June 10, 2020
Misty Wither’s Ginger Beer | A Review
Misty Wither’s Ginger Beer came onto the scene in 2018, a product of the craft soda bottling behemoth, Orca Beverage Inc. The brand was intended as a tribute to the women of the Roaring 1920’s. Who Misty Wither is remains a mystery but her name graces each of these bottles that rolls off the Orca line in Mukilteo, Washington.
Orca itself is the brainchild of Mike Bourgeois and began its life with a water-and-juice drink that proved challenging to bottle because of the particles and pulp. Kicked off three separate bottling lines, Orca determined the best route forward was to find one of their own. They procured a beat-up Pepsi line that had been totaled in a flood and put in some hard work rebuilding it. Now, Orca bottles its own specialty sodas along with many others like Moxie and Dad’s, over 100 in total.
Misty Wither’s gets shipped in clear 12-ounce long-neck bottles with transparent labels which show off the crystalline liquid beautifully. Elegant line work swirls and curls around the elaborate navy-blue type of the logo. It’s very pretty packaging. While Misty Wither’s is supposed to be inspired by women of the 1920’s the design is squarely Victorian with its fancy ornamentation and swooping type. Art Deco dominated the design of the 20’s and it’s a shame not to see it here. That said, the overall effect is attractive and without reading the bit about the inspiration off the website, there would be no complaints.
Surprisingly, a serving of Misty Wither’s counts only 80 calories. For the reason why look to the nutritional information. While cane sugar accompanies the carbonated water, ginger extract and citric acid, stevia extract sits at the end of the list. Stevia is sweeter than sugar and doesn’t metabolize so it’s worth zero calories. Mixing it in means a calorie bargain without sacrificing the taste of the cane sugar. One preservative, sodium benzoate, is present but shouldn’t be the least bit alarming.
As mentioned above, the liquid appears almost entirely clear with just the slightest haze. The nose brings sweetness with a pop of ginger. The sweetness comes on first but initially tastes drier than it smells. The ginger arrives briskly, rich and earthy, while the sweetness continues to crescendo, at this point soft as a Smarties candy. The ginger protracts for a substantial portion of the progression, hanging on through the finish and accompanied by a final, sharp sparkle of sweetness. The heat is significant with prickles crackling throughout the mouth and upon the lips.
The advance of the sweetness sets this ginger beer apart. Development comes along gradually, gently ramping up instead of hitting at once and fading. While it strikes as dry at the outset, it ultimately ends up being quite sweet. It’s unusual without being odd. The tone of the ginger tastes wonderful too and the above-average heat is more than welcome. It’s a striking combination that makes for an excellent experience.
Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring
Purchased at: Cooper Farms Country Store, a small market in Fairfield, Texas I stumbled into while driving from Dallas to Houston. They offer a very large selection of craft and specialty sodas, deftly arranged by color with a few on tap. | Available online at: Orca Beverage, Antiqology, and Soda Emporium
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