Reed's Original Ginger Brew Vs. Canada Dry Ginger Ale

There's nothing quite like the crisp, lean taste of ginger ale. A spice with a rich and colorful history, ginger has been part of our culinary heritage for ages. Ginger ale became popular during the Prohibition when it was used in mixed drinks, as its sharp flavor masked the strong taste of home-made liquor.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale has certainly been around longer than Reed's Original Ginger Brew. According to Cadbury Beverages, Inc., in 1890 a chemist/pharmacist opened a small soda-water manufacturing plant in Toronto. He sold this water to drugstores, to be added to fruit juices and flavored extracts.

Experimenting with different products, the chemist discovered a soda he dubbed Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. Shipping the brew to New York in 1919 helped sky-rocket the ale to fame.

According to the Reed's, Inc. website, the organization has been in existence for about 15 years. Drawing on a tradition of hand-crafted brews, Reed's produces six flavors of ginger brew, including the popular Original Ginger Brew. This brew comes from a Jamaican recipe, using seventeen grams of fresh ginger root in each bottle.

The ingredients for the two drinks are similar, but have significant differences. Canada Dry's ingredient list reads: "Carbonated Water, High Fructose Syrup and/or Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color." Reed's ingredients are listed as "sparkling filtered water (sweetened by a blend of fructose, pineapple juice from concentrate and honey), fresh ginger root, lemon and lime juices from concentrate and spices.

According to the Nutrition Facts on each container, the two beverages come out about even. A 12 fluid ounce serving of Canada Dry Ginger Ale has less calories - 120 compared to Reed's Original Ginger Brew's 145. Canada dry has a whopping 40 mg of sodium, compared to Reed's 5mg. Reed's Total Carbohydrates and sugar content comes in higher at 37.4g, compared to Canada Dry's 33g.

Ginger can be an acquired taste. With its strong bite, it can surprise many soda drinkers who are used to blander drinks, filled with much more sugar.