 |
| Warsteiner |
I hold my hands up, it's been a while
since my last post.
But as you will read from this, I had
some gorgeous grub to work my way through, as well as some crisp,
refreshing beer...
And so, after a few nights of 'posh
crisps' and German Pilsner, I thought I would share this experience
with you!
With supermarkets now stocking a whole
range of international lagers, ales and ciders, it might be difficult
to build up a list of favourites. But if it's a lively, refreshing and
'proper' pilsner you're after, I would say go no further than pick up
a bottle of Warsteiner.
Warsteiner Premium Verum (4.8%) is
available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, and
independent retailers nationwide, with prices starting at £2.00 for
500ml. Warsteiner is also available on draught in various pubs around
the country.
Naturally brewed according to the
German Purity Law, Warsteiner is made with only three ingredients;
hops, barley and extra soft water from the Arnsberg Forest, giving a
remarkably smooth, clean taste. It’s this great taste that has seen
beer drinkers in the UK make Warsteiner the No. 1 imported German
premium pilsner producer among privately owned breweries in the UK.
And unusually for me, I decided to
sample the non-alcoholic version too. Very rarely would I choose to drink a
non-alcoholic beer – bot because I want to feel light-headed and
begin to slur, but because, quite simply, I do not like the taste.
The Warsteiner version, however, has a
dry and full taste, while not negating some of the finer ingredients
of the full-bodied equivalent.
 |
| The super six selection of Corkers crisps |
I would say that, given the choice, I
wouldn't choose this over the 4.8% alcohol bottle, but if you want
something a little more succulent than fruit juice or fizzy pop, it's
certainly worth a try.
So with every good beer, snack food
goes down a treat – and I was treated to six varieties of Corkers
crisps.
The truly British crisp with a crunch
like no other, Corkers will satisfy the hungriest of stomachs with
their six mouth-watering flavours which include; Sea Salt, Sea Salt
and Cider vinegar, Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion, Sweet Thai
Chilli, Pork Sausage and English Mustard, Sea Salt and Black Pepper.
And I got to sample them all (obviously
not in one session)!
The secret to Corkers' unique great
taste is the attention to detail the makers have put into perfecting
it. The premium quality Naturalo potato tastes great, but isn't a
similar sight on our supermarket shelves because it's just not pretty
enough.
However, its flavour is exceptional and
once sliced and fried, it outshines other potatoes.
Sustainably farmed in the rich, peaty
Cambridgeshire soil, the potatoes are harvested and then stored at a
temperature that ensures the starch doesn't turn to sugar. This means
that Corkers crisps maintain an authentic potato taste rather than
the undertones of burnt sugar, which can often be detected in other
brands of crisps.
There are many brands of 'posh' crisps
out there at the moment, and pubs, bars and coffee shops are choosing
to stock such brands ahead of more mainstream and established ones.
Corkers are now ready to burst into the
market, and whether it is for that bar snack, for a pre-BBQ nibble,
or like me, you think they would be an excellent accompaniment to a
beer, they could, and should, become a family favourite.
Here are my thoughts on each flavour,
comments and critique:
Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar
It's a subtle taste – maybe what
people like, but could have been a bit stronger on the cider. Salt
was at the appropraite level to go with the cider. The crisps were
cooked to perfection; there wasn't a 'bad one' in the bag.
Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion
I expected these to be my least
favourite, as cheese and onion flavour never really appeal. How wrong
I was. These were my FAVOURITE. Both flavours in the title are shown
off superbly, leaving a lovely and fresh aftertaste. These were far
better than 'cheese and onion' with every crisp perfectly flavoured.
Sausage and Mustard
I really wanted these to be the best.
Unfortunately I felt a little let down. I wanted more of a tingle on
the tongue from the mustard. The flavour is still prevalent, but
could have been stronger, especially to get a real taste of the
sausage.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper
Again, the flavour was subtle, so where
black pepper is concerned, probably a wise idea for a crisp. And
again, it seemed no crisp missed out on its share of flavour.
Sweet Thai Chilli
This kind of flavour is becoming more
popular in crisps. And I would say it goes perfectly with a
refreshing beer. The chilli does hit the spot on the tongue, and
throat, while not being too overpowering.
Sea Salt
A safe option – there is often the
tendency for 'simply salt' flavoured crisps to be layered with sodium
chloride, but Corkers have got the balance just right with this.
For more information on Warsteiner
Pilsner, visit www.warsteiner-uk.com
For more on Corkers crisps, including
how to order batch delivery, visit www.corkerscrisps.co.uk
