I originally started this post with “Since touching down in America, I have been enjoying all manner of libations”. After writing that sentence, however, something niggled at the corners of my consciousness. In response to the niggle, I went online to see what the Oxford Dictionary could tell me about “libation”. To wit:
(n): a drink poured out as an offering to a deity.
Well then, Mr Niggle, you win this round. I have not, in fact, been drinking many libations in America, nor are the below Australian drinks reviewed today deity-fuelled libations. But if I poured them out as an offering to myself, does that count?
Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer
The lovely folk at Crabbie’s sent me two 500ml bottles of their Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer to review before I left Australia. While I’m not a big drinker, I was impressed by the email I received from Crabbie’s (not only did they get my name right, they also demonstrated real knowledge of my blog by noting my vegan inclinations and giving me a head’s up that gelatine is used in their production process). Subsequently, I was more than happy to try Crabbie’s new-to-Australia fizzy-make-feel-good Alcoholic Ginger Beer offering.
My Dad and I both tried this Crabbie’s drink, and were impressed by the true-ness of the ginger flavour. We were also initially surprised by the sweetness, as we’d expected a stronger bitter beer bent. If you’re someone who finds straight beer a bit tough-going, then you’re well positioned to love this zingy-sweet ginger beer. It is now my dear wish that Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer replace all the horrendous Passion Pop in the world forevermore.
RebootYourLife Juices: Lean Mean & Green and The Big Bang
RebootYourLife was founded by one of the key figures in the film Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, Joe Cross, and includes seven different raw juices made using cold pressure. (I wrote that part for those of you who’ve seen the movie and find the link interesting; I haven’t, so it doesn’t mean much to me.)
Back in June, when I was buried under a mountainous workload, I bought myself several of the Lean Mean & Green juices in the hopes they would magically transform my body into the epitome of report-writing prowess. While I can’t say for sure whether this ploy worked, I do know that the blend of celery, cucumber, spinach, cos lettuce, and lemon was almost very delicious. Almost. Alas, the celery was too strong for my tastes, but I liked the cooling nature of the drink and the lemon twist.
The Big Bang, on the other hand, was a far sweeter drink than the vegetable-only Lean Mean & Green. With spinach, mango, banana, and apple, The Big Bang was sweet without being sickly, tropical without being overpoweringly-mango-y, and gave me something pleasant to focus on during the particularly gut-wrenching scenes of Cloudstreet.
Mojo Kombucha: Lemon Citrus
Mojo Kombucha was the first kombucha I tried, and will be forever associated in my mind with the gloriousness that was exploring Melbourne with my darling Lisa back in January. My brother gave me Mojo Kombucha’s Lemon Citrus flavour (along with a little tub of raw cacao nibs) as a gift during our weekend at Rutherglen, and it was zingy and wonderful. Three cheers for kombucha!
Obligatory American Starbucks Drinkytimes
To switch from the above Australian drinks back to America, where I’m currently gallivanting, my time in Chicago was peppered with more Starbucks than I expected. You see, the Windy City surprised me several times with rainstorms while I was out exploring, but I used these opportunities to create such silver linings as curling up cozily in a Starbucks armchair with a grande soy decaf half-caramel-half-cinnamon-dolce (thanks for the tip, Gabby!) latte and my book to read for an hour or so.
Being on holiday sure is blissful sometimes.
mmmmmmm ginger
Ha, I do this! That is, I have a habit of looking up words that I *think* I know the meaning of in an online dictionary before including them in a blog post. About 30% of the time, they reveal themselves to have connotations I don’t want.
My tendency to skew words in particular directions for my own use is proving slightly problematic here in the US – I’m confusing so many poor Yankee folk!
There’s that kombucha reference again! By happy coincidence I’ll be in Melbourne this week! YAY. Perhaps kombucha will fall in my path. I would happily try the alcoholic ginger beer but would have to stop drinking champagne and I don’t know that that will happen. Celery is a vile substance, and I can’t imagine trying the celery drink, but could do the spinach and mango version. I have watched the movie- it was interesting, but I haven’t been inspired to go on a 60 day juice fast, although I’m sure it would do me good. Nice that you can use thunderstorms as a bit of a break. Are you enjoying the Game of Thrones?
I’m less impressed by Utah’s rain, which shows up every time we decide to go swimming! I’ll be interested in your view of kombucha, as it seems to polarise people a lot.
Very much enjoying GoT, though don’t have much time to read, in truth!
Yay you’re reading Clash of Kings! I’m still 3/4 of the way through Dance With Dragons because I know the next book won’t be out until 2015. Making it last!!
I actually really like ginger in juices….not on its own though which is why I’ve never been a big fan of ginger beer. But this looks good
I’m still not even halfway through this one! Though not having internet here in Utah has opened a few more opportunities for reading
Yeah! Mojo rocks – I love the ginger one. Zing zing zingy.
My Archie like alcoholic cider and ginger beer drinks. I’m more of a fruit drink person than a vegetable drink person. The khaki colour of vegetable drinks doesn’t win me over. Starbucks seems like a great place to park yourself during a rain storm xx
I’ll let you in on a little secret: The Grind here in Cedar City, Utah, is even better during a thunderstorm. Not a chain, and yet they still offer salted caramel syrup for their coffees
That is indeed one of the pleasures of traveling I reckon … Except in Japan I found it rained many times but rarely did we find a cosy coffee shop to cosy away in. They were mostly small and crowded. We found a few but not many. How I wished on those occasions for an English pub or cosy, roomy coffee shop.
As for all those weird drinks.just give me a cool, dry or butteryChardonnay and I’ll be happy.
Cedar City has been raining on us almost every day, and always when we’ve just stepped outside to go swimming! I’m currently sitting in just such a roomy, comfy, sofa-filled coffee shop. It’s wonderful
I had some lovely Rose last night! Very sweet though.
I would love to try the Big Bang, wow
And is clash of the kings good???
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Yep! Do you like Game of Thrones?
I was so far behind – I had to go back and read several of your posts. Yet I’m not the one with limited internet access!
I love reading about your travels.
I’ve been thinking about reading Game of Thrones. I believe A Clash of Kings is in that series? You’re obviously enjoying the series?
I think I got about two hours of internet total over the past two days! It’s actually quite good for me, I think
I still don’t know how to find the words for this past week, though! Yep, this is the second book in the series.
I so rarely drink cool / flavoured drinks that your first four products are completely new to me. However, the last picture connected just perfectly with my soul
I just finished the third book and am branching off to other reading for a while, but any book with a coffee in an armchair is wonderful.
I never used to either, but it’s fun to loosen up and drink something besides water sometimes
I’m still not even halfway through this one in the series!
Hehe now do people often get your name wrong when sending you things? I would have thought your name would be fairly regular?
You’d think so, but apparently there are some out there who think my name is Emily.
Yay for creating a fancy Starbucks drink
I totally approve! My coworkers always make fun of me for ordering everything starting with, “decaf, soy….”. Yours sounds like a great one for curling up with an FANTASTIC book. Oh man, obsessed with that series. When will he publish the next one??
I’ve still got a good three and a half books to go in the series, but I’ve heard the next one isn’t until 2015 or something?
Must say, I’m currently enjoying the salted caramel syrup available here at a coffee shop in Cedar City! It means I’m not missing Starbucks at all
holing up in a bookstore while it rains outside sounds glorious to me! I laughed when I saw the crabbies bottle because e used to love crabbies green ginger wine. The veg juice sounds interesting and I am still in the dark about kombucha – must try some
Well, Starbucks isn’t quite a bookstore, but that would be lovely too!
So glad you’re livin it up Sugar Twin! Gosh, they do need better cafes up there don’t hey. Though what they lack in supreme coffee, they make up in a gazzilion other oisome nibbles.
I a huge fan of ginger beer – so good in summer.
The benefit of America’s dodgy coffee is that it totally allows you to justify adding things like salted caramel syrup to it.
I love green stuff in my juices! Especially celery ;P I would definitely enjoy the lean mean & green one!! Sounds like you’re really enjoying your time!! Have fun dear
Spinach for me, not salty icky celery!
Ooooo…lemon kombucha sounds like delicious awesomesauce!
You’re certainly doing it right
Aw, thank you lovely!
Good book choice!
Oh I love Crabbie’s. I had it at a beer festival back in April and have only found it on the shelves at a store once since then (and it was $$$ as it is an import). Delicious over crushed ice and fresh squeezed lime! Why don’t people send me booze?!
Glad you are having a great time over here. Still waiting with bated breath for your trip to Boston.
Also, I have still yet to try kombucha. Dare I say I’m a little bit afraid of its supposed-likeness to vinegar? While I enjoy vinegar quite a bit, I’m too tight with my money to spend so much on something I might just not be able to stomach.
Apparently they’ve just started importing Crabbie’s into Australia… at just the time I’ve left the country.
I used to drink vinegar straight as a kid, so kombucha is my type of liquid love.
Alas, Boston is not likely to happen in this leg.
If you can have some words with your government about the Visa Waiver restrictions, though, then maybe I could make it! I’ll let you know if plans change 
Ah, I remember mentioning that very same kombucha in my odds and ends post awhile ago. I haven’t tried the ginger beer and juices, though, will keep an eye out…
I just got a new scoby yesterday!! I’m back in kombucha business:)
You and your libations. I would probably have gone ahead and used it. There are other definitions, after all. Right? Even if not, maybe YOU can be the deity.
Are you going to make scoby chocolate? I’M AN ENDLESS FONT OF IDEAS.
I’d like to be a deity.
I reckon I need some of that drink and lots of it now
Wahhh it’s all so unique hehe I wanna try some Kobucha too! It seems so healthy and good for you