Time to expand

Ginger Tipple looks like beer, but don’t expect it to taste like beer as you know it. My bottle was slightly too warm by the time I got to it, and as a result was only slightly effervescent, with a head that lasted only a few seconds. The ginger flavour is prominent without being overpowering, and the effect of the Cascade hops is subtle and interesting.

There’s a slight acidic kick, a fleeting resemblance to a young lambic, with a pleasant astringency. One of the most noticeable characteristics is the heat on the palate of the high alcohol content. This Tipple may seem like a fruity soft drink, but be careful: it packs a punch. You’re not dealing with your average ginger beer, here.

So what’s next? Production at the moment is at maximum capacity of 700 litres a month. It’s quite a lot for a one-man show, but Sulzbacher would still like to expand. First to the UK and the US, he thinks, then to India, Israel and the rest of Europe.

“I’m trying to raise money to move into a larger facility so I can increase capacity to 4,000 or 5,000 litres a month,” he says – a pattern seen all over the craft beer scene in Belgium. In the meantime, he foresees an interest from restaurants for beer and food pairings, and from bars for the creation of new cocktails.

Ginger Tipple is available from various online merchants, which are listed on its website. It’s also sold in the Antwerp area in bars, restaurants and shops, including België Tip Top, Avenue Wines and Grosz Kosher Food.

Photo courtesy Ginger Tipple