I would love to see a comprehensive hard-seltzer review from Josh. I'm totally overwhelmed by the variety in stores, and they seem very hit or miss to me. We need Josh's discerning palate to tell us what to get!
When I first read the photo caption, I thought the parenthetical was answering the rhetorical question. I thought Josh was saying: “Who doesn’t love a gimmick? I don’t. I don’t love a gimmick.”
Josh has written before about his low agreeability score, so I could see him not loving a gimmick, but he has also written about his purple cocktails in the past. So I read the caption a few more times and finally realized that the parenthetical was a photo credit. “Gimmicks are fun! Photo by Josh Barro.”
My initial error made me giggle, and I thought I’d share. Happy Birthday, Josh!
I drink seltzers relatively often because they can be a good low carb option that is ready to drink. I don’t tend to drink white claws, but the huckleberry San Juan Seltzers are quite good and I also like the Flying Embers hard kombucha (although they don’t taste like kombucha to me). As someone who has moved away from beer because of carbs, I anticipate that the will continue to be a seltzer drinker for the foreseeable future.
My nephew and I have formed an alliance in our (sadly blinkered) family to declare that White Claw Is Actually Good. I'll be passing this newsletter along in support of our correct position.
I am definitely surprised that the tax is that large of a fraction of the cost. Would not have guessed that.
There was a bill proposed in New Jersey to lower taxes on ready to drink cocktails under 9.9% ABV, claiming it was about "fair competition" within the booze industry: https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/sightlines/2021/6/10/new-jersey-litmus-test-over-rtd-cocktail-taxes Would have lowered the tax from $5.50 per gallon to $0.12 per gallon. Didn't end up going anywhere. Anyway, rather than cutting taxes on this class of beverages, I think they should achieve parity by raising the rate on fermented drinks.
Happy belated! Next time you’re in Maine, seek out Après in Portland! Its premium in cost but absolutely also quality. Real flavors from real ingredients. Strawberry basil, raspberry rhubarb, ginger lemon, blueberry lemonade, amongst many others.
Second, I go for seltzers on occasion because they're significantly lower-cal than a similarly-priced and -sized beer and I don't feel nearly as full or bloated after drinking them. The taste isn't great, but that's not why I'm drinking it. It's the same thing with a vodka soda or vodka water, in my mind. I don't believe they're going anywhere anytime soon.
The local brewery here (which makes some really incredible stuff) developed their own hard seltzer from a pineapple/raspberry base, and I was just totally underwhelmed by it. Maybe I've just aged out of this category.
I would love to see a comprehensive hard-seltzer review from Josh. I'm totally overwhelmed by the variety in stores, and they seem very hit or miss to me. We need Josh's discerning palate to tell us what to get!
You can buy high noon, topo chico, and cut water products at Harris Teeter in DC. I’m sure it would be far harder to get these at a grocery story in Pennsylvania.
I would love to see a comprehensive hard-seltzer review from Josh. I'm totally overwhelmed by the variety in stores, and they seem very hit or miss to me. We need Josh's discerning palate to tell us what to get!
When I first read the photo caption, I thought the parenthetical was answering the rhetorical question. I thought Josh was saying: “Who doesn’t love a gimmick? I don’t. I don’t love a gimmick.”
Josh has written before about his low agreeability score, so I could see him not loving a gimmick, but he has also written about his purple cocktails in the past. So I read the caption a few more times and finally realized that the parenthetical was a photo credit. “Gimmicks are fun! Photo by Josh Barro.”
My initial error made me giggle, and I thought I’d share. Happy Birthday, Josh!
I drink seltzers relatively often because they can be a good low carb option that is ready to drink. I don’t tend to drink white claws, but the huckleberry San Juan Seltzers are quite good and I also like the Flying Embers hard kombucha (although they don’t taste like kombucha to me). As someone who has moved away from beer because of carbs, I anticipate that the will continue to be a seltzer drinker for the foreseeable future.
Happy birthday Josh.
Happy birthday!
My nephew and I have formed an alliance in our (sadly blinkered) family to declare that White Claw Is Actually Good. I'll be passing this newsletter along in support of our correct position.
I am definitely surprised that the tax is that large of a fraction of the cost. Would not have guessed that.
There was a bill proposed in New Jersey to lower taxes on ready to drink cocktails under 9.9% ABV, claiming it was about "fair competition" within the booze industry: https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/sightlines/2021/6/10/new-jersey-litmus-test-over-rtd-cocktail-taxes Would have lowered the tax from $5.50 per gallon to $0.12 per gallon. Didn't end up going anywhere. Anyway, rather than cutting taxes on this class of beverages, I think they should achieve parity by raising the rate on fermented drinks.
Happy belated! Next time you’re in Maine, seek out Après in Portland! Its premium in cost but absolutely also quality. Real flavors from real ingredients. Strawberry basil, raspberry rhubarb, ginger lemon, blueberry lemonade, amongst many others.
First, happy belated birthday, Josh!
Second, I go for seltzers on occasion because they're significantly lower-cal than a similarly-priced and -sized beer and I don't feel nearly as full or bloated after drinking them. The taste isn't great, but that's not why I'm drinking it. It's the same thing with a vodka soda or vodka water, in my mind. I don't believe they're going anywhere anytime soon.
HBD Josh!
The local brewery here (which makes some really incredible stuff) developed their own hard seltzer from a pineapple/raspberry base, and I was just totally underwhelmed by it. Maybe I've just aged out of this category.
Did you cook your own birthday meal? Do you normally prepare the drinks Josh? Or is it a help yourself. 😂🤣
I would love to see a comprehensive hard-seltzer review from Josh. I'm totally overwhelmed by the variety in stores, and they seem very hit or miss to me. We need Josh's discerning palate to tell us what to get!
Iced drinks. It's what separates us from the barbarians.
Happy Birthday Josh and great article, I agree that I don't think the hard seltzers are going away.
You can buy high noon, topo chico, and cut water products at Harris Teeter in DC. I’m sure it would be far harder to get these at a grocery story in Pennsylvania.