Homemade Sugar-Free Ginger Beer
Martina Slajerova- Ready in 1h
- 4.3 g net carbs
- 16 kcal
- Serves 6
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Ready to whip up your own ginger beer? It’s super easy, totally sugar-free, and of course alcohol-free. Whether you're planning to kick back with a refreshing drink on a hot day or mix up some Low-Carb Moscow Mules for your next party, this homemade ginger beer is a great choice. And hey, it’s even perfect for adding a special touch to Valentine's Day celebrations!
Why Make Your Own Ginger Beer?
Creating your own ginger beer isn't just about the fun and satisfaction of DIY—it’s about knowing exactly what goes into your drink. Store-bought options often come loaded with sugars or artificial sweeteners, but with this homemade version, you control the sweetness and can keep it as natural as you like. Plus, ginger has some great health benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting immunity.
This sugar-free ginger beer recipe uses fresh ginger root for that authentic, fiery kick, along with natural sweeteners like Sukrin Gold or allulose. The addition of fresh lemon juice not only balances the spice of the ginger but also adds a refreshing citrusy twist that makes this drink a perfect pick-me-up or cocktail base. If you prefer a sweeter taste, a few drops of liquid Stevia will do the trick without the extra carbs!
Note: Nutritious facts are estimated (I counted only 50% of the ginger root). One serving = 1/4 cup of the ginger beer concentrate + 1 1/2 cup sparkling water.
Got any requests for the next cheesecake flavor? Let me know in the comments 🤗
How to Serve and Enjoy Your Homemade Ginger Beer
Whether you’re hosting a party or just chilling at home, your homemade ginger beer is versatile and ready to impress. Here’s how you can make the most out of it:
- As a Standalone Drink: Grab a glass, toss in some ice, and pour yourself some ginger beer. It’s perfect for beating the heat or just relaxing after a long day.
- Creative Cocktails: Ready to mix things up? Your ginger beer is the perfect base for awesome low-carb cocktails. Whip up a Moscow Mule by mixing it with vodka, a splash of lime, and a mint garnish. Or get creative and try it with other spirits like rum or tequila. Either way, you’re in for a treat! Check our these sugar-free cocktail recipes: Low-Carb Moscow Mules and Low-Carb Irish Mule. Also check out our Complete Guide to Alcohol for Low-Carb Diets for even more sugar-free tips!
- Special Occasions: Hosting a get-together? Make sure to serve up some homemade ginger beer. It’s great for family brunches, holiday fun, or even a Valentine’s Day bash. Everyone can enjoy a tasty, sugar-free sip.
Step-by-step
Wash and cut the ginger root into medium chunks. Place it in a blender together with 2 1/2 cups of water. Blend for just about 10 seconds.
Pour the ginger mixture through a fine mesh sieve (or use cheesecloth) into a sauce pan. Discard the pulp. Juice 2 lemons and add the fresh lemon juice to the sauce pan. Heat the mixture over a medium-low heat.
Add the sweetener and stir until dissolved. Cook the mixture until reduced to about a half (1 1/2 cups). Then, take off the heat and let it cool down.
Once cool, pour 1/4 cup of the ginger beer concentrate in a glass and add 1 1/2 cups of sparkling water or more to taste.
Optionally, add a few ice cubes. Properly stored in the refrigerator, your homemade ginger beer can last for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe
Homemade Sugar-Free Ginger Beer
★★★★★4.6Ginger beer made at home with just a few ingredients. It's easy to make and tastes just like the real deal but ...
- Hands on
- 10m
- Overall
- 1h
- Servings
- 6
- 4.3 g
- Net carbs
- 0.3 g
- Protein
- 0.1 g
- Fat
- 16
- kcal
Ingredients makes 6 servings
Instructions
Wash and cut the ginger root into medium chunks. Place it in a blender together with 2 1/2 cups of water. Blend for just about 10 seconds.
Pour the ginger mixture through a fine mesh sieve (or use cheesecloth) into a sauce pan. Discard the pulp. Juice 2 lemons and add the fresh lemon juice to the sauce pan. Heat the mixture over a medium-low heat.
Add the sweetener and stir until dissolved. Cook the mixture until reduced to about a half (1 1/2 cups). Then, take off the heat and let it cool down.
Once cool, pour 1/4 cup of the ginger beer concentrate in a glass and add 1 1/2 cups of sparkling water or more to taste.
Optionally, add a few ice cubes. Properly stored in the refrigerator, your homemade ginger beer can last for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving, ¼ cup/ 60 ml concentrate
Carbs 87%Protein 6%Fat 7% of calories
- Net carbs
- 4.3 g
- Total carbs
- 16.9 g
- Fiber
- 0.3 g
- Sugars
- 1.1 g
- Protein
- 0.3 g
- Fat
- 0.1 g
- Saturated fat
- 0 g
- Calories
- 16 kcal
- Sodium
- 38 mg · 1.64% RDA
- Magnesium
- 9 mg · 2.32% RDA
- Potassium
- 76 mg · 3.79% EMR
Nutrition by ingredient
| Per 1/4 cup/ 60 ml concentrate | Net carbs | Protein | Fat | kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger root, fresh | 2 g | 0.2 g | 0.1 g | 10 |
| Lemon juice, fresh | 1.3 g | 0.1 g | 0 g | 4 |
| Sukrin Gold, brown sugar substitute | 1 g | 0 g | 0 g | 1 |
| Water, still | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 |
| Water, sparkling | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 |
| Total | 4.3 g | 0.3 g | 0.1 g | 16 |
Serving size 1/4 cup/ 60 ml concentrate
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- Egg free
- Nut free
- Nightshade free
- Pork free
- Avocado free
- Coconut free
- Fish free
- Shellfish free
- Beef free
- Pescatarian
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
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Comments & ratings (53)
Hi, any reason why you have to heat the mixture up ? I just put the ginger (home grown) through a slow juicer, mixed the concentrate + lemon juice in a blender with filtered water and stevia powder. Tasted fine. Am I missing something ?
Hi Ray, I heat it up to dissolve the sweetener as the one I use has larger crystals. If you use powdered like stevia, you won't need to heat it up. Also, you are so lucky you have homegrown ginger! 😊
Does the ginger have to be peeled before putting in the blender or can I leave the skin on?
Not at all, just washed! The pulp gets strained anyway.
Can you store the rest of the ginger concentrate for later use? Or add additional spices to it for a more complex flavor?
You could pour it in an ice tray and freeze, then use as needed. I'm thinking some fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves... that might work really well!
I made this recipe ALMOST as indicated. It was so simple and the house smelled so nice with the ginger cooking. The only thing I changed was that I chopped up the ginger in my blender and then I cooked the mash with the sugar and lemon and AFTER cooking it down, I then strained it. I wanted to get more of the goodness out of the ginger! Thanks for the recipe! I'll make this again for sure!
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback and tips!
I accidentally bought Truvia brown sugar substitute (Stevia). Can I use that instead and would the amount be the same?
I think you should be ok with that. As far as I can remember, Trivia is Erythritol based and very similar. It should be as sweet as sugar so you can start with 1/3 cup and add up to 1/2 cup if needed.
Thanks Martina! I went ahead and tried it and it turned out GREAT! I love this recipe!
Glad you enjoyed, thank you so much for letting me know! 😊
I looovvvveee ginger beer but I like it to be sugar free! I am so happy I found this recipe! I made it today and it is fabulous!!!!!
Thank you so much! ❤️ I don't like the taste of the sugar-free options because of the aftertaste, this one is so good!
My husband is a big fan of ginger beer so I made this for him as I had s surplus of ginger.. win win! 😊 This was so easy and so delicious, he loved it! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, this one is for keeps.
Thank you Anu, that's so good to hear, glad he enjoyed! ❤️
Do you throw the Pulp away after straining?
Yes I do - thanks for noticing, will clarify.
Really successful. Very refreshing and with plenty of poke. Easy to get good results. Well done, this will be a staple.
This is the ginger beer I remember but better since I made it myself. Thank you for creating this recipe. It's perfect! I'm going to introduce it to my sister who loves the drink "Dark and Stormy" but shouldn't have all the sugar from regular ginger beer. Thank you again!
Thank you Kay, glad you enjoyed!
Utterly delicious! I slow cooked it overnight, out of laziness, and it was perfect. Made a Moscow Mule that was delicious. Made non-alcoholic Jamaican ginger beer by adding seltzer ... even better was with Polar orange vanilla flavored seltzer - it tasted like a mix of cream soda and Jamaican ginger beer.
That does sound delicious, thanks for sharing the tips!
Hi, I made this ginger, brown sugar concoction and it is amazing. Two questions. 1. How long can you store this premade ginger syrup concoction? 2. Also, I do not want to add vodka so what carbonated water or mixer can I add to make this a drink on its own? Thanks in Advance.
Thank you Jennifer! This will keep for 5-7 days in the fridge but you could freeze it in an ice tray for several months. If you're using this for a low-carb Moscow Mule (Low-Carb Moscow Mule Cocktail) it uses vodka but the ginger beer base does not. I'd just use more sparkling water, or you could use some fresh lemon juice. I hope this helps 😊
Thanks, lovely recipe to help with my current nausea! Any ideas of what to do with the left over ginger pulp? Thanks
Thank you Pamela! I haven't thought of that but now I'm thinking that it may be good if you cook it on a pan with some onion and ghee as a base for curries? That should help thicken it up and will be great in Indian-style recipes.
Awesome, I ended up steeping it with a tea bag, 1 soup spoon ginger pulp, 1 soup spoon erythritol and half a cinnamon stick = so good cinnamon ginger tea.
That sounds SO good! Now I'm thinking that even fresh or dried orange peel would be nice here...
How long can the ginger concentrate be stored in the fridge?
I think that up to a week should be fine, although I didn't keep mine for more than 5 days. It also freezes well!
This drink is delicious! Perfect ratios too. Here in Canada we have a drink called "Free N Clear " with lime and sweetened with stevia. This mixed with the ginger beer is perfect. Thanks so very much Martina! Enjoy your summer!
Thank you Shelley, I'm glad you enjoyed! ❤️
After 6 weeks on Keto I feel amazing but summer is right around the corner and I thought Moscow mules ( cheating because I will be drinking VODKA) , this ginger beer was absolutely perfect, I’m so happy to have found this recipe.. just a perfect drink mix alternative.. thank you 😊
Thank you so much! ❤️
Hi, I have a vitamix and when I put ginger and water in and blend there are literally NO bits left to strain, do u think I should use less ginger as all of the ginger is being used? Also can xylitol be used in place of the suggested sweeteners (or a mix). Thank you 😊
Hi Angie, apologies for the delayed response. I think that maybe you are not using a fine mesh strainer? There should be some pulp left. I wouldn't use less ginger because that would take some of the flavour away. You can use Xylitol - just keep in mind it will add some carbs and you should use just a small amount (potential GI distress if amount exceeded): Top 6 Keto Sweeteners and Low-Carb Sweetener Conversion Chart
You could also use Swerve or monk-fruit based sweeteners. I hope this helps!
About how long should the reduction step take? Will it thicken before it cools?
It won't thicken, maybe just a little, but it will be more concentrated with flavour when your reduce it to about 1 ½ cups. I don't know how long this took but I assume it may have been 20-30 minutes (depends on the heat). I hope this helps!
Might be a silly question, but did you remove the outer skin before placing the ginger in the blender?
I did not peel it, I just washed it. The skin and pulp will be discarded anyway so it won't make a difference, but you can peel it if you prefer to do that.
I've noted it said that recipes from your blog can be added to the KetoDietapp, which I did buy, along with additional add-ons . How is that done? Haven't figured that out. Thanks.
Hi Sharon, this feature is only available in KetoDiet (fully featured app with the planner). If by any chance you bought KetoDiet Basic, you can upgrade directly from the Menu. You can see more details on how to do that here: New Upgrade Path for KetoDiet Basic (iOS)