SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 11/29/2016

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Kraft Snack Trios (Colby Jack Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Banana Chips)

Kraft Snack Trios (Colby Jack Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Banana Chips)

Kraft Snack Trios (Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Dried Cranberries)

Kraft Snack Trios (Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Dried Cranberries)

Kraft Snack Trios (Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Dried Cranberries)

Kraft Snack Trios (Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Dried Cranberries)

Kraft Snack Trios (Monterey Jack Cheese, Dried Cinnamon Apples, and Granola Clusters)

Kraft Snack Trios (Monterey Jack Cheese, Dried Cinnamon Apples, and Granola Clusters)

It amazes me what ends up being popular. I thought Oscar Mayer’s P3 Portable Protein Packs were a silly way for Oscar Mayer to sell cheese and their meats, but now there are several brands of these mini snack trays. (Spotted by Rachel C at Smiths.)

Ice Chips (Pineapple Coconut, Mango, and Mandarin Orange)

Ice Chips (Pineapple Coconut, Mango, and Mandarin Orange)

These were not spotted in the freezer case, so I’m going to assume they’re not as cold as ice. (Spotted by Carla at Fred Meyer.)

Sweetarts UCLA Gummies

Sweetarts UCLA Gummies

The semester isn’t even over and these are already 50 percent off. (Spotted by Sylvia at Vons.)

Red Button Vintage Creamery Double Dark Chocolate and Southern Roasted Pecan Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Double Dark Chocolate and Southern Roasted Pecan Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Vanilla Caramel Swirl and Bananas Foster Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Vanilla Caramel Swirl and Bananas Foster Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Creamy Coconut and White Chocolate Raspberry Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Creamy Coconut and White Chocolate Raspberry Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Mint Chocolate Classic Gelato

Red Button Vintage Creamery Mint Chocolate Classic Gelato

(Spotted by Rachel C at Macey’s.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle and Cookie Bites

Sheila G's Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle Bites

Sheila G's Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites

(Spotted by Chris B at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

COMING SOON: Dunkin’ Donuts Bottled Iced Coffee

Dunkin coffee

Dunkin’ Donuts has teamed up with Coca-Cola to bring ready-to-drink coffee beverages to grocery and convenience stores. The new drinks debuted at the NACS Show earlier this month. The line of refrigerated coffee will be made using Arabica coffee blends, come in 13.7-ounce bottles, and available in four flavors — Original, Mocha, Espresso, and French Vanilla.

Dunkin’ Donuts bottled iced coffee will be hitting shelves early next year.

(Image via Coca-Cola/CSP Daily News)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Kellogg’s Cinnamon Frosted Flakes Cereal

Kellogg's Cinnamon Frosted Flakes Cereal

Tigers have yellow eyes, but Tony the Tiger is anthropomorphic. So if Tony the Tiger is anthropomorphic, are his eyes yellow because he’s a tiger or because he has jaundice? (Spotted by Rachel C at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

REVIEW: Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s All-Natural Budweiser Beer Cheese Bacon Burger

Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s All-Natural Budweiser Beer Cheese Bacon Burger

From the same folks who gave you sandwiches doused in bourbon and moonshine infused sauce comes Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.’s latest alco-hamburger, the All-Natural Budweiser Beer Cheese Bacon Burger.

From the get-go, it’s a much less ambitious burger than we’re used to from the chain – lest we forget, this is the same brand that once sold us a sandwich topped with a split weenie and a handful of potato chips.

Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s All-Natural Budweiser Beer Cheese Bacon Burger 2

The non-deluxe versions come with a charbroiled beef patty topped with a sliver of Swiss cheese and a hearty dollop of caramelized onions and thick coating of the eponymous Bud cheese, which I’d describe as a sweet nacho cheddar blend with a sugary hops and barley aftertaste (and before you ask, no, you can’t get loaded eating a small mountain of burgers). On top of that you’ve got your customary lettuce and tomato slices, with a cameo appearance by two fairly salty strips of bacon. The whole shebang is shoved into a brioche bun, which has a distinct honey-kissed flavor that gels incredibly well with the Cheese-weiser sauce.

Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s All-Natural Budweiser Beer Cheese Bacon Burger 3

As you’d imagine, it’s a pretty messy meal. Just removing the top bun guarantees at least a splash of cheese sauce is going to spatter on the table, but the impromptu Gallagher performance is easily forgiven considering how filling the burger is. The solo patty version pretty much immobilized me for a good half hour, so I can only imagine the severity – and satisfaction – of the after-effects of the double patty permutation or the 1/3-pounder Black Angus Thickburger.

Your mileage will vary on the saccharine nature of the burger dressings, though. An hour after eating my burger I still had a pronounced honey wheat hangover in the back of my throat, and be forewarned, when the beer cheese fully congeals, it becomes almost as sweet as cake frosting.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed the chain’s latest brew-burger. It strikes a very nice balance of savory, smoky and sugary without any one flavor becoming too dominant. As long as you can handle a little umami with your ale – and you’re not averse to a strong sucrose sensation from time to time – I’d say this Bud’s definitely for you.

(Nutrition Facts – Single Patty Burger – 710 calories, 340 calories from fat, 38 grams of fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, 85 milligrams of cholesterol, 1430 milligrams of sodium, 51 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 11 grams of sugar, and 40 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $5.59 (single patty)
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Very filling. A nice medley of flavors that are surprisingly harmonious. Being able to literally chew Budweiser.
Cons: An unexpectedly prolonged sugar rush; being forced to eat it with a fork to keep cheese from glomping to your fingers. Still having to wait for a Heineken-flavored chicken sandwich.