Watermelon Ginger Beer

By Nicole Taylor

Updated June 26, 2024

Watermelon Ginger Beer
Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Roscoe Betsill. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
Total Time
10 minutes
Rating
4(249)
Comments
Read comments

The recipe for this batch drink, from Nicole Taylor’s book, “Watermelon and Red Birds,” includes the juice from a red-fleshed watermelon, ideally from one with seeds. (They can be hard to find; seedless melons work too.) If you own a juicer, proceed with the seeds and all and don’t worry about straining. Watermelon is over 90 percent water and is a nutrient-dense food. This drink can serve as an everyday accompaniment at breakfast, lunch, dinner or with a snack.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 drinks
  • 2tablespoons fresh fennel fronds (optional)
  • Filtered water
  • 6cups (1-inch) cubed red watermelon (from about 3 pounds watermelon)
  • 2cups ginger beer, homemade or store-bought (see Tip)
Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Divide the fennel fronds, if using, between two ice cube trays. Fill with filtered water and freeze until solid, 4 to 8 hours.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, place the watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape the sides of the blender or food processor using a rubber spatula and blend again.

  3. Step 3

    Place a fine metal sieve over a large bowl and strain the pureed watermelon through the sieve. (This should yield 2 to 3 cups of juice). Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve; it will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

  4. Step 4

    To serve, fill four highball glasses or rocks glasses with the ice cubes. Stir the watermelon juice and add ½ cup to each glass. Top off with ½ cup ginger beer.

Tip
  • Unlike ginger ale, ginger beer is fermented. It’s nonalcoholic and has a spicy kick and tends to have more flavor than the soft drink. If buying ginger beer from the store, try finding the options from Barritt’s or Bruce Cost.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
249 user ratings
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Comments

Rt66Gal

Fever Tree (the refreshingly light version-- less sugar, no artificial sweeteners) is by far the best store bought ginger beer

Donna

With a little splash of rum, this could be a not-so-dark and stormy. Yum.

Rachel McKay

The recipe intro says to blend seeds and all with no need to strain. Seeded watermelons are so much better! I think that seedless ones are sad due to being the end of the line instead being lifegiving.

Gila Monster

The best ginger beer is Bunderberg's (regular or diet) Makes a smashing Dark & Stormy

Bruce

If you can find it, Old Tyme Ginger Beer is, oh so good.

Bresam

Followed recipe and Found this too sweet. Not worth the effort

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Credits

Adapted from “Watermelon and Red Birds,” by Nicole A. Taylor (Simon & Schuster, 2022)

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