massachusetts – Moon Platoon | The Art & Design of Brett Haile

Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange Ginger Beer | A Review

brett — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:00:48 +0000

A purveyor from Massachusetts, Powell & Mahoney takes pride in winning numerous awards for their unique takes on popular mixers, including a gold medal for their ginger beer (which received a review here) at the Spirits International Prestige Awards in 2016. In 2017, their daring new Blood Orange Ginger Beer won the Innovation prize at the National Restaurant Association’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards. They’ve seen a long string of success, racking up about two dozen wins.

Powell & Mahoney feel an affinity towards Moscow Mules so this blood orange variety marks an attempt to expand horizons and offer variety on that front. The can draws eyes to this bold step with its wrought iron logo, rough-hewn type and hand drawn illustrations of ginger root and sliced blood oranges. There’s a personality to it, classy but fun, and it communicates an expected level of quality.

The printed wrap around the can sits a bit askew.

The can declares an absence of preservatives, artificial ingredients and high fructose corn syrup but citric acid is present. While it primarily imparts a bit of citrus tang, it also possesses a preservative effect so there’s a bit of a gray area on this one. Either way there’s a best-by date on the bottom of the can so it can’t be doing much. It’s worth overlooking.

In addition to citric acid, there’s filtered water and cane sugar for sweetness. Blood orange juice from concentrate and natural orange extract give the signature flavor while ascorbic acid adds tang. Vegetable juice imparts color. The ginger flavor comes from ginger extract and capsaicin adds a degree (or a few degrees) of heat. There’s 130 calories in the 12 ounces of liquid, ten less than their Original Ginger Beer.

Vegetable juice gives it its rich pink hue.

In a glass it appears a soft salmony pink color not unlike a rosé or a pink lemonade. On the nose is a strong scent of sweet orange with a bit of ginger. A moment of sweetness precedes the arrival of the blood orange flavor and a bright burst of tart acid. A ginger weaves its way through, prickling the tongue and back of the throat. The capsaicin brings a moderate burn throughout the mouth, building with further sips. The tart carries on through to the finish, gradually fading away until only the heat is left.

Like the original, the heat is strong if not sincere, carrying a different character because of the capsaicin. The blood orange comes through brilliantly but the ginger is not quite so flamboyant, needing a bit of a boost. However the result is another solid entry for Powell & Mahoney, a nice change of pace from the standard ginger beer. There’s an elegance to it with its rich flavors and bright tartness, great for an afternoon in the sun or as a mixer in the evening.

Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring

Purchased locally at: Total Wine. | Available online at: Powell & Mahoney

Back to: All Reviews

Powell & Mahoney Original Ginger Beer | A Review

brett — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 13:00:51 +0000

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.

The label is on a wrap of the can as opposed to being printed directly on it.

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.

There’s no preservatives here so check the best-by date on the bottom of the can.

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

Back to: All Reviews