Not a lot of people know that ginger ale was first manufactured here in Ireland back in the 1850s in Belfast by Thomas Joseph Cantrell, an Irish apothecary and surgeon. It was generally dark in colour, had a very strong flavour and was much sweeter than what contemporary taste buds are used to.

While carbonation was added in 1904 by John J. McLaughlin, a chemist and pharmacist, who had set up a soda water business in 1890. Initially called McLaughlin Belfast Style Ginger Ale. It was refined and called Canada Dry Pale Dry Ginger Ale. This was a dry style (also called the pale style), a paler drink with a much milder ginger flavour. Now a lighter colour and sharp taste. Mr. McLaughlin acquired a patent in 1907 for his ginger ale and is still similar to the ginger ale we can get today under the Canada Dry brand.

Though there is now lots of other ginger drinks about today, though from my research I believe some producers are interchanging the ale and beer word without there being any alcohol in the beer. Take for example Old Jamaican Ginger Beer, also Doc’s Ginger beer from Germany. Though there is now an Irish alcoholic Ginger beer called Zingibeer and this can be gotten in various off licenses in Dublin and some bars on tap as well.