REVIEW: Kettle Brand – Cheddar Beer Potato Chips (Limited Batch, 30 Years)

Rating: ©©©©-1/2 chips  (lip-smacking)

Comments:

Eight Summers ago, while at the Minneapolis Uptown Art Fair, Chip Review was given samples of two different flavored chips by a brand called Kettle Chips.  Those two potato chip flavors were: Spicy Thai and Cheddar Beer, and they were the winners of the first ever People’s Choice flavor “competition” for Kettle Brand chips.   Honestly, we liked (and still do like) the Spicy Thai flavored potato chips better (it is tough to compete against some of the greatest potato chips ever….).  But, that’s not to say that the Cheddar Beer flavored chips were an inferior product by any means, in fact, in their own right, they were also well deserved of the crown as the winners of the People’s Choice.  Alas, Cheddar Beer’s availability was discontinued after three years on the market (fyi – Spicy Thai is still available today).

Well, in honor of Kettle Brand’s 30 year anniversary this Summer, they decided to choose four discontinued flavors from year’s past and re-release them as a ‘Limited Batch’.  And wouldn’t you know it, Cheddar Beer is one of those flavors.

Can we just take a second and ask you to take a look at the two bags above.  Chip Review would like to go on the record and say that the bag design of these limited batch 30yr anniversary chips is truly top notch.  These sharp, streamlined black bags are definitely the best we have seen this year!!  Also, do you notice how Kettle Brand’s name has changed from Kettle Chips?

Well, how do these chips taste you ask?  If you have never tasted a beer flavored chip of any type, then you are in for a treat.  How Kettle Brand is able to create the yeasty and malty beer notes in the background of these chips is beyond us; but truth be told, they really do taste an awful lot like beer.  However, first and foremost, these are Cheddar chips.  These chips have a really great, rich, tangy, fragrant and funky sharp cheddar cheese flavor to them.  The cheese flavor compliments the great potato of Kettle Brand’s thick cut kettle chips.  Back in the day, these chips were definitely ahead of their time!

Stay tuned for reviews of Kettle Brand’s other three ‘Limited Batch’ flavors: Jalapeno Jack, Salsa with Mesquite and Red Chili, coming soon!

As always we would love to hear what you think.  Let us know.

Chips provided to Chip Review by Kettle Brand for review

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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