Ginger ale is a soft drink flavored with ginger. Brands in North America include Canada Dry, Vernor's, Schweppes, Sussex , Buffalo Rock [1], and Ale-8-One. It is popular in mixed drinks and is often used as a home remedy for upset stomachs. Sometimes it is used to fill some social roles of champagne for those who do not drink alcohol. A Boston cooler is a drink made from vanilla ice cream and ginger ale, usually Vernor's.

Ginger ales come in two varieties. Golden ginger ale, dark colored and strong flavored, is the older style. Dry ginger ale was developed during Prohibition when ginger ale was used as a mixer for alcoholic beverages and the strong flavor of golden ginger ale was undesirable. Dry ginger ale quickly surpassed golden ginger ale in popularity, and today golden ginger ale is an uncommon and usually regional drink. Vernor's is an example of golden ginger ale, while Canada Dry and Schweppes are major brands of dry ginger ale.

Dry ginger ale is also sold with a mint flavoring added. Popular brands of mint ginger ale include Cott and Tom Tucker Southern Style. Some mint ginger ale brands have an artificial green color added, while others are clear in color.

Because of its ginger content, ginger ale is used to prevent or alleviate motion sickness.

Ginger beer, a similar drink, is typically flavored much more strongly.

Vernor's is a strongly flavored ginger ale aged for four years in oak barrels before bottling. It was the first U.S. soft drink, originating in 1866, although it was modeled on imported Irish ginger beers.

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