Beverage News | Mashing In

Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea Arrives Just in Time for Summer

Posted on July 10, 2020 by mashingin

Pabst Brewing Company/Pabst Blue Ribbon (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) has officially announced that it will introduce Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea in early July 2020.

The latest representation of Pabst Blue Ribbon’s “ongoing commitment to creative experimentation,” Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea is “deliciously effervescent with a natural peach flavor, it’s a uniquely Pabstidian evolution of the seltzer market, and a perfect alternative to artificial and over-sweetened products.” Weighing in at a low 4% ABV, 100 calories and 3 grams of carbohydrates, Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea is “a new take on traditional summer libations . . . [that] delivers the simple pleasure of sipping a refreshing iced tea with a twist.”

Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea is rolling out now with availability in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans. You can expect to find this new offering at select retailers located in the following 26 states: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Prost!

Vital Information for Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Tea from Pabst Brewing Company

Release – Not Beer Series; launching early July 2020
Style – Hard Tea
ABV – 4%
Calories – 100
Carbs – 3 grams
Added Ingredients – Natural peach flavor
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin & Wyoming

Taffer’s Mixologist Brand Adds Line of Elevated Hard Seltzers

Posted on September 16, 2019 by mashingin

Taffer’s Mixologist (Los Angeles, California), a new brand from renowned hospitality, nightclub and bar expert Jon Taffer, has officially announced that it will launch a new line of hard seltzers called Taffer’s Mixologist Sparkling Craft Cocktails in September 2019.

Created in response to the “193% spike in sales year-over-year for hard seltzers” (according to this 2019 Nielsen survey), Taffer’s Mixologist Sparkling Craft Cocktails is a new series of low-calorie, low-carb hard seltzers developed by Jon Taffer and Taffer’s Mixologist co-founders, Sean Kane(co-CEO), Jay McGraw (co-CEO) and Jennifer Pullen(CFO & COO) of Launched.LA. Meant to be a high quality sparkling craft cocktail experience, each offering from the Taffer’s Mixologist Sparking Craft Cocktails line is made with only the finest quality ingredients (“All sparkling craft cocktails include these ingredients: carbonated water, OTS orange wine, erythritol, natural flavor, citric acid, stevia.”)

This new line of hard seltzers will launch with the following seven elevated flavor profiles:

The following flavors are available in September:

Cucumber Jalapeño: Cool with a kick, spicy yet refreshing – it’s the perfect mix of fresh and fun.
Pineapple Coconut: Best sipped while closing your eyes and dreaming of a tropical beach vacation.
Strawberry Basil: A dangerously delicious seltzer that perfectly balances berry, basil and bubbles!

The following flavors will be available later this year:

Cherry Lime: Sweet and a hint of sour – a nostalgic flavor combination that’ll keep you forever young.
California Lime: The original crowd-pleaser. Your taste buds will thank you.
Grapefruit Moon: Sweet, tart, and super refreshing – it’s a citrus sensation!
Taffer’s Original (Elderflower): Floral, meet fizzy: it’s a match made in heaven.

Each flavor of Taffer’s Mixologist Sparkling Craft Cocktails has only 100 calories per 12 oz. can, zero grams of added sugar, 3 grams of carbs, and 5% ABV.

Cucumber Jalapeño, Pineapple Coconut and Strawberry Basil will all launch in September and the other four flavors are expected to be introduced later in 2019. You can expect to find Taffer’s Mixologist Sparkling Craft Cocktails available in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail price of $7.00 per single flavor 4-pack) at retail stores located in Florida, California, Nevada and Texas. Prost!

Tasting Notes – CBD Beverage Edition: VYBES | Blueberry Mint

Posted on August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 by mashingin

For this special edition of Tasting Notes, we round the edges off a rough week by winding down with a CBD beverage from VYBES (Los Angeles, California).

Newly available in the Central Florida area thanks to Sunshine State Distributing, VYBES is an organic beverage made with CBD sourced from the hemp plant. Since hemp-based CBD does not contain THC (the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana), VYBES products are completely legal in Florida.

VYBES beverages come in five flavors: Honey Crisp Apple Basil, Burning Mandarin, Strawberry Lavender, Peach Ginger and Blueberry Mint. Each VYBES offering contains 25mg of organic Hemp CBD and “touts the ability to help consumers’ bodies naturally achieve homeostasis by regulating anxiety, stress and sleep.”

VYBES beverages started rolling out in Central Florida – Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties – in late July. You can expect to find these CBD beverages available in 14 oz. bottles at high-end retail stores and restaurants located in Central Florida, California and throughout the rest of VYBES’ distribution footprint.

Alright . . . now that we are all a little more familiar with VYBES and CBD, let’s go ahead and crack open a bottle of Blueberry Mint and get into these Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Blueberry Mint from VYBES

Appearance: Blueberry Mint VYBES pours a red tinged, pale purple in color. When held to direct light, the majority of the liquid softens to a peach-colored tone that surrounds a pale purple core. It does have a bit of cloudiness to it, but it remains clear enough for you to take notice of what appears to be floaties/slight separation provided by the fresh fruit (this is an organic beverage after all). Since this is a still beverage, the only bubbles to report are the ones that appear after the initial shake of the bottle.

Aroma: The aromatics kick off with an earthy/herbal quality that is reminiscent of honey-laced green tea. This is quickly overtaken by fruity notes of fresh blueberries, lemon and lime. The profile closes with a soft breeze of sweet, cool mint.

Taste: Delicately tart blueberry notes greet the taste buds and are accompanied by a touch of grape and sweet citrus. These fruity tones are balanced perfectly by an earthy note of slightly sweet iced green tea. The mint presence is complementary, and is able to gently settle into the experience without overpowering any of the flavors that precede it.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body and still, this super easy drinking beverage has a weight that is lighter than a juice but slightly heavier than an iced tea. Thanks to a wonderful mix of sweet, tart and earthy/herbal notes, it has a nice overall balance and finishes incredibly clean. The aftertaste is all blueberry.

Final Thoughts: I actually had my bottle of Blueberry Mint VYBES after a hellacious week and a pretty rigorous workout. Not only did I find this beverage to be incredibly tasty and refreshing, but I also finally found myself experiencing a bit of solace and peace shortly after finishing the bottle. I was able to untie the knotted thoughts that had been lingering in my mind all day, and my joints actually felt better than they had after a workout in a long time. These effects were casual and not at all overwhelming. I just felt calm, relaxed and good, and that seems to fall in line with how many folks describe their experiences with CBD.

Beyond the pleasant effects of the CBD, the drink is just delicious. Thanks to its beautiful mix of sweet, tart and herbal flavors and aromas, it is wonderfully balanced and easy drinking. There are no aggressive or medicinal notes at all. It simply comes across as a fruited tea that you could easily enjoy at breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime you find yourself in need of a refreshing beverage. So, if you have been thinking about introducing CBD into your daily routine, you seriously might want to consider VYBES as a delightfully easy option to do so. Prost!

Sunshine State Distributing Brings VYBES CBD Beverages to Central Florida

Posted on July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 by mashingin

VYBES (Los Angeles, California) has officially announced that it has partnered with Sunshine State Distributing to launch its line of CBD-based beverages in Central Florida.

Entering the market “just days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to legalize hemp farming and sales from licensed individuals in Florida”, VYBES is an organic beverage made with CBD sourced from the hemp plant. Since hemp-based CBD does not contain THC (the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana), VYBES products are completely legal in Florida.

“The legalization of hemp products in Florida allows us to give consumers what they’ve been asking for—a beverage made with CBD,” said Chris Larue, president and founder of Sunshine State Distributing. “We are excited to introduce VYBES in Central Florida. If you’re unsure of beverages made with CBD, this product will change your mind.”

With the help of Sunshine State Distributing, VYBES products are rolling out now in Central Florida. You can expect to find these CBD-based beverages at high-end retail stores and restaurants located in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Lake, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties (a list of locations currently carrying VYBES is available below). Prost!

Locations Currently Carrying VYBES

Tasting Notes – Kombucha Edition: Ginger & Oak from Flying Embers

Posted on April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 by mashingin

For this installment of Tasting Notes, we jump-start our workweek with a probiotic boost thanks to a few pours of Ginger & Oak Organic Hard Kombucha from Flying Embers (Ojai, California).

One of three Core offerings from Flying Embers, Ginger & Oak is an Organic Hard Kombucha fermented with “black tea, . . . kombucha culture with live probiotics” and “a unique botanical adaptogenic base of roots including ginger, turmeric, ashwagandha, and astragalus.” This refreshing brew is “USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, vegan and has zero grams of sugar at a sessionable 4.5% abv.”

Ginger & Oak is available Year-Round in 16 oz. cans and 22 oz. bottles. You can expect to find Ginger & Oak – along with Lemon Orchard and Ancient Berry – at kombucha-friendly retailers located within Flying Embers‘ distribution footprint in Southern California, “the San Francisco Bay Area, Oregon and Washington; southwestern states Arizona and Texas; and . . . the east coast via New York, Philadelphia and [the] New England area.”

Now that we are all a bit more familiar with this offering’s background information, let’s crack open a few cans and get into our first “Kombucha Edition” of Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Ginger & Oak from Flying Embers

Appearance: Fresh off the pour, Ginger & Oak presents itself as a hazy lemonade-like yellow in color and is capped with loose bubbles that almost instantly dissipate (similar to that of a soda). When held to direct light, the color intensifies to become more of a sunshiny yellow. This kombucha is quite cloudy, but a peppy carbonation presence can still be seen streaming within.

Aroma: Quick to grab your attention, the aromatics open with a pronounced herbal tea character that offers notes of bitterness, maltiness and smoke. Ginger swiftly rushes in to brighten things with its zesty, spicy and citrus-like qualities. The added turmeric further reinforces the ginger and its citrus notes by adding a touch of orange. The profile is rounded off with an incredibly pleasant woody earthiness.

Taste: That herbal tea quality immediately asserts itself here as well by opening the experience with a punchy bitter note (we assume this is the ashwagandha making itself known). That powerful note is rapidly tempered as the black tea base imparts soothing tones of caramel, leather and honey. Smoke and earth surface just before a bright burst of ginger and citrus (lemon and orange) takes over to close things out.

Mouthfeel: On the lighter side of medium in body with a lively carbonation, this kombucha is light and easy-drinking. Moving easily through the tart, herbal and sweet portions of the palate, it eventually finds a nice balance and finishes dry enough to keep you craving another sip. Coming in at a low 4.5% ABV, there is no sign of heat or booziness. The aftertaste is all ginger and lemon-laced herbal tea.

Final Thoughts: If you do not drink kombucha very often, you might be taken aback a bit by the first sip of Ginger & Oak. By the second sip, your mind and taste buds adjust, allowing everything to come together as the herbaceous, earthy and bitter notes are balanced by the black tea base and the ginger and citrus tones take things to the next level with a zesty brightness. This makes for an incredibly enjoyable and invigorating experience that firmly engages your senses and seemingly wakes up your brain. It is a unique but familiar experience that just leaves you feeling good and satisfied . . . and that is a winning result if you ask us. If you are looking to mix up your libation lineup with something new/different or are already a big fan of kombucha, be sure to check out Ginger & Oak and other offerings from Flying Embers whenever you happen upon them. Prost!

Flying Embers Hard Kombucha Expands Distribution Across the U.S.

Posted on April 8, 2019 by mashingin

Flying Embers (Ojai, California) has officially announced that it is extending its distribution reach to now include several markets across the United States.

Founded in 2017 by Bill Moses (former CEO and Co-Founder of KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink, which was acquired by PepsiCo in 2017), Flying Embers is a brand of Organic Hard Kombucha that currently offers three “refreshing, smooth” flavors: Ginger & Oak, Lemon Orchard, and Ancient Berry. Each offering is fermented with “black tea, . . . kombucha culture with live probiotics” and “a unique botanical adaptogenic base of roots including ginger, turmeric, ashwagandha, and astragalus. Flying Embers is USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, vegan and has zero grams of sugar at a sessionable 4.5% abv.” After nearly being destroyed by a wildfire in Ojai, California in 2017, Flying Embers shows gratitude to its saviors by giving “1% of its revenues to firefighter charities across the United States.”

“We’re really pleased to be in business with the best distributor partners across the country. It’s a reflection of our commitment to the best-tasting Hard Kombucha, and the veracity of our label claim as an authentic kombucha that has live probiotics, zero sugar, only 100 calories and a botanical adaptogen root base.”

– Bill Moses, Founder of Flying Embers

Newly partnered with distributors including Crescent Crown Distributing, Columbia Distributing, Sheehan Family, Ben E Keith, Mancini Beverage, Matagrano, and Penn Beer, Flying Embers will now expand its distribution area “beyond its Reyes Southern California footprint into the San Francisco Bay Area, Oregon and Washington; southwestern states Arizona and Texas; and jumping to the east coast via New York, Philadelphia and into New England area.” You can expect to find Flying Embers offerings available in 16 oz. cans and 22 oz. bottles at kombucha-friendly retailers located in those areas. Prost!

**Readers who are interested in learning more about Flying Embers and the locations where its Organic Hard Kombucha is sold should visit FlyingEmbers.com or find them on Instagram or Facebook @flyingembersbrew.**