It takes a little love and commitment to make this ginger ale, but I promise its worth it. Last night after the soda had chilled for a while, Dom popped open a bottle for both of us to try. I was amazed at the bubbles. These bubbles aren’t like regular soda bubbles. They’re smaller and more gentle. The taste is unique in that it doesn’t have a strong ginger taste at all. It tastes more like a very mellow ginger/ 7-Up taste, but again, only slightly mild.
Last night I couldn’t sleep, so while I was scrolling through one of my favorite homesteader’s websites, I popped open another bottle. I don’t know if it was the hour or what, but I had a strong reaction to the ginger ale. I started sneezing non-stop, my nose started running like crazy, and I started coughing and wheezing. I’ve had similar reactions to grapefruit juice before. I’m not sure if it was a detox reaction or an allergic reaction. I tend to think it was more of a detox thing since it didn’t happen earlier in the evening when I originally drank it.
Its hard to describe the sweetness factor. It wasn’t overly sweet like regular soda and yet it wasn’t tasteless either. I think we need to play with the soda more. I’d like to add more ginger to make it stronger and maybe at the end add a bit of honey and lemon before refrigerating. It’s very good the way it is right now, and its also refreshing (minus the sneezing and wheezing). I’ll have to go and research now why I had that reaction. I’m hoping that the process of fermentation isn’t what was making me sneeze since I am allergic to certain types of mold.
As we get better at making our lacto fermented sodas, we will definitely pass along our recipes.
Update:
At around 2:00pm after drinking the ginger ale and having a reaction, I’m pleased to announce that I didn’t have any further adverse affects. I did have at least three more whole bottles of ginger ale at different times during the day and none of them produced the same sneezing, coughing, wheezing or runny nose. My conclusion is that laco fermented beverages should be consumed with caution during the morning hours when the body is naturally starting the cleansing cycle of the day. If you enjoy the sneeze and wheeze, by all means have some at 3:00am. 
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
It was delicious. The tiny little bubbles remind me a bit of pop-rocks, the way they fizz on your tongue.
Did you try it last night or today? Did you have any reaction to it?
I had it last night. I don’t think I had any reaction to it though. No more sneezing or coughing than usual.
I made some myself two days ago opening it in the morning
Definitely let me know how it comes out Eli! I can’t wait to hear what you thought of it.
Wow! It had a great flavour to it. Your right the bubbles are more gentle like champagne bubbles.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. We’ll be playing with different flavors like adding pineapple, lemon and lime, maybe orange. Its definitely more refreshing than regular soda and its good for you too!