Review: Troegs LolliHop, Field Study, and Troegenator
Three beers from Pennsylvania’s Troegs, some new to the market, some new to Drinkhacker. Let’s taste. Troegs LolliHop – A newly released double IPA dry hopped with Mosaic, Citra, and Azacca hops. Bold and juicy, this is a big and barely hazy brew that pours on the fruit and the forest floor notes. They exist…
Review: Scarabus Islay Single Malt Whisky
It should come as zero surprise to anyone reading this site with regularity (and thank you for that) that as a collective, we are big fans of nearly everything emanating from Islay. It doesn’t really matter the distillery, the bottler, or the finish, we’ll probably drink it. We’ll even try contract independent bottlings hiding behind…
Review: 2019 Clean Slate Riesling Mosel
I haven’t seen this wine since the 2012 vintage, but it still acquits itself as a delightful example of semi-sweet riesling, with notes of honeycomb, fresh figs, and golden raisins dominating. That bright acidity pairs with a fresh sweetness that hints at the lemony honey of Sauternes, offering a delightful yet largely uncomplicated sweet and…
Review: Ranch Rider Canned Cocktails
Newcomer Ranch Rider Spirits Co. seems to be having a decent run in the rising canned cocktail market. Their Texan roots are proudly touted, with a key expression being the “ranch water,” a Texas bar favorite. Ranch Rider seeks to provide simple, classic, and familiar cocktails with real ingredients and no additives; not even added…
Review: The Dalmore Sherry Cask Select 12 Years Old
There is never a shortage of finished single malts on the market these days, a process that can disguise otherwise underperforming whisky as something serviceable. But there’s also an art to finishing, and when done well, it’s an experience to savor. Matured in ex-bourbon casks for a decade and finished in a combination of Oloroso…
Review: 2020 Hampton Water Rose (Plus Candy)
Introduced in 2017, Hampton Water Rosé was conceived by rocker Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi, who brought the idea to French winemaker Gerard Bertrand. Learning the wine’s origin, I couldn’t help but think of the lyrics to the Bon Jovi hit “Wanted Dead or Alive”: “Sometimes you tell the day by the…
Review: Sion Kolsch
Cologne, Germany’s Radeberger makes this Kolsch, and it’s a great example of the style. Cracker crisp with a pleasant maltiness, the clean beer evokes gentle notes of sesame oil, fresh-cut grass, and just a hint of orange peel. This is a simple review but it’s a simple beer, and one that goes down with delightful…
Review: Artisan Craft Cocktails, Complete Lineup
As a company, Artisan Craft Cocktails is perhaps misnamed: All it makes are dessert cocktails, pre-mixed, bottled, and ready-to drink when poured over ice. These are all unabashedly sweet and uniquely designed for sipping after dinner, not at cocktail hour — and their premium price telegraphs premium ingredients in the mix. Let’s give the four products…
