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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Werewolf Howling Ginger Beer, bathed in moonlight, emerges from Orca Beverage in Mukilteo, Washington, north of Seattle.  Orca bottles a ton of retro sodas, over a hundred, many well-known like Dad’s Root Beer.  To be clear, they don’t own many of these brands but they do manufacture and bottle them.  Who owns Werewolf isn’t immediately clear but the smart money is on Orca.

The bottle’s a standard brown-glass long-neck with a generic cap but creativity dwells in the label.  On it the silhouette of a furry werewolf howls at the giant full-moon dominating a green sky.  An ominous castle perches on the mountain behind him (or her).  Red eyes narrow in its skull, the color matching the “Werewolf” logotype.  It’s got a classic horror look to it and is absolutely perfect for Halloween.

A serving generates 160 calories.  As expected, carbonated water makes up the lion’s share of the content.  Cane sugar and honey provide the sweet taste and “natural ginger flavor” gives the natural ginger flavor.  There’s a bit of citric acid too and hot pepper extract (almost certainly containing capsaicin) to add some heat.  Maltodextrin is listed too, usually affecting mouthfeel, and sodium benzoate acts as a preservative.

Generous fizz appears when poured, the liquid a pale pink the hue of a rosé yet cloudy like a proper ginger beer, filtered though, no sediment drifts within.  It smells richly of ginger, sweetness entwined. 

The taste is a treat.  Sweetness comes on but in control, finely tuned, not as strong as the nose would indicate.  Ginger swells quickly with a pleasant intensity as prickles blanket the tongue.  There’s the brief zing of citrus at the climax followed by an earthy sweetness as the progression fades.  A formidable heat persists, strong, yes, but not overpowering.  The hot pepper extract blends perfectly with the ginger’s heat, the line between the two indiscernible.

Werewolf possesses an excellent ginger flavor, tasting not at all artificial.  The balance is bang-on too.  While the branding portends a novelty, something bought for a Halloween party to generate a few chuckles, the quality here is undeniable.  The taste is abounding and flavorful, far better than it needed to be to sell briskly during the season.  Surprises this time of year usually bring on a bit of fright, but in this case there’s a smile, some nodding and an enthusiastic thanks.

Final Decision: Second Tier – Alluring

Purchased locally at: World Market. Also available online at: Antiqology, Soda Pop Stop.

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