May 13, 2020
Belvoir Fruit Farms Organic Ginger Beer | A Review
The English countryside holds many quaint and beautiful locales including the lush and green Vale of Belvoir tucked into the center of the nation. There lies Belvoir Castle, set atop a rounded hill with its turrets reaching into the sky. Lord John Manners saw over the broad fields of their farms and dismayed at how much unpicked and overripe fruit went sadly to waste. His wife Mary routinely put a tiny amount of it to use, pressing the fruit and infusing the elderflower. Lord John felt it an opportunity and expanded her hobby into a full-fledged business. Belvoir Fruit Farms was established in 1981 and its first 88 cases showed up quickly at the local farm shops.
John’s son Peverel now oversees the venture which has grown into an international phenomenon. Belvoir features creative beverages, including John and Mary’s original Elderflower Cordial, all made with the Vale’s own spring water.
Their ginger beer can be found in curvy little 8.4 ounce (250ml) bottles and larger 750ml varieties like this one. The clear glass holds the silhouette of a wine bottle or maybe a spirit with an embossed logo swooping across the shoulder. Orange is the branded color for the ginger beer with the label and seal both printed in it. About the label, it’s uneven at the top and bottom, looking carefully torn and is adorned with the elegant script typically employed by Belvoir. Seeing this on a shelf offers an impression of an upscale product but laced with warmth, personality and friendliness.
Belvoir was born amidst a growing concern regarding artificial ingredients so they carry that with them even today. The label declares it to be free of preservatives, gluten, GMOs and assures readers it’s vegan. Carbonated spring water kicks off the list. Organic cane sugar provides sweetness, organic lemon juice provides tartness and organic fresh root ginger infusion provides ginger flavor. Ginger extracts are also used. Citric acid is present as is capsicum extract. An 8.5 ounce serving carries 110 calories, equating to 155 for 12.
The bottle must be tumbled before pouring as a layer of sediment rests at the bottom. Afterward the color is tinted by ginger juice with the barest hint of an orange hue. A significant amount of light comes through, rendering it translucent. The nose is of a soft ginger, accompanied by a bit of lemon. Carbonation is virtually nonexistent.
Sweet notes arrive at the outset, joined shortly by the duo of an earthy ginger and sharply tart lemons. The heat comes on, not the prickles of ginger but the jab of capsaicin. Ginger falls away, leaving lemon to close the curtain.
The earthy ginger never stands in the spotlight, instead mingling as an ensemble. It’s the soul of the progression with the lemon brightening the experience and at times taking over. The heat weaves through without dominating but rapid fire sips will ignite the mouth a bit. It’s an unusual take on a ginger beer but not necessarily a bad one. Ginger beer enthusiasts might find it lacking however. It could use more ginger and certainly more carbonation but as-is it’s satisfying and refreshing in its own right.
Final Decision: Third Tier – Enjoyable
Purchased locally at: World Market. | Available online at: BritSuperstore, World Market
Back to: All Reviews
Recent Comments