Todd reviews Marz Umma Korean Roasted Barley Drink

Not going to lie, I’m kind of nervous to taste this concoction. Love the graphics. Feel it’s a nod to Moloko Milk Stout from Three Floyd’s, which is a nod to Clockwork Orange, which brings an odd warm/fuzzy feeling (shoutout Anthony Burgess, Stanley Kubrick, but mostly 7th grade Mikey P - hope you are well). I was expecting way more color. I suppose this is due to over-roasted coffee beans from a far too common national brand #drinklocal. Nose is barnyard though straw if you prefer a downshift. Lots of barley as advertised. Absolutely no head - poured flatter than a drive through Kansas. Flavor is mellow, easy, and fleeting, though it has a slightly spicy mouthfeel long term. Very little bite, probably due to the 0 abv/calorie nutrition facts. Been told there are positive gut health attributes to this beverage, which, as a kombucha drinker, seems beneficial. Definitely an eye opener that could sub for a beer, though not at the top of my list. 6/10 is fair, with the packaging doing the heavy lifting. Worth checking out if wanting a break from wheat beers (maybe some citrus could boost the lack of sweetness). Worth a reorder by the Orangily team.

Todd Ellington, Indianapolis