Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Newground Hard Dutch Café Latte & Chai Latte (Review)

We’ve had a considerable amount of discussion (and debate) on mybeerbuzz about the new wave of flavored malt beverages.  I’ve sampled a few already and while I’m more of an expert on beer than I am coffee or tea, I’m excited to try them out for myself and to bring you some insight.
Today we’ll be sampling two new offerings from Newground Hard Dutch Lattes.  These lattes are imported from Holland and they are ready-to-drink beverages made with Dutch cream as well as real coffee or real tea.  These beverages also use nitro technology to enhance the feel and flavor of these drinks and they are packaged in 6.76oz cans (singles & 4-packs).  The cans look great; after all who doesn’t love a bunny rabbit jack-hammering a coffee bean…so off we go.
Up first we’ll be sampling the Newground Hard Dutch Chai Latte.  I chose this first because I’m assuming the coffee latte will have a much stronger taste than the Chai tea.  The Chai Latte pours exactly the tea-colored (with milk) look you’d expect.  The nitro charging adds a nice softness in the mouthfeel and the low carbonation you’d expect.  This beverage looks and feels like a cup of tea with milk.  I didn’t detect a strong presence of alcohol in the taste, but there is definitely just a subtle touch of alcohol in the flavors.  Before you ask, yes both the Chai Latte and Café Latte have alcohol on-board and they are both 5%-AbV.  The Chai Latte is also caffeine free and it has some pleasant flavors of black tea, cream, the sweetness of vanilla and some spicy flavors late in each sip.  I think if you’re a tea drinker open to having a bit of alcohol in your drink, this beverage is perfect.  According to Newground, the Chai Latte also serves as a great base for mixing a tea-based cocktail, and while I didn’t try that, I suspect there are lots of mixed drinks that would work well with Chai Latte.
Up next, I sampled the Hard Dutch Café Latte.  As you would expect, this pours a bit deeper color than the Chai Latte, but with the same level of carbonation and the same soft mouthfeel.  Café Latte has some really prominent and pleasant coffee aromas and the presence of Dutch cream is much more prominent.  The Café Latte has a nice balance of sweetness and coffee bitterness and the nitro charging makes this a really drinkable latte.  The Café Latte does have caffeine so I did notice a bit more of an energy boost; and for me, I think the alcohol feels a bit stronger because of the caffeine push.  This beverage is also 5%-AbV and I believe it will also make for a great base for creating some mixed drinks and cocktails so get out your Kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Overall I really enjoyed the Newground Hard Dutch Café Latte & Chai Latte, and keep in mind that this is coming from someone who is NOT a tea or coffee drinker.  At 5%-AbV I think they have just the right amount of alcohol, and with the Dutch cream and nitro charging, the mouthfeel and flavors are really pleasant and drinkable.  Newground Hard Dutch Café Latte & Chai Latte will be available initially in Georgia and Pennsylvania at select retailers (Circle K & Publix).  Newground can be purchased in 6.76oz cans (singles and four-packs) and their MSRP is $2.99-$3.49 per can and $11.99-$13.99 for a four-pack).  Be sure to try both Hard Dutch Café Latte & Chai Latte for yourself, and when you do, be sure to let us know what YOU think.