The past 20 years have seen a massive uptick in ginger beverages sales, with new labels popping up all the time. Gone are the days when we have just one or two options on store shelves when looking to either mix with some whiskey or cure an upset stomach. Moscow Mules are now commonplace in every barroom and brands like Reed’s, Fever-Tree, and Q have all helped normalize the difference between ginger ale and ginger beer, and in just a couple of decades. However, during that same timeframe, there’s been another craze happening as well.
With today’s preponderance of hard seltzers and RTD cocktails, the union between liquor and ginger soda might seem all too obvious. Now, Reed’s has decided to get in on the action with a new line of Hard Ginger Ale that’s set to come out within the next few months. We’ve seen spiked ginger endeavors from big-name spirits brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, and Jameson, but on the soda side of the market, this new offering from Reed’s would be the first from a heavy-hitter in an industry that was, until recently, pigeonholed as a “vintage glass bottle” niche to go along with kitsch Americana revivals of Moxie and Nehi.
Reed’s new line will consist of four flavors so far: Pineapple-Coconut, Mango, Cherry-Lime, and Watermelon-Strawberry. Just like the brand’s signature non-alcoholic Ginger Ale, these Hard Ginger Ales will use real ginger for their kick and spice, as well as cane sugar for sweetening. At 5% ABV, these beverages will be keto-friendly and have just 100 calories per can.
As of right now, plans to release Reed’s Hard Ginger Ale aim at the third or fourth quarter of this year, where they will be available in variety packs of 12oz cans online and at local retailers.
