Witch’s Brew Presents an Exciting Twist of Fruit, Beer and Raisins

My Overall Impression (Score of 93.25 %)

I love seasonal changes.  I love Fall; watching the leaves turn and the excitement of fresh apples from the orchard.  I love the Spring with its new growth, and the anticipation of planting the garden.  I love the summer with the great weather, fresh produce and my smokers running all the time.  I even love winter with the fresh quiet snow, and the stark snow-covered landscape against lovely sunsets.

However, with the last 4 weeks of daily snow and shoveling, I’m officially over it.  For real, I’m over it.  I want sun brewed tea. I want to walk my garden to pick produce and eat it watching my dog playing in the yard.  It’s hard to find something that is exciting when you go outside bundled since the snowplow has come through (AGAIN!!! &@^$Y) packing the driveway in. 

There is a positive to all of this.  Teasource’s Witch’s Brew.  My Bestie tea friend told me to get it, knowing I’m a Sommelier and this would be something different.  She was not kidding.  Holy Crap!!  This is the first time that I’ve opened a tea container to be aroma attacked with molasses, fruit and a beer?  Huh???  There are days that I question my brain when I smell or taste something because its not part of the norm.  Well, this is a wild blend and for the price point, just makes it even better.

This is an outstanding blend that just screams try me.  So now, I smile when I come inside covered in the snow that just blew back on the driveway knowing I have this to look forward to.

What do I think this Tea’s Personality is?

• “An everchanging structure and flavor makes you dive deeper for investigation to be held hanging in wait from the short finish. Highly Intriguing and positively frustrating.”

The Price

The price on 2/10/26 is $8.91 for 2 oz or 57 grams.

Broken down:

• 57 gm / 3 gm for steeping = 22
• 22 brews from package = app. 40.5 cents per cup.
• If brewed twice the cost is 20 cents/cup.

This is a freaking steal for a quality tea that brings such unique qualities to the brew.  So worth it!!

Aromas

• Opening the package, it seems like you are slapped in the face with a mixture of a lager, fresh peas (I’m serious), raisins, floral notes, candied fruit (like a starburst) and taffy. Its just such a wild mixture that I’ve never seen before in a tea.
• This also has notes of elderberry, cocoa notes (like cocoa powder in the air) and molasses.
• Once brewed (when fresh and hot), it resembles a toffee covered pear/apple, candied fruit, lager hops with raisin/molasses/brown sugar essence.
• After all of this, you get to a rich black malt from the tea.
• Please note that as it cools, it changes and takes on more of a citrus hop, fresh pear note.

Flavors

• Welcome to molasses, honey covered pears, butter tart in a glass.
• It reminded me of subtle bourbon notes and toasted meat towards the finish which is short and quick.
• Just such a beautiful structure that is well integrated between the off dry sweetness, good acidity and tannin structure.
• Again, as it cools the flavors change greatly showing more of the citrus hoppy notes.
• Love the medium body of this. It’s big on the palate but consistent as the flavors evolve.

Scores

• Aromas (4.75/5)
• Flavors (9.25/10)
• Overall impression (4.65/5)
  • Total score = 93.25 percent (18.65/20)

Foods to Pair and Why

• Butter tarts. I don’t even need to go into why.  If you have ever had one, you understand why this sugary, delectable treat is amazing and you can’t stop at one.  Witch’s Brew would be a wonderful pairing with this.
• I’m starting to crave summer to be able to grill and smoke meats (trust me, I still do it as long as I do not have to dig out the grill). There is something about this brew (probably the lager notes) that made me instantly think of a double Smashburger (smoked cheddar of course) that has the crispy edges.
• I love wild game options. Taking a duck breast, deeply scoring the skin and grilling it until just medium rare doneness would be perfect.  I failed to mention that this would be lovingly brushed with a honey soy sauce brown sugar glaze.
• Ok stay with me on this one. A baked pear tart (maybe some golden raisins) with the crust composed of Biscoff cookies. 
• I would love to see where this brew goes as an iced tea. With that, lager marinated pork chops on the grill with a honeyed glaze to finish.
• To finish for my veggie lovers, a Honeynut Squash soup (just veg stock, roasted squash, S/P and cream to finish). You say it needs some crunch?  Biscoff cookies crumbled over the top before service.