***
I think what really captured my interest in ginger beer was a conversation I had earlier this year with my mother after I had read an article in what I think was the Edmonton Journal. It was basically a "how-to" instructional guide on how to make your own ginger beer (I think I have misplaced the article, unfortunately). After I commented on the article to my mother, she noted that either her dad or her paternal grandfather used to make their own ginger beer, and that sometimes you would hear a big "pop" under the stairs, as the bottles would lose their corks during the aging process. I somehow doubt that Ukrainians were big on ginger beer, but that matters not, it is clear that my love of ginger beer came from my forefathers.
The net result is that sometime later I had a conversation about ginger beer with my friend Allison, and she recommended that I go to one of the Liquor Depot stores in Edmonton and try a bottle of Crabbie's ginger beer. So that's exactly what I did this past weekend.
The bottle is cool - there are even pictures of elephants on it. So that must mean that Thais approve.
Supposedly it's best served chilled over ice with a slice of lemon or lime. In my case I used a wedge of lime.
It was fresh, sharp and fantastic! Basically a fancy Canada Dry ginger ale - but infused with the sweet taste of booze! It's pretty sweet, too. I don't think you could make a night of pounding these back - I think this is much more of a "dessert" beer that you enjoy while your minions clean the dishes...
The photographic evidence:
The grade: a solid if unspectacular 7.6 out of 10.0.
And what could be better than a bottle of Crabbie's ginger beer? A FREE second bottle of ginger beer. Many thanks to the sous chef Sean for leaving his beer Chef Jeremiah's car ;)
