A while back I posted my thoughts on Franks Alcoholic Ginger Beer when I came across it in our local Weatherspoons, these thoughts currently come up top on google for a few of the search terms related to the beer. As a result I was recently contacted by Koppaberg, who make Frank’s and their marketing agency to see if I would amend my review. I said that I wouldn’t edit the review that was there but would be more than happy to try it again and post another review. So Franks very kindly sent me a case which I have shared around the office to get a bit of feedback from others.
The first time round I wasn’t very impressed and as a result wasn’t complimentary after all I had paid good money for something that neither my self or anyone I was drinking with liked. I later found out it was an experimental batch of the beer made as a trial run, in which case I feel that it should have been labelled as so.
Anyway enough about the past and onto the future, Frank’s have changed the branding and I much prefer the new labels, they have cleaned them up a bit and given them an all together nice look. Frank’s have also changed the recipe according to the email I recieved so I was looking forward to trying the new batch.
Frank’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer weighs in at 4% which means if it tastes right it could be perfect for summer afternoon sessions in the beer garden.
It pours a dark golden colour with a thin white head and lots of bubbles, It doesn’t smell anywhere near as bad as I remembered although it doesn’t smell very much of ginger, don’t get me wrong the ginger is there but I can mainly smell sweatness and hints of coconut almost like gorse bushes on a hot summers day…which I love.
Taste wise the first thing that hits you is the sweetness, I found it incredibly sweet, the ginger is there but it is very subtle, It’s not quite as in your face and firey as I like my ginger beers, after a few mouthfuls I was struggling to cope with the sweetness so I gave it to my other half, she quite liked it but did say that its like bass shandy that someone has tipped ginger beer in.
The feedback from the office was mixed, most people liked it, some even loved it and have since tracked it down in Tesco, Most people thought the ginger was too subtle and not firey enough, some said the ginger was just about right and liked the sweetness.
Overall it’s no where near as bad as i remembered but it’s still not to my taste, I much prefer the Williams Brothers Ginger ale which is more firey and less sweet.
I reckon if you like the Koppaberg Ciders then you will probably like this, if you like Old Jamaican ginger beer then you might find it a bit sweet and not gingery enough, I guess the only way to find out is to pop into Tesco and buy a bottle.
Tastes like Pear Cider with Ginger in it. Too sweet and syrupy not a great beer at all.
it’s like drinking fizzy syrup with a hint of ginger, was hoping for a nice beer, but no beer taste at all, can’t finish the bottle it’s just too sweet.
This is just sugary fizz in a bottle with a bit of ginger added as an afterthought. Frankly, it’s disgusting. So glad I didn’t pay full price for it, as I picked up a bottle at discounted price in Home Bargains. I can’t imagine any ginger beer lovers wanting to buy this so give it a miss. Just had another mouthful and it’s more like cream soda, that#s how ungingery and sickly sweet it is! Give it a miss.