Packet #104 - Walkers Max Strong Jalapeño and Cheese

A pack of crisps can often be like a promotion/relegation playoff. So much hope, so much anticipation. Will it be packed full of flavour, deliver a good crunch and leave you wanting more? Or will it be limp, lifeless and forgettable? Success and you're in the big leagues, failure and you're out.

Now Walkers would often be a bit of a yo-yo pack in my eyes. Sometimes they pull it out of the bag but often they leave you questioning your love of crisps. That's why it was a huge risk picking up this share bag of Walkers Max Strong Jalapeño AND Cheese especially after Christine's magnificent review of another flavour. But sometimes dear reader, just sometimes, it's worth taking that risk. You can hear the crunch instantly, it's loud and consistent, just like any good defender. The next thing you notice is the power of the cheese hitting you in the face like a strikers wayward shot, neatly followed up with a fiery finish of jalapeño. They finished the job with consistency and before I knew it the bag was over and this pack was in the big leagues.

I guess what we can take from this is that we shouldn't judge a pack by it's cover. We should be bold and brave and dive two handed at even the most outrageous looking packs of crisps. Don't be afraid, eat more crisps.

Deano.

Packet #76 Walkers Deep Ridged Mature Cheddar & Onion

The summer, a great time of year for most countries, the weather is great, people are in a good mood and you get to sit on the beach toasting yourself to a nice crisp. Unless of course you live in Ireland where the only type of crisp we get is in a pack and made from potatoes(sometimes). But sure that's probably why we love crisps so much and also who wants to eat crisps when it's sunny? No, we definitely have the perfect weather for year round crisp munching.

Anyway this summer I've eaten loads of crisps from all over the world and this particular pack is from our neighbours in the UK. Probably the second best makers of crisps. It's part of Walkers new Deep Ridged selection promising us ridges twice as deep. Lovely but how deep can ridges get? Well the answer is very deep, if I wasn't a fully grown large man I'd probably fall into them. The ridges actually add a heavy crunch to the crisp which has quite a light texture. They also manage to pack in the flavour, especially the mature cheddar, it's as if you've brushed your teeth with a block of old cheese. Tasty.

Overall these are a much welcome addition to the Walkers brand of crisps and also come in Flame Grilled Steak and Salt & Malt Vinegar. I'm happy with that selection no messing around with odd flavours this time, well done Walkers. Now it's sunny(ish) time for a BBQ. BYE!

Deano.

Packet #67 Monster Munch Roast Beef

It's always a treat when you walk into a shop and see a new bag of crisps for the first time. It's an even bigger treat to see a bag of crisps you haven't seen in ages. Monster Munch have come stomping back into the Irish market in recent times and although they're not available in every shop just yet, they are a most welcome addition. However, here at the blog we don't like to do things the easy way. That's why I traveled to London for this latest review of Monster Munch and their Roast Beef flavourings.

The first thing you notice about Monster Munch is the shear size of the crisps, they're massive. Monstrous even! Sometimes you can get a bag that has been a bit beat up in transportation but this particular bag had a load of full monster hands. Now could the big hands live up to their big reputation? Oh yes and with big flavours. A great crunch brought out all the joys of a Sunday roast. Beef and potato no messing around with herbs or anything like that, just straight to the point tastiness. The more you eat the more beefy goodness fills your taste buds.

This is the second monster out of three I have reviewed and I must salute the Monster Munch trio and their munch bunch on a fine job so far. The yellow fella better get his pickled onions out of the jar cause I'm coming for him next.

Deano.

Packet #57 - Walkers Meaty Flavour Potato Crisps

January can be a tough month. Everyone is broke after Christmas and everywhere you look people are throwing health and fitness in your face. Well here at the blog we’ve a top tip, instead of spending money on expensive olive oil or rapeseed oil why not use crisps as a healthy, cheap alternative. Anyway enough of the health tips, on to the positives of January. Crisps. New crisps. Walkers to be precise. They’re called What’s the flavour? Walkers have launched three new flavours and are asking people to guess what they are. The particular bag I tried was covered in question marks and known only as Meaty Flavour Potato Crisps. Exciting!

So the blogs first bag of mystery crisps had me puzzled for a while. Lots of tantalising flavours were flying about filling my nostrils with strong meaty type spiciness. At first it was a familiar flavour, one which I knew I had tried before but exactly what that flavour was escaped me. I was thinking spicy chicken or some kind of meat ravaged pizza. Whatever it was I liked it. They’re kind of sweet but with a little kick of spice and that elusive mystery meat... The texture and crunch of the crisps are much the same as previous Walkers which works well for a nice post lunch munch and will please consistency lovers.

Overall a very enjoyable experience. I liked the fact the packet was plain with just a sticker on it with a few mysterious question marks. If it were me I'd release crisps in bags like these all the time. Every time you went to buy crisps it would be a massive lucky dip! Watch out marketing teams of the world. Anywho I look forward to trying the other flavours Walkers have on offer when they're out (Mark ate the other two). 

Deano.

P.S. I figured out what they remind me of, Hunky Dory Buffalo Flavour.

Packet #40 - Monster Munch Flamin' Hot

Whoa whoa whoa, don't throw that! Watch my head please. I know we Irish love to have a good debate about what happened Monster Munch and why we now have Mighty Munch. Well I'm not going to go into that here, you'll have to attend our next seminar for that nugget (generally held when we're eating crisps).

On to the crisps. Flamin' Hot, they say. At first munch they're not bad. Obviously you don't expect crisps to blow your head off like you've been eating handfuls of habaneros. But after a couple more you start to get a delicious spicy after taste in your mouth. Not many crisps can give you that. It's a wonderful sensation that will keep you coming back for more. You get a lovely, stick to the roof of your mouth, chunky crunch from each crisp. The kind which makes people in the cinema turn around and look at you. Which just adds to the delight.


I was surprised by how much I liked these Monster Munch and quite happily taken in by the marketing campaign of new/OLD. But really I'm just glad Monster Munch have brought back the old monsters.

Deano.