I want to buy a real ginger beer plant like the one described in the
"Histories" section of New Scientist Magazine (28 September, 2002).
The ginger beer plant is a symbiotic relationship between a unique
yeast(Saccharomyces pyriformis) and a dependant bacteria
(Brevibacterium vermiforme).

I am not looking for a recipe for ginger beer.  Nor am I looking for
anything that includes brewer's yeast or wild yeasts.  I want one of
these plants that includes this symbiotic relationship.

New Scientist keeps their articles archived online.  Please
read the article before answering the question.

Where can I buy a real ginger plant?  I'd prefer a US store, but a UK
one will do.  If the store is in the UK, will the plant die during
shipping?

Here's a UK source:

http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itm00986.htm

And a source in Germany:

http://www.dsmz.de/strains/no002484.htm

Thanks for asking this question!  I remember reading about "Ginger
beer plant" in New Scientist and thinking it sounded neat.  I may have
to order some from the links pinkfreud found.  I would think that it
would survive shipping fine, but the supplier would be able to tell
you for sure.

http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itm00986.htm
This is a yeast based starter.

http://www.dsmz.de/strains/no002484.htm
This is a German biotech company.
They have the culture in their collection but they only deal with
researchers that are associated with commercial companies and academic
institutions.

A yahoo group has been started by interested people:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GingerBeerPlant/