Lay’s is the savory equal of Oreos. Their need to pump out new flavors of potato chips looks as if a compulsion. The distinction between the 2 is that, whereas Oreo simply goes straight off the rails, Lay’s all the time looks as if they want a theme or a cause to do that. See: the intensive Style of America rollout final 12 months, the Passport to Taste marketing campaign, and naturally, the Do Us a Taste contests, the place they mainly mentioned, “You do the work, we’ll sit again and decide.”
This time round, the excuse they’ve
determined to make is…music! They’ve teamed up with (learn: paid) Bebe
Rexha to make an all-new music which you can solely discover by shopping for a bag
of Flip Up the Taste Lay’s, or most likely simply take an image of the
code on the bundle.
Apparently this music mixes pop, hip hop
and rock, which is such an accomplishment that my hat simply flew off
my head. Additionally, full disclosure: that is actually the primary time I
have heard the identify Bebe Rexha. I’m very outdated.
As a result of press releases are utterly
fucking bonkers, right here’s an excerpt straight from Lay’s:
“Like taste, music has the facility
to elicit robust feelings akin to pleasure, ardour and nostalgia,”
mentioned Katie Ceclan, senior director of selling, Lay’s. “These
feelings will be heightened even additional while you pair the best
taste and music collectively – and that’s precisely what we sought to do
with the ‘Flip Up the Taste’ program. As a model that likes to
delight our followers, we’re excited to convey them two issues they love –
the uniquely scrumptious flavors of Lay’s and the unbelievable sound of
Bebe Rexha. Our limited-time flavors paired with unique, new songs
from Bebe every create a personalized sensorial expertise for our followers
to style, hear and revel in.”
Man, Katie actually took us on a journey,
there. I now imagine Lay’s has energy over all
my feelings, and I’ll eat them far more cautiously. The very last thing
I need to do is begin weeping uncontrollably at a job interview
as a result of I had a bag of Bitter Cream and Onion on the best way there.
That’s most likely not
a good suggestion within the first place. You don’t need stank onion breath at
an interview. What’s mistaken with you?
The
descriptions of those flavors within the press launch are bonkers,
so I’ll evaluate them from least to most loopy. You’ll see what I
imply.
Wavy Electrical
Lime and Sea Salt
“The
tangy and vibrant flavors of Lay’s Wavy Electrical Lime and Sea Salt
are energetic and upbeat just like the fun-filled melodies and lyrics of
Pop Music which you can’t assist however carry on repeat.”
Okay. Cool. We’re one tequila shot away from a rollicking good time
with these flavors. Though how nicely do they vibe with a potato
chip?
The primary chip is
an actual lime punch to the tongue, which I’ve to say, isn’t precisely
interesting. Lime and potato aren’t an excellent duo for those who ask me. It’s not
a really genuine lime taste, however it’s additionally not sweet lime, which is
a plus.
As you cram extra
chips into your mouth the lime taste fades and turns into extra of a
common tangy sensation that works nicely with the ocean salt on the
chip. I didn’t discover it as distinctly “sea” salt, nevertheless.
However the tang/salt
combo works nicely. The one drawback is that for those who cease consuming them,
even for a minute, the lime taste comes again and reminds you that it
sucks. The apparent answer is to maintain consuming the chips till the
total bag is gone. Voila!
Kettle
Cooked Basic Beer Cheese
“Lay’s
Kettle Cooked Basic Beer Cheese is a daring, thrilling taste that
matches the unbelievable feeling you get listening to Rock Music because the
lead singer’s vocals lead into the primary riff of the facility chords and
you anxiously await the band to take it to the following stage.”
Okay possibly lay off the amp pedal a bit right here, Lay’s. You sound like
a legally-stoned dad at a Van Halen live performance. Though, appropriately,
so does this taste. I really feel ready to be vaguely glad however
finally bored.
At first I assumed
these tasted just about like a standard cheese kettle chip, however then
there was a bitter undertone that I may see representing the hoppy
style of beer. It was a shock taste that wasn’t precisely welcome,
regardless that it did hold with the spirit of the Basic Beer Cheese
style.
If you happen to already
don’t like beer, you’re not going to love these chips, and even when
you do like beer I’m not solely positive “bitter” must be a
taste profile in a potato chip. Though for those who’re already ingesting
a beer, these may pair nicely.
Whereas I don’t see
beer chips taking off as the most recent pattern, an try was made, which
is greater than I anticipated out of this taste. You all the time depart me
conflicted, Lay’s.
Flamin’ Sizzling and
Dill Pickle Remix
“There’s
no arguing that if Hip Hop was a taste, it will be Flamin’ Sizzling! The
concord of distinct beats and spicy lyrics create the identical alluring
expertise as uniting two fiercely cherished flavors – Lay’s Flamin’
Sizzling and Dill Pickle. Bringing two powerhouses collectively to create
excellent concord, rapper and songwriter Saweetie drops a visitor verse
in Bebe’s Hip Hop remix that takes the warmth to the following stage.”
Hear. Whereas I benefit from the style of music, I’ve no authority to disclaim
or affirm that Flamin’ Sizzling is, certainly, the hip hoppest of flavors.
And is combining Flamin’ Sizzling with Dill Pickle actually an “alluring
expertise”? Is Dill Pickle even fiercely cherished as a Lay’s taste?
All I can do is inform you my opinion.
Full
disclosure: I really feel like I’ve vaguely heard the identify Saweetie earlier than,
however may inform you completely nothing about them. I’m simply so
outdated.
My nostrils have been
utterly pickle-blasted upon opening the bag, which I didn’t
anticipate. Much more stunning was how nicely Flamin’ Sizzling and Dill Pickle
performed collectively. The style of what I can solely name “sizzling” (Flamin’
Sizzling actually is only a taste unto itself) and the principally
vinegar-driven sourness simply work.
I
comprehend it sounds gross. I assumed it will be gross. Wait, am I the
just one who thought it will be gross? Come to think about it, sizzling
pickles exist and are seemingly standard. Bringing warmth to a
vinegar/garlicky combo doesn’t sound so loopy after I give it a second
of thought.
You’ve
transformed me, Lay’s. Whereas Basic Beer Cheese comes out the shock
winner in uniqueness, Flamin’ Sizzling and Dill Pickle Remix takes first
place in style. Sorry Electrical Lime and Sea Salt, you’re simply type of
hanging out within the background, which is sarcastically consultant of
me at any live performance.
And now for our new section, Behind the Meals: It didn’t take a lot trying into the Frito-Lay chip machine to search out a bit little bit of filth swept underneath the rug: Simply final Could, Frito-Lay settled a three-year wage, meal, and relaxation dispute with their California truck drivers to the tune of $6.5 million. Seems Frito-Lay was imagined to be paying their drivers they usually weren’t! I suppose they acquired mad that truck drivers really wished to cease driving in some unspecified time in the future throughout the day. Hell yeah to those staff for getting the wages they deserved within the first place!
Lay’s Flip Up the Taste Chips
- Rating (Wavy Electrical Lime and Sea Salt): 2.5 out of 5 fun-filled melodies
- Rating (Kettle Cooked Basic Beer Cheese): 2.5 out of 5 legally-stoned dads
- Rating (Flamin’ Sizzling and Dill Pickle Remix): 4 out of 5 hip hoppest beats
- Worth: $3.49
- Measurement: 7 1/2-8 oz. luggage
- Bought at: Safeway
- Dietary Quirk: Basic Beer Cheese does listing “Beer Solids” as an ingredient, which incorporates each hops and barley. I don’t need to understand how you get beer solids.