Is there a difference between ginger beer and ginger ale? Quite a bit, actually. Ginger beer is traditionally brewed and fermented like, well, a beer. Ginger ale on the other hand is a carbonated beverage made from water and ginger. Ginger beer tends to have much more of a "fiery ginger" kick, and it’s less carbonated and sweet than your fizzy ginger ales. The whiskey and ginger combination has been a crowd pleaser since the prohibition era.