340308 Mon Nov 06 10:00:26 -0800 2006 33 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 1999922 Sunday afternoon I picked up a quart of Clover Stornetta Organic Eggnog ($3.85 special price for November) at Andy's Produce in Sebastopol. The style and flavor is much closer to a homemade product, and I like it very much. By that I mean that it doesn't reek of artificial brandy flavoring, isn't overly thickened with slime, nor sickeningly sweet. The ingredient list does include carraganeen and organic tapioca starch. However, they're barely noticeable and do not interfere with the pure flavor of the milk, egg yolks and a whisper of nutmeg. Mon Nov 06 10:00:26 -0800 2006 10039 Melanie Wong 1 2002375 thanks for the rec, i've been looking for some good store-bought egg nog and will have to give it a try. i am really missing Hood egg nog since moving out to the west coast. Tue Nov 07 04:24:01 -0800 2006 1999922 46730 cflower 1 2002396 Yeah, you really have to watch that ingrediant list. Wish I read this before indulging my yearly eggnog craving. I had Organic Valley eggnog which didn't have the tapioca but did have the carraganeen which was the only non organic item in the ingrediant list. Bought it at Raley's but don't remember the price. It is a nice light eggnog that isn't heavy on the nutmeg either. It has a milky fresh taste. http://www.organicvalley.coop/products_recipes/product_detail.html?id=163&cat=1&sub=13 I guess it is really not the no name eggnog that I describe in my eggnog French toast post. But it isn't a real name like Strauss or something. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/340424 On the other hand all the Sunnyside eggnog (I think that is the other brand Raley's was sellng) is full of junk and uses HFCS instead of sugar ... ick. Just a note ... NOT organic or remotely healthy ... coconut ice cream snowballs are now available at Raley's. They go pretty fast and sometimes sell out by Thanksgiving. I'm sure they are loaded with HFCS and every preservative known ... but I love the things ... didn't buy them yet because eggnog and snowballs in the same week would probably kill me. Tue Nov 07 04:38:22 -0800 2006 1999922 10264 rworange 2 2004773 The flavors of the Clover Organic are rich, but even though I drank nearly the whole quart the evening I posted this, it didn't feel heavy or leave me feeling uncomfortably full. The less cloying taste of real sugar instead of HFCS may have had something to do with it, as well as less stabilizers. The texture is about the same weight as half-and-half, but without the butterfat film. The bad news is that each 1/2 cup serving (8 per quart) is 160 calories, iirc. Wed Nov 08 00:28:29 -0800 2006 2002396 10039 Melanie Wong 3 2019440 I got a quart from Whole Foods, 774 Emerson St, Palo Alto for $3.69 Mon 11/13/06. I liked it fine. 1/2 cup is a serving and it's 180 calories, not 160, yikes. Total fat 9g, saturated fat 5g. Ingredients: Organic milk & Organic cream, Organic sugar, Organic nonfat milk powder, Organic egg yolks, Organic Tapioca Starch, organic nutmeg, salt, Carrageenan, organic natural flavor, organic Annatto & Organic Tumeric (for color). pics: http://flickr.com/photos/bubbletea/296956538/ http://flickr.com/photos/bubbletea/296956540/ Still for me to try: Straus Organic Eggnog, Ruth's old post: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/27019?query=strauss+eggnog&user_name= Tue Nov 14 03:03:54 -0800 2006 2004773 10677 hhc 1 2002405 The Castle Creamery eggnog (comes in a glass bottle, I buy mine at Whole Foods in Campbell) is also delicious, with a distinct caramel flavor that I like very much. But it's way too rich for me to buy more than one bottle a year. Good, though. Tue Nov 07 04:45:29 -0800 2006 1999922 21736 moosechop 2 3166435 Hi moosechop, I don't know if you will receive this since it has been over a year since you posted the message that I am responding to, however, it is worth a shot. I love the Castle Creamery Eggnog and have not found anything that really compares. It has been several years since I have been able to locate it, so when I saw your posting stating that you have found it just last year at Whole Foods I was so excited. I contacted them and they are not carrying it this year. Do you know of any place I could find it? I would be SOOOOO excited. Thanks so much! Tyber Thu Nov 29 16:43:17 -0800 2007 2002405 146577 tyber 3 3166455 I don't know -- maybe you could contact Castle Creamery? In the meantime, have you tried Straus eggnog, which also comes in glass bottles? Here's a some discussion about various organic eggnogs from last year: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/352413 Thu Nov 29 16:51:12 -0800 2007 3166435 10159 Ruth Lafler 4 3166474 Thanks so much for your response Ruth! I can't find castle creamery when I google it. I have tried Straus and it does not do it for us, unfortunately. I will check into the link you sent and see what else is out there. I feel like I have tried so many over the years and just can't find one that I like as well. Bud's is the closest we have come, however, it is not nearly as good as castle creamery was. Darn! thanks again. the search continues. Tyber Thu Nov 29 16:56:53 -0800 2007 3166455 146577 tyber 1 2002487 I almost bought a Clo-quart today at Monterey Market (so I could have my annual 2 small cups of eggnog and then toss the rest weeks after it goes bad. But I'll wait. They had 3 types - Regular, a lowfat/light (forgot the actual name) and an organic. The organic's calories were just between the two, and the light wasn't much fewer in calories than the organic. If someone has had 2 or all 3, I'd appreciate comments. Tue Nov 07 05:32:01 -0800 2006 1999922 13471 lmnopm 2 3166513 Imnopm, I tried the low-fat clover 'nog. Gross. There are some things that can't be made low-fat. If you're gonna drink it, drink the real thing and be thankful it only comes out once a year, I know I am! Thu Nov 29 17:04:55 -0800 2007 2002487 137705 cookiehound 1 2002617 I tried the Clover organic nog last year and really, really liked it. The natural flavors come through in a nice, unaggressive way, and its much less gloopy than the usual commercially available stuff. Tue Nov 07 08:07:43 -0800 2006 1999922 14041 Debbie M 2 2004778 Definitely non-gloopy. Have you noticed that a cup of the usual commercial product mostly sticks to the side of the glass? This one slides out and you actually get to drink it! Very delicious . . . and I didn't even add any spirits to it. (g) Wed Nov 08 00:29:52 -0800 2006 2002617 10039 Melanie Wong 1 2015832 Thanks to this post, I bought a quart of this eggnog yesterday from Shopper's Corner in Santa Cruz for $3.99. It was the last carton on the shelf, and I was excited because I haven't bought eggnog in years due to disappointments. This was as described here; clean, milky flavor w/ balanced spicing and no disgusting aftertaste or film on the tongue. Very nice and I'll have to try it warmed up... They were selling both organic and regular from Clover, so make sure to get organic since the regular has HFCS and more additives than the organic. Sun Nov 12 21:32:18 -0800 2006 1999922 10371 Carb Lover 2 2022889 Do you think it might make a good ice cream base? Wed Nov 15 05:44:15 -0800 2006 2015832 10039 Melanie Wong 3 2022926 Ooooh yeah! It's basically a custard and even has some thickener in it. Since this eggnog is on the relatively thin side, I might add another yolk or two and then heat up to 175F to thicken. Reminds me of Mr. Taster's report on eggnog ice cream from last year: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/281897?query=eggnog+ice+cream&user_name= Wed Nov 15 06:07:14 -0800 2006 2022889 10371 Carb Lover 4 3174341 Did you try making ice cream? Mon Dec 03 00:46:14 -0800 2007 2022926 10039 Melanie Wong 5 4161379 Sorry for the one year delay in responding, but no, I've still not attempted an eggnog ice cream. Maybe before the year is over... Mon Nov 10 07:11:59 -0800 2008 3174341 10371 Carb Lover 1 2016061 Mitchell's also has the eggnog sign out. That's my regular eggnog, diluted with a little rum or brandy. It's kind of creamy for my taste, but keeps you from drinking the whole thing. I think it's just cream, egg yolks, and sugar. I add my own nutmeg. Anyone know who makes TJ's eggnog? I remember looking at the light version one year and still being appalled by the number of calories. Sun Nov 12 23:45:38 -0800 2006 1999922 10966 Windy 1 2020571 I got a quart at Faletti's... it goes down smooth ,and is not at all cloying..does not coat the tongue...I can't wait to use it for making french toast! Tue Nov 14 16:49:46 -0800 2006 1999922 10485 ChowFun_derek 2 2020939 Me too (have I mentioned how happy I am to have Faletti's a short walk away? :) - Sebby & I both liked it a lot for all the reasons mentioned above. Tue Nov 14 18:28:50 -0800 2006 2020571 14221 adampaul 1 4160664 I have to dissent here. I find the Clover Organic Eggnog to be the worst one I've tried yet. The Clover, both Organic and non-organic, taste to me like one part nutmeg, one part water, one part milk. I am _very_ disappointed!! This is not eggnog. This stuff is nasty! I have about 95% of a quart sitting here on my desk next to me as I type this and I'm wondering what I'm going to do with it, now that I've discovered I don't like it at all. It has literally left a bad taste in my mouth! As commercial products go, Berkeley Farms is about the best I've found. Clover's eggnogs don't even qualify for the name 'eggnog'! It's very interesting that your experience with homemade eggnog is similar in texture and flavor to this Clover stuff. I've never had a homemade eggnog that's anything like Clover, and I thank goodness for that! Clover's "Organic Eggnog" is mis-named and should actually read "(organic) nutmeg milk drink". Sun Nov 09 18:19:50 -0800 2008 1999922 238653 Laszlo 2 4160927 Clover milk in general is thinner, lighter, maybe even more watery tasting tasting then Berkeley Farms, if that's what you're used to. It's a great base for cooking, or coffee. If you want a really thick commercial egg nog, I've really liked the Southern Comfort branded stuff. No idea who makes it but I've seen it at Safeway. Not organic however. Sun Nov 09 20:55:23 -0800 2008 4160664 145096 sugartoof 2 4161036 Maybe the Berkeley Farms is thick because it has three thickeners plus both high fructose corn syrup and regular corn syrup: Nonfat Milk, Cream, Sugar, Egg Yolks, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Nutmeg, Carrageenan, Salt, Annatto Extract and Turmeric (Colors). Sun Nov 09 22:41:41 -0800 2008 4160664 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 4162156 I meant their milk products, not egg nogs. I think the base milk product you can buy from Clover is thinner over all then Berkeley Farms to start with, so that would also explain why the resulting Clover egg nog is also lighter. Mon Nov 10 11:17:44 -0800 2008 4161036 145096 sugartoof 4 4162592 I've never done a side-by-side comparison. Maybe Clover doesn't add extra milk solids to their milk like some producers to. At any rate, I don't consider a product with an ingredient list that includes both high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup (kind of sneaky, too, because when they use two different sweeteners, the amount of each one separately puts them farther down the ingredient list than they would be in total) to be a premium product. IMHO, it's not "real" if it contains major ingredients you wouldn't use if you were making it at home. Mon Nov 10 13:45:19 -0800 2008 4162156 10159 Ruth Lafler 5 4163211 I don't think Berkeley Farms even makes a premium or organic line do they? If you're comparing based on ingredients then it's no contest. If you're use to a thicker egg nog as your preference, then it there are more suitable options based on taste alone. Mon Nov 10 17:40:27 -0800 2008 4162592 145096 sugartoof 6 4163301 When I was looking for the ingredients on line, I saw on the Berkeley Farms website that they make a premium eggnog under the Bud's label. I think if you like a thicker eggnog, the organic Rockview Farms from TJ's is good, and well-priced. Here's my report from two years ago: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/352413 Mon Nov 10 18:18:19 -0800 2008 4163211 10159 Ruth Lafler 7 4163749 Berkeley Farms is a microbrand of Dean Foods, one of the largest dairy operations on earth. Dean also produces milk in Horizon "Organic" containers and thus the Horizon eggnog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Foods#Brands Mon Nov 10 22:53:12 -0800 2008 4163301 25310 Chuckles the Clone 8 4163814 That's interesting. For what it's worth Berkeley Farms was independent, as were many of the other sub-brands like Tuscan which is probably my favorite of the big commercial NY brands. Those two don't taste alike, so despite the parent company, there is at least some integrity left from the individual farms, at least on a coastal level. One question I have is why the organic stuff has a longer shelf life then the stuff packed with preservatives? Tue Nov 11 00:44:54 -0800 2008 4163749 145096 sugartoof 9 4164580 Horizon and some other organic brands (but not Straus) are ultrapasteurized for a longer shelf life. Milk does not contain preservatives, or at least, it shouldn't contain anything other than milk (and sometimes milk solids) and vitamins A and D. Tue Nov 11 09:22:57 -0800 2008 4163814 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 4169278 On a whim, I bought a qt of the Clover light Eggnog and it was just short of awful. It was watery with a metallic aftertaste. I've got 95% left and wondering who I can force-drink it. Wed Nov 12 20:04:04 -0800 2008 4160664 84603 baron45 1 4162648 Aah, I see eggnog is back on the shelves again. Based on, I think probably, this exact thread I went out last year and sampled all the brands I could find. It was somewhat disappointing. I didn't keep careful notes but the flavors ranged from "sortof like bubblegum" right up through "just like bubblegum". This year it's back to the tried and true Joy of Cooking "eggnog in quantity" recipe (dozen eggs, separated, whites whipped, pound of sugar, half gallon of cream, and a quart of liquor) which probably has even more calories per cup but, quart of liquor, who cares! Mon Nov 10 14:04:10 -0800 2008 1999922 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 4163273 I too am a fan of making my eggnog, and I use the Joy of Cooking recipe, but not the one for a crowd. Once a year I splurge and make a small batch for my husband and me, using half and half and eggs, sugar, and some fresh ground nutmeg. I use my immersion blender with a whip (do they still make those? I bought this about 20 years ago) and use the plastic vertical beaker that came with it. Add good brandy, and wait a few weeks to get the cholesterol checked. Takes about 5 minutes, is delicious in front of the fire on a cold December night. Mon Nov 10 18:06:06 -0800 2008 4162648 174540 dkenworthy