October 28, 2020
1835 The Lone Star Ginger Beer | A Review
Primarily a vodka brand, 1835 The Lone Star graces shelves in liquor stores all over Texas so the name carries a bit of weight. Why not throw some of that weight around by brewing up a proprietary ginger beer and slapping the name on it? Or at least, let someone else brew up a proprietary ginger beer and then slap the name on that. Sure, that’s a thing that can be done.
So where does the name come from anyway? In 1835, Texas, then a province of Mexico, sat on the brink of revolution. As tensions rose, Mexico thought it best to reclaim a loaned cannon from the town of Gonzalez. The town refused to return the weapon and, in defiance, rose a white flag with a painting of the cannon and emblazoned with the now immortal words, “COME AND TAKE IT.”
This moment holds a special place in the hearts of Texans even today and shirts, stickers and tattoos of the flag are common. It’s that spirit of resistance that gave rise to the Republic of Texas for which the Lone Star means independence.
While the story behind the name is one of legend, the story behind the brand is not.
In Lewisville, Texas sits North Texas Distillers, the creator of 1835 The Lone Star and 16 other brands of spirit, 10 of which are vodkas. Where are they all coming from? Lone Star doesn’t have its own distillery or its own offices. It doesn’t even have its own webpage. So, what’s the story behind Lone Star? If the ginger beer is any clue, it’s possible that it’s not much more than a wrapper.
The can will tell you the drink originates in Pilot Point, Texas, a tiny speck north of Dallas with less than 5000 people. That’s the home of the Western Son vodka distillery. Western Son crafts their own ginger beer too—previously reviewed—right there in town. The highly distinctive ingredient list—consisting of rarities like high fructose corn syrup, caramel coloring and several additives and preservatives—sticks in the memory for its unusual nature. It was a surprise to see it repeated on the side of the Lone Star can.
The can itself lacks inspiration, unlike the name. A black field surrounds a grunge-framed white rectangle. The logo floats within, comprised of a condensed western font. A lone bronze star sits awkwardly in the lower right. The design holds little presence and looks a bit budget, quite different from Western Son’s striking use of type—which is important because this is Western Son Ginger Beer in a different can. No, not even a different can since the design is actually printed upon a plastic wrap hugging the can. The liquid fills each blank can in a long train. Then the cans get wrapped in livery based on however many of each are needed.
The Western Son review contains all the information but here’s a quick summary. The darkly colored liquid holds a whopping 225 calories and tastes of sweet ginger and citrus. It’s tart and tangy. The development though is static, with little change in the experience throughout the progression. There’s also the unfortunate (though mild) sensation of syrup pressing down on the tongue. So while the flavor is nice, the texture isn’t.
This ginger beer sees a much narrower distribution than its accompanying vodka so acquiring it isn’t easy. That means stumbling across it is rare so it’s probably worth picking up to try it. However it’s likely that adjacent to it rests another, more familiar selection that might prove a tastier choice. Stick with what you know or go on an adventure: that decision is yours.
Final Decision: Third Tier – Enjoyable
Purchased locally at: Spec’s
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