January 8, 2020
SoCo Ginger Beer Extra Ginger | A Review
A number of unique items call Austin, Texas home as the city enthusiastically supports local wares of all kinds, giving life to a colorful scene of music, restaurants, clothing, artwork, beers, spirits and much more. Enter SoCo Ginger Beer, an artisan take on the drink with a wide-ranging vision of what it can be.
While it’s not the only ginger beer in town, it’s carved its own niche as extremely fresh, exotically flavored and primarily a standalone drink. (That said, mixing is certainly encouraged as an array of tempting drink recipes await at the website.) Locations carrying single-serving bottles span from grocery stores to convenience shops but if you want a growler, visit a local farmer’s market. It really doesn’t even have to be too local anymore. Vendors can be found in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area now too.
SoCo, named for the lively South Congress district near downtown Austin, brews a dizzying variety of flavors into their ginger beers, most being seasonal offerings depending on what fruits or vegetables are judged freshest at the time. Offerings include, but are not limited to, watermelon, jalapeno-lime, cranberry, blackberry, prickly pear and beet-carrot. None contain preservatives and in fact the ginger beer needs to stay refrigerated at all times.
The packaging is extremely attractive. The 16-ounce glass holds a milk-bottle shape, giving an impression of a freshness lurking within. The pink artwork contrasts nicely with the color of the drink and includes the stylish logo, skillful typesetting and a line illustration of a lemon half with ginger root. A seal bridges over the aluminum cap, another nod to its freshness.
The liquid inside (with 70 calories in each of the eight-ounce servings — that’s 105 per 12oz) contains only a few ingredients: sparkling water, lemon, ginger, organic cane juice and lime. It’s the kind of list that raises no questions and inspires confidence in the purchase. It’s near clear when undisturbed with a robust dusting of sediment resting at the bottom. Rotating it to mix it back up results in an opaque ginger color, very tempting. Twist off the top and smell deeply of a strong ginger scent with a bright hint of tartness.
Tasting, the initial rush of sweetness so common in ginger beers doesn’t come. The rush is instead of lemon, joined momentarily by refreshing ginger. The two sharply peak, hand-in-hand, before fading away, leaving a citrusy finish. Heat sneaks in during the flavor evolution and lingers afterward, a little on the tongue but the keenest prickles dance on the lips.
The heavy lemon flavor separates SoCo from the pack, nearly that of a lemonade. The ginger is buoyant though and the two marry well, creating a frisky ginger beer perfect for a warm Texas day.
Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring
Purchased at Texan Market in Austin, Texas | Check the SoCo website for other locations around the Austin, Denton and Dallas/Ft. Worth areas.
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