May 1, 2019
Llanllyr Source Ginger Beer | A Review
Nestled in central Wales, Llanllyr boasts of its remarkably fine natural spring water, inspiring the name Llanllyr Source. The result of glacial melt and rainfall, the water ships around the world to be served in fine restaurants and hotels. A unique assortment of minerals flavor the fluid which the community keeps organic. Llanllyr Source, itself a carbon-neutral company, feels strongly about environmental responsibility, owing largely to the owner’s family building a connection to the earth and local water through hundreds of years of farming.
Today that prized liquid forms the basis for all of Llanllyr Source’s products, including this ginger beer. The ingredients begin there and don’t go on for long, adding only sugar and natural flavors—no preservatives. The calorie count remains comparatively low, only 70.8 in this 6.8-ounce (200ml) clear-glass bottle; that’s almost right at 125 per 12 ounces.
The label design is clean and attractive, unafraid of negative space. Upon it, black type dresses a milky brown field. The field color varies with each of the company’s offerings and coordinates with the color of its cap. In the logo, the “O” is usually filled with red, but on this one product the fill is orange. The Welsh lion prances on both the label and the cap (which requires a bottle opener to remove). It all comes together well, communicating elegance and dignity.
A handful of tumps stir the powdered ginger root and spices from the bottom of the bottle and up into the cloudy liquid. Careful though; carbonation is strong. In fact, the first impression as Source fills the mouth is bubbles. A froth of them offers greetings. They part like a curtain, presenting the natural ginger flavor wrapped in tartness. Sweetness swells but remains reserved. The ginger’s bite is subtle but there, just a bit on the sides of the tongue, not a prickle but a presence. The finish is pure ginger snap.
While there’s not much heat, enough is there to generate interest. This is described as a taming of their Fiery Ginger Beer but it’s not so tame as to register as boring. The spices and sparkle bring both taste and texture to this excellent beverage. Llanllyr Source has here crafted something enticing. Like a fine meal, it begins with cool water and ends with something sweet. I’ll have seconds, please.
Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring
Purchased locally at Total Wine | Online availability at: Amazon
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