Brannigans Potato Crisps (U.K. Snacks, Part 2)

Pair these entrée-flavored chips with chip-flavored chips and you’ve got yourself a complete meal.

While Chris and I were waiting to board the plane back home, these unusual Brannigans flavors of chips -- pardon me, flavours of crisps -- caught my eye at an airport gift shop. You’ll notice they’re all based on main course meat dishes.

According to the bags, these are “proper thick cut crisps.” That’s good, because if one wishes to maintain a respectable standing within British society, one mustn’t be seen associating with crisps of the improper sort. You’d never live down the scandal.

I’m fairly certain that’s Brannigans the Crispmaker on the front of the bag, looking all pleased with himself. Well, good sir Brannigans, you best wipe that grin off your face. I’ve tried your crisps and I found them lacking.

Here’s the Lunch Blog take on each variety.

• Roast Lamb & Mint: As an avid lover of lamb chops, this was the flavor I was most excited to try, and thus the flavor I was most disappointed in. Since you’re practically attacked by the smell of mint when you open the bag, it’s a big surprise when there's not that much mint flavor there -- roughly that of an ABC piece of Wrigley’s Spearmint. So if you’re looking for a crisp that combines slightly minty overtones with a gamy aftertaste, does Brannigans ever have the crisp for you.  

• Smoked Ham & Pickle: While these crisps aren’t labeled as barbecue, these taste just like your average barbecue chip, except for an awesome hit of vinegary pickle. Take note, chipperies of America -- as pickles are an essential part of the barbecue experience, what say you take a cue from these guys and start incorporating a bit of pickle essence into all your barbecue varieties?

• Roast Beef & Mustard: Roasty, maybe. Beefy and mustardy, not so much. These crisps taste more akin to boiled potatoes, plus they’re curiously mushy. It’s like Brannigans decided to take all the bad stereotypes of British food and encapsulate them in chip form.

So no, even if Brannigans crisps were available stateside, there’s nothing here that would tempt me to switch up my snack chip of choice from my beloved Funyuns. Still, it's always fun to try a new kind of chip, and I look forward to sampling Brannigans’ upcoming Steak & Kidney and Fish & Chips flavors.

Brannigans hasn’t started making them yet, but come on -- you know they’re coming.