Polar Banana Seltzer

When I saw this at the grocery store, I had to try it. It's obviously a new release from Polar Beverages because it's not even apparent on their website except for mentioning a simple "Monkey Rum" cocktail. They did choose a good time to bring out a new banana product with summer just started a few day ago. Let me find out if banana seltzer can compliment a hot day.

Sure enough; it smells of bananas, tingles on the tongue, and leaves an aftertaste. It's not foolishly sweet as I had feared, but also not as strong as I'd prefer. It's a seltzer and not a flavored soda so I understand why it's not tasting of banana extract. I'd like it stronger because their mention of a cocktail with this ingredient is inspiring.

When I want seltzer I'll be getting  Polar's lemon or lime unless I want some variety. Those flavors have been the standard with seltzer for awhile for a reason. As for cocktails, I think I'll be trying to make a classic pina-colada cocktail (shaken, not blended) and diluting it with this product like a club soda. It's a C (decent) in my book.

Very creative Polar...

Katahdin Specialty Coffee Baxter Blend (Old)

Edit: Katahdin has since changed their flagship roast, and you can read about it here.


Maine has established a reputation for fine beer form microbreweries, but I think it's time for more recognition for the micro-roasters. I'm ashamed to say the only other Maine roaster I've hit so far is Bard's special Honduras bean, but today is about Katahdin Specialty Coffee's flagship bean.

Baxter State Park is a beautiful place that everyone can enjoy, and I think the Baxter Blend can be enjoyed by everyone as well because it's well rounded and easy to drink. It's easy to drink because there's little acidity to it but it has some of the enjoyable notes of highly acidic and lighter coffee's. "Nutty" in a way. I say it's rounded due to the body and hints of being roasted. Don't take these last notes as it being dark like French or Italian roasts.

If you enjoy the taste of coffee but frequently get heartburn or overwhelmed by robust tastes, give this a try. It's not too crisp or dark and isn't cutting corners on taste like big-box supermarket brands. It's a B (good) in my book.

Gazela Vinho Verde '09

Summer is finally here, because it's hot and humid. The wine I always keep on hand for this season is Casal Garcia because it's a fine value for sparkly, crisp and fruity. Gazela has always been next to it in the wine aisle because it's Portuguese and the same grape, vinho verde. They're also only 50 different in price, so I'll be determining which one to stock as well as translating it's taste to English.

Just like Casal Garcia it pours with a slight fizz so bubbles attach to the inside of the glass while condensation occurs on the outside. More similarities can be noticed in the smell but the first difference appears here too.
Gazela is dryer than Casal Garcia. The palate is citrusy but has many other fruits happening as well, tropical melons. As you work your way down the glass you'll notice slight floral notes as well. "Green" is a good adjective to describe Gazela.

I'm giving Gazela a B (good) due to being a touch more juicy and I prefer the dryness. Casal Garcia was given a B. I think I'll be keeping both on hand though, because they're both a great value with slightly different approaches to Vinho Verde. Pick both up, you won't regret either.

Mr. Brown Iced Coffee

I found this can in amongst canned coconut milk at an Asian grocery store with ramen noodles that would only let me know what flavor they were from the picture on the front. There isn't any oriental letters or symbols on a Mr. Brown can but it's made by King Car Group, an Asian company. Let's see what they think iced coffee should taste like.

Following the instructions on the back i had it in the fridge and shook it well before opening. Even before the brown liquid touched my lips I could tell this wouldn't be finished by me. I smelled chemicals. The ingredients are listed as; water, coffee extract, sugar, and milk powder. There's no real coffee in this. I took the sip despite my research's findings and the best way to describe this is sugar-milk with chemical coffee taste.

The supermarket didn't loose my business because they have roasted coconut milk that makes a phenomenal daiquiri cocktail, but I will never even bother buying a King Car product again because Mr. Brown is an F (avoid). If you need caffeine it's worth it to hold out for a different product.

Rising Tide Ursa Minor

It's a pleasant surprise to notice a new bottle when shopping for a social lubricant. Today's trip to the luxurious single bottle beer aisle didn't just show a new brew, but a new brewer! Rising Tide Brewing started just last year in Portland, ME. There's plenty of brewers in this city already, but if they can meet it's high standards in a pint-glass there's definitely room for them. My first Rising Tide:

Although labeled a stout, I think it's closer to a porter because barley exists but roasted malts are in front of it. The body isn't what most would think of a stout either with a brisk feel and head that doesn't stay as long. I think this is because it's a weizen too (wheat beer). The roasted malts and touch of barley participate well together with the yeast. These are not the only flavors because after your first few sips an aftertaste starts to accumulate in strength. Dark cherries.

For those that're wondering what Ursa Minor is, it's the Little Dipper constellation. For those wondering what Ursa Minor beer is, it doesn't fit in a category like ale, stout, lager, and such. It's a drink you have to explore because much is going on, and I'll be enjoying again because I'm leaving it with an A (excellent). Rising Tide may be a small brewer but they leave a big impression, and a good one.

Steaz Iced Teaz Mint

Seaz Iced Teaz seems to be a fairly new label to me. With a little research on their parent website I found they've only been in the bottled iced tea business for six years. I have to say this is an accomplishment because of all the competition around like; Tazo, Arizona, Sweet Leaf, Lipton, Honest Tea, Sobe, and the many more. In the next paragraph I'll be exploring why Steaz has been able to wiggle its way into the bottled tea beverage industry with the contents within the can.

It opens with a "Sssss!" but quickly fades and you can tell it's not carbonated once in your mouth. You can certainly tell it's made with ceylon tea and not a generic green leaf because it's not just super 'grassy' but has a floral basis. It's fairly sweet with cane sugar and lemon happens alongside this. The third thing my taste buds come to is the mint finally. This is no Moroccan mint tea, it's just a green tea with a hint of spearmint. Regardless of the cane sugar this leaves the taste of green tea on the back of your tongue once swallowed.

I see why this isn't in every gas station cooler. The stereotypical American who loves the taste of carbonated sugar-water (most sodas) won't enjoy this. It's not sweet enough in the sugar they're use to. But for those who actually brew their own hot green tea but need a readily cold one, will like this. I leave it with a strong B (good) and won't hesitate to grab one when dehydrated on a hot summer day.

Caribou Coffee Sumatra

Sumatra is one of my favorite beans (Ethiopian is my top choice), but it's far easier to find and more common. So today's choice is Caribou Coffee's Sumatra. The Sumatra bean is known for being hearty is a not-so-dark way, and 'earthy'. This is not what people would think of a coffee cup who aren't so familiar with Sumatra. Let's see if Caribou lives up to these standards.

As soon as I put my nose up to my mug, I could tell earthy would be a fine adjective for this. To refine this aspect I think it has a hint of raw tobacco (nothing like a cigaret of course). The body and overall taste is round and dark in this way, but there's a surprising note that's greater in the aroma. A fruit. It's very hard to pinpoint because it only exists behind these more robust flavors, and I honestly can't tell what fruit it would be.

I will certainly enjoy the rest of this cup once I'm done with this episode of Luxurious Liquids, but I believe it deserves a C (good). There are other Sumatran beans I prefer over this one. I'd like you to know that Caribou Coffee isn't as expensive as local roasters or big name brands though.