Why I Love Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Brew

I used to shop at Trader Joe’s multiple times per week—not just because I grew up in California, where TJ’s was born, or because they sell fun, high-quality products at affordable prices. I stocked my kitchen with Trader Joe’s goodies because I worked there. Replenishing shelves and ringing up customers at the kitschy, cult-favorite grocer was my first job when I moved to my adoptive home city of Philadelphia.

After a few years, I moved on to other jobs, and the store fell out of my weekly grocery shopping rotation—but I’d still pop in every once in a while to pick up favorite snacks and see what was new. It was on one of these checking-in trips a few winters back that I found my new favorite must-have holiday beverage: Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Brew, a fruity, festive sparkling drink with a touch of gingery spice.

Why I Love Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Brew

I’m a big fan of ginger beer as well as the Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Snaps that give this beverage its name. This version is much milder than a brand like Reed’s, which offers an intense ginger flavor that’s not for the faint of heart. Instead, the drink is more like a punch, with a mellow blend of flavors that are easy to sip alone or serve as a base for wintry cocktails and mocktails.

Triple Ginger Brew offers just a hint of heat thanks to ginger puree, but the subtle addition of black pepper and cardamom takes it in a different direction than the pumpkin spice combo of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove that shows up in everything from drinks to sweets to cottage cheese this time of year. Cane sugar adds a pleasant sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm, thanks to the balancing presence of lemon and lime juice, and the addition of pineapple adds a tropical note that just feels festive. Plus, it comes in a gorgeous green swing-top bottle that looks great in your fridge and can be reused to hold water, kombucha or homemade eggnog or coquito. And since Trader Joe’s only stocks this special sip around Thanksgiving and Christmas, it feels seasonal enough to enjoy at holiday celebrations.

There’s another reason I’m always excited to snatch up several bottles of Triple Ginger Brew for the holidays: I’ve been drinking a lot less alcohol recently. Graduating into my 40s has led me to feel the unwelcome effects the morning after consuming even a single craft beer or glass of wine—and that’s simply not something I want to do any more, or how I want my holidays to feel. Plus, in recent years, people close to me have given up drinking altogether, which has meant that holiday gatherings are now sober events. Bringing along some bottles of Triple Ginger Brew for Thanksgiving and Christmas means we can all enjoy a tasty, zero-proof drink that still feels like a special-occasion sip.

How to Use Triple Ginger Brew

I like to serve Triple Ginger Brew over plenty of ice, with a big squeeze of fresh lime juice for a little more brightness and acidity. You could also moderate the sweetness and add some festive color with a splash of Trader Joe’s antioxidant-rich, 100% Tart Cranberry Juice. Add a little pineapple juice to amp up the tropical fruit notes, or even chunks of fresh pineapple and lime juice for a sangria-like sip.

If you’re like me, you’re not worried about drinking a little extra sugar this time of year—but you can dilute your glass to taste with plain or citrus-flavored seltzer to reduce the sugar content to your liking. If you miss the sinus-clearing spiciness of stronger ginger beer, you can always up this aspect by adding a little ginger juice. If you choose to have a holiday cocktail, Triple Ginger Brew also makes a great mixer with a little whiskey, vodka or dark rum—think a fruitier Dark and Stormy—or as an addition to a boozy holiday punch.

The Bottom Line

Triple Ginger Brew is a mellow, balanced sparkling beverage that’s exclusively available at Trader Joe’s for the winter holidays. Its mild spice, fruity flavors and lack of alcohol make it an all-ages holiday sipper that everyone at your gathering can enjoy. But it only comes around once a year, so stock up while you can to ensure you’ve got plenty for your seasonal entertaining.