Gingerale: Schweppes vs Canada Dry
I know there a lot of ginger ales out there, but this “British/Canadian” pair happened to be in the same convenience store so I got them and will most likely conduct a re-match with another product at some point. After all, I’m big fan of Worcester’s own Polar brand, but not sure if it’s available out side New England. Since I recently declared my love for Sky Bar, I’d post about something more available to everyone else (but I will come back to Polar!)
Schweppes:
Schweppes has a nice golden color and although it doesn’t look bubbly in this picture, it was when we drank it. It had the expected gingery taste but we also found this to be particularly sweet. It seemed to be a little too syrupy. Other than that it was pretty good.
Canada Dry:
This looked pretty much the same, and actually tasted very similar too. We did notice that it was subtly different though. Ethan said it had a bit fuller body and I noticed that it was slightly less syrupy.
Wrap up:
We’d go with our Canadian friend because it wasn’t as sweet (just by a little bit) but we both agreed that we probably wouldn’t notice the difference enough to refuse Schweppes if that was all that was available. The nice thing about ginger ale is that I think it’s hard to screw up (but I could be wrong). I’ll have to bring in the Polar and do a re-match for sure.
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February 25th, 2009 at 2:23 am
You ought to try Vernor’s. It’s the best Ginger Ale I’ve ever tasted–though its only available at Kroger’s markets outside of Michigan, I think!
February 25th, 2009 at 6:30 am
I prefer Kirks they make excellent ginger beer, also Bundaberg makes excellent ginger beer in brown stubbies.
Looks like a beer, but is actually ginger beer. 
February 25th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I recently tried the Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale. Delicious.
February 26th, 2009 at 3:29 am
FWIW, I live in Nashville, TN and our Food Lion stores care Polar Root Beer and Cream Soda. I believe I’ve seen their Ginger Ale as well, but I rarely pay much attention in that section of the drinks.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
If you live near a Wegmans, try their store brand. It’s the best by a long margin - not too sweet and with a real spicy ginger “kick” that the other brands seem to miss.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Yes - you MUST look for Vernor’s. It’s pretty exclusive to MI and anywhere MI snowbirds may be gathered, but I’ve found it here in Chicago sometimes. Nothing else tastes the same.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I’m so NOT a ginger ale fan, but what I wanted to say was that I LOVE YOUR GLASSES! I’ve been begging the hubby to let me get a set of these type of glasses for a long time. So far he’s resisting me. After seeing yours in action, I’m going to try harder!!
February 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Seagram’s is better than both of them in my opinion
Canada Dry tastes too much like Sprite and not ‘gingery’ enough
March 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Canada Dry is my absolute favourite drink. If you never have, I really recommend trying the Cranberry Ginger Ale or the Green Tea Ginger Ale, both are amazing.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Do whatever you have to (buy on line and pay for the shipment) in order to taste, just once, Cock’n Bull ginger ale. If you like the taste of ginger and you aren’t under 13 this is a gift from God.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I have had my fair share of Ginger Ale soda. The best tasting Ginger Ale is Vernor’s. It has a very sweet and smooth after taste. I recommend it.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Randi,
Try Target for a similar Libbey Vina Stemless 16.5 Ounce Red Wine Glasses, Set of 4. About $12. Macy’s has one with a heavier base but they are $10 each.
Vernor’s is unique taste and not ginger ale. Love Vernor’s floats!
September 5th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I am a true ginger ale drinker, besides water and the occasional juice or tea that is all I drink. I have tried them all, and by far Canada Dry ginger ale is the best!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
VERNOR’S. So good! Way better than any other ginger ale.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I recently discovered Bundaberg Ginger Beer on a trip down under and fell in love. I’ve been a fan of ginger ale for a long time, but this blew all my previous favorites away. It’s hard to find in the states, but if you have one nearby, World Market gets an occasional shipment.
Good site
September 26th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Schweppes is the best! I actually find Canada Dry to be too sweet and Schweppes the less syrupy. I’m so prejudiced that I actually refuse CD if it comes down to it. (One night, when I was craving, I had to go to four different grocery stores before I could find one with Schweppes in stock.)
October 8th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Long time ginger ale drinker here and I’ll have to side with Canada Dry - but the reason for posting a comment…
in your article you noted “hard to screw-up”. Well, I’m Canadian and for business have traveled across most of Canada and the US. I’ve found ginger ale pretty commonly available right across Canada, but not so in the States. Seems in many parts of the southern states, it is just not that common. So one day while traveling in Shreveport I sat down at the hotel bar after a long day’s work and asked for a ginger ale, expecting the hostess to look at me funny and ask what that was. Instead she said, sure, back in a minute. She came back to my seat, placed a glass in front of me, poured about an inch of Pepsi into it, and filled the rest with Sprite. She looked at me, smiled and said she’d be back in a minute to take my order. I got up and left.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Neither. Neither one has any serious flavor. Some like it hot, and I’m one of them. I mix half-and-half Grace-brand (Canada) and D&G (Jamaica). Grace is HOT, HOT, HOT, and the cane sugar in D&G dances on my tongue.
P.S. Yes, I’ve had the highly regarded Vernors. My assessment: Nyet, nyet, nyet! That “oak barrel” treatment — it always tasted like a dog had lifted its leg on the barrel and it soaked into the brew.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Aren’t these both made by Schweppes anyway?
A better drink by Schweppes is Dry Ginger Ale. It has no sugar or sweetener and is meant to be used as a mixer, but is very refreshing drunk alone because it’s not sweet. Unfortunately, like tart yogurt it seems the American palette can’t stomach it, so to speak, and it doesn’t seem to be available in the USA. An online search only turns up Australian distributors so I’ll have to pay $5+shipping for 4 tiny bottles.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
i only drink ginger ale when im sick but shwepps vs canada dry they just tsat the same to me
December 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Blenheim’s is the best ginger ale in the world. If you haven’t tried it, you have inadequate information on which to judge other ginger ales. Winner, hands down.