Do the kiddos still use the word “epic”? I’m asking for a friend because, obviously, I know the answer because I’m totally cool. Wait. Do the kiddos still use the word “cool”? Anyhoo, Pepperidge Farm is using the word that may or may not be hip to help name its latest crunchy fish-shaped snack —- Goldfish Epic Crunch.
According to the packaging, the snack has a tortilla crunch and big flavor, and that “big flavor” is available in three varieties — Ranch, Nacho, and Honey BBQ. While Ranch and Nacho have graced the surface area of previous Goldfish, Honey BBQ appears to be a first for the snack.
The hollow pieces are more massive than regular Goldfish, and they do have an epic crunch that reminds me of rolled tortilla chips, but they don’t have epic flavor.
They’re not completely tasteless, but the seasonings are light in flavor, and they fade quickly, leaving behind mostly the whole grain tortilla base to torture my taste buds until I eat more.
The reason why these don’t do it for me is because, with all three varieties, they’re like diet versions of some of my favorite snacks. Ranch reminds me of Cool Ranch Doritos; Nacho evokes Nacho Cheese Doritos; and Honey BBQ brings to mind Fritos Honey BBQ Flavor Twists (the best Fritos, IMO). I’d rather have the tasty goodness of the originals than diet versions.
However, much like Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese Doritos, eating Goldfish Epic Crunch will lead to getting the seasoning on your fingers, which will turn your digits into savory suckers after you’re done eating. Although, it’s not as potent as what you’d get from Doritos. But, if you think about it, whatever seasoning ends up on your fingers won’t be on the Goldfish, which is where it needs to be.
My unscientific guess at how much lighter the taste is to those classic snacks would be about 50 percent, which is not strong enough to compel me to keep sticking my hand into the bag to catch more of these Goldfish. I wish they were, to use a Pepperidge Farm trademark, Flavor Blasted.
Overall, Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Epic Crunch is something I wouldn’t try again. With regular cheddar Goldfish, the salty and cheesiness makes me want to keep stuffing my mouth with them. But I don’t want to do that with these. They do have an epic crunch, but their flavor is wiggity wiggity wack.
Do the kiddos still use “wiggity wiggity wack”?
DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way. Although, you probably guessed that while reading this review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.5 oz. bags
Purchased at: Received from Pepperidge Farm
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (26 pieces) Ranch – 130 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Nacho – 130 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Honey BBQ – 130 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
ive had the ranch ones…they are ok, but the texture is weird…they remind me of those pasta chips(I cant remember the brand)
I tried the nacho flavor, and I thought it was delicious! I would definitely buy them again. Wouldn’t mind trying the BBQ flavor, but nacho chips are a guilty pleasure of mine so that would always be my go-to. However, other people eating these is absolutely horrific if one has misophonia!
How dare you give these a bad review after they gave you a free sample???…Just kidding I love how you cant be bribed by THE MAN!!!!!
They have to start out with these somewhat bland versions, so they can later come out with a “Flavor Blasted” version, or be able to advertise “Now With More Nacho, Ranch, BBQ, etc” I tried the nacho variety an I like them. They could use a little more seasoning.
I concur on the blandness – they also somehow tasted stale, even though they were clearly not. I got the nacho ones, and did manage to redeem them by turning them into actual nachos, which bumped up the flavor and got rid of the stale bite. Wouldn’t purchase again though.
Definitely agree on how bland these were! I tried the Ranch & barely noticed any flavor & the Nacho was only slightly better with a little more flavoring.
The texture on these while crunchy left a lot to be desired.
I don’t like the new “Epic Crunch” style Goldfish; they are more like Epic Brittle … so brittle it’s like chewing glass or gravel. Beware if you have sensitive dental work, these could break your teeth. I’m going to finish these up in soup only. Much prefer the lighter “standard crunch” variety for snacking!
I bought a bag of the nacho and a bag of the ranch for $1 each. I literally ate 5 of each flavor and tossed them. These Epic Crunch goldfish are hot garbage. Whoever developed these for Pepperidge Farm should be fired. Yes, they have crunch. However the flavor is lacking, the after taste is horrendous, and they taste the same even though they are supposed to be different flavors. These are nothing but an epic failure.
Tried the Ranch and was disappointed. Agree with the blandness. Only reminded me a bit of a lightly seasoned Cool Ranch at the beginning (albeit without the little kick) only to have sort of a kind of mayo-y Ranch dressing part at the end (but not the full thing, as I like Ranch dressing). Tortilla wasn’t salty like a normal tortilla chip (the whole grains probably didn’t help on that end, though I don’t think the Whole Grain normal/cheddar goldfish I tried were as blah), so it didn’t help much with the blandness. Had to eat a Jalapeno Ranch Ruffles chip to wash some of the bland taste out of my mouth.
To be positive, while maybe not “epic”, they were reasonably crunchy.
You are being more than generous. I paid for them and couldn’t force myself to eat more than just a few of each to try them out. The flavors might be ok if they actually put some flavor on it. The “epic crunch” is more like a tough stale chip with a bubble of crunch in the middle. These are terrible. They struck out on this. I can’t fathom how these made it through product testing.
They were definitely bland and the tortilla chip does not leave a good taste in your mouth. I am an avid tortilla chip eater and I was not a fan of this chip flavor at all. The ranch was very subtle and I can’t help but to believe that they would’ve been better if they were season like Doritos. I ate four of them and threw the rest of the bag in the trash
I just purchased a bag of the Ranch flavored ones. I did NOT care for the first one I ate, but the ranch flavor was enticing, so I ate another, and another, and another. I asked my hubby to taste them too. He ate one with much hesitation, then another, then another. We both came to the same conclusion. The taste and flavor of the ranch is good, however they leave a PLASTIC taste in your mouth. We folded up the bag and threw them in the garbage. No matter how many we tasted, we still always experienced that PLASTIC flavor. Sorry!
The bbq ones reminded me of how I felt when I first tried cool ranch doritos. They are like crack! Cant wait to try the ranch version! Hope its a healthier version of crack (cool ranch doritoes)!
These are absolutely terrible!!!! I can’t even get my 5 year old daughter to eat them.
Total fail on Pepperidge Farms taste testing group. Unless they were a group of goats that eat anything.
I have better flavor throwing up in my mouth. Beacuase these literally taste like someone elses throw up.
Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!
I have never liked goldfish, but my wife bought the nacho and I tried them I like them the crunch and the flavor though they could use a little more flavor. Can’t wait to try the others.