September 4, 2019
Powell & Mahoney Original Ginger Beer | A Review
In 2010 Brian Powell and Mark Mahoney united to form Powell & Mahoney, creator of craft cocktail mixers. Operating out of Salem, Massachusetts, they feature two distinct lines of products: classic (like bloody mary and margarita) and sparkling (like tonic and this ginger beer). The focus from the beginning became high quality ingredients with nothing artificial. High fructose corn syrup is absolutely absent and you won’t find preservatives either. The result so far can be described as a success. Their mixers have scored over twenty awards and they’ve achieved national distribution through a slew of outlets including Target and Wal-Mart.
Inspired by a love of Moscow Mules, their ginger beer wears a dapper can, looking both upscale and accessible. The wrought iron logo feels vintage and quality while the soft frame of ginger root illustrations offsets its formality. The typeface choices look spot-on and the eye flow from top-left to bottom-right is smooth.
Turn to the back and the ingredient list for this 140-calorie beverage offers comfort. Everything listed is either water or flavor. Cane sugar provides sweetening while both juice and extract contribute the ginger flavor. Capsaisin adds a touch of heat. The foundation is filtered water, not the more common carbonated water. Perhaps this ginger beer’s bubbles appear through fermentation? (An email including the question went unanswered.)
Pouring reveals a mild carbonation to this pale gold liquid. The nose is clean, giving off only the slightest hint of ginger. In tasting, we’re greeted by a dry note before an earthy ginger smoothly slides in, landing mid-tongue. The appearance of tart adds a bit of sparkle. Prickles pitter-pat the tongue while heat drifts into the throat. There’s a clean finish with dim echoes of tartness. Then they’re gone and only the heat remains. It builds slowly in the mouth but never overpowers.
The capsaisin provides an interesting touch. It emanates a different heat than that of the ginger, yet integrates seamlessly. There’s a fullness to it, occupying the mouth. It’s less active, lacking the dynamic tingle of ginger which allows it to lie just beneath, filling in space like a picnic blanket.
There’s a reassurance when dealing with a concise list of ingredients. Extremely rarely do complicated-sounding ingredients ever require concern, but their absence is not missed. Water and flavor. That’s all there is in this excellent ginger beer. And excellent it is. Dry and earthy, with outstanding balance, it’s wonderful as both a drink and a mixer and would make a fine guest at your next party.
Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring
Purchased locally at: Target | Online availability at: Powell and Mahoney, Amazon, Target
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