Coney Island Hard Ginger Ale

As far as I know, this is the last of the Coney Island beverages, but I could be completely wrong. I can tell you that this is the last one that my local store had, so it's the last one I try until they have others. Their hard root beer was very good, and their orange cream ale was very interesting, so why not try the ginger ale?

The beverage is the color of ginger ale - a kind of toned-down apple juice color. While it has carbonation, it has pretty much no head, and that's probably as it should be. The aroma is sweet ginger ale and a bit of a sting of alcohol. I'm starting to think that they just add alcohol to the process, and that's all there is to it.

First sip is definitely heavier in alcohol than I expected. It's not so much that I would call it flavored moonshine or anything, but it is definitely front and center - no one is mistaking this for a regular ginger ale. Also, no one should try to mix this ginger ale with other drinks to make mixed drinks - it has enough of its own kick.

A full gulp brings a tip-in of sweetness and light ginger. Carbonation tingle is toward the back of the throat before the middle comes down. The middle does not change the flavor at all. That doesn't happen often, but an off-the-wall beverage like this shouldn't surprise me. The finish changes things, though. It rolls in with the heavier alcohol taste and almost burns before trailing off with the resurgence of sweetness.

Bottom Line: The best hard ginger ale I've ever had, but the only one. It's a decent replacement if you're just looking for something different.

2.75/5