The Short History of Ginger Ale (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of ginger ale? ›

Ginger beer originated in England in the 1800s while ginger ale was founded in Ireland approximately 50 years later before it was modernized in 1907 by John McLaughlin.

Wilson's ginger ale dates back to 1875, when Charles began bottling various sodas on Sherbourne Street in Toronto. His son Sam, who took over the business in the early 1900s, added the Wilson signature to the bottles. He also introduced a bottle deposit, perhaps one of the first soda pop companies to do so.

Experts are warning that ginger ale — long touted as the cure for an upset stomach — not only lacks any significant health benefits, it could even make your gastrointestinal distress more distressful.

Unlike its fermented counterpart, ginger ale was simply carbonated water flavoured with ginger. This key difference meant ginger ale was non-alcoholic, while ginger beer often had a slight kick. In the early 1900s, ginger ale made its way across the Atlantic, quickly becoming a beloved soft drink in Canada.

Vernor's boasts the oldest soda in America, but not the world. That belongs to Schweppe's, who created a carbonated mineral water in 1783. Other old sodas include Hires Root Beer (1876), Moxie 1876, Dr. Pepper (1885) Coca-Cola (1886) and Pepsi (1893.

In the case of artificially flavored ginger ale, the beverage has no more health benefits than any other soda, which, of course, are zero. But in the case of ginger ale flavored by real ginger root, the beverage has marginally more health benefits than other soft drinks.

It could even make matters worse. “Most commercial-brand ginger ales have at least 10 teaspoons of sugar,” says Dr. Goldman. “If a person has bloating, gas or indigestion, the carbonation and sugar may make it worse.

Ginger may offer benefits for heart health, headaches, and nausea, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, varieties of ginger ale that contain more ginger may be better for your health.

Drink Reed's - Real Ginger Ale & Real Ginger Beer.

What is the oldest ginger ale company? ›

Vernor's is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. It was introduced in 1866 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist, who discovered that his concoction took on a unique flavor when aged in a wooden keg.

Ginger ale likely became known as a stomach settler due to its association with ginger. Since ancient times, ginger root has been used as an herbal remedy to treat different gastrointestinal ailments, including nausea, diarrhea and indigestion. And there are some studies to back this up.

Ginger ale is a carbonated beverage made with ginger root and a sweetener such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or a low calorie sweetener. Many commercial ginger ales contain little ginger and a lot of added sugar, but some traditional varieties contain real fermented ginger root.

One of the nation's oldest soft drinks, Vernor's Ginger Ale was first served to the public in 1866. The drink was created by Detroiter James Vernor, a well-respected pharmacist with a reputation for meticulous care with his prescriptions.

The Oldest Soda Pop in America happens to be Michigan's very own Vernor's Ginger Ale, created in 1866. Detroit entrepreneur James Vernor accidentally created its unique flavor by leaving it encased in wood while he went off to war.

In contrast to ginger beer, this drink is very much more a tradtional soda, with the carbonation created by carbon dioxide and ginger added as flavouring. Therefore, ginger ale has never been alcoholic despite being named an 'ale' – how misleading!