---
title: "Homemade Ginger Beer — Traditional Non Alcoholic Cerveza de Jengibre"
description: "Versión en Español. Homemade ginger beer is a lightly fizzy drink made by simmering grated ginger with sugar in water, adding lemon juice and peel, straining, topping up with water, and fermenting wit..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-ginger-beer-cerveza-de-jengibre-recipe/
date: 2026-10-05
modified: 2026-10-05
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/homemade-ginger-beer-featured.jpg
categories: ["Beverages"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Homemade Ginger Beer — Traditional Non Alcoholic Cerveza de Jengibre

[Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/cerveza-de-jengibre-casera-receta-tradicional-sin-alcohol/)

![Homemade ginger beer with lemon in a glass](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/homemade-ginger-beer-featured.jpg)*Homemade ginger beer*

Homemade ginger beer is a lightly fizzy drink made by simmering grated ginger with sugar in water, adding lemon juice and peel, straining, topping up with water, and fermenting with a pinch of dry yeast in a sealed bottle for 24 to 48 hours before chilling. It takes 15 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of cooking, plus fermentation, and serves 8.

A spicy, refreshing, naturally fermented drink with less than 0.5% alcohol, and the base for cocktails such as the Moscow mule.

Contents

- [1. How to Make Ginger Beer?](#How_to_Make_Ginger_Beer)
- [2. Nutritional Information](#Nutritional_Information)
- [3. Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe](#Homemade_Ginger_Beer_Recipe)
  - [3.1. Ingredients](#Ingredients)
  - [3.2. Instructions](#Instructions)
- [4. Additional Tips](#Additional_Tips)
  - [4.1. Check the pressure](#Check_the_pressure)
  - [4.2. Leave the skin on](#Leave_the_skin_on)
  - [4.3. Use plastic to monitor](#Use_plastic_to_monitor)
- [5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs)
  - [5.1. 1. How much alcohol does it develop?](#1_How_much_alcohol_does_it_develop)
  - [5.2. 2. Can I use brown sugar or honey?](#2_Can_I_use_brown_sugar_or_honey)
  - [5.3. 3. How long does it keep in the fridge?](#3_How_long_does_it_keep_in_the_fridge)
  - [5.4. 4. Can I reuse the sediment?](#4_Can_I_reuse_the_sediment)
- [6. History of Ginger Beer](#History_of_Ginger_Beer)
- [7. Did You Know?](#Did_You_Know)
- [8. Recommended](#Recommended)

## How to Make Ginger Beer?

A sweet ginger and lemon infusion is fermented briefly with yeast in a closed bottle, which carbonates it naturally. Refrigerating it stops the fermentation.

## Nutritional Information

Each serving of ginger beer contains approximately 70 kcal, 17 g of carbohydrates, 0 g of fat, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fiber, 16 g of sugars, and 5 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe

**Preparation:** 15 minutes (plus 24 to 48 hours fermenting)
**Cooking:** 10 minutes
**Servings:** 8

### Ingredients

- 2 liters (8½ cups) of filtered water
- 1 cup of grated ginger
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 lemons
- ¼ teaspoon of dry yeast

### Instructions

1. Bring 1 liter of the water to a boil and add the grated ginger and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely and remove from the heat. Let cool to room temperature and add the lemon juice and peels.

![Ginger for homemade ginger beer](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ginger-homemade-ginger-beer.jpg)*Ginger*

1. Strain to remove the ginger and peel. Pour the liquid into a clean glass bottle, add the dry yeast and the remaining liter of water, and seal the bottle tightly.

![Lemons for homemade ginger beer](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/lemons-ginger-beer.jpg)*Lemons*

1. Ferment at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours. Once it is lightly fizzy, refrigerate and serve cold. Drink within 2 weeks.

## Additional Tips

### Check the pressure

Squeeze the bottle gently every 12 hours. If it feels very hard, refrigerate it to stop fermentation and avoid excess pressure.

### Leave the skin on

Grate the ginger unpeeled for a rounder, earthier flavor.

![Sugar for fermenting ginger beer](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/sugar-ginger-beer.jpg)*Sugar*

### Use plastic to monitor

A plastic bottle makes it easier to feel the pressure building.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| White sugar | Brown sugar or honey | 1 cup | Deeper flavor |
| Lemon | Lime | 2 | More aromatic |
| Dry yeast | Saved sediment from a previous batch | 2 tablespoons | Natural starter |
| Plain | With mint | A few leaves | Fresher |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. How much alcohol does it develop?

The short 24 to 48 hour fermentation produces very little alcohol, usually under 0.5%, so it is considered non alcoholic.

### 2. Can I use brown sugar or honey?

Yes, or agave syrup, though they change the flavor and the fermentation.

### 3. How long does it keep in the fridge?

Up to 2 weeks. After that the flavor changes and it loses fizz.

### 4. Can I reuse the sediment?

Yes, keep some liquid with sediment as a starter for the next batch.

## History of Ginger Beer

Ginger beer originated in 18th century England, first valued as a remedy for digestion and nausea thanks to ginger.

## Did You Know?

Homemade ginger beer is essentially non alcoholic because it only ferments for a day or two, so it is a homemade alternative to commercial soft drinks.

## Recommended

- [Homemade Kombucha Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-kombucha-fermented-tea-recipe/)
- [Turmeric and Ginger Shots Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/turmeric-ginger-shots-shot-de-curcuma-recipe/)
- [Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-gingerbread-cookies-galletas-de-jengibre-recipe/)
- [Fresh Strawberry Juice Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/fresh-strawberry-juice-jugo-de-frutilla-recipe/)