Malt Beverage Evaluation/Ratings

This entry is to review some non-alcoholic beverages I purchased in May, 2022.

Ceria Grainwave:
From Sleeping Giant Brewing, Denver CO.
12 oz can. Price $2.29. Purchased from Total Wine May 14, 2022.

Great packaging: blue can with yellow lettering and a classical drawing. Non-alcoholic.

Billed as a Belgian style beverage with orange peel and coriander.
Tasting notes: Hazy gold color; lightish body; medium-low carbonation with good mouthfeel. Flavor is a bit on the sour side, but not excessively so. Overall I like the packaging better than the beverage. Not bad but not something I would want to drink regularly.

Rating (1-100 scale): 75

Sober Carpenter Irish Red:
From Sober Carpenter Brewery
Montreal, Canada
Imported by Esber Beverage Co.
Canton, Ohio
16 oz can Price: $2.99 at Total Wine.
Packaging: Attractive red can with white printing.
Billed as a beverage in the style of an Irish ale with Windsor yeast and East Kent Golding hops and Fuggle hops.

Tasting Notes: Very dark color with a nice light hoppy aroma. Tastes slightly like a Coca-Cola with very little sugar. Good carbonation but slightly dead flavor. Still, it was enjoyable. Better than the Ceria Grainwave.
Rating: 80

Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA
From Surreal Brewing Company
Campbell, California
Calories per 12 oz can: 25
Packaging: Aluminum 12 oz can with a blue and green drawing of a surfer riding a very large wave. Nice label overall.
Billed as a hazy IPA that dares to be different, with tropical fruit and citrus character accentuated by fruity yeast esters and subtle clean finish.
Tasting Notes: A medium amber beverage with hazy color and very fine bubbles. Distinctive malt flavor and a very substantial texture. I like this one very much. The hops are not out of hand, and there is a nice balanced flavor.
Overall the taste is much closer to a real ale than either of the above-mentioned beverages.
This one is far better than either the Sober Carpenter Red or the Ceria Grainwave. This one I could actually see myself drinking on a regular basis.
Rating: 90 (Excellent)

Bravus Rasberry Gose
From Bravus Brewing Company
Anaheim, California
Packaging: Aluminum can with red label and cream color printing. Nice label.
Billed as Rasberry tart and crips.

Calories per 12 oz can: 98
Tasting Notes: Delicious sour raspberry flavor. I learned that a gose (pronounced goze-uh) is a raspberry or strawberry ale that is brewed with lactobacillus bacteria to give it a slightly sour character. This style originates in Germany and Belgium. Interestingly, it is usually brewed with some added salt.
Tasting notes: Delicious light, fruity, slightly sour brew. Very drinkable. I really enjoyed this, and have already laid in further supply. Along with the Juicy Mavs IPA, this is the best thing I've tried so far. Highly recommended.

Rating: 90 (Excellent)

Wild Tonic Raspberry Goji Rose Jun-Kombucha
From Good Omen Bottling, LLC
Cottonwood, Arizona
Packaging: 12 oz dark blue glass bottle with a blue and bubblegum pink label. Very attractive packaging.

Calories per 12 oz bottle: 60
Billed as a naturally ermented drink made iwth exotc teas and honey. Jun is said to be a rare cousin of Komburcha that is steeped in mystery and celebrated for its efferfescense and light flavor.

Tasting Notes: It does have a light texture and nice carbonation. Slightly odd flavor profile perhaps due to the rose essence. I did drink it all and found it to be moderately enjoyable. I'm afraid that I don't really love the flavor of Kombucha drinks so that is a difficult starting point for my review. But I do give them credit for a nicely made drink and I imagine that Kombucha lovers would find this to be a good drink. Just not my cup of tea, so to speak. I am also awarding a few points for the nice packaging.
Rating: 85

Humm Pomegranate Lemonade Probiotic Kombucha
From Humm Kombucha LLC
Bend, Oregon
Packaging: 14 oz dark amber glass bottle with a white and pomegranate colored label. Very attractive packaging portends a quality product.
Calories per 14 oz bottle: 35
Tasting Notes: One of the tastiest Kombuchas I've tried. Very light pomegranate flavor, not too sweet. Great lush carbonation with a smooth finish. It does taste like Kombucha, but not too much.
Rating: 87

Bravus Oatmeal Dark
From Bravus Brewing Company
Anaheim, California
Packaging: Aluminum can with brown label and cream color printing. Nice label.
Calories per 12 oz can: 110
Tasting Notes: Chocolate brown with notes of cocoa and toasted oatmeal. A bit sweet on the finish. Balanced by deeply roasted malt and mild hoppiness. A delightful brew that ranks in the upper echelon in this tasting. I will try this again.
Rating: 89 (Very good).