Orange Ginger Beer Sparkler

I wrote the idea for this recipe down as "new year's drink (pomegranate?)" and ended up mixing a few things I had on hand to make an alcohol-free winter mimosa that reminds me a bit of a melba, too. So if you're like me and not a fan of alcohol, you can ring in the new year with some gut-healthy ginger beer instead. This is a great option for kids, too, or anyone who's trying to keep a pregnancy under wraps for a little longer. Honestly, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this ginger beer sparkler and a normal mimosa. This is definitely a better brunch option if you're not planning on getting day drunk, or if you're hoping to avoid your first hangover of 2018. Anyone else having a hard time believing this year is over already?! 

This isn't much of a recipe, really, just a couple of ingredients served in a fancy glass. Think of it more as inspiration. If you want to, you can substitute kombucha for the ginger beer but either add a little extra ginger juice, or choose ginger kombucha if you go that route. A couple little things - you can, of course, make as big of a batch of this as you'd like to serve a large group. I don't recommend mixing it ahead of time and leaving it out in a punch bowl as the bubbles will dissipate, but you can mix it in bottles ahead of time. I use homemade ginger beer but it's pretty easy to find these days, and if you can't, then just use kombucha or another fizzy fermented drink. I think it'd be pretty with a little blood orange or pomegranate juice to make a pink sparkler, too. 

Okay, I'm out! I just wanted to share a little new year's recipe before the big day, and there's another one coming tomorrow for a killer mezze. 

Orange Ginger Beer Sparkler
Serves 4

125 ml / 1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon ginger juice (optional)*
Pomegranate arils
500 ml / 2 cups ginger beer

Split the orange juice evenly between four champagne flutes and add the ginger juice and pomegranate arils. Top with ginger beer and serve immediately.

Notes:
1. I use ginger juice to make the ginger flavour pop a little more, but if your ginger beer is already very spicy, don't worry about it.