Drinkable Review

Foco Pomegranate Juice Drink

2012-02-24T15:16:00.000-05:00

As some of you may remember, I tried a Foco Pennywort Drink for the first time last year and I didn't really like it. However, I recently came across a few other Foco products, and I decided to give the pomegranate juice a try.

Now, it's important that the drink in "Pomegranate Juice Drink" is emphasized here, because this is not pure pomegranate juice. I'm not entirely sure why, but I guess that I was expecting something more along the lines of Pom, or another such drink that is basically just freshly juiced fruit. Foco's drink, however, is more like a conventional, "family grocery store" juice with a consistency not unlike that of a Welch's grape juice. And that is not to imply that Foco's take on pomegranate juice is bad; it's just not what I expected.

However, there was still a sort of odd, underwhelming quality about the taste of the juice. Although there are only four ingredients in the drink (water, juice, sugar, citric acid) and it does taste very natural, the flavor is just sort of bland somehow. This is probably due to the fact that the juice used is only 30% pomegranate juice, but it is hard to hold that against the drink given how generally costly the pomegranate fruit is. The drink is still very responsibly sweetened and does have a pleasant and gentle taste, so it's hard to actually dislike it for any reason, but I think that my expectations going in sort of set me up for disappointment.

But there is something to be said for being able to purchase a well-balanced pomegranate juice without having to surrender all of your worldly possessions at the register. Definitely try this one at least once. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Unknown Asian Food Store [Spartanburg, SC]

Size: 11.8 fl. oz. [350mL]

Price: $0.99

Dilmah Blackcurrant Ceylon Tea

2012-02-22T15:47:00.003-05:00

I have been drinking a lot of really good teas lately, and Dilmah's Blackcurrant Ceylon tea is fairly high up on that list. I've actually had a difficult time lately finding fruit-flavored teas that aren't overbearingly fruity, and Dilmah's blackcurrant offering is a very welcome breath of fresh, aromatic air.

Dilmah is a long-standing and singularly-focused family company that is passionate about and committed to tea, and it really shows. Although I have not had a chance to try Dilmah's plain Ceylon tea, it is still terribly clear that their base tea is a cut above. It tastes very fresh, despite coming in prepackaged bags, and has a robust flavor without being overwhelming. The blackcurrant is also perfectly balanced, and is very present in the drink without overpowering the taste of the tea. Unfortunately, I have never actually had a blackcurrant (currants aren't native to this part of the world), so I can't speak to the naturalness of the flavor, but it does taste consistent with many other blackcurrant-flavored drinks that I've had in the past. However, Dilmah's blackcurrant infusion is somehow not as sweet and "berryish" as others seem to be, giving the tea a more mild flavor and pleasant aftertaste, despite its very strong fragrance while steeping.

In a lot of ways, Dilmah's Blackcurrant Ceylon tea is quite sublime. It's difficult for me to put my finger on exactly why I like it so much. It's just good, somehow. Very good. Definitely pick up a box of this if you ever happen across it.

Verdict: Highly recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 20 bags

Price: $2.00 [Discounted]

7Up Retro

2012-02-20T15:15:00.000-05:00

As far as mainstream lemon-lime sodas are concerned, I have always been somewhat partial to 7Up. There is just something about it that I have always really liked that I've never been able to completely identify. So I was pretty excited when I heard back in early 2011 that Dr Pepper/Seven Up was joining the bandwagon and releasing a limited edition run of 7Up with natural sugar. My excitement was somewhat short-lived, however, as I was never actually able to find the stuff in my area until I came across some surplus cases at a local Big Lots a few weeks ago. From what I understand, 7Up Retro is not currently being produced at the time of this writing, but may be released again in the future, depending on how well the limited edition (i.e. market test) run performed.

I have one criticism about 7Up Retro that I feel needs to be addressed right up front. It's difficult to express effectively with words, so I'll just include another picture of the other side of the can.

Just a tip: if you are trying to promote a retro feel for your beverage, it is probably best to avoid slapping a giant logo for a very modern reality show on the side of the can. I know that the drink was introduced on the 2011 season of Celebrity Apprentice and all, but it really just sort of ruins the motif.

Anyway, on to the taste. Overall, 7Up Retro really isn't all that different from it's high fructose corn syrup counterpart. The taste is relatively similar, although it does have a slightly drier sweetness to it, much like most drinks sweetened with natural sugar. It still has that same tasty flavor and level of carbonation as regular 7Up, but ultimately the differences really aren't worth the effort that it would take to track down one of these now. If Dr. Pepper/Seven Up ever decides to do another run of 7Up Retro, it's definitely worth a try, but for now just save yourself some time and stick with what's readily available.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: $2.80 [6 pack, discounted]

2012-02-15T09:46:00.000-05:00

I'm afraid that I will have to postpone today's review until tomorrow afternoon. I have to go to Spartanburg today to help wrap up some details with my late grandfather's estate.

Apologies for the delay, and I hope to see you all here tomorrow!

Edit: I am going to have to cancel the reviews for the rest of the week. Organizing my grandfather's belongings is taking a lot longer than we originally thought. Posts will resume next Monday. Thank you for your continued patience.

- Hayden

Sambazon Lo-Cal Acai Energy Drink

2012-02-13T12:34:00.002-05:00

My history with acai-based beverages has been a bit shaky, at best. There have been plenty of acai drinks that I have liked, and an almost equal number of those that I haven't, so I picked up Sambazon's energy drink with a sort of reserved hesitancy. But, in the end, I was glad that I gave it a try, as this one definitely falls into the "have liked" list.

Just as a preliminary note, Sambazon does offer a regular calorie version of their all-natural Amazon Energy concoction. I don't normally go for the low-calorie versions of drinks, as they almost always harness the less tasty power of artificial sweeteners or some form of Stevia. The latter is the case with Sambazon's "lo-cal" energy drink, as some of the evaporated sugar cane juice has been replaced with a Stevia extract alternative. Given my consistently poor history with Stevia, I was fairly worried about trying the low calorie version first, but it was the only option available to me at the time, so I decided to go with it anyway.

And I have to admit, it's really not that bad. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Stevia actually sort of works with this drink. There are only a few drinks about which I have been able to say that, and Sambazon seems to be one of the companies that really understands that a little bit of Stevia goes a long way. The taste of the acai is also very strong and natural, which I actually found to be very tasty and pleasant on the palette. The acai berry can be a bit strong, as it has a fairly pronounced tartness, and by itself (or when overused in a beverage) it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Luckily, Sambazon is really on the ball when it comes to acai (as you would expect from a company that specializes in the fruit), and the mix of ingredients in Amazon Energy creates a very unique and pleasant flavor that is diverse enough to cut the tartness of the acai without detracting from the natural taste of the berry. The acai berry's unique taste is still very present in this drink, but the other ingredients make it more recommendable as a "beverage for everybody" than something like a straight acai juice that is more pure to the source.

Overall, I think that this is a great drink, especially for those who like the taste of acai. It is strong enough to appeal to fans of the berry, while still being mild enough to appeal to those who may have not yet developed a taste for the fruit. And it's USDA certified organic, to boot. Definitely check this one out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz.

Price: $0.60 [Discounted; comparative price of $6.98 for a 4-pack]

Bolthouse Farms: Vanilla Chai Tea

2012-02-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

It is not very often that I see a drink sitting on the shelf and I confidently think to myself, "Yes, I know exactly what that is going to taste like." And it is even less common that I am completely correct, so it always a fun moment when a drink exactly matches the "taste image" that I had had in my head. Although I have seen Bolthouse Farms products all over the place, I had never actually had one until I picked up the Vanilla Chai Tea a few days ago. When I was trying to decide on which flavor to try first, something about the vanilla chai tea option just jumped out at me. Almost as though my subconscious was saying, "you know exactly what that is going to taste like, and you really want that taste right now."

And my subconscious was right. There were no surprises about the taste of this drink, but it was an intensely satisfying beverage that I have been craving for days since I had it. As one would expect, it tastes like a spiced chai tea with hints of vanilla, but it is thicker than just a regular tea, due to the inclusion of soy milk in the drink. Each vanilla chai tea also contains 17 grams of protein (from the soy), which is a fairly significant amount, especially for a 15.2 ounce serving of something that tastes as good as this does. The drink is a bit on the thick side, as soy milk is naturally thicker than regular dairy milk. However, the viscosity was only really bothersome at the very end of the drink, making the mid-range serving size a great design choice. Overall, this is a great beverage from Bolthouse Farms, and I can't wait to try some of their other flavors.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Bi-Lo [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 15.2 fl. oz. [450mL]

Price: $2.69

Typhoo

2012-02-08T15:57:00.001-05:00

It has been a while since I've had a very strong English tea. I have mostly been drinking more eastern teas (jasmine, green, etc.) over the past several months, so this was a nice change of pace. Typhoo is an excellent tea. It has a strong and pronounced flavor, and it definitely does have that very "British" taste that is touted on the packaging. Although Typhoo is a bit stronger than most teas of this sort, I still think that this would make a great "everyday breakfast" sort of tea. I'm not entirely sure what sort of tea this is (the ingredients are listed simply as "tea"), but the taste lies somewhere between that of an English Breakfast tea and a Ceylon black tea. It's really very interesting, as the taste is mellow on the tongue, but has an intense, bitter aroma on the palette.

Typhoo also takes very well to cream and sugar. I usually drink my tea straight, particularly when tasting one for the first time, as I think that cream and sugar often tends to muddle the natural flavor of the tea. But I decided to give it a try this time on the recommendation of an acquaintance of mine, and I was glad that I did. The cream (by which I secretly mean 2% milk) helped to reduce the bitter aroma and the sugar gave it a gentle sweetness without detracting much from the flavor. It just made the tea very pleasant, overall.

I like Typhoo a good bit. I don't know that I could drink it all the time, as it is a bit on the powerful side, but I still think that it's a tasty, unique tea that is definitely worth checking out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 80 bags

Price: $4.00 [discounted]

Left Hand Stranger Pale Ale

2012-02-06T13:44:00.001-05:00

I've had several of Left Hand Brewery's beers at this point, and I have to say that they are all pretty good (especially the milk stout). I have seen Stranger several times in stores in the past, but it was not until recently that I was able to find an individual bottle. It's actually been a while since I've had a pale ale, so this was a nice change of pace from some of the lagers that I've been drinking lately.

Left Hand's Stranger pale ale is pretty good. It has a strong, dry taste and a bitterness that is almost more like an IPA than a more traditional pale ale, although without the note of citrus in the finish. I generally tend to like beers with a heavy bitterness in the taste, so this is great for me, but the bitterness would definitely be strong enough to put off those who prefer more malty ales. Stranger also has a harsh but flavorful finish, and the aroma lingers fairly strongly in the aftertaste. Again, this is great for those who like strong pale ales, but is probably not a good fit for those who don't.

Overall, I think that Stranger is a very solid pale ale. I would definitely recommend it, but not without first warning the recommendee of its strength. It's certainly not a beer that I would drink regularly, but I can definitely see myself craving this one again in the future. Also, the art on the label is some of the best that I have ever seen. The sides of the label are significantly cut off in the picture about, so if you ever pass by one of these in a store, definitely take the time to stop and give it a look.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Whole Foods Market [Greenville, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: $1.99

Mamma Chia

2012-02-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

Every so often, I stumble across a drink that is so demanding of my attention that I have no choice but to purchase it, regardless of price or taste appeal. Mamma Chia was one of those drinks, as it's not particularly common that I find drinks that are filled to the brim with tiny seeds. When I noticed it sitting on the shelf among the other organic drinks at a nearby Whole Foods Market, I found it to be quite odd that the seeds were just sitting perfectly suspended in the liquid, rather than sinking to the bottom. At first, I thought that maybe it was due to the sheer number of seeds in the drink, but upon closer inspection I realized that there was actually a good deal of space between each seed; too much space for that to be the answer.

So, I picked the drink up off of the shelf to take a closer look. I had expected the seeds to swirl around in the beverage upon picking it up, much like ink dispersing through disrupted water. However, rather than floating around freely in the fluid, the seeds simply lurched around with the liquid and promptly stopped in place when I stopped moving the bottle. The liquid didn't seem especially viscous, and my second hypothesis was that the seeds were extremely non-dense and that the effect of Pascal's Law (which states that any point in a confined incompressible fluid is subjected to equal forces in every direction due to the pressure of the surrounding fluid) was enough to overcome both gravity and buoyancy and hold the seeds in place. But I was still not entirely correct.

After doing a bit of research, I learned that chia seeds, when mixed with water, react to create a somewhat gelatinous substance. The resulting liquid is more dense than water, but still flows freely like a more conventional beverage, thus explaining the tendency of the seeds to remain fixed in place. This satisfied my curiosity about the strange behavior of the seeds, but I'm afraid that it caused problems when it came time to actually taste the drink.

I am sincerely at a loss for what to think about this drink. To start with the positive, the blackberry hibiscus juice was very good. Exceptionally good, in fact. The flavor is very light and natural and hits just the perfect amount of sweetness. Honestly, this may be one of the best juices that I have recently. However, the chia seeds give the drink one of the strangest consistencies that I have ever experienced. There are a lot of seeds in each Mamma Chia. So many seeds, in fact, that it is hard to tell that there is actually any liquid in there at all. Each seed has a sort of gelatinous "husk" around it that causes the seeds to slide around and bounce off of each other in your mouth, and each sip of the drink is reminiscent of the sensation caused by sucking squished up jello off of a spoon. The seeds themselves don't really taste like anything, but the sensation is just too weird and distracting for me.

Like I said above, I really like the juice used in Mamma Chia. But the seeds - while they are an interesting concept - just get in my way of enjoying the beverage as a whole. Chia seeds do have several health benefits such as high protein, fiber, and essential mineral content, but the consistency is really just too odd for me to tolerate. However, if you don't think that the gelatinous nature of the seeds will not bother you, or you think that the health benefits are worth the added texture, then this is definitely one to try out. The experience itself is worth having at least once, anyway.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Whole Foods Market [Greenville, SC]

Size: 10 fl. oz. [296mL]

Price: Unfortunately, I forgot to write the price down. It was somewhere between 2 and 3 dollars, I believe.

blk.

2012-01-31T15:32:00.000-05:00

When I first came across this water several months ago, I did not think much of it. It was sitting on the shelf with several other brands of mineral/spring water, and I picked it up for a moment or two. I thought that it was interesting enough, and the bottle certainly caught my eye, but I set it back down believing it to be just another bottled water product that cost a little bit more than I wanted to spend at the time. It wasn't until about a month later that I learned that the eye-catching bottle was actually clear. So impressed by the novelty of it all, I rushed out to the store to pick up a bottle, but was unfortunately unable to find one until just recently.

BLK (capitalized for ease of recognition in the following paragraphs) is an all-natural spring water enriched with fulvic acid. As you can see in the image above, the water is indeed black. While this is definitely odd or unsettling at first, I can assure you that there is no reason to be alarmed. The color of the water comes directly from the fulvic acid, which is a naturally occurring mixture of mineral components. Fulvic acid is found in nature as a liquid colloid, thus resulting in the opaque color. If this has piqued your curiosity on the subject, visit the following Wikipedia pages for more information on colloids and the Tyndall effect that renders many of them opaque to the eye. It's very interesting stuff.

Anyway, for those who are still not convinced that black water can be natural, just keep in mind that I bought this product at Earth Fare, an organic grocery store with very strict rules about what level of artificiality is allowed in the products that pass across company shelves. Additionally, according to the Wikipedia page for humic acid, attempts have been made to synthesize fulvic acid, but none have been successful. So, the long and short of it is that BLK basically has no choice but to use all natural ingredients. Fulvic acid has some health benefits as a dietary supplement, as well. The highly ionic nature of the compounds found in humic acids promote the absorption of other nutrients and minerals in the body, and are helpful in increasing the overall efficiency of other important dietary elements.

As far as the taste goes, there really isn't much of any. Which is actually good in the case of a product that markets itself as water. As far as I could tell, BLK tastes just like regular water, although there was a hint of plastic in the taste, but no more than any other bottled spring water. There is a very, very faint granularity to the water (presumably from the added mineral complex), but it is not noticeable enough to be an actual concern. Basically, drinking BLK is just like drinking any other water.

Now, I must admit that BLK is a bit of a novelty. If fulvic acid were clear, BLK would definitely not have much going for it other than the nutritional benefits of fulvic acid, and even those are a bit superfluous. From what I've found out about the science behind fulvic acid, the total nutritional benefits are somewhat slight, particularly when taken in small, irregular quantities. But frankly, it doesn't really matter. Sometimes it is okay for a beverage to rely largely on novelty appeal, and I feel like this is one of those times. The sheer peculiarity of drinking black water is enough to make me want to buy BLK, especially since it really isn't that much more expensive than any other bottled water. And the marketing campaign is absolutely fantastic. It was a lot of fun to slowly uncover the "enjoy the dark side" slogan as I drank through the beverage, and the bottle definitely does look good sitting on the shelf among its less exciting competitors. BLK may be a novelty, but I think that it is a fantastic novelty. If nothing else, it's a great conversation starter.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Earth Fare [Rock Hill, SC]

Size: 16.9 fl. oz. [500mL]

Price: $1.99

Gevalia Kaffe

2012-01-27T15:43:00.002-05:00

I am very excited about today's post, as it marks the first coffee review ever on Drinkable Review. I typically don't drink very much coffee (particularly in large quantities) because it tends to give me indigestion, but I do love the stuff, and I often find myself wishing that I could drink more than ten ounces of it at a time. Kraft Foods recently sent me this sample of the newly released Gevalia, and I think that it is a wonderful place to start off a line of occasional coffee reviews.

Now, it is important to note here that "newly released" only applies to the U.S. retail market. Previously, Gevalia was only available online to customers in the states, but Kraft Foods has recently begun selling this Swedish favorite in retail stores across the U.S. That is not, however, to suggest that Gevalia is a "new" product, as the company actually has a fair bit of history behind it. Gevalia was founded as a Swedish trading company by Victor Theodore Engwall in 1853. Engwall's high quality coffee imports eventually secured the company a position as an official coffee purveyor of the Swedish Royal Court, and business has been booming ever since. To this day, over 150 years since the company was founded, Gevalia is still the highest selling coffee in Sweden.

As I said above, I am not a huge coffee drinker. But this is purely a technical issue; a mere limitation of my unfortunate biological intolerance of the substance. I can handle coffee in small amounts, and I still like to partake whenever I can, regardless of the frequently undesirable effects on my stomach after the fact. It is one of those things that is just too good not to drink. And if there has ever been a prime example of the beverage that incites my reasonability to throw caution to the wind, it is Gevalia. This may honestly be the best coffee that I have ever had. It has a prominent, aromatic, and full-bodied flavor, with a balanced and pleasing mouthtaste and a smooth finish. The aftertaste remains present on the palate for some time after drinking (as is expected with most coffees), but it is not overbearing in the slightest, and I actually found the lingering aroma to be quite enjoyable.

Gevalia's traditional roast sits in a perfect middle ground of my personal coffee tastes. It is strong and flavorful without being overly bitter or offensive to the palate, and manages to retain a calm and consistent taste throughout the experience. This is a coffee that has clearly withstood the tests of time, and has reached a level of maturity that many modern beverages have yet to touch. I generally try to avoid personifying the beverages that I drink, but Gevalia just feels like one of those drinks that knows who/what it is and is comfortable with its identity. This attitude really shows through in the taste, making this one of the most well-balanced and tasty coffees that I have had in the past several years. I highly recommend Gevalia Kaffe to those looking for a great new coffee to try, as well as those who may be new to coffee and are looking for a good entry point to an often overwhelming market. Definitely check this one out.

Verdict: Highly recommended

Sample sent courtesy of Kraft Foods.

For more information about Gevalia, visit www.gevalia.com

Or follow Gevalia on Facebook or Twitter

Phenom Natural Coconut Water

2012-01-24T14:48:00.001-05:00

By this point, I have had several coconut waters, and none of them have been very good. I came across this one while perusing the shelves of my local Big Lots (I actually managed to get that stubborn price sticker off of the front this time) and despite my previous bad encounters with coconut water, I decided to give it a try.

I was hoping that the blueberry apple flavoring would help make the coconut milk a bit more palatable. Unfortunately, the flavorings were not enough to overpower the odd saltiness of the coconut water. The flavors were certainly there, and I actually liked the blueberry taste a good bit, but the strangeness of the coconut water still prevailed. It's salty and savory in a way that a beverage shouldn't be, and the added electrolytes don't help with the taste very much. Like other coconut waters, it is very hydrating, as the salts and electrolytes help your body to absorb more of the actual water, but I don't know that the taste is worth it.

I wish that I could feel differently about coconut water. Coconut water drinks have been an increasingly popular trend in the beverage industry as of late, and I really would like to understand what all the fuss is about. Nothing would please me more than to have my mind changed about the stuff. Unfortunately, Phenom Natural Coconut water is not the drink to rescue my opinion of the beverage.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]
Size: 16.9 fl. oz. [500mL]
Price: $0.75 [Reduced]

RAAW

2012-01-20T14:36:00.003-05:00

I am just going to go ahead and start this review by saying that there is not a whole lot to say about RAAW. However, I do not say this as a bad thing. In fact, I feel that this is the entire intention of RAAW's all natural approach. To me, this is how a drink that touts itself as raw and all-natural should taste.

RAAW: Raspberry Lemongrass is literally nothing more than the juice of 2 and 1/2 cups of raspberries and 1 and 1/2 ounces of lemongrass, along with a few extra natural flavorings from fruit and vegetable juice. It is seriously just juice, as it says on the label. It tastes pretty much exactly like one would expect: raspberries mixed with lemon grass. And it is very good. However, it is also very strong, and anything much more than the 12 fl. oz. serving size would have likely been too much. Even by the end of the bottle pictured above, I was sort of reaching the end of my flavor tolerance rope. The strength of the taste is also likely to deter those who are not accustomed to (or simply do not enjoy) the flavor of raw, unsweetened juices, but if you enjoy the very natural taste of unadulterated fruits and vegetables, then RAAW is definitely one to try out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Whole Foods Market [Greenville, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: Somewhere around $2.00 [I don't remember, exactly]

Adagio Teas: Irish Breakfast

2012-01-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

As soon as I saw this tea sitting on the shelf, I knew that I was going to be purchasing it. This is easily one of the most enticing tea containers that I have ever come across. The fact that I love Irish Breakfast tea certainly didn't hurt, but the swooping design of the graphic and the minimalism of the color palette was so eye-catching and different (for a tea container) that I had to pick it up. The container is made of a sturdy, matte-finished metal (feels like aluminum), and is covered by a domed, UV-blocking lid with a double-hinged clasp design that makes the container very easy to open and close while still maintaining an air-tight seal. The design of the container is absolutely superb, and the fact that such a sturdy piece of beverage engineering costs less than ten dollars makes the purchase a no-brainer.

And I haven't even mentioned the tea yet. As I said above, I love Irish Breakfast tea, and this one is an excellent example of the category. The tea is a combination of black teas from Ceylon and Assam that has a rich and full-bodied flavor with just the right amount of bite. The aftertaste does tend to linger (as with most black tea blends), but the remaining flavor is pleasantly mellow and the tea is so good in the first place that it's really just hard to mind. If you like black tea at all, or you've had bad experiences with darker teas in the past and would like to experience a proper black tea blend, this one comes with my highest recommendation.

Also, since I'm not sure when I'll be getting back to reviewing another Adagio tea, I'm going to go ahead and plug their website [http://www.adagio.com] in this review. Adagio has one of the widest selections of loose-leaf tea that I have ever seen from a single distributor, and their site definitely deserves a look.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]

Size: 4 oz. [112g]

Price: $6.99

Fentimans Rose Lemonade

2012-01-17T15:05:00.001-05:00

I have been keeping an eye out for Fentiman’s Rose Lemonadeever since it was released last year, and I am happy to finally be able to talk about it on Drinkable Review. Fentiman’s products are notoriouslydifficult to find in my area (although that is becoming less and less true astime goes on), and while that means that I usually have to wait for a whilebefore I eventually stumble across the newer products, it also means that finding each one of those drinks is like discovering a rare treasure. And the roselemonade was definitely worth the wait.

Let’sjust go ahead and put it out there: I really like this one. I love roseflavored beverages, and Fentimans has really made a good one here. First off, the lemonade itself is verygood, with just the right amount of carbonation and a very natural andsour lemon taste. The rose extract is also very well balanced, as the drinkcontains just enough to be present and effective in the drink without taking over (something that rose tends to do very easily). The aromatic taste of the rosecombines very well with the tartness of the lemon, and Fentimans' natural and botanical brewing process (along with the slight hint of fermentation in the background) really lends itself well to the flavor of the drink.

If you're not a big fan of really sour, natural lemonades, then this one may not be for you, and the rose flavoring may not be for everybody. I, however, think that this is an excellent product, and I give it a high recommendation for those with a more venturous beverage attitude.

Verdict: Highly recommended

Purhcased: Total Wine and More [Columbia, SC]

Size: 9.3 fl. oz. [275mL]

Price: $6.99 [4-pack]

Just a quick update

2012-01-14T13:21:00.001-05:00

First and foremost, I would like to apologize for missing yesterday's review. Our internet went down the night before last, and our ISP didn't get it back up until late yesterday evening, by which point it was really just to late to post the review.

I had intended to write the review this afternoon and post it today. Unfortunately, I will be attending a memorial service this evening for a friend of mine who was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago, and I am going to need a bit more time than I had initially thought to prepare myself for that.

Again, I apologize for missing yesterday's post, and I thank you all in advance for your understanding during these trying times. I will be posting two reviews this coming Tuesday, so be sure to check back next week for my take on two wonderful new beverages.

- Hayden

Magic Hat Howl Black Lager

2012-01-10T14:04:00.000-05:00

I went through a bit of a dark beer phase this past year. For several months, I was tasting dark, stout beers almost exclusively. I have since moved on into more of a bitter, pale ale phase, but that certainly did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying Magic Hat's black lager.

Howl is a very tasty beer with a relatively complex flavor. Magic Hat is a bit mysterious about the ingredients that they use in the brew (the bottle makes no direct mention of any special ingredients), but the taste has a lot of nutty undertones. The beer has a strong, dark flavor, while still retaining the slight sourness of lighter lagers. One of the most interesting things about this beer is that it has a fairly profound taste of pretzels (more specifically the hard outer crust of a pretzel) in the aftertaste. I absolutely love pretzels, so this was a really interesting element of this beer for me. Overall, this is a great beer with a lot of strong, complimentary flavors, and I definitely recommend it to those drinkers who enjoy stronger, darker beers.

However, I have a difficult time giving this as a good "all around" recommendation. The only thing keeping me from highly recommending it is that I feel like anyone who does not like darker beers is really going to be put off by this one. The flavor is strong and offensive to the taste buds, which I really like, but I can see how fans of lighter beers or those who are new to the beer scene would really not like the taste of this one. That being said, I think that it's a wonderful beer. Keep an eye out for it.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Gift from a friend [received in a sample pack]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: Approximately $9.00 [six pack]

Argo Tea: Mojitea

2012-01-06T13:06:00.002-05:00

Argo Tea’s Mojitea is a very interesting beverage. Theingredients list only consists of five simple and all-natural ingredients, and yet thereis a lot going on here with the flavor, thus reflecting the slogan at the bottom of the bottle: "tea + ingredients with purpose." This is essentially just asimple mint tea with lime juice and cane sugar, but the resulting flavor issurprisingly complex. The mint and lime tastes are both strong and prominent,and yet neither one overpowers the other. Instead, they combine to create a new,singular flavor that has the aromatic bitterness of mint, the sourness oflime, and the mellow aftertaste of lighter teas. Overall, the flavor is a bit hard to describe on its own merit, but if you are familiar with the mint-lime combination of most mojito flavored things, you can probably imagine this one fairly well.

I also really, really like Argo Tea's container. The bottle is made of light but sturdy glass, and is tapered in the middle to feel great in the hand. The label is printed on a sheet of plastic around the bottle, allowing it to be completely ripped off, and the bottle sports an orifice wide enough for ice cubes. The lid is also made of a relatively sturdy plastic that is designed to screw on either perfectly or not at all. It's clear that Argo Tea has designed their bottle with direct consumer reuse in mind, which is something that I always respect in a company. I know I'll be using mine for homemade juices in the future. And on top of all that, the drink is still relatively inexpensive. I can't yet speak for the other flavors, but so far I can safely say that Argo Tea products are definitely recommended.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Whole Foods [Greenville, SC]

Size: 13.5 fl. oz. [400mL]

Price: $2.99

MiO Energy

2012-01-03T17:34:00.000-05:00

Kraft recently sent me a promotional sample pack of their new MiO Energy flavor line. As many of you likely remember, I reviewed MiO when it was first being introduced about nine months ago, and I really liked it. But to be honest, I was a little bit nervous going into MiO Energy. I've never been a fan of the taste of most energy boosting beverages, and I have been disappointed in the past by companies attempting to branch out into the energy drink market. However, I am happy to report that MiO Energy maintains the ease of use and great taste of the original, and I think that both the black cherry and green thunder varieties are great additions to the MiO brand.

It should be said, however, that the secret to MiO maintaining the elements that made the original product so good is the fact that MiO Energy isn't really all that different from the original. In fact, it is essentially just two new flavors of MiO with caffeine added into the mix. But this is by no means a bad thing. The size of each bottle has been scaled down to approximately 12 (8 oz.) servings per bottle, and each serving contains about 60mg of caffeine; about the same as a typical cup of coffee. I have always been somewhat impervious to the effects of caffeine, especially in smaller quantities, so I can't really attest to the "energy-giving" capabilities of MiO Energy, but the 60mg of caffeine should be enough to give most drinkers a quick pick-me-up. Both flavors do contain trace amounts of other energy enhancers such as taurine and guarana extract, but not enough to really affect the flavor in any way (so no worries there). Both flavors are still sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium, but the typical "diet" taste is subdued and is not nearly as intrusive as it is in so many other artificially sweetened beverages.

Both flavors are quite tasty, although I am partial to the black cherry. The black cherry is pretty straightforward, and has a sweet, cherry taste without being overbearing or cough syrupy. The green thunder, on the other hand, has a more generic, acidic energy drink taste. Normally, I would consider this to be a bad thing, but this time I don't. Although it does have that energy drink taste (some refer to it simply as "citrus punch"), it is not nearly as acidic as the usual energy drink, and has a much less abrasive and more mild flavor. I actually like the taste a good bit, and any doubts I initially had about the flavor were based purely on precedent.

Overall, MiO Energy is a very worthy addition to the already impressive line of MiO products. My only real complaint is that the "squirt nozzle" on the MiO bottles is still a bit hard to control, and I often find myself accidentally adding a bit more flavoring than I necessarily meant to add. Other than that, I find very little about MiO Energy to dislike. This is definitely one to try out. Especially the black cherry.

Verdict: Recommended

Samples provided by Kraft Foods, Inc.

Be sure to check out MiO on facebook and Twitter. And be sure to check out "Thunder" Dave Steinman's hilarious (but probably NSFW) promo video for MiO Energy.

Calpico: Mango

2011-12-30T09:06:00.000-05:00

I must admit, I was a little bit nervous when I picked this beverage up off of the shelf. I opted to try the the mango flavored version of the drink, but the original markets itself as a non-carbonated milk/yogurt beverage. I really had no idea what to expect going into this one, but the taste is one that would have likely contradicted my expectations anyway, if I had had any.

Calpico is a little bit hard to describe, as there's really not much out there that tastes like it. It's sort of one of those "have to try for yourself to see" beverages. The base of the drink tasted milky, but it also sports a robustly tangy and acidic bite to it that most creamy flavored things tend not to have. The mango flavoring was quite noticeable, but it was a bit less sweet than other mango flavored things and it did not interfere heavily with the original taste of the drink. While the drink has a relatively milky taste, it's hard to pin down exactly what the drink tastes like, as the acidity turns it into almost an entirely different drink.

The dairy taste comes through quite clearly, but it is more like Calpico has captured the "essence" of dairy, rather than having the flavor of a full-bodied milk or dairy product. Additionally, the drink does not have the thick consistency of milk, and is only slightly more viscous than most other non-carbonated soft drinks. I am glad that this is the case, however, as I think that had the drink been much thicker, it may have just been too odd to handle in full servings.

Overall, I really enjoyed the mango Calpico. It was different and unique, and I found it to be surprisingly light and refreshing, despite its somewhat odd combination of elements. I still haven't worked up the nerve to try the original flavor, but I am sure that it is quite good and that I really have nothing to worry about. Definitely give this one a try.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Asian Market [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 16.9 fl. oz. [500 mL]

Price: $1.99 [If memory serves...]

Taylor's Tonics Holiday Fizz Collection

2011-12-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

Although I have had somewhat mixed results with Taylor's Tonic's products in the past, they seem to be a company that I keep coming back to. Their beverages are always interesting and unique, and it's always nice to find companies that are not afraid to take a more experimental approach with their product offerings. I was excited when I found this holiday soda assortment at my local World Market about a month ago, and despite some trepidation about eventually having to drink an egg nog soda, I decided to give it a try. The collection came with four flavors: egg nog, gingerbread, candy cane, and cranberry. Below is a quick overview of what I thought of each flavor.

The egg nog fizz was sure to be my least favorite of the bunch, so I decided to try it first. I really don't like egg nog in it's regular form, so I was not exactly excited about drinking a carbonated version of the flavor. As I expected, I didn't really like this very much. It was heavy and sweet, and the flavor lingered in the back of my throat for a while after each sip. Also, the egg nog flavor really does not go very well with carbonation. I can't say that I would recommend this one.

Having tasted all four of the flavors at this point, I think that the gingerbread flavor was the most interesting. That's not to say that it was the best, as it certainly had its issues (heavy, busy flavor, strong aftertaste, etc.), but it was definitely the most ambitious and different of the bunch. The beverage is supposed to emulate the taste of gingerbread with a combination of ginger, clove, and cinnamon, and it actually does so very well. The only problem with this is that you are...well, for the lack of a better description, you are drinking a gingerbread flavored soda. Again, it's an interesting concept that really just ended up tasting sort of strange in the end.

Given my disappointment with the last two flavors, I was starting to have my doubts about the collection. However, things began to look up a bit with the candy cane shake flavor. As many of you surely know by now, I absolutely love mint. I found Taylor's Tonics' take on candy cane to be a much more suitable flavor for a carbonated beverage, and I enjoyed this one much more than the egg nog and gingerbread sodas. However, the drink was still very heavy and sweet, and I found myself having a hard time finishing the entire serving.

And last but not least, of course, is the cranberry. This was my favorite of the four sodas that came in the collection. I think that this was largely due to the fact that the flavor seemed a good bit more straightforward than the others, despite it's reasonably lengthy list of ingredients. It pretty much just tasted like cranberry, with a hint of other holiday spices here and there in the background. But still, the cranberry flavoring did suffer a bit from the typical, heavy consistency and sweetness of so many naturally brewed sodas.

I think that the fact that the cranberry was my favorite serves as a great example of my recently adopted philosophy about sodas. It has been my experience (particularly lately) that simpler, more straightforward flavors tend to lend themselves better to a sweetened, carbonated environment. In other words: the simpler the taste, the less likely it will be that elements of the sodas flavor will be lost in the mix. Simpler tastes ultimately leave me feeling more gratified, almost as though the simplicity of the taste offers a more whole and accessible experience.

Anyway, on to my last words about the holiday sampler. Although I did not particularly love any of these sodas, I really enjoyed the process of tasting each of them. Each one was different and unique in its own right, and the sampler was a fun and exciting break from a season of traditional (and often tiresome) beverages. I had some issues with the heaviness of each of these drinks, and I don't know that I'm entirely sold on the "old-fashioned brewed soda" taste just yet, but I still would say that this holiday collection is definitely worth a try if you ever run across one. If nothing else, it was a lot of fun.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]
Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]
Price: $6.99 [4-pack]

2011-12-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

Today is my sister's birthday, and I am afraid that I forgot to write today's review up yesterday. I will need to postpone today's review in favor of spending some time with the family. Check back tomorrow afternoon for a review of Taylor's Tonics Holiday Fizz assortment.

- Hayden

The Pop Shoppe Root Beer

2011-12-23T01:56:00.000-05:00

For the past several years, I have had a weird aversion to root beer. I always loved the stuff when I was a kid, but for some reason it has held little appeal to me lately. I'll drink the occasional root beer every so often for the sake of trying something new, but I've found that they are usually too sweet for me. I am very rarely able to finish an entire serving in one go, and I've just sort of naturally begun to avoid them altogether.

That being said, I found this little mind-changer at my local Big Lots, and I was so intrigued by the shape of the bottle and the rather adorable label (not to mention the ridiculous price) that I decided that it would be almost silly not to try it. And I am certainly glad that I did. The Pop Shoppe has made a pretty delicious root beer, whether you like root beer or not. The flavors are strong and prominent, and yet are not overwhelming or overly sweet like many other root beers that I've had. Additionally, the drink seems to have a bit of a citrusy aftertaste, almost like eating nothing but the juice vesicles out of an orange slice. It has that sort of light, watery taste of the pulp of the fruit without any of the bitterness of the surrounding septum. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but I like it.

Overall, this is a very good root beer. I may still not be the world's biggest root beer fan, but The Pop Shoppe has convinced me to give the beverage another shot. I can't wait to try more of The Pop Shoppe's sodas in the future.

Oh, and be sure to check out The Pop Shoppe's website. The descriptions of their various flavors are genuinely funny.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $0.60 [Discounted]

THiNQ

2011-12-16T12:03:00.000-05:00

It's not very often that I find a non-alcoholic beverage that comes in an aluminum bottle. So, naturally, when I saw this drink sitting on the shelf at a local Wal-Mart, it really jumped out at me. The sleek, minimalist design of the black label is also very eye-catching, and I eagerly decided to give it a try.

ThinQ markets itself as a focus, mood enhancement, and stress relief beverage, and is packed with all natural mood enhancing ingredients such as GABA and ginkgo biloba, among others. Although I did not notice a huge impact in my mood (although, to be fair, I have made a habit of drinking these during the relatively stress-free activity of watching Star Trek all night), I did find ThinQ to be very tasty. Or, at least, I found the "citricity" flavor to be quite tasty. The mixed berry variety tastes a little bit odd; almost like a typical berry flavored energy drink.

The "citricity" variety, on the other hand, is delicious. It reminds me a lot of a an orange-cream popsicle. ThinQ is sweetened with natural sugar, as well as a bit of Reb A (one of the only derivatives of stevia that I actually find palatable), and it manages to be sweet without being overly so. The consistency of the drink is light and airy, and the level of carbonation is matched well with the flavor. I have had several of these since my initial experience with the beverage, and I have enjoyed each one of them to the bottom of the bottle. Although I don't really like ThinQ's mixed berry flavor very much, the citrus variety is definitely one to check out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Wal-Mart [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.49

2011-12-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Good news, everyone! I have officially graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Things should quiet down significantly for a while now, and I will finally have some time to get Drinkable Review back to its original pace and consistency.

Thank you all so much for bearing with me during this past semester. Things have been very rough lately, both in school and otherwise, and I sincerely appreciate your understanding.

Posting will resume this coming Friday.

Thanks again,

Hayden

Update

2011-11-29T21:45:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to briefly hop on here and post a quick update about the state of the site for the next couple of weeks. As those of you who follow me on Twitter may have already seen, I am graduating in two weeks with my bachelor's in mechanical engineering. Needless to say, I am going to be incredibly busy over the next fourteen days. I have an unbelievable amount of work to do this week, and slowing down for even an hour to write this week's reviews may prove to be fatal to my grades.

That being said, I will not be posting reviews this week. I would like to say that I will be back up and running by next week, but I will be right in the middle of final exams, and I don't want to make any promises. So, I am hoping to be under way again next week, but if my schedule proves to be more demanding than I expect (which is usually the case in engineering), I will definitely be back the week after that.

Thank you again for your patience as I finish up my degree. I will be back in my original form and posting on a regular schedule again very soon.

Until then, have a wonderful week.

- Hayden.

Sam Adams Winter Lager

2011-11-18T13:46:00.001-05:00

As I have said before, Sam Adams is probably one of my favorite American Breweries. Their beers are consistently memorable and flavorful, and it is very rare that I find a Sam Adams brew that I don't like. The Winter Lager is no exception to this rule, and I think that is actually one of the better lagers that I've had recently.

In general, lagers are not my favorite kind of beer. I do enjoy a good lager from time to time, and there are always exceptions to every self-established rule of personal taste, but I usually prefer stronger ales and stouts to the somewhat light nature of most lagers. That being said, Sam Adams Winter Lager is an excellent dark lager with some very nice seasonal tastes mixed into the brew. The lager is spiced with orange zest, cinnamon, and ginger, lending the drink a flavor very much reminiscent of cold weather and the winter holiday season. Although it is somewhat on the yeasty side, I found that it had a very light and flavorful taste. The aftertaste also does not linger around very long, either, making the Winter Lager very easy to drink. To give you an indication of exactly how easy it is to drink, I have had nine of these in the past two weeks.

I also found it worth nothing that this is a beer that remains tasty as it equalizes to room temperature. I have a bad habit of drinking things fairly slowly, especially when I am with other people, so unwanted heat transfer into my beverage is an issue that I run into frequently. However, Sam Adams Winter Lager stays just as good as it begins to warm to ambient temperature, making it the perfect beer for those of us who like to truly appreciate our beverages.

And by "truly appreciate," I mean "absentmindedly take two drinks every twenty minutes while staying up all night feverishly trying to write lab reports and technical papers."

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Wal-Mart [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [6-pack]

Dr. Pepper (Glass bottle, natural sugar)

2011-11-15T13:17:00.001-05:00

I have never been a huge fan of Dr. Pepper. It's certainly not a bad drink, but there has just always been something about the flavor that gets tiresome pretty quickly for me. Even so, I was pretty excited when a favorite lunch time cafe of mine began carrying these old-school Dr. Peppers.

From my observations, glass bottles have been seeing somewhat of a resurgence in popularity lately. Just a few years ago, convienience stores and gas stations that carried glass bottle sodas were few and far between. Now, it is almost difficult to find one that doesn't offer at least a few choice sodas packaged in glass. However, one soda that I have found to be conspicuously absent from all of these store shelves is Dr. Pepper. It is possible to occasionally find a Dr. Pepper in glass, but the ones that I have found so far have simply been the HFCS-sweetened formula simply repackaged into a different container. This was the first glass Dr. Pepper with natural sugar that I had ever seen, and I was definitely excited to give it a try.

I want to start off my thoughts on the drink by saying this: the drink is good. This is not a bad drink. I just don't really like Dr. Pepper. It is very similar in taste to the regular formula, but as with most other drinks containing natural sugar, this one has a drier taste than its more conventional counterpart. I do like it better than regular Dr. Pepper, but I still found myself having a hard time finishing this one. That, however, is due entirely to my personal disinclination towards the beverage. If you like Dr. Pepper, this is definitely one to try out. If you ever come across one, that is.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Jasmine Cafe [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.95

Quick Update

2011-11-08T14:14:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to hop on here while I had the chance to do so and say that I will not be posting reviews this week. I have a ludicrous amount of school work to do this week, and I literally don't think that I am going to have the time to sit down and write them right now. I apologize for the delay, but this is a very important week for two of our senior mechanical design courses, and I need to be able to commit myself completely to my group work.

That being said, I am hoping to implement some changes into the format and content variety of Drinkable Review within the next couple of weeks. I want to start updating more frequently during the week, and I have some ideas for adding some audio and video content to the site in addition to the regular reviews. I'm hoping to make a more in-depth video explaining Drinkable Review's new direction soon (hopefully some time this weekend), so keep checking in, or follow Drinkable Review on twitter for continued updates.

- Hayden

Pure Glass Bottle Reusable Vessel: Explorer Edition

2011-11-04T15:54:00.000-04:00

As some of you may remember, I was sent Pure Glass Bottle's Traveler vessel about a year ago. Although my steadily increasing collection of reusable bottles has caused me to use it a bit less than I previously did, it is still one of my favorite vessels. Naturally, I was excited when Pure Glass Bottle contacted me with an opportunity to review their other, larger vessel design: the Explorer.

I mentioned the Explorer briefly in my previous review of the Traveler. Like the Traveler, the Explorer is made of 100% pure glass and coated with a non-removable, impact-resistant material that increases the strength, tactility, and safety of the glass. However, while the Traveler only holds 17 fluid ounces, the Explorer clocks in at an impressive 25 ounces. To me, this is probably the most appealing aspect of this bottle, as the previous upper limit of my reusable bottle arsenal was only 20 ounces. I drink a lot of water during the day, and I always welcome larger-volume bottles, as the constant return trips to various water fountains can grow tiresome when using smaller bottles. In contrast with the Traveler, the Explorer sports a one-piece body design, with an orifice wide enough to easily add ice cubes, flavoring powders, or other enhancers to your beverage.

Obviously, as the capacity of a bottle increases, so does its overall size and weight, thus reducing its potential for "general-purpose" use. Typically, larger bottles tend to assume a sort of "on-the-desk" role, and are often foregone in favor of smaller bottles when ease of portability is a concern. As far as physical size is concerned, the Explorer is not all that much larger than a typical 20 oz. disposable water bottle. At its narrowest point, the bottle is not much wider than a Dasani or Aquafina bottle, although the hourglass shape does increase its overall diameter. The shape of the bottle does make the vessel a little bit top-heavy (especially when full), but it also offers a very natural and comfortable grip that feels great in the hand.

The detractor from the Explorer's portability, however, is its weight. When full, the Explorer is exceptionally heavy for a water bottle. At the time of this writing, I did not have the means necessary to give a more exact measurement, but I can say that this is a bottle that is going to get pretty heavy after being carried around for any extended period of time. The folks at Pure seemed to have anticipated this, as the Explorer is available with two different cap designs, both seemingly focused on making the bottle easier to carry. The flat cap design pictured above comes with a simple plastic handle fixed around the neck of the bottle. I carry my bottles in the side pockets of my backpack, and I found that with a little care, the handle was not difficult to remove and set aside for potential use later. The bottle is also offered with a "sports cap" alternative that features two loops built in to the top of the cap to allow for easier transport.

The flat cap with handle design

The sports cap design

Both of these designs are functional, and do allow the bottle to be carried more easily in a "hanging" position, rather than always occupying the entire hand, but I still think that the bottle is too heavy to be used realistically in active outdoor situations. The sports cap also adds a good inch of height to the bottle, and is a slightly odd shape, making it harder to fit into bags and travel cases. Overall, I think that I preferred the more simple and straightforward flat cap design for my purposes.

The Explorer (both cap designs) and Traveler bottles

I think that the weight of the Explorer really makes this bottle a better choice for home or office use, rather than a travel bottle. However, I do not say this as a bad thing, as I feel that the above average capacity and wide-based design make the Explorer ideal for desk use. The Explorer is a great alternative to the unsightly Nalgene construction of most other high-volume bottles. Although it is hard to argue against the utility of one of those comically large, graduated plastic bottles when shopping for a high-capacity vessel, I am more than willing to sacrifice a few ounces for the sake of having an aesthetically pleasing bottle to sit on my desk that doesn't demand a trip to the water fountain every ten minutes. Although I would recommend Pure Glass Bottle's Traveler vessel as a better choice for an all-purpose travel bottle, the Explorer fits the bill for an attractive and sturdy "office bottle" quite well.

Verdict: Recommended

Pricing, size, and purchasing information can be found at Pure Glass Bottle's website:

http://pureglassbottle.com

Or, follow Pure Glass Bottle on facebook

Be sure to check out the review of the Traveler vessel here.

Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA

2011-10-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

As far as American brewing companies go, I think that Sam Adams is one of the better "big-name" breweries. I have liked almost all of the Sam Adams beers that I've tried, and their Latitude 48 IPA will be joining the list as "another good beer from Sam Adams."

As I have said recently, I've been drinking a lot of IPAs lately. I have been in a very "bitter beer" mood for the past month or two, and I like to think that at this point, I have a fairly wide and objective data set from which to pull information about the qualities of an IPA. Although most IPAs have relatively heavy overtones of citrus, Sam Adams Latitude 48 is seemingly more focused on the hops. The citrus taste is still there, as there are light hints of orange peel in the aftertaste, but the citrus taste is much less pronounced than in other beers of its type. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I do really like the citrus flavor that usually accompanies IPAs, so its relative absence in this one was a little bit disappointing.

Where Latitude 48 does not fall short, however, is in the hops. It has a somewhat light and malty taste on the nose, but ends with a strong and fairly bitter, hoppy finish. For those who do not like bitter beers, this one is probably not going to be your cup of tea, because it's pretty bitter. This is nothing unexpected from an IPA, but the lacking taste of the citrus leaves more room for the bitterness to show through. I enjoy beers with strong, bitter finishes, and although I do miss the citrus, the bitterness is very satisfying and leaves a relatively unique aftertaste (for an IPA) in its wake.

Overall, I liked this one a good bit. Although I would have preferred a slightly heavier citrus flavor, the hoppy bitterness was still very pronounced and tasty. If you like IPAs or strong, bitter ales, this is definitely one to try out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Wal-Mart [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [6-pack]

Teavana Jasmine Dragon and Roobios Tropica Tea Blend

2011-10-21T16:28:00.000-04:00

I have been sitting on this review for quite some time now. This past summer, I went on a weekend trip to Washington D.C. with some friends of mine. While we were there, we stopped by a rather large shopping mall, where I had the opportunity to visit a Teavana tea shop for the first time. My experience at Teavana was strange, to say the least. Teavana has an interesting sales hook in that the store offers about thirty different kinds of fresh, loose leaf tea in bins behind the counter, and the custom flavors and varieties that are offered by the company are achieved by simply mixing and matching the individual tea varieties.

As I found out soon after deciding to visit the crowded shop, Teavana runs a pretty aggressive sales pitch routine on their customers. The second that I stepped in the door, a sales associate was offering me samples of some of Teavana's special blends and filling me in on what custom varieties were currently on offer. After finishing the samples offered at the door, I was whisked away by another employee to sample several more teas at another station. It was here that I tried the subject of today's review, and also where I made the mistake of simply stating, "This is really good. I think that I might get some of this one." Before I really realized what was happening, I had been escorted to the register and was standing face-to-face with a cashier who had already launched into a lengthy explanation of Teavana's convoluted pricing system and was preparing to fill a container with the tea. It became fairly apparent to me at this point that Teavana's prices are specifically designed to disorient the customer.

The prices listed on the bins of tea in the store represented the price of two ounces of that particular tea. As I'm sure that you can imagine, trying to calculate how much half a pound of an uneven mixture of two separately and unconventionally priced teas while standing in front of an anxiously waiting store employee is the mathematical equivalent of Olympic level gymnastics. Even with my five years of engineering education, I was at a loss to come up with an estimate, and after several moments of hopelessly trying to figure out how much money that I was going to be spending, I simply gave up and asked for a quarter pound of the tea. The tea ended up costing me $25, and although I was left feeling a bit unsettled by the confusing prices and the out-of-control nature of my visit, I am happy to say that the tea was worth every penny.

As pictured above, the tea is a combination of jasmine buds and a rooibos blend mixed with dried strawberries and other tropical fruits. The jasmine buds have an excellent flavor, and have a strong "jasmine" taste while still remaining mellow and crisp. Although I am not typically a huge fan of rooibos tea, I found the blend included in this mix to be quite pleasant. The tropical elements mixed into the rooibos give the tea a light, fruity taste, without making the tea taste sweet. The fruity undertones of the rooibos blend also help to mellow out some of the the strong, earthy overtones of a typical red tea. This works well with the mellow taste of the jasmine, and the flavors complement each other much better than I originally expected.

Overall, this is a wonderful tea. Although my experience in purchasing it was a bit manipulative, I have to admit that it is very difficult to complain about the end result. $25 dollars may seem like a lot for a quarter of a pound of tea, but the estimated serving size of 1/4 lb. is about 25 cups, and $1 per cup really isn't that bad, especially for a tea of this quality. If there is a Teavana near you, I recommend checking out their selection, and I definitely recommend their jasmine dragon and rooios tropica blend as a good starting point.

But a word to the wise: If a Teavana sales associate asks you if you've ever shopped there before, just do yourself a favor and say yes.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Teavana [Washington D.C.]

Size: 1/4 lb. [Approximately 25 cups]

Price: $25.00 [Approximation]

Red Rock Golden Ginger Ale

2011-10-18T18:19:00.000-04:00

It is rather rare that I find a "true" ginger ale that I feel that I can recommend to everybody. There was a time when it was even difficult to find a ginger ale that actually tastes and bites like real ginger, particularly in the southeastern region of the United States. Luckily, this scarcity seems to be dwindling, and I have begun to see many more "natural" ginger ales on all sorts of store shelves. Unfortunately, this also means that it will grow harder and harder to easily discern the good from the bad, particularly considering that a previously untasted ginger ale tends to be a relatively high-risk purchase. Red Rock's ginger ale, I am happy to say, is one of the best ginger ales that I have had in quite some time, and I think that most individuals with even a moderate taste for ginger will definitely find something to like in this one.

Lauding itself as having "just the right bite," Red Rock is a sort of fusion between the more contemporary, sweet ginger ales that you would find in most gas stations and the more old fashioned, spicy concoctions that you might purchase at a general store or health foods market. The slogan is certainly a bold one, as different people like different levels of bite, but after having tried it, I think that Red Rock is right: this ginger ale really does have just the right amount of kick. The added sweetness of the drink helps to bring the typical sting of natural ginger ale down a notch, but not so much that it undermines the ginger's taste. The ginger is still at the forefront of the beverage's flavor, and it still maintains that sort of notorious, dry spiciness. However, the sugar makes the overall experience more palatable, as I did not find myself growing tired of the taste after a few drinks as I often do with other more "hardcore" ginger ales. Red Rock's ginger ale was strong without being too strong, and was easy to drink all the way to the bottom of the bottle.

All in all, this is a great ginger ale. I would probably even go so far as to rank this one as one of my "top three ginger ales," and I think that it is definitely worth a try, even if you don't like ginger. If you are on the fence about stronger ginger ales, I really do think that this is the one that will change your mind. If you already like stronger ginger ales, then you are almost certain to enjoy this one, but if you don't like ginger then...well, then you probably shouldn't be drinking ginger ale, anyway.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Jasmine Cafe [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.99

2011-10-14T17:32:00.000-04:00

I apologize for missing both of the reviews this week. I have had a lot of things going on as of late, and it was particularly difficult this week to work in time to sit down and write out the reviews.

I will be back next week, and I will be posting a video some time within the next few days that will hopefully explain some of the reasons for my inconsistent posting schedule over these past few months.

Again, I apologize, and I'd like to thank you in advance for your understanding, and be sure to check back next week for new content from Drinkable Review.

- Hayden

Ishii Japanese Green Tea IPA

2011-10-07T17:09:00.000-04:00

I have had this beer sitting in my refrigerator for a long time (about two months now), and I am just now finally getting around to giving it a try. When I saw these sitting on the shelf at Total Wine, I ignored the high price tag and - knowing that this was one of those drinks that I just had to try, regardless of cost - quickly grabbed one off of the shelf. Given my initial excitement about the beer, I assumed that I would be drinking this one right away, but I suppose that it assumed more and more of a sort of "wait for a special occasion" status the longer that it sat in my refrigerator. However, I got tired of waiting for such a special occasion, and finally decided to just drink it last week.

The first thing that struck me as interesting about Ichii's green tea IPA was the amount of sediment that remained suspended in the glass after pouring. I have no aversion to a bit of sediment in my beer, but rarely does it remain dispersed throughout the liquid as it did in this case. The solid material did eventually settle out to the bottom of the glass, but it took quite some time to do so. This is not necessarily good or bad; I just thought that it was worth mentioning.

The taste of Ichii's green tea IPA is not unlike that of other IPAs that I have had recently. The green tea taste was certainly there, but it was fairly faint, and really didn't add a huge amount of flavor to the overall taste. It became more prominent as I drank more of the beer, as I knew what I was looking for by that point, but it was still pretty light and was largely masked by the flavors of the beer itself. Ultimately, it seems to me like what could have been a very unique and interesting flavor combination ended up being more of an underwhelming gimmick. The beer itself, though, was pretty tasty, and fell on the dry and bitter side that many IPAs usually tend towards.

Overall, I didn't think that Ichii's Japanese green tea IPA was as interesting as I had hoped that it would be. As an IPA, the beer was pretty good, although a little bit standard. However, the somewhat disappointing influence from the green tea makes me wonder if this is one to be recommended, or if it is best just to stick with other, regular IPAs that are a bit more reasonable in price.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Total Wine and More [Columbia, SC]
Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]
Price: $3.99 [Per bottle]

Tradition Oolong Tea

2011-10-05T17:51:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have reviewed a tea, but I find it fitting that this one is yet another product from Tradition. I have yet to have a product from the company that I have not thoroughly enjoyed, and its oolong tea is no exception.

Although oolong tea is not my favorite variety, I have always enjoyed partaking in it. I have very fond childhood memories of sharing warm pots of the stuff with my family during dinners out at some of our favorite Chinese eateries. The mildness of the flavor makes it a great tea to share with friends, as it is not likely to be offensive to anybody's taste buds. Tradition's oolong is a little bit more flavorful than other oolong teas that I have had in the past, but it still maintains the tranquil subtlety so characteristic of the tea. The flavor is very light and earthy, and the aroma does not linger long in the aftertaste, giving the tea a cleaner finish than other, similar types of tea. Unlike some of the stronger teas (i.e. black or green), oolong does not tend to dry out the mouth, making it easier to drink in larger servings.

Overall, I find that there is actually not much to say about Tradition's oolong tea. It is a pleasantly mild and benign tea that sits well on the palette and is likely to be enjoyed by most people with even a slight taste for hot tea. Although this one is somewhat unremarkable (as most milder teas often are), it is still a great example of the beverage, and is definitely worth the money. I am inclined to recommend some of Tradition's other teas over this one (such as their jasmine green or their barley tea), but if you are looking for something light and refreshing, or would just like to try something a little bit different from the usual norm, then this one is certainly worth checking out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Asian Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 20 bags per box

Price: $3.99

Red Hook Long Hammer IPA

2011-09-30T18:07:00.000-04:00

I have been trying a lot of different IPAs lately. I am generally a fan of dry, hoppy beers, but for some reason had never taken to India pale ales until fairly recently. Among my list of current favorites is Red Hook Brewery's Long Hammer IPA.

Red Hook's Long Hammer is a very tasty beer. It has a light, dry taste that is crisp on the palette and tastes heavily of citrus. Although the taste is bold and bitter, it does not linger long in the aftertaste, giving the beer a relatively clean and refreshing finish. I was really impressed by the aromatic citrus flavor of Red Hook's IPA. It tastes noticeably of grapefruit, a flavor of which I readily approve. Grapefruit is one of my favorite citrus fruits, and I have yet to have a grapefruit-oriented beverage that I have not enjoyed. So, needless to say (although I am about to say it anyway), I really enjoy this beer.

I think that I may add this to my list of "standby" beers. It is delicious, well-balanced, easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. Red Hook's Long Hammer IPA is a very satisfying beverage, and it is very easy for me to recommend, especially to drinkers who favor bolder beers.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Exxon Filling Station [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $7.99 [6-pack]

Mr. Q. Cumber

2011-09-28T20:01:00.000-04:00

I have been hearing/seeing things about this beverage for a while now, and although I have had cucumber beverages before and not really enjoyed them, I thought that I would give this one a try after finding it at a local organic market. Now that I have had one, however, I understand what some of the hype is about.

Mr. Q. Cumber, while not wildly different from other drinks of its type, strikes a balance between sweet and savory that many of its competitors seem to disregard. Cucumber is very strong, and it can often be quite an odd flavor to incorporate smoothly into a beverage. Many of the cucumber drinks that I have had in the past seem to simply embrace the odd bitterness of cucumber's flavor and do nothing to reduce or impair the overwhelming taste. Mr. Q. Cumber, however, is different from others in that it is more of a cucumber soda, rather than a cucumber flavored seltzer or water. The cucumber taste is, overall, not very strong, and the drink is sweetened just enough to compensate for the remaining bitterness of the diluted flavor.

As I have already said, my previous experiences with cucumber beverages led me to not expect much from this one, but I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know that this one is one for the record books, but the strong balance between the cucumber flavor and the sweetness of the beverage results in a light and refreshing drink that is definitely worth a try. The seven ounce serving size is also a perfect portion of the beverage, as a larger serving size would likely grow tiresome towards the end of the bottle.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Rosewood Market [Columbia, SC]
Size: 7 fl. oz. [208 mL]
Price: $1.19

Honest CocoaNova

2011-09-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

As I am sure that I have mentioned in the past, I am a big fan of Honest Tea. So, needless to say, I was very excited when I saw the company's new line of CocoaNova beverages sitting on the shelf of my local organic foods market. Although all that I knew about the drink at the time was that it was some sort of chocolate and cherry infused beverage, I was still very much looking forward to giving it a try.

CocoaNova is unlike any other drink that I've had in the past. As one would expect, the theme here is certainly chocolate. However, the chocolate is not as strong as other chocolate beverages that I have had in the past, and tastes more like natural cocoa than many other drinks of its "type." I say "type" in quotations because although there are obviously other chocolate-oriented beverages on the market, Honest CocoaNova is quite unique. Rather than tasting as though the drink is made from chocolate, the chocolate serves to add more of a background flavor to the overall drink as a whole. I was not anticipating this subtlety, as there was a thick layer of chocolate sediment that had to be shaken into the drink before consumption, but I really enjoyed the lighter, almost watery taste of the beverage. I have had both the cherry and mint flavors, and I must say that both are very well balanced, although I prefer the combination of mint and chocolate over that of cherry and chocolate.

Overall, CocoaNova is a very unique and delicious beverage. It is surprisingly refreshing for a drink that contains a significant amount of chocolate, and I have really enjoyed both of the bottles that I have had so far. However, with most highly unique beverages, there is a bit of risk in purchasing this one. I don't know that this is the drink for everyone, and there are sure to be some consumers out there who find the subtlety of the flavors a bit strange and off-putting, but I think that anybody with a taste for chocolate will almost undoubtedly find something to like in Honest CocoaNova. Definitely give this one a try.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]
Size: 10.1 fl oz
Price: $1.50

Dry Lemongrass Soda

2011-09-13T12:34:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are unaware, I absolutely love to cook. Although it usually leaves a bit of a mess behind, I am a particularly avid fan of Asian cooking. Lemongrass ranks pretty high on my list of favorite Asian seasonings, so I am sure that you can imagine my excitement when I found this beverage sitting on the shelf in my local organic grocery store.

Upon buying the beverage, I was not familiar with Dry Soda Co., but after doing a bit of research, I came to find out that they are a fairly new soda manufacturer that focuses on creating all natural sodas that are less sweet than the competitors and better for your health, overall. I always tend to enjoy sodas that focus more on the flavor and less on the sugar, and I was naturally excited to give this one a try.

Unfortunately, I was met with a flavor that I can only describe as "strange." Although the drink did have hints of a distinctly lemongrass flavor, I'm not entirely sure how to describe the overall taste. The aroma of the beverage smells a bit like lemon-scented dishwasher detergent, which is a bit odd, but not necessarily bad. It just didn't smell or taste like I what I was expecting. I think that I was anticipating a taste more along the lines of lemongrass after it has been cooked into a recipe, but was instead met with a more raw, natural lemongrass taste.

Overall, the drink was not bad by any means. The level of sweetness is well-balanced, and is present without being overbearing. However, I don't know how much the sugar adds to this particular flavor, as the taste of the lemongrass is so prominent that the marginal sweetness almost doesn't affect the beverage. Again, the taste is not really bad, per se. It's just really strange, and I don't know that I can say that I like it. I think that this one is definitely worth a try if and only if you like lemongrass, but I would not recommend this one to the general consumer.

Lemongrass makes for an excellent spice, but I don't know that it is the best ingredient in a soda. The "healthy soda" ethos of Dry Soda does incline me to give some of the other flavors a try, however, and I think that many of the other flavors that the company offers would lend themselves better to a "less sweet" soda approach.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $6.99 [4-pack]

Crystal Light Pineapple-Lemonade Punch

2011-09-09T13:06:00.000-04:00

This is the last of the three drink recipes recently sent to me by Kraft Foods. Due to an unexpected grenadine syrup shortage at the stores nearby my place of residence, I was not able to procure the ingredient on my way back from class. I should be picking some up soon, however, and I will update this post with my feelings on the drink once I am actually able to make it.

Crystal Light Citrus Brunch Punch

2011-09-07T17:36:00.000-04:00

Crystal Light Strawberry Lemonade

2011-09-05T11:28:00.000-04:00

(Click for larger image)

Although Labor Day typically marks the end of the summer season in the minds of many, I thought that it would be a great day to keep the summer spirit alive by sharing with you all some wonderful Crystal Light lemonade punch recipes that I was recently sent by Kraft. Today's recipe marks the first of three that I will be posting to the blog this week, and it is a tasty and refreshing strawberry lemonade made with Crystal Light's Natural Lemonade flavored drink mix. I was recently sent a sample pack of Crystal Light Natural Lemonade by Kraft so that I could give these recipes a try for myself, and I was able to mix this one up early last week.

I really liked Crystal Light's strawberry lemonade concoction. The tangy bite of the Crystal Light lemonade lends itself well to the sweetness of the strawberries, and the two flavors just worked very well together, melding into one appetizingly sweet-and-sour taste. The drink did not blend up into the same thick consistency that is pictured in the recipe above, but that may be because I was preparing a double portion for some friends and the berries may have just not blended as well given the larger quantity of things in the blender. With regards to consistency, the resulting drink was more like a viscous lemonade with small chunks of strawberry floating throughout, but I actually really liked the extra texture provided by the bits of fruit floating around in the liquid.

Overall, this drink is an easy recommendation. It is easy to make, relatively inexpensive, and tastes great. This is definitely one to consider whipping up for your next party, cookout, or otherwise equally casual social gathering.

Brief Hiatus

2011-08-30T17:50:00.000-04:00

I want to apologize in advance, but there will be no review today. Drinkable Review will be in hiatus for the next two weeks while I try to nail down my work schedule for the new semester. I need to take a bit of a break from the review to allow myself some time to establish a rhythm with my schoolwork.

I recognize that my posts this summer were inconsistent at best, and I know that a lot of the posts that went up on the correct dates were still frequently late. However, this is my final semester of undergraduate work, and it is looking like it is going to be the most busy semester that I've ever faced. In order to set off on the right foot this time around, I will need a bit of uninterrupted time to figure out how I'm going to set up my routine so as to not fall behind.

Now, that being said, I do have some Crystal Light punch recipes that were sent to me by Kraft a few weeks ago. I was sent a sample of Crystal Light's natural lemonade with which to make the recipes, and I will be trying and posting each of them on the blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week.

I apologize for needing this sudden break from my posts, but the extra consideration of finding things to drink and review is a bit much on top of my school responsibilities right now. Once the semester is fully underway and I have an established cycle for getting my schoolwork done, I will be back to doing my reviews as regularly scheduled.

I thank you all in advance for your continued patience as I finish up my undergraduate degree, and be sure to check in next week for some tasty Crystal Light lemonade recipes.

- Hayden

Activate: Energy

2011-08-26T19:14:00.003-04:00

As many of you likely know by now, I am a pretty big fan of flavored waters. I really like trying different takes on the infusion and/or flavoring process, and Activate immediately caught my attention on a recent trip through the grocery store. The double cap, square bottle design, and the transitioning color gradient on the label all gave the bottle a very eye-catching and effective shelf presence and, naturally, I decided to pick one up and see what it was all about.

After reading the back of the bottle to determine the function of the double-capped design, I realized that the second, upper cap is actually not a cap at all, but rather contains the vitamins and flavoring for the beverage. Activate has an interesting approach to flavored water in that the flavoring is kept separate from the water until the consumer is ready to drink the beverage. To release the flavoring, the user simply twists the upper cap clockwise until the seal inside the cap is broken and the flavoring powder is released into the water. After this is done, the bottom cap is unscrewed to open the beverage.

Now, this was interesting enough for me to buy it on the spot, and the taste of the beverage is actually pretty good. The lemon-lime has a light, refreshing flavor, and although the aftertaste is a bit lingering, the flavor was very good overall. The real question on my mind, however, while purchasing the drink, was whether or not the separation of the flavoring and water made a noticeable difference.

Unfortunately, the answer is "not really." The ingredients did seem to taste a little bit fresher, but only a little bit, and it did not really seem to have much effect on the overall taste of the drink in the long run. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the cap release mechanism, while it is interesting and different, actually hurt the drink a bit, as I had some issues with the mechanism retaining some of the flavored water during shaking and then dripping out onto my desk after taking the cap back off. This does not seem like the biggest problem in the world, but when one's desk is covered in important paper documents, a cap that leaks neon green liquid all over the place can be a serious issue. This could have been solved by not furiously shaking the beverage in between sips, but the fairly solid flavoring had a bad habit of partially settling out at the bottom of the drink, and I was left with no choice but to shake the drink periodically and simply be careful about where I pointed the cap afterwards.

Aside from some design flaws, Activate: Energy is an interesting beverage with a fairly good overall flavor. However, the flavor was not all that different from the other drinks of its type, and some of the aforementioned design flaws actually kept me from having a smooth and enjoyable experience. The cap design is definitely different, and I would say that it is at least worth one try to say that you've experienced it, but I don't think that I would recommend this as a regular beverage.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]

Size: 16 fl. oz.

Price: $1.99

Numi Organic Pu-Erh Tea

2011-08-23T19:21:00.000-04:00

I am by no means an expert when it comes to pu-erh tea. However, the experiences that I have had with it have all been very good so far, and Numi's organic pu-erh is an excellent example. I must admit that, at first, I held on to this one for several days before actually working up the nerve to try it. The full opacity of the liquid and the thick layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle led me to believe that this was going to be a very strong beverage.

However, Numi was not nearly as strong as I originally thought that it might be. In fact, it was very mild and tasty and surprisingly refreshing. Pu-erh tea already has a very unique, earthy flavor, and Numi's organic take on the beverage tastes even more natural. Numi's pu-erh is sweetened, but only mildly so. I am accustomed to drinking pu-erh without sugar, but the amount of sweetening was just right and was subtle enough to add to the flavor without diminishing the taste of the tea. The residue at the bottom also added to the freshness of the taste, although I did have to keep shaking the drink between returns to the bottle to keep the particles distributed.

Despite my slight hesitations about the potential strength of the beverage, I enjoyed my experience with Numi very much. It is a very easy drink to recommend, particularly to tea drinkers, and I definitely want to try some of Numi's other flavors in the future.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl.oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.99

Nichol Kola

2011-08-16T15:48:00.000-04:00

When I first found Nichol Kola sitting on the shelf of a local World Market, I was immediately excited and then disappointed by the bottle's label. I should have known not to be excited by the five cent "price tag" on the packaging, but some force inside of me was still disappointed upon discovering the true price of the beverage. Despite my childish disappointment, I still decided to give the soda a try, and I am very glad that I did.

As you may have guessed, Nichol Kola is delicious. It has the taste of a more "old-fashioned" cola, in that the cola taste is a lot stronger and has a bit of a spicy kick in the aftertaste. Overall, there's really not much to say about Nichol Kola other than the fact that it is really just good. The cola taste is strong, without being syrupy or overbearing, and is sweet without being excessively so. I had no problem finishing a full serving of Nichol Kola, but was left satisfied by the end of the bottle. Although there are other colas that I prefer, Nichol Kola is definitely a top-of-the-list recommendation.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.69

Drank

2011-08-12T16:29:00.000-04:00

I have been searching for Drank for a long time now. I first heard about Drank over a year ago, and I have been fruitlessly scouring gas stations, convenience stores, and pharmacies ever since then in the hopes of finding a can of the elusive beverage. However, this past weekend, I finally found a gas station in Greenville, SC that carries the stuff, and I don't think that I have ever been more excited to see a drink sitting in a convenience store refrigerator.

Drank was, in a lot of ways, the first of its kind, as it was one of the first relaxation beverage to attain any sort of media acclaim in a market saturated with taurine-filled energy boosters. The beverage has developed a rather strong cult following since its release in 2008, and rightly so. Drank is both delicious and effective as a relaxation supplement, and is an all around very easy recommendation.

First and foremost, Drank is delicious. I was trying to figure out how to describe it to a friend of mine as I was drinking it last night, and the best description of the flavor that I could formulate was "gentle grape." Drank is grape flavored, but the taste, unlike most other grape-flavored soft drinks, is very subtle and light. Most grape-flavored drinks are heavy and overly-sweet, and I must admit that I was, at first, a bit worried about Drank only being available in grape. This worry was neutralized upon opening the can, as my olfactory was not met with the typical, sickeningly sweet aroma of "grape" flavoring. Although Drank does not taste like natural grape, the taste is subtle enough that the beverage does not overwhelm the senses, and is enjoyable all the way through.

Drank uses a blend of rose hips, melatonin, and valerian root in their relaxation supplement, all of which are known for their relaxing and sometimes sleep-inducing properties. Although the beverage did not cause me extreme relaxation as its marketing suggests, it did do a fairly good job of bringing me down to a less heightened state. Many claim that the drink helps them sleep at night, and although Drank did not make me tired, I can certainly see how it would help somebody who is already somewhat tired reach a state of slumber more quickly than usual. Overall, I was very satisfied with the level of relaxation offered by Drank, as I enjoy the temporary "de-stressing" offered by relaxation beverages, but I often have difficulty making time for a drink that might exhaust me.

Drank is a wonderful beverage, and I can safely say that it was definitely worth the wait. My only complaint is that it can be pretty hard to find in stores, especially in the southeast. Other than that (and maybe even because of that), Drank is definitely a drink to try out. I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Raceway Station [Greenville, SC]

Size: 16 fl. oz. [473mL]

Price: $1.69

Pure Inventions Water Enhancer

2011-08-07T13:54:00.000-04:00

Pure Inventions, a dietary nutrition company specializing in all natural liquid supplements, recently sent me two samples of their rather unique liquid water enhancer. Pure offers a wide variety of liquid dietary supplements, including green tea, fruit, and cocoa extract mixtures, among others. I have been trying a lot of different water enhancers lately, and I could tell as soon as I took the containers out of the package that there were several distinct things that set Pure's product apart from the rest.

First and foremost, I was somewhat startled by the weight of the containers as I lifted them out of the box. The vials are made of a very thick and high quality frosted glass that feels great to the touch. The vials feel like medical-grade pharmacy bottles, and they give the impression that they are very durable and would definitely survive being carried around in a handbag or backpack. The lids also screw on very tight, and there is no indication that they would leak under regular circumstances.

One of the more interesting things about Pure's enhancer is the fact that the bottles use a built in medical-style dropper to administer the enhancer. The dropper allows for more precise servings, and is better than the more typical eye-dropper lid type in that it allows the consumer to add the liquid either quickly or drop-by-drop, depending on the amount desired. The dropper can also be used as an impromptu stirring rod to give the water a quick swirl to help homogenize the flavor. However, the dropper does have some drawbacks. Having to physically take something in and out of the container greatly increases the chance of accidentally dripping the flavoring outside of the bottle. This is something that a little care when serving won't solve, but it does cut down on its portability a bit. However, it should be noted here that Pure does not market their product as highly portable. It is a nutritional supplement, and is constructed to present itself as one. However, in a market segment full of competitors who frequently tout the "on-the-go" nature of their water enhancers as a major selling point, some consumers may view this lack of portability as a problem.

The only other small complaint that I had about the functionality of Pure's enhancers was the dropper bulb. The directions for the green tea supplements call for one full dropper of enhancer per 8 ounces of water, but the suction of the dropper bulb is not quite strong enough to entirely fill the dropper. This is not a huge problem, as adding two half droppers is certainly easy enough, but it does leave the actual serving size between usages a bit ambiguous.

Overall, the taste of Pure's water enhancers is great. I was sent samples of the green tea with peach and cranberry with elderberry supplements, and I like both of them a good bit, although they are quite different. The green tea with peach is fairly straightforward, although it is very good. Pure uses all natural ingredients in their enhancers, and it really shows. The green tea extract manages to avoid the "instant tea" taste that is so common amongst tea flavored water enhancers, and tastes a lot more like real tea than most of the competition. The peach flavoring is a little bit more on the standardized, "this is peach flavoring" side, but it is still good, and adds an extra element of interest to the taste. I found the green tea with peach flavor to be very good, overall.

The cranberry and elderberry extract is a little bit more unconventional than the green tea extract, in that the entire cranberry is used, seeds and all. This gives the fruit extract supplements a more granular consistency, and allows for a little bit of sedimentation after mixing if the drink is allowed to sit still long enough. Using the whole berry also allows for a very accurate and natural taste, and the enhancer does taste pretty much like a mildly sweet, raw cranberry. The inclusion of the elderberry also adds an extra bit of interest to the flavoring, although my previous inexperience with elderberry makes it difficult to attest to exactly what the fruit adds to the taste. My only complaint with the cranberry extract is that it has a mildly strange aftertaste. It's not a bad aftertaste; just a bit dry and mildly bitter. It took me a few servings to warm up to the cranberry extract because of the lingering aftertaste, but after I became accustomed to it, I began to really like the flavor.

Overall, I really like Pure Inventions' water enhancers. They are full of beneficial dietary supplements, and are very natural and straightforward, with no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. The only thing keeping me from giving Pure's supplements my full recommendation is the slight barrier of entry. The supplements are on the expensive side, with each bottle ranging between 30 to 45 dollars. In a market full of water enhancers that typically cost less than five dollars per box or bottle, it makes Pure's product a bit of a hard sell. However, it is important to keep in mind that each bottle contains approximately 60 servings, and that the price you pay for Pure's product also includes the superior quality of the container, the carefully engineered nutritional benefits of each mix of supplements, and the unmatched natural taste of the flavors.

If you are in the market for a truly all-natural water enhancer and are willing to take the risk on the price, Pure Inventions' natural supplements are definitely worth trying out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Samples sent courtesy of Pure Inventions

Size: Varies by flavor [2 - 4 fl. oz.]

Price: Varies by flavor [$30.75 - $44.95]

Check out pure inventions at www.pureinventions.com

Or follow them on facebook

Late again, late again

2011-08-05T18:23:00.000-04:00

I realize that the excuses are getting quite tired at this point, but I am going to have to push today's review back to tomorrow afternoon. Obligations at work and a family event at home this evening are preventing me the opportunity to finish today's write-up until later this evening.

Again, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and I thank you for your understanding as I deal with the scheduling chaos of preparing to head back to school for the fall semester.

So check back tomorrow for a rather exciting review of a uniquely high-end water enhancer sent to me by Pure Inventions.

Continued apologies and thanks again,

Hayden

Lotte Chilsung Crushed Pear Beverage

2011-08-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

On a bit of a whim, I thought that I would review something a little bit different today. I recently picked this up at an Asian market in town, and other than the two translated words on the front of the can and a website on the back with the domain suffix for South Korea, I have no idea what this is. Aside from the crushed pear, there is no indication as to what else, if anything, is in the drink. What I do know, however, is that this drink is delicious. The pear tastes very crisp and natural, although there is a slight candy twist in the aftertaste. Tiny pieces of the pear fruit from the crushing process are left suspended in the liquid, adding a very interesting texture to the beverage. It is a bit on the sweet side - almost like a thin pear nectar - but the small serving size is just satisfying enough to make the natural sweetness of the pear just right.

Overall, this is a great drink. I really enjoyed it, and I would definitely buy it again. It's an easy recommendation to make, and if you can find one, I would certainly suggest picking one up. That is, of course, assuming that you can actually find one.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Asian Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 238 mL

Price: $0.99

2011-07-29T13:15:00.000-04:00

No post again today. I will be posting an apology soon explaining my inconsistency with my reviews this summer.

I hope that everybody is having a great day, and I thank you again for your continued understanding as I try to sort some of my personal responsibilities out right now.

- Hayden

Tradition Barley Tea

2011-07-26T13:38:00.000-04:00

I am a big fan of Tradition's teas. They make quality products, and I always get a little bit excited when I find a new kind of loose leaf tea sitting on the shelf in Tradition's definitive, glossy box. I was just recently introduced to barley tea for the first time a few weeks ago, and despite having initial hesitations about the concept, I found that I really like it. Naturally, when I found this during a routine trip to the Asian market, I seized the opportunity and grabbed a box off of the shelf.

For those unfamiliar with the product, the picture on the front of the box is actually a bit misleading, as the tea bags are not simply filled with barley grains as depicted in the image. Instead, each bag contains a fairly even mixture of barley grains and black tea leaves, as shown in the horribly lit photograph below. Some more traditional barley teas are prepared by simply stewing barley seeds in hot water to release the flavor, just as you would with "conventional" tea leaves. Tea bags containing ground barley seeds can also be found as a method of preparing individual servings of the tea. Ironically, Tradition has decided to break from the routine by combining the tastes of whole barley seeds and fresh black tea.

Tradition's barley tea has an excellent flavor. The black tea tastes very fresh, and the barley seeds add a slight grainy taste to the bitterness of the tea. Although barley does not have a particularly strong taste, its flavor is very distinct, and is certainly present amongst the black tea. This is a good thing, though, as the two stark flavors act as mellowing agents for each other, and both of their distinct aromas combine smoothly into one pleasantly mild and natural taste that leaves the palette feeling clean and refreshed.

Although I have a hard time imagining a tea-drinker not enjoying Tradition's barley tea, I would say that this may not be the drink for everybody. Those who do not enjoy the taste of natural, earthy grains are not likely to find great pleasure in this beverage. While I still encourage those who harbor hesitations towards the drink to give it a try, I'd definitely say try it before you buy it. I, on the other hand, am a huge fan of all sorts of grains, and I really found a lot to enjoy about this tea. I would say that it's one of my recent favorites, and I definitely offer it my recommendations.

Verdict: Highly recommended

Purchased: Asian Market [Columbia, SC]
Size: 2.8 grams [20 bags/box]
Price: $3.49

2011-07-22T14:46:00.000-04:00

Today's post will be delayed until tomorrow. I apologize, but I have some business to attend to tonight that I unfortunately can't talk about here because it involves a surprise for a friend, and I will not be able to finish today's update as planned.

I apologize for the continued delays. Everything is sort of happening at once right now. Things should return to normal within the next couple of weeks.

See you back here tomorrow afternoon!

Thanks,

Hayden

Juicy Juice Sparkling Orange

2011-07-19T19:22:00.000-04:00

Growing up as a child of the 1990's, I have a lot of fond memories of Juicy Juice. Juicy Juice was the thing to have when we were kids, and the company's pastel hued juice boxes were unarguably one of the best brands to find in one's lunchbox. From its relatively high lunch table trade value to its unrelenting support of the PBS Kids television network to its eternally catchy slogan - "Juicy Juice: 100% juice for 100% kids" - Juicy Juice was a mainstay in many of our pre-millennium childhood memories. I often find myself passing by these cherished boxes in various grocery stores and wishing that it was more socially acceptable for me to still purchase (and love) the things, but I usually just end up somberly resigning myself to spending my money on more "mature" beverages.

If any of you resonate with this feeling, then I have good news! Juicy Juice has recently released a new line of sparkling fruit beverages marketed to the general masses (not just children), and it's pretty great. I came across these during a trip to a local Wal-Mart, and quickly snatched them off of the shelf in a fit of what felt at the time like supreme victory.

Juicy Juice sparkling orange is a pretty tasty beverage. As always with Juicy Juice, sparkling orange is made with 100% natural orange juice with no added sugar. The orange taste is, as you would expect, very natural, although a bit dilute due to the addition of the carbonated water. This is a good thing, though, as the drink is more light and refreshing than a "proper" orange juice, and it is much easier to drink during times when a full-on orange juice is either too thick or is otherwise inappropriate (such as with certain types of food or on an empty stomach). Juicy Juice's sparkling orange does not contain pulp, and is a smooth and flavorful experience all the way to the end of the can.

Now, all that being said, there is nothing phenomenal about Juicy Juice sparkling orange. I have had things very similar to it before, and there is nothing in particular about Juicy Juice's product that makes it stand out against the rest. However, for me, there is some worth in being able to enjoy a childhood brand again without feeling like I am having a quarter-life crisis, and as a result I definitely seat Juicy Juice sparkling juice beverages with a solid recommendation. Those of you who remember growing up with Juicy Juice will likely find a lot to enjoy here, and I doubt that anyone else would take issue with the beverage. If you go in without ridiculous expectations for the drink, you are likely to be very satisfied by its refreshing simplicity.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Wal-Mart [Greenwood, SC]
Size: 8.4 fl. oz.
Price: $2.99 [4 pack]

Juicy Juice sparkling juice beverage is also available in apple and berry flavors.

2011-07-15T13:03:00.000-04:00

I am going to have to do a terrible thing and postpone today's update again.

I am currently in the process of finding a new apartment, and between that, work, and preparing for the upcoming semester, I have been aggravatingly short on time as of late.

I apologize for the continued delays. Drinkable Review will return to its regular update schedule next week.

Thank you again,

- Hayden

2011-07-12T12:52:00.000-04:00

Due to an unexpected issue at work, I am not going to be able to write today's review during my lunch break as I had planned. I apologize for the delay, and I will post today's review on Friday along with Friday's review. I hope that everyone has a wonderful afternoon, and be sure to check back in for the double post at the end of the week.

Thanks,

Hayden

Hi-Ball Energy: Wild Berry

2011-07-08T10:33:00.000-04:00

I have been a fan of Hi-Ball energy for a while now, but I have never felt that it was imperative that I give my thoughts on the beverage, as it is fairly straightforward. While Hi-Ball is an energy drink, most of the flavors taste a lot like many other flavored and carbonated water beverages on the market. This is a good thing, of course, as Hi-Ball has managed to include the typical energy drink supplements (taurine, guarana, etc.) without including the horrible energy drink aftertaste.

Being the only flavor of Hi-Ball that I have come across that has a distinct color (the rest of the flavors are completely clear), the wild berry variety definitely sticks out on the shelf when placed next to its more uniform family members. This obvious contrast inspired me to give the wild berry a try, and I am glad that I did, as it was the tipping point that sent Hi-Ball into review territory.

I want to start off this review by saying that I likely enjoyed the wild berry flavor so much because it brought back some vivid childhood memories of mine. While this clearly does not immediately make a beverage good, I do think that there is something to be said for a drink that induces a feeling of nostalgia in the consumer as he or she drinks it. Hi-Ball wild berry tastes, to me, like homemade popsicles. I don't know if any of you share in the memory, but I have very fond memories of me and my family freezing our own homemade, summer popsicles out of whatever juice was available in the refrigerator. This typically ended up being some sort of fruit cocktail, and I can still remember the anticipation that I used to feel as a child waiting for the liquid to solidify in the freezer.

Now, I am going to have to get specific here, as the flavoring of Hi-Ball wild berry reminds me of a very particular part of these popsicles. For those who have never made popsicles out of frozen juice, there is a phenomenon that occurs in which the "juice" portion of the juice tends to separate out a bit from the "ice" portion as the liquid freezes. The resulting popsicle is typically not as homogeneous as a commercial popsicle, and the juice flavoring can usually be sucked partially out of the ice, leaving behind pieces of ice that contain a watery, remnant version of the original flavor.

This, those chunks of soft, flaky ice flavored by the ghost of the original beverage, is what Hi-Ball wild berry tastes like. The berry flavoring is very light, almost as though it is diluted from its original intensity, but not in a manner that implies cheapness or corner-cutting. It is as though the drink is flavored perfectly with the essence of the source material, and the result is a crisp, delicious flavor with an enticing aftertaste that leaves you simultaneously satisfied and craving a little bit more. The flavor is mostly grape-like, with hints of other berry flavors in the background, but it is hard to accurately compare the taste to other beverages, as the subtle, "icy" effect described above hits the olfactory in a peculiar manner and occurs mostly in the back of the throat. The level of carbonation and the serving size are also just right, making Hi-Ball wild berry a great choice, overall.

I really enjoyed the wild berry variety of this long standing favorite of mine, even if the primary reason was the nostalgic reflection that it instilled in my mind. It is definitely an interesting and unique taste, and even though I know that not everybody will have the exact same experience with it as I did, it is definitely an easy beverage to recommend. Check this one out for sure, and please feel free to leave a comment below if this drink brings back similar memories for you if and when you are able to give it a try.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Whole Foods Market [Greenville, SC]
Size: 10 fl. oz. [296 mL]
Price: $1.79 [Discounted]

Crave Chocolate Milk

2011-07-05T13:40:00.000-04:00

I picked up one of these delicious milks for the first time at a gas station on the way home from my recent trip to Washington D.C. I actually came very close to not buying it, as I already had something else in my hand in which I was not particularly interested, and Crave's aluminum bottle did not catch my eye until I was literally turning to move towards the register. Upon noticing the strangely sized container, the switch was quickly made, and what had been on the verge of becoming a lackluster and routine beverage experience ended up being a very satisfying purchase.

Crave, as it says on the bottle, is "a new chocolate milk with a bold chocolate taste." I just want to note here that I find it interesting that Crave considers itself both "new" and "original," but that is beside the point. Crave definitely hit the mark by describing the drink as having a bold chocolate taste. The drink is very, very chocolaty, and has a thicker consistency than most other products of its sort. The chocolate flavor is very rich, and the drink often tastes as though it is more chocolate than milk, which seems a little weird at first, but it is really not a bad thing at all. Crave's taste is very unique, especially considering the fact that most chocolate milk products are pretty straightforward and usually only differentiate slightly from the competition. Although Crave is not particularly refreshing in the literal sense, it is definitely a breath of fresh air in what had become a rather standardized market segment.

One thing that I did find odd about Crave is that, although it is a legitimate dairy product, it does not require refrigeration until after opening. I'm still not entirely sure how this is so, but they obviously could not sell something that does not meet standards, so this is not a large concern. As another note, crave recommends that you shake the product gently, and I have to recommend that you follow this advice. The contents are pressurized, and I speak from experience when I say that shaking too vigorously will cause the milk to spew out of the top of the bottle upon opening. Crave is available in both chocolate and strawberry-chocolate varieties. I have had both flavors, and it is hard to say which one, if either, I prefer. They are both very good, and I think that it is safe to say that it really just comes down to your own personal tastes as to which one you should pick up first.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.00 [Discounted]

Jarritos Mexican Cola

2011-07-02T15:19:00.000-04:00

Jarritos Mexican Cola is not my first foray into the world of Jarritos Mexican sodas. I have had several flavors of Jarritos before, and so far have been only moderately impressed by most of them. They're not bad, but they're not exactly fascinating, either. Until a few days ago, I was under the impression that Jarritos only did fruit flavored sodas, until I caught a glimpse of this one sitting on the shelf during a recent trip through a local grocery's Latin American foods aisle.

I wasn't immediately certain of what makes a cola specifically "Mexican," but from the ingredients on the back, the only major difference that I could spot was the usage of natural sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup. The cola flavor itself is not wildly different from that of any other typical brand of cola, but it does have a slightly unique balance, and although there is nothing about the drink that is especially indicative of Mexican heritage (aside from the labeling on the bottle, of course), the cola taste is strong and pronounced.

My only real problem with Jarritos's take on this age-old beverage is that it is too sweet. I am typically okay with varying levels of sweetness in the drinks that I try, and it is rare that a cola will be anything more than "almost too sweet," but this time I feel that the blatant statement is warranted: Jarritos Mexican Cola is just too sweet. The sweetness detracts from the strong taste of the cola, and distracts the overall experience. This is only worsened by the fact that the sweetness kicks in in the aftertaste, rather than on the palette, leaving a syrupy sensation in the back of the throat that completely overrides the cola.

All in all, Jarritos Mexican Cola is not a terrible beverage, it was just too sweet for my tastes. I did drink the whole thing, and I did really enjoy the taste of the cola, but I think that overly sweet aftertaste is enough to keep me from buying this one again in the future.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Bi-Lo [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.49

Mountain Dew: Pitch Black

2011-06-28T13:45:00.000-04:00

I finally managed to get my hands on one of these on my way up to D.C. this past weekend. I have been looking for it for a while now in South Carolina, to no avail, so I was happy to see this one sitting on the shelf at a stop during our trip.

Mountain Dew: Pitch Black was a pretty big deal when it was originally released back in 2004. Many people to try the drink hailed it as the best flavor of Mountain Dew ever to be released, and sales of the limited edition flavor were generally regarded as very successful. After leaving Mountain Dew fans in suspense for the better part of seven years, Pitch Black was finally re-released this year, again on a limited edition run.

In the interest of fairness, I feel that I should start off by saying that I have never been a huge fan of Mountain Dew. I don't dislike it, but it is generally just too sweet for me, particularly in its tempting 20 oz. serving size. Pitch Black is also very sweet, as you would expect a Mountain Dew with extra fruit flavor to be, but the sweetness is offset by a pleasant and more interesting taste than the original. The added black grape flavor seems to bring down the acidity a bit and almost mellows out the overall flavor. The grape flavor is good, although artificial, and is more prominent in the mixture than the rest of the Mountain Dew flavor. As mentioned before, Pitch Black is still pretty sweet, and I did not finish the entire 20 oz. bottle, but it was still much easier to drink and I did not tire of the sweetness as fast as other Mountain Dew varieties.

After finally being able to experience the Pitch Black phenomenon for myself, I can say that I now understand what all the hype was about. Mountain Dew: Pitch Black is pretty good. It's a little bit on the artificial, sugary side, and 20 ounces is still a little bit much at one time, but I would definitely buy it again.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Unremembered filling station on I-95.
Size: 20 fl. oz.
Price: $1.60

No posts this week.

2011-06-21T10:24:00.000-04:00

So as the title of this post suggests, I will not be doing reviews this week. I have decided to take the week off for vacation, as I am leaving tomorrow to go to Washington D.C. for the weekend with some friends of mine. I am originally from the Baltimore area, so I have been to D.C. quite a few times in the past, but it has been a while since I've been back (almost seven years), and I am very excited to see how the city has changed since my last visit. I will hopefully be trying a myriad of different beverages while I'm there, and we are planning on recording a podcast or two during the trip.

I will be returning to the regular update schedule next week, and I am very much looking forward to investigating new material for the site over the weekend. In the meantime, be sure to check out my review of CrazyDrops in the post below. L3 Home has developed a great product that definitely deserves your attention.

Anyway, those who are interested can keep up with my beverage-related exploits in D.C. by following me on Twitter or facebook, or just checking in with the sidebar widget. I am looking forward to sharing some of the good beverage news from D.C. with all of you upon my return.

Until then,

Hayden

Crazy Drops

2011-06-17T19:52:00.000-04:00

I was recently sent a couple of samples of a new liquid water enhancer by an independent company by the name of L3 Home. To date, this is the second liquid water enhancer that I have tried, and although only two brands is certainly not a huge data set from which to pull information, these liquid flavorings have a pretty good track record so far.

CrazyDrops are very small bottles of highly concentrated fruit flavor. And when I say small, I mean small. These things are about the size of a prescription eye drop bottle, if not a bit smaller.

No camera tricks here. These are just that small.

Each bottle contains approximately 30 servings of flavor, with the recommended serving being 8 drops of flavoring per 8 fl. oz. of water. One drop per ounce of water means that there is a lot of solute packed into these small containers, and it is always nice to be able to modify your serving to better fit your personal tastes. One thing that I really like about CrazyDrops is the "dropper" style nozzle on the top of the bottle. It makes adding the flavoring a slower process, but it allows the user a lot more control over how much is being added. Once a comfortable level of flavor is established, it is very easy to add the same amount of flavoring each time by simply counting out the right number of drops. My only complaint about the packaging is that the lids do not seem to tighten down super securely. Although the seal is probably tight enough for most circumstances, it's not unreasonable to imagine the lids being knocked loose if left to be tossed around inside of a pocket or a purse. This is not a huge problem for me, as I typically just leave these sorts of things on my desk at work, but those intending to travel with their CrazyDrops should make sure that they are in a secure spot before setting out.

Overall, I really like the taste of CrazyDrops. I received both the blueberry and passion fruit flavors for my review, and they are both quite tasty, particularly the blueberry. Despite the name containing an adjective indicating a lack of control, CrazyDrops are actually fairly subtle in flavor. I was somewhat surprised to discover this, but I actually prefer water enhancers to be subtle. I think that the purpose of water enhancers should be to make your water more interesting and enticing, not completely transform it into something else. L3 Home seems to understand this, and has engineered a product that is light and refreshing, yet still offers an interesting flavor without overpowering the water. The flavors are also fresh and crisp, and I found the blueberry taste in particular to be pretty close to the natural taste of the fruit.

CrazyDrops are sweetened with sucralose, but the sweetening is also subtle and does not leave the typical sucralose aftertaste. There is some aftertaste, but it is nowhere near as strong as the taste left behind by other artificially sweetened beverage products and does not linger quite as long. One thing that I found particularly interesting about my experience with CrazyDrops is that although the flavoring itself is colored, the drops are so highly concentrated that the coloring simply dissipates into the water, leaving you with a clear, non-colored beverage. The use of artificial colorings tends to cause a controversy amongst fans of completely organic beverages, but the coloring used in CrazyDrops is so minimal that it barely even offers grounds for complaint.

All in all, I really like crazy drops. They are convenient, inexpensive, tasty, relatively healthy, and they offer a great alternative to highly sweetened beverages for those who shy away from the often boring tastelessness of water. I, for one, love drinking water, but even I sometimes have trouble getting motivated to drink it in large quantities. CrazyDrops offers an excellent solution to the often tiresome doldrums of our essential dihydrogen monoxide intake. I would definitely recommend them to those seeking to make their daily water dosage a little more interesting, and I know that I will certainly be purchasing more of these in the future.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I really like the blueberry flavor?

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Check out CrazyDrops here at the L3 Home website.

Or check them out on facebook.

Review samples sponsored by L3 Home

Size: 6 mL [Approximately 30 servings per bottle]

Price: $2.60 - $2.75 per bottle

Rogue Mocha Porter

2011-06-14T13:05:00.000-04:00

Beer is a very popular beverage, and rightly so. This popularity benefits the consumer by allowing him or her access to an almost limitless variety of different beers to try and enjoy. However, this popularity can also detriment the consumer by allowing him or her access to an almost limitless variety of different beers to try and enjoy. The huge market variety available in the world of beers insures that the consumer will always be able to try something new and fresh, but it also insures that some very good beers will be surpassed unknowingly for less favorable alternatives, and many beers will be missed altogether, never to be discovered by many potential enthusiasts. It can, for the discerning beverage enthusiast, be a distressing dichotomy. But it is the natural economic result of any market saturated with what are largely substitute goods, and it is certainly hard to complain when the resulting selection of tastes is so vast and interesting.

Rogue Mocha Porter is one of the aforementioned beers that I probably never would have tried of my own accord. It is a bit on the expensive side (not crazy expensive, just a bit high for my current budget), and I likely would have just overlooked it forever had I not found a six-pack on clearance at a local grocery store. I'm glad that I got a chance to try this one after all, because it's pretty good. It's a very dark, malty beer with heavy hints of bittersweet chocolate mixed into the brew. The beer has a very natural cocoa taste, and aromas of very dark chocolate linger in the olfactory throughout the experience. Overall the taste is good, and is definitely interesting.

Although the taste is deep and appealing, Rogue's Mocha Porter is a very heavy beer. I am, in general, a big fan of stouts and dark ales, but this one was almost too much even for me. I usually enjoy the taste until a little bit more than halfway through the bottle, at which point finishing the beverage becomes quite a daunting task. I typically have to take this one in two sittings. This is definitely not a beer for those who shy away from heavier flavors, but it is otherwise a great one to try at least once, especially if you are able to arrange small portions or split it with someone. I don't know that I would recommend Rogue Mocha Porter to everyone or even buy it again myself, but it was definitely worth trying out at half price.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Bi-Lo [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $5.99 [Discounted from $11.99]

Orange Fanta (Mexican import)

2011-06-10T11:54:00.000-04:00

As stated on the most recent episode of the Drinkable Review Podcast, I have never been a big orange soda drinker. It is typically too sweet for me, and I have trouble drinking more than a few sips. I can like it in small doses, but I generally just avoid it altogether.

That being said, I recently found that a grocery store near my place of work keeps a regular stock of Orange Fanta imported from Mexico. Let's just go ahead and put this out there: I am not a fan of American Fanta. I find it to be much too sweet, and the flavors all taste like candy. However, I have heard good things about the foreign versions of Fanta from travelling friends, especially in regard to the European formulas, so I decided to give this Central American variety a taste. Having excitedly returning to the store several times since then to continue to purchase the stuff, I feel safe in saying that Mexican Fanta is almost an entirely different beverage.

The first thing that stands out as different is the aroma of the Mexican formula. It is much more mellow and reminiscent of real oranges than the harsh sweetness of its American counterpart. It still does not smell like sniffing an actual orange, but it is definitely closer to the source. The taste follows in this trend, and is much more flavorful than our typical gas-station variety. The "reduced" sweetness of the drink allows one to really taste the orange flavor of the beverage, and works well in the formula to help emphasize some of the more subtle elements. The aftertaste is also much more dry and does not linger on the palete as long as other drinks of its type, although this is a fairly common result of using natural sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup.

Mexican Fanta is great. It's less sweet, more flavorful, easier to drink, and really just better than most American orange sodas that I have had, making it an easy recommendation. Putting aside the issues and arguments about sugar taxes and the controversies about high fructose corn syrup, I think that it is safe to say that, at least in my experience, sweeter is usually not better, regardless of what sweetener is being used. The rest of the world seems to understand this a little bit better than the United States, and this case of Fanta "hecho en Mexico" is a great example.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Piggly Wiggly [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: $1.69

Polar Ginger Ale

2011-06-07T13:30:00.000-04:00

I have been a big fan of ginger ale ever since I was a little kid. Although my interest in mainstream ginger ales (i.e. Canada Dry, Seagram's, etc.) has been waning lately in favor of the more natural and spicy alternatives, I still loving having a good, sweet ginger ale from time to time. Polar Ginger Ale is a new favorite of mine in this regard.

Polar Ginger Ale is not terribly different from many other more common ginger ales that you might find in most convenience stores. That recognizable ginger taste is there amidst the sugar, but it is a good bit more subtle than in Polar's more mainstream counterparts. I am tempted to say that Polar Ginger Ale is less flavorful than its competitors, but I don't think that this is really the case. Rather, I think that Polar's flavor balance is more even and carefully proportioned. It also tastes a lot less sweet and syrupy than others of its type, and has a clean, dry aftertaste that does not linger strongly in the olfactory.

Overall, I like Polar Ginger Ale a good bit. I'd definitely recommend it above other sorts of mainstream ginger ales, and I think that the more mild and subtle take on the conventional ginger ale taste is a good approach. I've also found that the "reduced" sweetness of Polar Ginger Ale makes it a very good cocktail mixer, as it works very well with and does not overtake the flavor of whatever you mix with it. I personally enjoy a simple mixture of two ounces of bourbon with five or six ounces of ginger ale, but that is certainly not to imply that Polar would not work well with any cocktail of your choosing. If you are a fan of ginger ales, or are looking for a good, "low-key" cocktail ale, Polar Ginger is definitely one to add to your list.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Piggly Wiggly [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 33.8 fl. oz. [1 L]

Price: $0.99

Abita Turbodog

2011-06-03T19:05:00.000-04:00

I have really had a thing for dark beer lately. I never used to like the darker stuff, as it was too strong and flavorful for me on the advent of my interest in beer, but dark beers really are one of those acquired tastes that everybody talks about all the time. The more dark beers that I tried, the more that I began to like the stuff, and it didn't take long before dark ales and stouts became my favorite types of beer.

I had seen Turbodog in stores for a while before I finally decided to give it a try at a favorite bar of mine a few months ago, but I avoided it for several months because the name "Turbodog" gave me this totally unjustified feeling that it might have been a "bro beer," and I subsequently put it towards the bottom of my need-to-try list. However, I am glad that I finally got around to trying one, because I really like it.

Turbodog is an American brown ale that is brewed with a combination of malts, giving it an interesting dark chocolate-like flavor. Turbodog also boasts a unique toffee flavor that at first I did not recognize, but after educating myself with the bottle and returning to my glass, it seemed almost like a no-brainer. The toffee taste is subtle, but I think perfectly so. Once you know that it's there, it is fairly easy to pick up. Overall, the flavor of Turbodog is strong, pronounced, and homogeneous. It's not necessarily bad if a drink's flavor is not homogeneous, but there's just something about the harmony of a good, well-balanced taste that makes the drink go down so much more smoothly, particularly with regard to beers.

I really like Turbodog. So much so, in fact, that it has become my new "exit beer" (the predetermined last beer of the evening, so as to guarantee leaving on a good note) at one of the local bars that I frequent. If you are not a fan of dark ales, then you may just want to steer clear of this one, but if you like the darker side of beer, or are looking to expand your beer horizons to include some of the more strong and flavorful stuff, this is definitely one to check out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Corley's Market and Grill [Greenwood, SC]

Size: 12 fl.oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [Six-pack]

Foco Pennywort Drink

2011-05-31T13:17:00.000-04:00

There is a fair amount of what could be construed by some as "vegetable hate" in the text below, so as a disclaimer before this review, I would like to say that I absolutely love vegetables. In fact, when I cook for myself, I typically maintain a fairly strict and healthy vegetarian diet. Anyway, on to the content.

This drink has been sitting in my refrigerator for the past two months. I bought it at a local Asian market on the way home from a Vietnamese restaurant, and I have been avoiding it ever since. I always enjoy trying new beverages, and a lot of the "weird Asian drinks" tend to leave me at least pleasantly surprised, but there is still a certain sort of fear that comes with trying some of these beverages for the first time. Every so often, I let that fear get the best of me, particularly when the only information that I have at my disposal about the contents of the beverage is an image of a few leaves on the front of the can.

I finally caved in yesterday and decided to just go for it and give this one a taste. The only ingredients in the thing are water, pennywort leaf extract, sugar, and citric acid (which is somehow used as an "acid regulator"), so I received no help from the container in trying to figure out what to expect. After struggling to force the almost unecessarily sturdy can open, I was greeted by the smell of liquified green vegetables. I'm not entirely sure why this came as such a shock, but the unexpected pungency of the aroma almost turned me off to the drink completely. I managed to hold it together long enough to take a sip, though, and quickly came to the thankful realization that this is one of those weird drinks that tastes almost nothing like it smells.

The taste of the beverage is hard to explain, really. I would unhelpfully assume that it tastes like pennywort, but seeing as I have never had pennywort, I can not attest to that. The drink is significantly sweet, and although the "vegetable juice" taste is there, it's not horribly pronounced amidst the added sugar. In terms of taste, the the closest comparison is that of a fruit/vegetable cocktail like V8 Spalsh with a little bit less emphasis on the fruit. The liquid itself, however, is rather thick and viscous, and gives the drink a heft more along the lines of a nutritional supplement rather than an every day beverage.

Pennywort drink is not likely to be something that you will want to drink in large servings, if at all. The flavor has this sort of weird vegetable putridness that is not evident at first, but starts to become more noticeable the more that you drink. When I first started the can, I thought that I was going to like it, but after I got about four sips in I started to quickly get tired of the taste. I thought that perhaps it was just a drink that needed to be taken slowly, but even after almost an hour after opening the can, I still did not want any more of it and ultimately just ended up pouring it out.

This is a difficult one to recommend, even as an interesting rarity. Although I did like it at the beginning, it grew unappealing so quickly that I can't help but question if I actually liked it at the start, or if the incongruity between the taste and the smell was simply temporarily confusing my senses. Foco's concoction is enjoyable on some kind of a "not-quite-a-beverage" level, but as a beverage it kind of just gives me the feeling that maybe pennywort juice is one of those things that it's just okay not to drink. It's not terrible, and it certainly won't hurt you, but unless you have a strong desire to find out what pennywort tastes like, I think that this one is most likely safe to skip.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Golden Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 11.8 fl. oz. [350 mL]

Price: $1.00

Zenify

2011-05-27T03:32:00.000-04:00

Relaxation beverages seem to be quickly becoming the new "next big thing" in the beverage industry. Much like with the energy drink craze before it, the market for relaxation beverages has emerged rapidly from what seemed like little more than a novelty idea not much more than a year ago. Although market saturation is always a potential concern with any popular trend, relaxation beverages are still in the fun and interesting stage for the time being, with Zenify standing out as an exemplary and unique fore-runner in this new industry phenomenon.

Unlike other bevereages of its type, Zenify is not intended to simply relax the consumer. Touted as the "live stress free drink," Zenify focuses on calming the user to allow for stronger concentration and focus rather than "relaxing" the user, per se. Several of the relaxation beverages that I have had so far contain additives such as valerian root extract and melatonin, both of which are intended to invoke a very sleepy state of relaxation and are often used as medicinal sleeping aids. Zenify, on the other hand, primarily uses L-theanine and gaba, both of which are intended to calm the consumer while simultaneously promoting a sense of increased focus and concentration. While other relaxation beverages are supposed to help you really relax, Zenify is instead intended to be more of a mind-clearing agent that allows the user to better take advantage of the energy that is already present in his or her system.

My biggest concern about Zenify before I had a chance to try it was the fact that it is sweented with Reb A (a stevia-based sweetener). I really don't like stevia very much at all, and I was scared that the stevia taste would spoil the rest of it for me. However, upon tasting it, I realized that this was not going to be a problem. The stevia flavor taste is not very pronounced, and it often took some effort to even track down the flavor in the first place. The overall flavor of the drink is along the same lines as the ambiguous citrus flavor of many commercial energy drinks, and leaves you with much of the same dry, almost bitter aftertaste. However, the taste of Zenify is less offensive somehow. It just seems more mild overall, and is a lot easier to palette than many of the other, similarly-flavored beverages that can currently be found on the mainstream market. The enjoyably light "energy drink taste" ironically puts many of the more conventional energy drinks to shame in the flavor department. Also, to set the beverage even further apart from its competitors, Zenify is also fairly low on sugars and only contains about 13 grams per 12 fl. oz. serving, which is almost always a good thing.

Aside from the satisfyingly strong level of carbonation, Zenify tastes somewhat like a mild citrus juice. A single serving of 1 can is very easy to drink, and aside from the small complaint about the dry aftertaste, the flavor is crisp and enticing and I have had no problem finishing each can that I've opened. As far as the focus and concentration elements of the formula go, I'm not sure that I can accurately speak to its effectiveness. Energy drinks have never seemed to affect me very much, and I thought that trying to gage the effectiveness of Zenify's supplemental elements would probably not be fair. The calming side of the beverage does work however, and I can feel myself become somewhat less worried about the remainder of the day ahead of me after sneaking in a Zenify in the afternoon. I don't necessarily feel more focused, but I do experience the promoted calming sensation. I feel like Zenify offers me just the right level of calm without making me tired, which can sometimes be a delicate balance, particularly later in the day.

Overall, Zenify tastes good, works pretty well, and is an all-natural and fairly guilt free (low calorie; low sugar) supplement for helping oneself to help manage his or her stress. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Zenify on store shevles in the future

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Sponsored Sample

Size:12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: Sponsored Sample

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Bundaberg Lemon Lime and Bitters

2011-05-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

Those keeping track of things here at Drinkable Review know that I recently reviewed Bundaberg's Peachee and was fairly impressed with the product overall. I recently returned to my local World Market to pick up some more of the stuff, when I found this sitting on the shelf in the space previously occupied by the Peachee. According to the World Market employee with whom I spoke about it, the Lemon Lime and Bitters is a new flavor from Bundaberg, and they didn't restock the Peachee this time around to make room on the shelf. Although I was dissappointed by the lack of Peachee, I was immediately intrigued by the alternative, and decided to give it a try.

I have made plenty of cocktails in the past that mix bitters with soda, but never lemon-lime. I had a hard time imagining the taste while standing in the store, but I couldn't think of anything that would have made it bad, either, so I picked up a four pack. The smell upon opening the first one was pretty strong, and the smell of the aromatic bitters was definitely very pronounced. For those who are unfamiliar with bitters, it is an alcoholic, liquid mixture of aromatic spices that is added to certain cocktails a few drops at a time to give the drink a bit of a dry, spiced flavor. There are several other types of bitters (such as orange), but aromatic bitters are the most commonly used. As a disclaimer, Bundaberg's products are not alcoholic and contain less than 0.05% alcohol per unit volume.

Like the Peachee before it, this one is naturally brewed, and has a sort of heavy smell and consistency that reflects its method of preparation. Also, like the Peachee, I found this one to be a little bit too sweet for me to drink a whole bottle in one sitting. This reluctance to drink an entire serving is further amplified by the added bitters, as they are quite strong and although it adds a unique and interesting flavor to the lemon-lime, it is easy to tire quickly of the taste. The lemon lime elements of the soda are good, although not nearly as natural-tasting as the peach in the Peachee. I have yet to have a lemon-lime soda that does not have that candyesque "7Up" flavor. It's certainly not bad, don't get me wrong. I love the occasional 7Up, but I would like to have a soda that has the literal taste of lemon and lime juice.

Overall, this is a decent beverage. It's certainly interesting and worth a try, but I feel that the flavors could stand to be a little bit more balanced. The bitters are very pronounced (as they are wont to be in any beverage, really), and the lemon-lime base of the drink actually takes a bit of a background role in the face of the other spices. Pulling back a bit on the amount of bitters that get added to the soda would probably do this one some good. This, in combination with the syrupy heaviness of the beverage, makes Bundaberg Lemon Lime and Bitters a difficult one to recommend flat out, but it is definitely a unique experience and is enjoyable enough to warrant at least one purchase.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]
Size: 11.5 fl. oz. [340 mL]
Price: $6.99 [Four pack]

Nuun U Hydration: Tangerine Ginger

2011-05-20T19:31:00.000-04:00

As someone who has never particularly fancied water enhancers in the past, I have been trying an unusual number of them lately. One of my more recent selections was one flavor from Nuun's U Hydration series of all-natural water enhancement products. The thing that intrigued me the most about U Hydration is that rather than being a powder or a liquid like other products of the same type, the flavoring is offered in tablet form. Using tablets in beverages is certainly not uncommon. Those suffering from indigestion (also known as "hangovers") have been utilizing tablets to combat discomfort for years, but there was something strange and outstanding about finding a package of tablets that functions specifically as a flavoring agent.

There are a few extra benefits from using U Hydration, such as added vitamins and electrolytes, but the primary purpose is, as one would expect, to enhance your water. U Hydration is definitely fun to use, and watching the tablet dissolve in the water has an almost disturbingly entrancing quality. When stopping to really think about it, it's not all that exciting in retrospect, but the tablet does sort of hop around in the bottle from the buoyant force of the water as chunks of the slab bubble away, and it managed to hold my attention for a while. However, I have noticed that the tab does not typically dissolve completely on it's own and a little bit of shaking towards the end is usually required.

The taste of U Hydration is actually a bit difficult to describe. I was fairly wary of the mixture at first, as it smells like liquid pharmaceutical antibiotics. Luckily, it does not taste like medication and instead has an easy taste that is light and refreshing. The tangerine and ginger both tasted fairly natural (as natural as solidified, powdered essence will allow), and the concoction is not very sweet, if at all. I wasn't sure whether to expect sweetness or not, and I unfortunately do not currently have the package with me to check, but the unsweetened approach was a nice surprise and definitely sets this product apart from its competitors. The added vitamins and electrolytes also gave the drink a faint "children's-chewable-vitamin-supplement" accent and acted as extra thirst quenching agents.

Although I like U Hydration overall, and would most likely recommend it (granted, I can not yet speak for the other three flavors), there are a few problems. First off, while the tablets are interesting and different, they take a good bit longer to mix into the water, as the flavoring must take time to break apart rather than simply homogenizing into the mixture. Also, the tablets are a little big, and are likely not going to fit into most disposable water bottles. This is taken into consideration, and the tablets are recessed in the middle like many typical solid-body pills. This allows the tabs to be more easily broken by hand, but it is still just another step in a process that is already almost three times as long as those of competing products.

Another big issue for me is the price. Each 16 tablet vial costs upwards of 8 dollars, which is a lot to commit to an unknown, multiple-serving product. I have had my share of unfavored expensive drinks, but for some reason it is much harder for me to risk the money on multi-serving products, as I always dread the guilt of disposing of an entire container of something. Luckily, my money was not wasted here, although I will say that it took me a long time to work up the nerve to risk this one.

I don't know that I will make U Hydration a regular purchasing habit in the future, but I am definitely glad that I finally decided to try it out. The taste is mild and pleasant, and if nothing else it is a unique and refreshing take on the water enhancer in a market full of sneeze-inducing powders.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]

Size: 16 tablets [Each tablet makes one 16-17 oz. serving]

Price: $7.59

Saporro

2011-05-17T13:29:00.000-04:00

Before I begin the review proper, I would like to take a minute to talk about World Market. As I'm sure many of you have realized by now, I spend a lot of time in World Market shopping for beverages and glassware. I get a significant portion of my reviewing material from World Market, and I think that it is a wonderful and interesting company.

That being said, World Market is currently running a donation drive aimed at aiding in the relief efforts currently being enacted in Japan. I've had this beer for a while now, but I wanted to hold off on doing this review until the media hype about the natural disasters in Japan died down a bit. I did so intentionally, as awareness of these sorts of events tends to die down after the media has covered the initial impact and estimated costs. Japan is going to be suffering the effects of the damages incurred during the recent disasters for years to come, and I encourage those who are able to take advantage of the opportunity being presented by World Market, which brings me back to my original point.

Until this coming September, World Market is donating all of its proceeds from all sales of items imported from Japan to aid in relief efforts overseas. I know that, in general, people are quick to scorn those who "need" incentive to donate to a cause, but it is a good way for a company to offer its customers a method of organically helping out through their regular spending activities. I encourage those interested in helping the cause a bit here and there to take advantage of this fairly unique opportunity, and Sapporo is a great place to start.

Sapporo is a great beer. In general, I prefer the flavor depth and strength of darker beers, but as far as light beers go, this one is probably one of my favorites. Sapporo definitely has a lighter taste, and is not entirely unlike many of the western lagers available in the U.S. However, Sapporo seems to have a cleaner, more crisp flavor than many American lagers, and leaves a much less yeasty aftertaste in its wake. Overall, it has a mild flavor, and strikes a good balance between the yeasty and hoppy sides of things, giving the beer a pleasant mouthtaste and a smooth, tasty finish.

Probably my favorite thing about Sapporo, though, is that the aftertaste does not seem to linger as long in my system as a lot of other beers of its type. Many American lagers along the same vein tend to leave me with "beer mouth" for a good while after consumption, but Sapporo does not have the same effect. As with all beers, the flavor does linger for a time, but it dissipates much more quickly than usual, particularly if enjoyed along with a meal or snack of some sort.

Although Sapporo is not necessarily anything special, it is an excellent example of its type. The flavors are pleasant and well balanced, it sits well "after the fact," and it is very easy to drink overall. This one is definitely one to try out, particularly if you have a taste for lighter beers.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $8.99 [Six pack]

Taylor's Tonics Mate Mojito

2011-05-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

I recently reviewed Taylor's Tonics' Chai Cola, only to find that once the novelty wore off a bit, I was left with a beverage that was actually fairly difficult to drink. I went back to my local World Market and found these sitting next to the chai cola and decided to give Taylor's another shot. I am happy to report that I have been having a much better experience with the Mate Mojito so far.

Taylor's Tonics Mate Mojito has none of the "novelty" element of its cola relative. Rather, it is a crisp, refreshing, and interesting blend of ingredients that work well together to create a light and delicious flavor. As the label suggests, the drink is a blend of mate infused soda water flavored with mint and lime. There is also a fairly noticeable dose of vanilla flavoring included in the drink that is unaccounted for on the front of the label. The inclusion of vanilla is not a bad thing at all, but it is a significant contributor to the beverage's taste and I am a bit perplexed as to why such a pronounced flavor would not be included in the immediately visible description.

I had my first bottle of this drink almost a month and a half ago, and I still to this very moment have trouble describing the taste to others. It is entirely unique, and in all of my experience trying beverages I have not encountered anything else quite like it. The only specific descriptors that come to mind when imagining the flavor are "clean" and "refreshing." The drink tastes very natural (as expected from an all natural beverage company), and every contributing flavor is very "real" and true to its respective source. Each individual flavor in the Mate Mojito is easy to pick out and identify, but the overall flavor of the beverage really is one of those rare "one-of-a-kind" tastes and is very tough for me to put my finger on. This is one that I think is best recommended as a "must try for yourself" sort of beverage.

I definitely do recommend this one to curious beverage consumers. It is unique and interesting, and is easy to drink all the way down to the bottom of the bottle. However, although I do recommend giving this one a try, I will go ahead and say that this is not a drink for everyone. The flavor is delicious, but it is strong and very pronounced. I can easily see people who are not fond of strong drinks not attaching to the Mate Mojito too quickly, and if you don't like even one of the ingredients used in the beverage, you are probably not likely to have the best of experiences with the drink.

But I like this one a lot. Definitely check it out.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $5.99 [Four pack]

Fizzy Lizzy: Grapefruit

2011-05-10T14:26:00.000-04:00

I found this drink a while back at a nearby Whole Foods market, and I was immediately intrigued by the consistency of the beverage. Fizzy Lizzy touts itself as a soda, yet it has about an inch of sedimentary material in the bottom of the bottle. Typically, this sort of heavy sediment calls for a reasonable shaking of the container, but with this being a carbonated beverage there were obviously concerns. Upon inverting the bottle several times, however, the solid matter loosened up and dispersed into the liquid, leaving me with a rather interesting homogeneous suspension. The scent upon opening the bottle was undeniably that of natural grapefruit, and it wafted out of the bottle with such magnitude that a friend of mine who was sitting next to me at the time was able to smell it within seconds of the seal being broken. The smell was delicious, however, and was very reflective of the taste.

Drinking Fizzy Lizzy is pretty much like drinking a grapefruit. The taste is very simple and straightforward, and the pulp in the soda further adds to the natural taste of the beverage. No extra sugar is added to Fizzy Lizzy, either, which also contributes to the very natural and citric grapefruit flavor. The carbonation is a bit on the low side, but that seems appropriate in this case, as I'm not sure that heavy carbonation and relatively thick grapefruit pulp would have worked very well together.

Overall, I liked this beverage a good bit. The second half of the serving was a bit hard to finish, as the acid content seemed fairly high and the twelve ounce serving was a little bit too much for me. Also, the pulp emptied out with the beverage a bit disproportionately, as the last few sips contained a significantly higher pulp concentration. This is typical of drinks with heavy pulp, however, and I was pretty much expecting that this one would be no different. I would definitely buy this one again (or try some of their other flavors), but I do think that it would benefit from a smaller serving size.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Whole Foods [Greenville, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.69 [If memory serves]

Boylan's Orange Soda

2011-05-06T16:11:00.000-04:00

In general, I am not a huge fan of orange sodas. I usually find that they are too sweet for me, and very rarely taste much like actual oranges. That being said, this is easily the best orange soda that I have had in my entire life.

I've always really liked Boylan's Birch Beer, but I haven't had much opportunity to try Boylan's other flavors. Upon trying the orange soda, however, I've decided to make it a point to do so. Boylan's orange is very, very good. As advertised on the front of the bottle, Boylan's sodas are sweetened with all natural cane sugar. The sweetness of the orange soda is just right, and is sweet without detracting from the taste of the orange flavoring. I've never really understood why so many orange soda makers add heaps and heaps of sugar to their beverages. Although Boylan's Orange is still a fairly sweet beverage (it is a soda, after all), it tastes as though Boylan's recognizes that oranges are already very sweet in and of themselves, and has taken this inherent sweetness into account when proportioning the ingredients.

In addition to the well-balanced sugar levels, the taste of the orange is very natural. Aside from some of the organic beverages that I've had, this is probably the "closest-to-natural" orange taste that I've had in a soda. The taste is laden with overtones of sweet citrus, and it is actually hard to determine exactly what kind of oranges are used in the flavoring. The overall taste comes closest to smaller species like mandarin oranges or tangerines, but resultant flavor tastes like a medley of different orange varieties. The flavor resonates on the olfactory, particularly in the immediate aftertaste, and the beverage tastes very crisp and clean in the long run, as the flavor does not linger for very long at all.

Boylan's Orange is an excellent beverage. My only complaint was that the carbonation levels were a bit under what I typically prefer, but that's a difficult complain to maintain when everything else about the soda is so enjoyable. This is definitely one to check out.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Columbia, SC]

Size: 16 fl. oz. [473 mL]

Price: $0.75 [Discounted]

Rainforest Cola

2011-05-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

First and foremost, I apologize for the obnoxious sticker covering up the logo on this can. Big Lots seems to have a bad habit of identifying the most important parts of beverage label graphics and subsequently deciding that that is, obviously, the best place to apply their fluorescent orange, non-removable sticker. However, it is very difficult to complain when a hard-to-find beverage is offered for only 50 cents.

Rainforest Cola is, as the can indicates, an acai infused cola. As I've noted on the blog before, acai has been on the rise lately in the beverage industry. I knew that it was only a matter of time before people started experimenting with mixing the fruit into sodas, and when I read about this one a month or two ago, I wanted to track it down and give it a try. My experience with acai flavored beverages thus far has been fairly polarized. The drinks that I've had so far have either been very good or just bad, with little middle ground. This is no different with Rainforest Cola and, unfortunately, this one does not fall on the "good" side of things.

Although I am very familiar with the flavors of both cola and acai, I could not imagine the two together. Even upon smelling the beverage, I still had a lot of difficulty formulating an expectation about the flavor of the drink. That being said, I don't know that it would have mattered if I had been able to imagine the taste, as I don't think that whatever I could have come up with on my own would have been very accurate. To put it simply, Rainforest Cola is a bit odd. I could tell right away that it was not a beverage that I was going to enjoy, but I could not immediately determine why. The drink is not offensive in any way, and the taste is not necessarily shocking to the taste buds, but there is this underlying weirdness about it that I think turns me off to the taste. Despite the drinks tastes of being an acai infused cola, the acai is very heavy and blots out most of the cola taste. I tend to think of "infused" as meaning light and subtle in flavoring, but the acai is definitely prominent in Rainforest Cola. The tart nature of the acai and the wet and refreshing nature of the cola seem to constantly fight with each other, and the flavor that results is almost coffee-like in its bitter, "dry liquid" taste.

If you are a big fan of acai, you may like this one, as that's really the driving taste here. It's certainly not a horrible beverage, and I've definitely had worse, but I really just don't think that the combination of cola and acai is a good one. The flavors seem a bit contradictory, and while I commend Rainforest Cola for taking the risk inherent in experimentation, I think that a simple and straightforward acai soda would have been a much better approach.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Big Lots [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $0.50 [Discounted]

Further Delays

2011-04-29T12:49:00.000-04:00

I hate to do this, but I am going to have to push off today's post again.

It is exam week and I have been awake since yesterday morning. I still have another final to take in an hour, and I'm not going to have a chance to write a review for today.

I apologize for the continued delays, but Drinkable Review will be back to its usual schedule next Tuesday.

Thanks for your patience.

- Hayden

Bundaberg Peachee

2011-04-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

After seeing a review of Bundaberg Peachee on this episode of the BevNerd video podcast, I decided that I really wanted to give it a try. I found it at my local World Market, and fell upon some great luck, as they happened to be selling four packs of the beverage for half price at the time.

Aside from the fact that it is very good, there's really not a whole lot to say about Bundaberg Peachee. That's not to imply that this is a bad thing. In fact, it is the complete opposite. Bundaberg's Peachee is a very simple and straightforward drink. Peachee is an all natural brewed peach soda, and of all the sodas that I have had in my life, this one may be the most true to its source material. When you open the screw top container (a nice touch, for reasons that I will address later), the exact smell of freshly cut peaches wafts out of the bottle. There is no hint of artificiality here; if you close your eyes and inhale, it's impossible to tell that you are not smelling actual peaches. The taste is a bit more removed, but not by much. Peachee pretty much tastes like fresh peaches. The taste and sweetness are both there, and aside from the carbonation, the beverage tastes almost exactly like the original fruit.

The only thing about Peachee that I did not particularly favor was the sweetness. The beverage is all-naturally sweetened, but it is very rich and syrupy. Of course, sticking with the theme, this sort of sweetness is also a quality of peaches in general, but the thickness of the sugar in Bundaberg's Peachee makes it a bit difficult to drink an entire bottle in one go. The heavy consistency from the brewing process and the sedimentary material in the drink also contribute to this overall "thickness." However, to finish my thought from earlier, I believe that Bundaberg realizes this, as they have implemented a metal screw-top lid rather than the typical bottle cap, allowing the consumer to easily re-seal the bottle and save some for later.

Overall, I really like Peachee. It's a great beverage, and it's one of the most truly natural fruit-flavored sodas that I've had in a long time. The only reason that I would hesitate to recommend this to someone is the somewhat overwhelming sweetness, but as long as this one is taken in smaller servings, I think that everyone is likely to enjoy it.

Verdict: Recommended, but in small servings

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 11.5 fl. oz. [340 mL]

Price: $2.99 [Four-pack, discounted, regularly $5.99]

2011-04-26T13:28:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. I hate to do this, but I need to move today's post to tomorrow. I've been out all morning running errands, and I've still got some things to do today, and I don't think that I'll be able to get the review up in a timely manner. Check back tomorrow for my review of Bundaberg Peachee.

Thanks,

Hayden

Taylor's Tonics Chai Cola

2011-04-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

This caught my eye while I was shopping at my local World Market a few days ago, and from the moment that I saw the label, I knew that I was not going to be leaving without one. Chai and cola is definitely an interesting and unique combination. I'm actually somewhat surprised that this was the first Chai cola that I have ever seen, as a relatively accurate prediction of the flavor popped into my mind upon seeing it.

Taylor's Tonic Chai Cola is a naturally seasoned and brewed mix of chai tea, cola, and herbal ingredients. Upon opening the bottle, I could smell the heavy aroma of the chai spices almost without even having to pick up the bottle. The drink has a fair amount of sedimentary material in it that settles out at the bottom, and requires "rocking" before consumption to redistribute some of the spices. Overall, I really like the taste of the chai and cola combination. However, the drink is a little bit on the heavy side. The sedimentary content that is mixed back into the drink during rocking does thicken the fluid a bit, making the drink a little bit more of a commitment. Due to the thickness, I've found that it is difficult to drink this one quick enough to enjoy it, as it takes me so long that the cola starts to equalize to room temperature about halfway through, making it even harder to finish a serving. The spices also add to the heaviness, and although I enjoy the taste, it does tend to get old a little bit fast.

As a novelty, this is a really great beverage. It's definitely worth a try to have the experience once, but I don't know that this one will be a repeated purchase for me. Overall, I think that this drink would benefit from being produced in a smaller serving size, as right now the 12 oz. serving is a bit much.

Verdict: Worth a try

Purchased: [World Market]
Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]
Price: $4.99 [4-pack]

Crystal Light Pure

2011-04-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

Last week, Kraft Foods sent me a sample package of Crystal Light Pure to try out. Crystal Light Pure is a new offering in Kraft's popular series of Crystal Light powdered drink mixes. Crystal Light Pure functions much like its predecessors in that each serving comes in single serve pouches and are mixed with a bottle of water and shaken (or stirred, if you are one of the lucky few whose thoughts are not haunted by James Bond's infamous martini request every time the option between the two methods arises) until the solution becomes homogeneous. Where Crystal Light Pure differs from the rest of the Crystal Light brand, however, lies in the ingredients.

Crystal Light Pure, unlike many of the other water enhancers currently offered on the market, utilizes all natural sweeteners, flavorings, and colorings. While regular Crystal Light is sweetened mostly with aspartame, Crystal Light Pure is sweetened with a mixture of sugar and Truvia (a solid, crystalline stevia extract derivative). Now, I am not a big fan of stevia. In fact, I tend to actively avoid the stuff. I was hesitant after realizing that Crystal Light Pure contains Truvia, but I am happy to say that the stevia is not overpowering in the slightest. This is the complete opposite of what I am accustomed to in my typical encounter with stevia-sweetened products (i.e. teeth-shattering sweetness, thick and syrupy aftertastes that linger for hours, etc.), and it was nice to finally find a beverage that is proportioned to take into consideration the extreme sweetness of stevia-based sweeteners. A little bit of stevia goes a long way, and I think that the team behind Crystal Light Pure has struck a solid balance between the two sweeteners.

I was sent samples of the three flavors shown above: Strawberry Kiwi, Mixed Berry, and Lemonade. I have had the opportunity to try each flavor twice now, and I have to say that the lemonade is definitely my favorite so far. Ironically, I find the strawberry kiwi and mixed berry flavors to be a bit too tart for my tastes. The flavors themselves are not bad; they just tend to leave my mouth a bit dry (an effect somewhat reminiscent of the artificial sweeteners found in standard Crystal Light). I am beginning to think that this is more an effect of the "add powdered drink mix to water" methodology than anything else, and I may need to just start mixing the packets with a bit more water than is recommended. Crystal Light Pure is intended for usage with standard 16.9 fl. oz. water bottles, but I have found with most of the water enhancers that I have tried recently that I usually like them better after diluting the recommended serving size with an extra ounce or two of water.

From a design standpoint, Crystal Light Pure has its ups and downs. First and most obvious is the increased size of the serving pouches (pictured below next to a typical Crystal Light pouch).

To give the packaging a rough "engineering estimate," I would say that the new pouch is approximately 250% larger in volume than the previous packaging. I understand that this is likely just an aesthetic decision made to differentiate the Pure line from the standard line, but there is a lot of empty space in the new pouch, which, to stick with the engineering theme, stands out to me as primarily just a waste of material. The new pouch also takes up a good bit more room in a bag or pocket than the old pouch, and the extra space for air in the larger pouch likely makes it more susceptible to unintended puncture-related accidents. These are not deal-breakers by any means, and ultimately it feels mostly like nitpicking on my part, but it did stand out as a bit of an odd design choice when I opened the boxes.

On another note, my mixing experience with Crystal Light Pure has been changed for the better and for the worse from the artificial powders. On the good side of things, I have found that the naturally-flavored Crystal Light tends to dissolve a lot faster and does tend to not clump up in the water as some of the artificially flavored versions do. This results in less shaking overall to mix up the drink, which is always a welcome change. However, I have noticed more "settling" from Crystal Light Pure, a process by which undissolved particles that are too small to see with the unaided eye sink to the bottom of the container and collect in a heap of grit that must be constantly shaken back into the beverage with each drink. I have, however, been mostly using 16 fl. oz. containers to mix the beverage so far, and this may also be a problem that would be easily solved by simply adding a bit more water (or a bit less powder).

Overall, I like Crystal Light Pure. I definitely prefer it to the original artificial alternative, although I do still think that Kraft's MiO is my favorite water enhancer so far. I am not going to not recommend the mixed berry and strawberry kiwi flavors, but of the three flavors that I have tried so far, I have really taken to the lemonade and would probably recommend that as a good starting point.

Although I generally do not have a problem with consuming the occasional artificial ingredient, it is always nice to see large corporations such as Kraft taking an interest in offering natural alternatives for those who prefer to avoid the artificial flavors and colorings. I definitely recommend giving Crystal Light Pure a try, especially if you are in the market for a more natural method of occasionally embellishing a serving or two of your daily water intake.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Sent by Kraft Foods

Size: 16.9 fl. oz. [7 pouches/box]

Price: About $4.00 per box [Based off of prices found on Amazon.com]

Check out Crystal Light Pure on the Crystal Light website.

Or follow Crystal Light Pure through Twitter or facebook.

Inca Kola

2011-04-15T14:30:00.000-04:00

Inca Kola is a beverage that I have been looking forward to trying for quite some time. I heard about Inca Kola quite some time ago, but then kind of forgot about it. So, when I unexpectedly came across it at a local grocery store, remembering that I'd been looking for it was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the taste of the drink was not such a nice surprise.

I didn't really have any expectations going into the beverage other than the assumption that it was cola flavored. Seeing as how the name contains the word cola (or rather, "kola"), I thought that this was a safe assumption, but I was incorrect. Inca Kola barely tastes like cola at all. I'm not sure if the beverage is supposed to taste like cola or not, but the truth of the matter is that it tastes like bubble gum. It is difficult to tell what the company's intentions are with the flavor, as all of their marketing seems concerned only with the fact that the drink is of a grossly artificial yellow hue. The can touts it simply as "the golden carbonated beverage," which gives no indication as to what the consumer is supposed to be tasting. This leads me to believe that the misspelling of "cola" is intentional, much like the common usage of the term "krab" when referring to imitation crab. Also, the color is not so much "golden" as it is "pure Yellow 5," so I don't even know that that part of the description is entirely accurate. There is a slight twinge of cola in the aftertaste, but the bubble gum taste is entirely overwhelming and I think that it may just be coincidental.

Overall, I found Inca Kola to be a bit of a disappointment. I can see how someone may enjoy the rather unique taste of the beverage, but I did not like it at all, and it is difficult for me to recommend. Unfortunately, Inca Kola comes across to me as not much more than an empty source of sugar and artificial coloring.

Verdict: Not Recommended

Purchased: Publix [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355mL]

Price: $3.99 [Six-pack]

Ambro Relax

2011-04-12T14:17:00.000-04:00

I recently received a sample case of Ambro Relax, a new relaxation beverage from Ambrosia Beverage. "Relaxation beverages" are a fairly new phenomenon in the beverage industry, and are specifically intended to do the opposite of the all-too-common energy drink: relax the consumer. I have not tried many of these beverages yet, but Ambro Relax stands out as not only exemplary of this new industry segment, but also as a delicious beverage in and of itself.

Released in 2010 by the Ambrosia Beverage group, Ambro Relax is a naturally flavored, carbonated relaxation drink intended to, as one would expect, calm and relax the user rather than pump him or her full of stimulating chemicals. Ambro Relax is strawberry-mango flavored, which is an interesting and unique combination. I don't think that I've ever had strawberry and mango together before, and I must say that I really like the resulting taste. The strawberry is a good bit more prominent, but the mango is definitely still there to add an interesting background taste. The flavors work well together and are well balanced, with neither element overwhelming the other.

The relaxation supplements are mostly natural and include things such as passionflower and valerian extract, as well as a tiny amount of melatonin (only 2.5 mg per serving). The supplements barely affect the taste of the beverage, and are not very noticeable amongst the natural fruit flavorings of the drink. The primary taste that stuck out to me was the little bit of sucralose that is included in the sweetening. Ambro Relax is sweetened with a combination of sugar and sucralose (presumably to maintain a low sugar content), and while the taste of the artificial sweetener is noticeable, it is easy to overlook and does not harm the overall taste of the beverage. As an added note, I also really like the color scheme and design layout of the packaging. The can design is sleek and eye-catching, and the very minimalist "solid-color" approach of the graphic is indicative of the beverage's relaxing nature.

As far as relaxation is concerned, my experience with the results was subtle. I do feel more relaxed after drinking an Ambro Relax, but it is not an overwhelming or sleep-inducing relaxation. Luckily, causing relaxation levels on the magnitude of exhaustion is not the intention of Ambro Relax, and I would say that it serves its purpose quite well. I just feel better after drinking an Ambro Relax. I feel less stressed and more easy-going and just less heavy overall, which is always a welcome feeling, especially under the constant rigors of what are now the final phases of my engineering curriculum. I wouldn't recommend using Ambro Relax when one is on a deadline or does not necessarily need to be "relaxed," but I would easily recommend it to people to try out during their down time or when they need to "destress" after a period of excitement.

I really like Ambro Relax. This is definitely one to keep an eye out for in the future.

Verdict: Highly recommended

Purchased: Sent to me by Ambrosia Beverage group

Size: 8.4 fl. oz. [250mL]

Price: Approximately $2.00 per can

Check out Ambro Relax today on facebook and Twitter.

Malta Goya

2011-04-08T16:10:00.000-04:00

First off, I apologize for the blurriness of the picture. I only took one and it looked fine on my camera, so I didn't worry about it. It is therefore only natural according to Murphy's Law that the picture actually be out of focus.

Anyway, I spotted Malta Goya several days ago in the Latin foods section of a local Wal-Mart. I've seen it before and unconsciously never really thought much of it, but I decided to pick one up this time. I have had one malt beverage before in my life, but it was a long time ago, and I think that it was some sort of weird powdered mix, so I don't really remember anything about how it tasted. I wasn't really sure what to expect from a carbonated malt beverage, but I was finally able to give this one a try a few days ago, and there is no way that I could have prepared myself for the taste with which I was met.

This is going to sound dramatic, but Malta Goya tastes like bran cereal. A friend of mine who I was with at the time agreed, specifying further that it tastes very much like the bran flakes out of Raisin Bran cereal, in particular. The drink is sweetened, but...even sweet bran flakes still taste like bran flakes.

The only word that I can think of to describe Malta Goya is "strange." I only took a few drinks of it before pouring the rest out, but throughout the drinks that I did have, I could not shake the feeling that this should not have been a beverage. It honestly tastes like a food, and it is difficult to get over the idea that you are drinking a bran-flavored substance in liquid form.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Wal-Mart [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $0.89

Coming Soon: Ambro Relax

2011-04-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

I was recently sent a sample pack of Ambrosia Beverages's new Ambro Relax relaxation beverage. I received it yesterday afternoon, and I'm definitely looking forward to giving it a try soon (probably later tonight). The review will be up on Tuesday, but in the meantime feel free to check out Ambro Relax on its website, or through Twitter or facebook.

Have a great Thursday, and I will see you back here tomorrow for my review of Malta Goya.

- Hayden

Fentiman's Ginger Beer

2011-04-05T12:38:00.000-04:00

I have a wildly varied history of experience with Fentiman's products, so I was a little wary going into this one. I am glad to say, however, that I came out of it very satisfied with the end result. My primary concern was that the spiciness of the ginger was going to be overwhelming. This has been my experience with other ginger beers so far, but Fentiman's has impressed me again with their take on the product. Like their other products, the ginger beer is botanically brewed, which adds an interesting and pleasant flavor to the fairly standard ginger taste. The ginger gives the drink just the right amount of bite (fringing on the "just-almost-a-little-bit-too-much-bite" boundary), and the flavor does not linger long in the aftertaste, giving the beverage a pleasantly sweet and tasty finish.

Fentiman's ginger beer is delicious, bit it is a little bit more spicy than some of the alternatives. If you are not a big fan of ginger, then this is probably not the drink for you. However, if you do like the taste of natural ginger or are looking for a new and interesting beverage to try, this is one to add to your list.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 9.3 fl. oz. [275 mL]

Price: $1.69

On disabling comments

2011-04-02T15:05:00.000-04:00

As I'm sure many of you may have noticed by now, I made the decision earlier this week to disable comments on the reviews. It was a difficult decision on my part, because I always love hearing from readers, but I think that, for the time being, it will be better for the review to leave them off. This is a design choice that I've been struggling with for some time now, and a recent turn of events has made that decision somewhat easier on my conscious.

While I don't necessarily feel the need to defend my decisions about how I run the blog, I do feel that those who were not involved deserve an explanation. The short version of the story is that a discussion about artificial sweeteners and their positive and negative attributes was started recently in the comments of one of my posts. As per usual during an internet argument, some of the later comments turned a bit sour and condescending, and I decided once and for all just to disable the feature.

I don't particularly believe in internet censorship (within reason, of course), but I also don't feel that the comments section of my reviews are the best place for that sort of discussion, especially if the companies that I endorse are going to end up being insulted and accused of malevolence. I am not here to change anybody's mind about specific ingredients that are used in modern beverages. My primary intention with this blog is to inform readers of what sorts of beverages are available on the market and simply if I feel that they are worth your money. As a result, I feel that the reviews themselves are not necessarily up for debate, and having a big, long discussion about the benefits and detriments of a single element of the beverage in question directly under the post itself muddles the original intention of the review.

Now, all of that being said, I do sincerely enjoy the discussion. I am still in the process of moving the site over to its dedicated URL, but due to the heavy load from my curriculum this semester, that is not likely to happen until this summer. When I do get the site moved, however, I am hoping to implement a forum for those who are interested to discuss whatever sorts of things that they want to discuss about the beverage industry. Until then, communication between readers will unfortunately be more limited, but I am greatly looking forward to finally getting the new site together and hopefully being a part of these sorts of discussions in the future.

I thank all of you for your patience while I wait for a chance to get the site moved over to its new home, and I hope that each of you continues to enjoy and find useful the reviews to be posted in the coming months. If anyone has any questions, grievances, or comments, or if you simply want to talk about beverage news or experiences, I welcome you to send me an email at the address listed in the sidebar.

Again, thank you all again for reading, and I look forward to seeing you back here for next week's reviews. Hopefully I'll be able to recommend one of them this time.

-Hayden

Coco Exposed

2011-04-01T18:35:00.000-04:00

I'm not even really sure where to start on this one. My brief time with Coco Exposed was definitely one of the more "interesting" beverage experiences that I have had in the past few years. There is a lot going on in this drink, and none of it is particularly appetizing.

First of all, I should probably say that I didn't realize that this was coconut-based. I'm really not sure how I managed to miss the coconut on the front of the packaging, the words "pure coconut water" in the description, and the fact that it is called Coco Exposed, but...I did, somehow. If I had not contracted temporary coconut blindness, I probably never would have picked this one up. I don't really like coconut water, and this one really didn't help very much to change my mind.

Coco Exposed is a beverage that consists of - get ready for this - coconut water, aloe vera, and wheatgrass. Now, there are plenty of beverages out there that combine many more flavors than that, but coconut, aloe vera, and wheatgrass are all very different and very strong. I bought this thinking that it was just an aloe vera beverage with wheatgrass, because I like aloe drinks a good bit, but there is just way too much going on in this bottle for the aloe to save it. The drink, frankly, tastes like it would be better suited as a delicious, toasty cake rather than being trapped in its current liquid form. It reminds me very much of the soft coconut macaroons that are commonly found on the dessert bar of most Chinese buffets. The chunks of aloe in the drink don't help either, as the beverage already tastes like it should be of a soft and spongy consistency and having pieces of another solid that is entirely different in every way mixed into the experience only furthers the already overwhelming sensory confusion. I could taste the wheatgrass, but it was kind of insignificant amidst the overpowering taste of the coconut, and seeing as I've never had wheatgrass before, I'm not sure if it added or subtracted from the experience. I think that I would advise all but the most curious or courageous of drinkers to really just avoid this one.

Verdict: Not Recommended

Purchased: World Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 11.8 fl. oz.

Price: About $1.50

As an added note, you may want to be careful when searching for this online. Some of the results that I got back were, to put it politely, "not safe for work."

Ginseng UP

2011-03-29T12:36:00.000-04:00

I have seen Ginseng UP at most of the organic grocers that I have visited so far (and even some of the Asian markets), and have always wondered about it as I chose something else from the shelf. I finally decided to give one a try this past week, and although my curiosity has been satiated, I am starting to feel that ginseng really just does not make for a good beverage.

To start off positive, the flavor of the ginseng used in the beverage is very natural. It has a very dry, earthy ginseng taste, and it is clear that it is derived from organic ingredients. That, however, is about where the appeal stops. Ginseng UP is sweetened with fructose, which is fairly sweet and syrupy and doesn't really mix very well with the mild bitterness of the ginseng. The drink also has a bit of a thick taste, likely due to the heavier nature of the fructose (as opposed to sucrose). This thickness also causes the flavor to hang around in the aftertaste for quite some time, making the all around experience relatively unpleasant. Also, Ginseng UP promotes itself as a "100% Natural Soda," but it was barely carbonated at all. I will admit that I am a bit biased, as I tend to prefer my carbonated drinks as bubbly as possible (I like it to "bite" my mouth a little on the way down), but I don't think that anyone would consider this as carbonated as a soda should be. There is a chance that I may have somehow gotten one that had gone flat, but expecting carbonation and not really getting any is always a disappointing experience.

I like ginseng, and I couldn't finish this drink. That's not to say that nobody is going to like it, but I could not stomach the flavor and aftertaste for more than a few drinks. Ginseng UP is offered in a variety of other flavors, and perhaps some of the others are better, but based on my experience with this one, I think that it will probably be a while before I "try again." I think that if this drink had been unsweetened, it would have been a lot better. Ginseng has a very particular flavor that is only muddled by sweetening, and ginseng-based beverages are most often used as nutritional supplements, anyway. I don't know that sweetening is strictly necessary, and I think that a drink that simply emphasizes the very organic and earthy taste of the ginseng would be much easier to recommend.

Verdict: Not recommended

Purchased: Rosewood Market [Columbia, SC]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.59

Iron City Beer

2011-03-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've done a beer review, so I went out a few days ago and stocked up on several different beers, thanks to my super secret hotspots (also known as a gas station and World Market) that sell individual beers for the self-proclaimed tasters such as myself. It has also been a while since I've had a decent American beer, so I thought I would start my tastings off with Iron City Beer.

I guess I'll start off the review with the primary negative: Iron City Beer is not a perfect match for my tastes. Now, that is not exactly a bad thing, as there are very few things in the world that are. But, I do think that Iron City Beer is a little bit too light for me to recommend to people such as myself who tend to prefer darker and more "flavorful" beers. As a lighter beer, however, Iron City Beer is very interesting. The flavor of Iron City Beer is very subtle, and nothing about the recipe immediately jumps out as prominent. Each element of the beer is very well-balanced, and the flavors come together into a single, mild taste. That taste, however, is fairly faint. At first, I feared that the mildness of the taste would be a bad thing. But the more that I drank of the beer, the more I began to enjoy the subtleness of the flavor. The only word that I can think of to describe the flavor is "pleasant." It is very mild, and risks the offense of nobody's taste buds, but the flavor is friendly and sits very nicely on the back of the throat. One good thing about a milder flavor is the lack of a lingering aftertaste. A lot of my favorite beers tend to leave me with a long-lasting aftertaste that I like to call "beer mouth." While I usually don't mind the aftertaste of darker beers, there are times when it is nice to be able to just drink a beer without the lingering aromatic repercussions.

So while Iron City Beer is not something that I would recommend, per se, to people who like darker brews, it is definitely a decent beer, and I would certainly recommend it to beginning beer drinkers, or people who just generally prefer lighter recipes.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Exxon Mobile Gas Station [Columbia, SC; intersection of Assembly and Elmwood Blvd]

Size: 12 fl. oz. [355 mL]

Price: $1.00

Vitamilk

2011-03-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

I'd like to start this review off by first putting this important detail out there: I do not like soy milk. I love soy (tempeh, tofu, edamame, roasted soy beans, etc.), but I have, for some unknown reason, never liked soy milk. This drink has haunted my visits to the Asian market for the past year or so, as every market in the area seems to have some form of this beverage. Every time I have seen it I have considered trying one, but I was not able to overcome my doubts about it until this past weekend. I honestly think that the textured neck of the glass bottle is what sold me this time around.

After losing open-refrigerator staring contests with this beverage for several days, I finally worked up the stomach to give it a go. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. The substance, as expected, smells and tastes pretty much like soy milk, but it is sweetened heavily enough to mask the...oddities of the soy milk taste. It is pretty clear that the manufacturer (Green Spot Company) has added a thickening agent (possibly the coconut and palm oils listed in the ingredients) to the milk, as well, as it is a good bit thicker than most soy milks that I have had previously. In my experience, typical soy milk is closer to the consistency of water than it is to cow's milk, but the Vitamilk seemed to be even a bit thicker than standard dairy milk.

As I said, the soy milk taste was definitely still there, especially in the immediate aftertaste. It is a fairly dense beverage, so I would definitely recommend waiting until you are in the mood for a Vitamilk to begin drinking one so as to not tire of the stuff halfway through. I don't know that I would make Vitamilk a beverage habit, and I may very well never feel the urge to buy another one. But I am glad that I tried it, and I did enjoy it all the way to the bottom of the bottle. If you have a taste for soy, it is easy to recommend that you keep an eye out for Vitamilk.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchase: Golden Market Asian Grocer [Columbia, SC]

Size: 10 fl. oz. [300mL]

Price: $1.25

Blue Energy

2011-03-22T12:40:00.000-04:00

This was previously one of the few beverages from my local Earth Fare that I had not yet sampled, so on a recent trip to the beloved grocer I decided to finally pick one up. I've had fairly good luck with natural energy drinks so far, and even the bad ones have only been mildly offensive. But as soon as I popped this one open today, I could tell by the immediate aroma that this one was not a winner. The drink, for lack of a better description, smells like an energy drink. It has that chemical-ridden, acidic fragrance that so many energy drinks share, and the smell was so strong that I barely had to put my nose to it to register the odor.

After setting aside the hesitations caused by the horrid bouquet, the first drink revealed that this was not a beverage for me. It tastes like any other energy drink that you would find in a gas station refrigerator. More specifically, it tastes like Red Bull with cherry. The taurine is overwhelming and the beverage overall tastes like bitter citrus, although there is no citrus whatsoever in the ingredients. The drink did have a flavor somewhat reminiscent of birch beer lingering in the background, but in the face of the rest of the ingredients, it didn't really matter. I wish that I could recommend Blue Energy, but I unfortunately can't really find anything good about it to promote.

Now...if only I could figure out why I drank the whole can.

Verdict: Not Recommended?

Purchased: Earth Fare [Columbia, SC]

Size: 8.3 fl. oz. [246 mL]

Price: About $2.50

2011-03-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

I apologize for missing the review yesterday. I ran into an old friend last night and decided to instead spend that time catching up with him for a bit. I will post two reviews on Tuesday to compensate.

Thank you for your patience.

- Hayden

Bossa Nova Acai Juice Beverage

2011-03-15T17:33:00.000-04:00

I've been hearing a lot about acai within the beverage industry lately. The health foods community in particular seems fond of the drupe, and it seems like every other beverage on the shelf at most organic grocers have some form of acai in it. Known for its antioxidant nature, acai is widely considered a useful dietary supplement, and its ever-increasing store shelf real estate is a testament to its growing popularity.

I think that is important to note here that I have never had a solely acai-flavored beverage before. I've had acai in plenty of smoothies and other juice cocktails, but never by itself. I found Bossa Nova at a local organic foods store, and after convincing myself that giving it a try would be worth the rather high price tag, I decided to pick one up. Unfortunately, I made the rather foolish mistake of deciding to drink it during a meeting with my engineering design group's project advisors, so I was not able to focus solely on the taste of the beverage, but I do remember enjoying it. The drink has an air of bitterness on the way in (likely the taste left over from the peel of the fruit), but becomes pleasantly sweet quickly thereafter. Seeing as it is fruit juice, the beverage is pretty sweet, but it is still not quite as sweet as other more common juices. The acai had a very mild taste, almost like that of a red grape.

Overall, Bossa Nova sits well on the taste buds and has a smooth and rich effect on the olfactory, but it does leave a bit of that dreadfully specific and lingering "berry" aftertaste in the throat. Regardless, I would definitely drink it again. However, I find that asking over three dollars for 10 ounces of beverage is a little bit high, especially for something that does not have any "stand-out" qualities with regards to the taste. I know that it is intended to be used for the health benefits, but there are cheaper and more "tasty" ways to obtain antioxidants through drink. The price tag alone is not enough to break the recommendation, however, and I do suggest that you give this one a try, even if it's only a one time thing.

Verdict: Recommended

Purchased: Rosewood Market [Columbia, SC]
Size: 10 fl. oz. [296 mL]
Price: $3.59