Reed's Zero Sugar Extra Ginger Beer Review: A Solid Session Sipper
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The Quick Route
Our Take
Reed’s Zero Sugar Extra Ginger Beer loses some of the magic of its full-calorie counterpart but is one of the best zero-calorie ginger beers you can buy. Unlike other diet ginger beers, it has a real bite because it uses real ginger root.
However, like a two-edged sword, Zero Sugar Extra’s artificial sweeteners inject the right level of sweetness while also introducing an artificial aftertaste that can get in the way.
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Pros
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Cons
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| Love Score | Sip Score | Mix Score |
| 5.8 | 4.7 | 6.2 |
Love Score: In the moment, how much do we enjoy drinking this ginger beer?
Sip Score: How likely are we going to sip this by itself in the future?
Mix Score: How likely would we use this in a mixed drink?
About Reed's Zero Sugar Extra
Reed’s Zero Sugar Extra is a no-calorie reformulation of Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer that makes some notable compromises to achieve zero calories.
Reed’s replaces its usual sweeteners—cane sugar, pineapple, and honey—with a blend of erythritol, stevia leaf extract, and monk fruit extract.
Mixing other sweeteners with stevia is a smart move because it allows for the desired sweetness while reducing stevia’s trademark bitter and metallic aftertaste.
To reintroduce some of Reed’s original personality, the brand adds a few natural flavors, including honey, pineapple, and lemon and lime.
But because the flavor comes from “natural flavors” rather than the underlying ingredients themselves, the drink simply doesn’t taste like Reed’s Extra despite sharing the “Extra” title. It’s more of a Diet Coke than a Coke Zero.
The good news, however, is that Reed’s Zero Sugar Extra still uses pressed organic ginger.
There are few surprises when you look at the nutritional facts on the drink, and the more I do these reviews, the more I appreciate when the brand is confident enough to be fully transparent on the label.
Unlike Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light, Reeds Zero Sugar Extra provides detailed information about what’s in the ginger beer, including each natural flavor, which isn’t legally required. Reed’s takes the extra step to build trust through transparency and I commend them for that.
No, they don’t divulge which spices they use but go ahead, keep your secrets. I’ll find out someday.
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Appearance and Smell
Reeds Zero Sugar Extra pours with a soft and fleeting foam and appears opaque with a faint straw hue.
There aren’t many bubbles after the first pour, which surprises me. I’ve had this ginger beer several times before from a can and remember it being much more lively.
It seems there could be a significant difference in carbonation between the bottles and cans of Zero Sugar Extra, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case for every ginger beer on the market.
It’s just that the difference in carbonation I’ve experienced with Zero Extra is more noticeable.
Despite not having strong scent, Zero Sugar Extra has a rounded ginger smell, masked slightly by a tinny overtone you might expect from something containing artificial sweeteners.
The smell is not as strong as a Zevia, but it serves as an unfortunate omen that this drink might carry some of the flavor baggage associated with zero-calorie drinks that rely on non-neutral sweeteners.
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Taste
Unfortunately, the wave of carbonation I’m hoping for doesn’t appear. It is not flat by any measure, but it’s not as well carbonated as Fever-Tree or Q branded drinks.
Despite that, the ginger and citrus hit quickly, immediately followed by a modest, albeit somewhat artificial, sweetness. Unlike Gosling’s Diet Ginger Beer, the sweetness fades and the warmth from the ginger and spices hits the back of your throat and settles comfortably in your upper chest.
The warmth lingers and grows with each drink, similar to those first sips of whiskey that naturally condition your body to relax. I’m eager to keep a steady drinking pace, but each time I do my mouth is quickly flashed with the artificial sweetener and citric acid before I can get to the warmth, slowing my pace. Nevertheless, this is a ginger beer I would always finish.
Though unexciting, we scored Reeds Zero Sugar Extra as average across the board. But what’s important is that this is scoring average against all ginger beers, including those that are full sugar with complex ingredients.
It stands well on its own despite having to make ingredient compromises, which makes me more excited about this in the world of zero-calorie ginger beers.
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How to Use Reed's Zero Sugar Extra
Reeds Zero Sugar Extra is one of your best options for true zero-calorie mixing. It could fill almost any role, but here are a few specific recommendations:
- Lean into warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom and pair it with fall flavors, including apples or cranberry
- Muddle in berries like strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries to introduce fresh sweetness
- Reintroduce Reed’s tropical-inspired flavors with pineapple juice or mango nectar
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Mixing With Booze
Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer pairs well with rum, vodka, and many tequilas because it still has the LaCroix-like essence of tropical flavors. It’s also broadly appealing enough to throw in with whiskey and bourbon.
I would avoid gin, as the sweeteners are not going to play nicely with botanical flavors.
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Final Thoughts
Reed’s Zero Sugar Extra Ginger Beer may not capture all the magic of its full-calorie counterpart, but it stands out as one of the best zero-calorie options available.
While the artificial sweeteners introduce a slight aftertaste, the genuine ginger bite and overall flavor profile make it a solid choice for those seeking a low-calorie alternative. It’s a versatile mixer that holds its own, particularly with warming spices and tropical flavors.
Despite some compromises, Reed’s transparency and commitment to quality shine through, making it a worthy contender in the zero-calorie ginger beer market.
