Homemade Ginger Ale

Transforming basic ingredients into a refreshing homemade ginger ale is easy!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated March 27, 2024
Elise Bauer

Several years ago, I got together with a few other food bloggers for lunch at a terrific diner in San Francisco. Lunch was fabulous, truly. One menu item that struck my fancy was homemade ginger ale, which they made fresh to order.

After lunch, on my way out the door, I stopped the waitress to ask how they made it. She gave me a general idea, which I have attempted to recreate in the steps shown here.

The diner version included a little touch of ground clove and cardamom if I recall correctly. I didn't add those spices, but even without them the ginger ale still turned out just great!

It's quite easy to make. You may need to adjust the proportions depending on how intense or sweet you want your drink.

A tall glass of ginger ale soda with a bowl of sliced limes next to it.
Eliezer Martinez

What Is Ginger Ale?

Ginger ale is a carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage that can be traced back to 1850s Ireland. It's said that Irish apothecary owner Thomas Joseph Cantrell created the sweet, ginger-based drink in Belfast. A dryer, less sweet style of ginger ale was created in the early 1900s by Canadian pharmacist John J. McLaughlin. He patented the drink as Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

The basis of ginger ale is carbonated water, ginger, and sugar. The drink can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

How Long Can You Store Homemade Ginger Ale?

Store the ginger water and the simple syrup in the refrigerator separately. The ginger water lasts 1 to 2 weeks. If the color or the odor of the water changes, discard it. The simple syrup should last up to 1 month.

The assembled ginger ale, a combination of the ginger water, simple syrup, and club soda, will last until the carbonation goes flat. It's best to combine the three immediately before serving.

More DIY Drinks That Taste Better Homemade

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Homemade Ginger Ale

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

Ginger Water

Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup water

To Serve

  • Club soda

  • Ice, optional

  • Lime juice

  • Lime wedges

Method

  1. Infuse the water with ginger:

    Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add ginger. Reduce heat to medium low and let ginger sit in the simmering water for 5 minutes.

    Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Discard ginger pieces.

    A dutch oven on the stovetop making a ginger beer recipe.
    Eliezer Martinez
    Straining fresh ginger in a glass bowl to make a ginger drink.
    Eliezer Martinez
  2. Make the simple syrup:

    In a separate saucepan, make the simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup granulated sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Set aside.

    Adding sugar to water to make simple syrup for a ginger beer recipe.
    Eliezer Martinez
  3. Assemble the ginger ale:

    Make individual (tall) glasses of ginger ale by mixing 1/2 cup of ginger water with 1/3 cup of Simple Syrup and 1/2 cup of club soda. Serve over ice, if you like. Add a few drops of fresh lime juice and a lime wedge to each glass.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Stirring a ginger drink with a cocktail spoon.
    Eliezer Martinez
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
231 Calories
0g Fat
60g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 231
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 13mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 60g 22%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 51g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 19mg 96%
Calcium 36mg 3%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 165mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.