a star in the drink. If that's too much (and the spice in ginger beer can be for some), subtler ginger ale is an excellent understudy. Talk about having options.
Pineapple Ginger Beer Mocktail
This three-ingredient ginger beer mocktail is a tropical delight. It's spicy in the way only ginger can be, but with added sweet, tart notes of lime. And guess what? If pineapple juice isn't one of your preferred flavors, you can use two ounces of lime juice with your ginger beer to make a quick mocktail.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Nonalcoholic Dark and Stormy
Nonalcoholic dark rum is what takes the classic dark and stormy from its usual boozy roots to something a bit more suitable for a midafternoon sip.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic dark rum
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks or highball glass, add ice and nonalcoholic dark rum.
- Top off with ginger beer; do not stir.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Virgin Ginger Beer Mojito
Rum need not apply for this flavorful mocktail mojito. But don't let that stop you from adding two ounces of nonalcoholic white rum if the spirit moves you. For a sweeter riff, use ginger ale instead.
Ingredients
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic white rum, optional
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add ice and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Virgin Grapefruit Ginger Beer Mocktail
This ginger beer mocktail isn't for the faint of heart. If you want to make it a little less bold with the flavors of ginger beer and grapefruit juice, this is a great drink to swap in ginger ale instead. It will be slightly sweeter and a bit less spicy.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces tonic water
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, grapefruit juice, tonic water, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Peach Ginger Ale Mocktail
A little bit of peach nectar, oh and some nonalcoholic rum or bourbon, and you're ready to set sail aboard this mocktail ship that'll take all your cares away.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces peach nectar
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic white rum or nonalcoholic bourbon
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Ginger ale to top off
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, peach nectar, nonalcoholic liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger ale.
- Garnish with an apple slice.
Nonalcoholic Lemon Ginger Beer Mocktail
Take a walk down easy and sweet street by using lemonade instead of lemon juice in this mocktail. But if tart drinks are what tickles your tongue, there's no reason to deny yourself that joy.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounce nonalcoholic orange liqueur OR 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- ½ ounce mango juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemonade, nonalcoholic orange liqueur, and mango juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Nonalcoholic Apple Ginger Beer Mocktail
The base of this cocktail is apple cider and ginger beer. While the recipe calls for a few more ingredients, at the very least, you can start there for a crisp drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic bourbon
- 3 ounces apple cider
- 2-3 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Ginger beer or ginger ale to top off
- Dehydrated apple slice and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, nonalcoholic bourbon, apple cider, and bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice and thyme sprig.
Honey Ginger Beer Fizz
Sweeten up your ginger beer mocktail experience with a bit of honey drizzle if you can bear it. Too grizzly? You can always use maple syrup to give that hint of sweetness instead.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces honey syrup OR maple syrup
- 2 ounces nonalcoholic bourbon, optional
- 2-3 dashes rhubarb bitters
- Crushed ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig and candied ginger for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add crushed ice, honey syrup, and bitters.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and candied ginger.
Pear Ginger Snapper
Settle in for a sip of spicy sunshine. It's just how you imagine the aura of a bumblebee would taste, you know, the ones heavy with pollen?
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pear nectar
- 1 ounce honey syrup
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1½ ounces nonalcoholic bourbon, optional
- Ice
- Ginger beer or ginger ale to top off
- Pear slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pear nectar, honey syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with pear slices pierced on a cocktail skewer.
Spice Up Your Life With Ginger Beer Mocktails
Just like the 1996 Spice album wanted, you can live those dreams of spicing up your life with a ginger beer mocktail. Take your ginger mocktail kung fu fighting, dancing, or all the way to space. Oh, and don't forget the soundtrack.
