Hops

One Two Punch

Spicefreak3 Comments

Hey folks, welcome back to another of my rare thursday reviews. Reviews that I do specifically when I have an exciting item not sold in the UK, something which is claimed to be inedible or something that has undergone a major recipe change.

Today, I believe that what I have for you falls into the third category. Though the situation is a little weird, this time, because our new, fruit-based “Punch” doesn’t quite share its name with Dorset Chilli Shop’s old one. And the ingredients and design are so vastly different from that 💀“Dorset Punch”💀 that it could easily be considered a whole new product. Even if it doesn’t seem like its makers actually see it that way.

To show you what I mean, here’s a brief look at the bottle before I get into what’s changed:

And I should probably also mention The Chilli Alchemist‘s new Gold, which seems like it very may well be the same sauce in a bigger, prettier bottle.

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Third Hop

Spicefreak1 Comment

Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to the third and, for now at least, final feature of Hop’t. A company who’s craft beer-inspired, hop-infused hot sauces have really impressed me.

I’d like to say that I’ve saved the best of them for last but they’re all so well made and so different that it really is quite hard to choose. All I can say is that today’s product has grown on me a lot lately.

And, of course, that it’s their Tropical Habanero Lager sauce. Described as fruity, crisp and fiery:

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Indian Fruit & Fire

Spicefreak2 Comments

Sup folks, it’s tuesday again and, I’ve held off on this pair for a little too long already. So, today, we’re going to see a couple more mango sauces, from Alkemio Kitchen and Hop’t:

Two rather unique takes on this fruit and chilli combo from two very experimental companies. One featuring green jalapeños, red scotch bonnets and citrussy hops, while the other’s more focussed on indian spices, including turmeric, cumin and nigella seed.

Neither sounds quite like what I’m used to but that’s part of the fun of running a blog like this. I get to try a tonne of unique flavours and, hopefully, find something which I truly love.

Now let’s see if I’m going to do so today.

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Dark and Dry

Spicefreak5 Comments

Hey folks, I said that we were going to be seeing some more from Alkemio Kitchen soon. So, what better time and way to start than today, with a sauce that I’ve already shown you but couldn’t previously go into depth about?

This is Fergus’ Black Garlic, Chipotle, Tamarind, Chocolate and that last titular ingredient makes it a perfect fit for my first post after World Chocolate Day. But it’s not the only such festive item that I have for you, this year.

I’d also like to showcase a little something in the same vein – Featuring the same blend of chipotle and chocolate – from a less familiar company:

The Chipotle Chocolate Stout, from Hop’t. Which, as their name implies, is heavily focussed on the use of hops. Albeit in a very different setting from any that we’ve seen such herbs in before.

In fact, it isn’t even the same sort of hops as any of those past products. But you’ll have to read on if you want to see what sets them apart.

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Green Doppelganger

Spicefreak1 Comment

It’s the end of the line, boys! And girls. And anyone else who’s reading this.

And, with that, I’m pretty sure that I’ve gone and blown what little credibility my old west gangster impression may have had. But that’s okay. It’s the end of the lime, anyway. One of Daddy Cool’s more recent sauces:

Yes, this week I’m reviewing his latest attempt at a green jalapeño product. One which, I suppose, is the replacement for his old 💀Hybrid💀. Though it’s got none of the coconut or kiwi and far more of a focus on its green chilli.

Is this new sauce an improvement? Is it as amazing as the rest of Daddy Cool’s current range? Or will it be as much of a mess as his okra bites recipe?

Today, I intend to find out.

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Dutch Green

Spicefreak3 Comments

Welcome to the new year, everyone! Today may be the seventh but it’s also the first tuesday of twenty-twenty and time for my annual green sauce review – A “new” pepper for a new year, if you will.

This year’s sauce, however, is a little more than just another blend of herbs and under-ripe chilli. It also represents a new craze that’s been sweeping the nation. One for a rather different green item, known as cannabidiol isolate, or CBD oil.

It’s hot stuff – At least in the marketing sense – and there’s nowhere that it’s caught on more than in brighton, so you know exactly which company I’m talking about, this week. Yet it’s also something of an eighteen plus topic, so I’ll be leaving my product shot and the explanation of what exactly CBD oil is until after that “Continue reading” button.

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Heat on the Beach

Spicefreak10 Comments

Hey there everyone, it’s tuesday again and time for a little more in the way of hot stuff. Hot stuff that I picked up down at the Brighton Fiery Food Fest.

BHSBunch

So what more apt name could today’s company have than “Brighton Hot Stuff”?

Now, personally, I do view it as a little uncreative but anything that these guys lacked in inspired naming was more than made up for by the sheer personality and passion that they had on-stall. They were one of the most engaging groups that I’ve ever come across at a festival and, even after the official closing time, there were non-stop crowds around them.

So, do their products live up to the hype? I’m going to take a look at three of them and find out.

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Pale Ale Piccalilli

Spicefreak6 Comments

Happy tuesday again, everybody, and welcome back to another Gingerbeard review.

This time, we’re taking a look at their Ale and Chilli Piccalilli – A product type that I’ve never featured before and one that they make in collaboration with Electric Bear Brewing Co.

Aleilli

Both company logos adorn the label of this jar, along with a bunch of chillies dancing to the boom box from Electric Bear’s Werrrd ale, but that’s about all the visual indication we get of what goes into it.

Unlike on their bloody mary salsa, Gingerbeard do a pretty poor job of conveying what today’s product is, without words, despite the busier design. I’m not too impressed with its outside but let’s see what their picalilli is like within, shall we?

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Hopping to It

Spicefreak5 Comments

Alright, everyone, you’ve heard of hot sauce but, today, we’re looking at hop sauce. A green and herby bird’s eye blend from Hop Burns & Black. The most well known chilli retailer in london.

I picked up a few things, when I was last there, but today’s “Hoptimo” is special. Not just because it contains hops but also because it’s a custom creation from Slow Richie’s and Brick Brewery, made specially for the store. This is a Hop Burns exclusive:

Hoptimo

But it does, indeed, contain hops. The signature ingredient in one of the shop owners’ other passions: Craft beer.

And, in this review, we’re going to find out what those hops do for hot sauce flavour.

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