Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Donna Katz is no stranger to the hot and dry climate and expansive vineyards of Napa Valley. Originally a commodities trader, she spent 10 years on trading floors in the U.K. and U.S., but one trip to Napa in 2008 changed everything for her. “I felt the energy and life cycle of the vines through the seasons,” says Katz. “Simply put, it captured me.”
In 2013, she moved to Napa to live on the land and began dry-farming a small block of grapevines organically by hand and making restrained style wines. “It was the farming that opened my eyes to what it means to care for the land and winemaking that piqued my interest in the nutritious side of fermentation,” she says.
She began fermenting ginger on the side to aid her gut health, combining foraged and seasonal ingredients in her blends. She was blown away by her creation. The quality of her ginger-based beverage was similar to the experience of drinking wine, she says, with lively aromatics, a flavorful palate and a long finish. The best part was that her ginger beverage was healthy, with real ingredients and no added sugar. “Then the Aussie in me said, ‘Geez, why isn’t there any alcohol in these superb beverages, and why can’t I buy these?’” That was when she decided to roll up her sleeves and bring refreshing and clean dry hard ginger beers to the market. In 2018, she founded G’s Hard Ginger Beer.
The first of its kind, G’s Hard Ginger Beer is gluten-free and plant-based, with no added sugars or sweeteners and no artificial ingredients. “Our 4.5% ABV cans are a mere 87 calories and we choose organic first,” says Katz, adding that G’s uses real fruits, botanicals and spices. “We believe there are better and cleaner ways to enjoy a beverage.”
G’s most popular flavor is the Original, brewed with ginger, lemon and orange. Other flavors include Wild One (ginger, mint and lime) and Sunny Vibes (ginger, passion fruit, orange and sea salt). “I love innovation and experimenting with awesome botanicals, fruits and flowers to find vibrant and flavorful combinations that are incredibly clean, tasty and aromatic that people will thoroughly enjoy,” says Katz.
The company plans to craft more unique flavor combinations for the fall and winter. “It’s not finalized, but it’s looking like a combination of citrus, spices and botanicals that are a play on the hot toddy,” she says. “I craft our ginger beers to be superbly delicious stand alone as well as elevate any cocktail experience and occasion.” And they certainly do. G’s can be enjoyed on its own or in cocktails such as Moscow mules.
G’s Hard Ginger Beer can be purchased at many independent grocery and specialty stores and bottle shops as well as retail chains and online. To learn more, visit gsgingerbeer.com.
