Lay’s is the savory equal of Oreos. Their want to pump out new flavors of potato chips looks like a compulsion. The distinction between the 2 is that, whereas Oreo simply goes straight off the rails, Lay’s at all times looks like they want a theme or a cause to do that. See: the intensive Style of America rollout final yr, the Passport to Taste marketing campaign, and naturally, the Do Us a Taste contests, the place they mainly stated, “You do the work, we’ll sit again and choose.”

This time round, the excuse they’ve
determined to make is…music! They’ve teamed up with (learn: paid) Bebe
Rexha to make an all-new music you can solely discover by shopping for a bag
of Flip Up the Taste Lay’s, or in all probability simply take an image of the
code on the bundle.

Apparently this music mixes pop, hip hop
and rock, which is such an accomplishment that my hat simply flew off
my head. Additionally, full disclosure: that is actually the primary time I
have heard the identify Bebe Rexha. I’m very outdated.

As a result of press releases are utterly
fucking bonkers, right here’s an excerpt straight from Lay’s:

“Like taste, music has the facility
to elicit robust feelings equivalent to pleasure, ardour and nostalgia,”
stated Katie Ceclan, senior director of promoting, Lay’s. “These
feelings might be heightened even additional if you pair the correct
taste and music collectively – and that’s precisely what we sought to do
with the ‘Flip Up the Taste’ program. As a model that likes to
delight our followers, we’re excited to deliver them two issues they love –
the uniquely scrumptious flavors of Lay’s and the unbelievable sound of
Bebe Rexha. Our limited-time flavors paired with unique, new songs
from Bebe every create a personalized sensorial expertise for our followers
to style, hear and revel in.”

Man, Katie actually took us on a journey,
there. I now imagine Lay’s has energy over all
my feelings, and I’ll eat them way more cautiously. The very last thing
I need to do is begin weeping uncontrollably at a job interview
as a result of I had a bag of Bitter Cream and Onion on the best way there.

That’s in all probability not
a good suggestion within the first place. You don’t need stank onion breath at
an interview. What’s improper with you?

The
descriptions of those flavors within the press launch are bonkers,
so I’ll evaluation them from least to most loopy. You’ll see what I
imply.

Wavy Electrical
Lime and Sea Salt

“The
tangy and vibrant flavors of Lay’s Wavy Electrical Lime and Sea Salt
are energetic and upbeat just like the fun-filled melodies and lyrics of
Pop Music you can’t assist however carry on repeat.”

Okay. Cool. We’re one tequila shot away from a rollicking good time
with these flavors. Though how nicely do they vibe with a potato
chip?

The primary chip is
an actual lime punch to the tongue, which I’ve to say, isn’t precisely
interesting. Lime and potato aren’t an awesome duo in case you ask me. It’s not
a very genuine lime taste, nevertheless it’s additionally not sweet lime, which is
a plus.

As you cram extra
chips into your mouth the lime taste fades and turns into extra of a
common tangy sensation that works nicely with the ocean salt on the
chip. I didn’t discover it as distinctly “sea” salt, nevertheless.

However the tang/salt
combo works nicely. The one downside is that in case you cease consuming them,
even for a minute, the lime taste comes again and reminds you that it
sucks. The apparent resolution is to maintain consuming the chips till the
complete bag is gone. Voila!

Kettle
Cooked Traditional Beer Cheese

“Lay’s
Kettle Cooked Traditional Beer Cheese is a daring, thrilling taste that
matches the unbelievable feeling you get listening to Rock Music because the
lead singer’s vocals lead into the primary riff of the facility chords and
you anxiously await the band to take it to the following stage.”

Okay possibly lay off the amp pedal a bit of right here, Lay’s. You sound like
a legally-stoned dad at a Van Halen live performance. Though, appropriately,
so does this taste. I really feel ready to be vaguely glad however
finally bored.

At first I assumed
these tasted just about like a traditional cheese kettle chip, however then
there was a bitter undertone that I might see representing the hoppy
style of beer. It was a shock taste that wasn’t precisely welcome,
despite the fact that it did hold with the spirit of the Traditional Beer Cheese
style.

For those who already
don’t like beer, you’re not going to love these chips, and even when
you do like beer I’m not solely certain “bitter” ought to be a
taste profile in a potato chip. Though in case you’re already consuming
a beer, these may pair nicely.

Whereas I don’t see
beer chips taking off as the latest pattern, an try was made, which
is greater than I anticipated out of this taste. You at all times depart me
conflicted, Lay’s.

Flamin’ Scorching and
Dill Pickle Remix

“There’s
no arguing that if Hip Hop was a taste, it could be Flamin’ Scorching! The
concord of distinct beats and spicy lyrics create the identical alluring
expertise as uniting two fiercely cherished flavors – Lay’s Flamin’
Scorching and Dill Pickle. Bringing two powerhouses collectively to create
good concord, rapper and songwriter Saweetie drops a visitor verse
in Bebe’s Hip Hop remix that takes the warmth to the following stage.”

Pay attention. Whereas I benefit from the style of music, I’ve no authority to disclaim
or verify that Flamin’ Scorching is, certainly, the hip hoppest of flavors.
And is combining Flamin’ Scorching with Dill Pickle actually an “alluring
expertise”? Is Dill Pickle even fiercely cherished as a Lay’s taste?
All I can do is let you know my opinion.

Full
disclosure: I really feel like I’ve vaguely heard the identify Saweetie earlier than,
however might let you know completely nothing about them. I’m simply so
outdated.

My nostrils had been
utterly pickle-blasted upon opening the bag, which I didn’t
count on. Much more stunning was how nicely Flamin’ Scorching and Dill Pickle
performed collectively. The style of what I can solely name “scorching” (Flamin’
Scorching actually is only a taste unto itself) and the largely
vinegar-driven sourness simply work.

I
comprehend it sounds gross. I assumed it could be gross. Wait, am I the
just one who thought it could be gross? Come to consider it, scorching
pickles exist and are seemingly standard. Bringing warmth to a
vinegar/garlicky combo doesn’t sound so loopy after I give it a second
of thought.

You’ve
transformed me, Lay’s. Whereas Traditional Beer Cheese comes out the shock
winner in uniqueness, Flamin’ Scorching and Dill Pickle Remix takes first
place in style. Sorry Electrical Lime and Sea Salt, you’re simply sort of
hanging out within the background, which is mockingly consultant of
me at any live performance.

And now for our new phase, Behind the Meals: It didn’t take a lot wanting into the Frito-Lay chip machine to search out a bit of little bit of grime swept beneath the rug: Simply final Might, Frito-Lay settled a three-year wage, meal, and relaxation dispute with their California truck drivers to the tune of $6.5 million. Seems Frito-Lay was imagined to be paying their drivers and so they weren’t! I assume they obtained mad that truck drivers truly wished to cease driving in some unspecified time in the future throughout the day. Hell yeah to those employees for getting the wages they deserved within the first place!

Lay’s Flip Up the Taste Chips

• Rating (Wavy Electrical Lime and Sea Salt): 2.5 out of 5 fun-filled melodies
• Rating (Kettle Cooked Traditional Beer Cheese): 2.5 out of 5 legally-stoned dads
• Rating (Flamin’ Scorching and Dill Pickle Remix): 4 out of 5 hip hoppest beats
• Value: $3.49
• Dimension: 7 1/2-8 oz. baggage
• Bought at: Safeway
• Dietary Quirk: Traditional Beer Cheese does checklist “Beer Solids” as an ingredient, which incorporates each hops and barley. I don’t need to understand how you get beer solids.