Root Beer Rundown

Sea Dog

2011-11-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Pugsley Brewing LLC, Portland, ME

Website: www.seadogbrewing.com

Where’d It Come From? MooTime Creamery, Coronado, CA

Review Date: 11/16/11

Commentary: Well, rats. This is a disappointment. I really had high hopes for this one. Maybe it was because of the cool label, I don't know. Anyway, I am not impressed.

I figured there might be a problem with this one when I wasn't able to detect any aroma at all after opening the bottle. Nothing. Not an unpleasant aroma. Just no aroma at all. How is that possible? Even after pouring it in the glass I could barely detect an aroma. Not a good start.

It produced an okay head when poured, but it didn't stick around very long. Maybe even the brew itself knew this wasn't going to be it's best day and was just trying to get things over with quickly by letting the head dissipate.

The brew has a somewhat medicinal flavor. This dog has a small bite to begin with, and it quickly tucks its tail between its legs and hurries away. There's no creaminess here at all. The flavor, like the bite, doesn't linger. It fades quickly, but I guess that's okay since this isn't a memorable brew anyway.

The carbonation was okay to start with, but it fades fast in the glass. The bubbles were large while they lasted. Halfway through the glass and it is already starting to taste watered down since the carbonation is almost completely gone.

As you may have guessed by now, I was not impressed with Sea Dog. In the words of my good friend, Randy Jackson, I'll have to say, "This one was just alright for me, dog." And that's being generous simply because I like the label. This one gets a score of..........................................67.

Was this one a dog for you, too?

Capt'n Eli's

2011-11-16T01:50:00.002-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Shipyard Brewing Co., LLC, Portland, ME

Website: www.shipyard.com

Where’d It Come From? MooTime Creamery, Coronado, CA

Review Date: 11/15/11

Commentary: I was fortunate to find this brew in an ice cream shop in Coronado, CA on a recent business trip. They actually had about 6-7 different kinds of root beer in the cooler, only one of which I had tried before. Since it was my last night in town I only bought two bottles. This review is for the first of those two bottles.

This brew had a nice traditional root beer aroma when I first opened the bottle. A nice sweet and spicy smell. It produced a decent head when I poured it, considering I was having to make due with one of the glasses in my hotel room rather than a pint glass or a mug. I was able to chill the glass though, so that definitely helped. The head was a nice dark color, and the remnants hung around for a good while around the edge of the glass. That's worth a few points in my book.

The first sip was a pleasure. This brew has a nice bite but it makes a quick transition to smoooooooth. There is a little bit of spice to start but it dissipates nicely, giving way to a creamy, sweet finish. I really like this one. Really. Nothing too complicated or fancy here. Just a great root beer.

The carbonation is just about right. The medium-sized bubbles linger for quite a while. After several minutes, when I poured the remainder of the bottle into my glass, it produced another head. I don't know about you, but to me,that's a sign of good carbonation.

I have to throw in a few extra points for the cool label, too.

Originally, I hadn't planned to drink the whole bottle since I have that other brew to drink this evening as well. This was too good, though. I had to drink the whole thing. I think you would do the same thing if you ever found yourself in the same position.

Did I mention that I really like this one? Well, I did. A lot. Therefore, I'm pleased to grant this one a score of.....................................91.

Now, what about you? Have you ever tried Capt'n Eli's? What did you think?

Rock Bottom Brewery

2010-11-17T01:51:00.000-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Rock Bottom Brewery, San Diego, CA

Website: http://www.rockbottom.com/

Where’d It Come From? San Diego, CA restaurant

Review Date: 11/16/10

Commentary: Imagine my joy when the hotel receptionist out here in San Diego handed me a map with a bunch of local restaurants on it and I noticed the Rock Bottom Brewery on the list! Oh, happy day!

About two years ago, I had the opportunity to dine at the Rock Bottom restaurant up in Long Beach and enjoy a fresh brewed root beer. Much to my dismay, my root beer was served with ice in it. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. Can you believe that? A place that brews their own root beer and they served it with ice. For shame.

This time, I specifically requested no ice in my brew. I couldn't help but notice the look of disappointment in the eyes of my waitress when I ordered. She was so sure that I was going to order one of their micro brews (or two, or three). She could hear the sound of her tip shrinking as I ordered a beverage that cost much less than a beer and that would come with free refills.

I have to say that I was not impressed when the root beer was set before me. It had no head on it whatsoever and had no distinct root beer aroma. The first taste revealed a definite licorice emphasis. The carbonation was good to start, but faded a bit too quickly for my liking. There were some large bubbles in there initially.

No one would ever accuse this root beer of being overly sweet. Creamy is out of the question as well. This brew has a slightly medicinal flavor. Now, that's not always a bad thing. I think it works here. It was not what I was expecting, but hey, what do I know?

When the waitress brought a refill, this root beer redeemed itself a little bit. The refill did have a bit of head on it and the carbonation was better. This time around it had lost some of its medicinal edge. That might have been due to the mahi tacos I was eating, though. By the way, order the mahi tacos if you're ever there. The pineapple salsa sounds weird, but it really works!

Okay, let's score this one. Although this root beer arrived at my table with little or no head on it, I can't really be too tough on it for that. I don't know how long it took the waitress to get it to my table after it had been poured. As for the taste, I can't say that it is near the top of my list of favorite brews, but it's not at the bottom either. Medicinal brews are just okay for me, dog. I'll score this one as..............................................................72.

Renzy Roo Brew -- The Review!

2010-09-08T20:17:00.002-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? We did!

Website: You're looking at it.

Where’d It Come From? My kitchen

Review Date: 9/8/10

Commentary: After 3 full days of fermentation/carbonation in the basement and a week in the fridge, it was finally time to test the latest edition of our homebrewed root beer, Renzy Roo Brew.

We were thrilled to see that the carbonation level was almost right on. It produced a nice head when poured. The head didn't stick around too long, but at least we were able to get a picture of it. There was still some carbonation left in there while we were drinking it, but it could have used a little more.

The flavor was okay. We detected some yeastiness, but it wasn't overpowering. I think the sweetness level was about right. However, I think the flavor wasn't quite strong enough. It definitely had a solid wintergreen base. We had added some vanilla to the brew, and I think that helped to cut the wintergreen a little. I just think we need to use a little more root beer extract next time. I may add more maltodextrin next time as well.

All in all, I am very pleased with this batch. Considering the fact that our first two attempts were not too successful, I'd say we did really well this time. It is definitely drinkable, has good carbonation, and the sweetness level was good. We just need to add a little more flavor punch next time around. I am happy about two things: 1) We don't have to pour the rest of the batch down the drain, and 2) We have identified a couple things we can work on for next time.

So, how will I score our own root beer? Since we have room for improvement, I'll give it score of.....................................71.

Has anyone else out there tried to brew your own root beer? How did it turn out? Any tips you'd like to share?

Renzy Roo Brew -- 3rd Home Brew Attempt

2010-08-29T22:54:00.001-04:00

We made another attempt at brewing our own root beer tonight. This is our 3rd attempt at this. The first time we tried it, the brew turned out just a little below "okay". Something just wasn't right with it, but I couldn't put my finger on it. We made a second attempt a few months later, and that one was just plain awful. It didn't carbonate much at all, and tasted bad to boot. We used different root beer extracts in the two batches, so that may have accounted for some of the difference in tastes.

So, it has been a couple years since we last brewed our root beer. The main problem was that our garage refrigerator died about 18 months ago. Without a garage fridge, we didn't have anywhere to store our brew since our kitchen fridge is always jam packed. We now have a new fridge in the garage, so it was time to dig out the old recipes and try a new root beer extract.

This time, we went with Zatarain's extract. I knew those folks made rice mixes, but I didn't know about the extracts. I pulled out my notes from our first two attempts, and did a little research online to come up with a recipe to try this time around. The extract bottle was for a 5 gallon batch, but that was more than we wanted to make. The online research helped me determine how much extract and sugars I should use for our 2 gallon batch. After a visit to our local home brew shop to pick up a few supplies (and a little advice from the store owner) and then a trip to the grocery store, we were ready to go.

Getting the supplies ready.

The brewmaster, hard at work!

Adding the activated yeast.

We did our best to keep things sanitized and do things at the right temperatures, in hopes of not messing up the carbonation and the flavor. We'll know in a few days how things went.

One of the best things about this project, was that it was something my son and I could do together. Besides having fun, he got a quick lesson on the magical powers of yeasts and another lesson on siphons and hydrostatics.

Our two gallon batch yielded 15 bottles. Fourteen were the heavy glass, flip-top beer bottle type, and one was a plastic soda bottle. The plastic bottle is our test bottle that we'll use to check the carbonation level in a couple days. Once that bottle gets really hard, we'll know we've got enough carbonation. Then we can move all the bottles to the fridge to kill the fermentation/carbonation process. After a few days of chilling, we'll be able to sample the brew.

Here is a close up of the finished product, including our custom label:

I'll let you know how it all turns out once we've had a chance to try some. Keep your fingers crossed!

Has anyone else out there tried to brew their own root beer? Any wild success stories or epic failures? Any advice for a couple novices like us?

Goose Island

2010-08-27T21:05:00.005-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Where’d It Come From? Minneapolis, MN area grocery store

Review Date: 8/27/10

Commentary: I have tried this one before, but that was before the creation of the Root Beer Rundown (around here we refer to that time period as BRBR – Before Root Beer Rundown). Back then, the label was very different. When I noticed this one on the shelf at the store in the middle of our Root Beer Road Trip, I thought I had stumbled upon a completely new brew. Alas, it was just a new label on one I had already tried. Since I had not done a review of it, I decided to buy some. I seem to remember thinking that Goose Island was a pretty good root beer. Well, now I have to chance to drink some more and record my observations for all the world to know. Here goes…

Hey, I remembered correctly. This is some good stuff. When I opened the bottle, I got a little whiff of wintergreen, but not too strong. Smelled like a nice spicy root beer should. It produced a decent head when poured. The head was not enormous, but it was high enough to earn good marks. It stuck around for a little while too. In fact, after several sips, there is still a pleasant ring of foam around the edge of my glass.

Great mouth feel on this one. I can definitely tell it is made with real sugar. Good carbonation here, too. This brew is holding its fizz nicely. The bubbles are small, just the way I like ‘em. There is a good bite in there – just about right. The bite does not arrive until after you get a little creamy hit at first, though. I am really enjoying this one. Nice work, Goose Island!

I would gladly serve this root beer to my guests, and I recommend it to you. I am glad that I have a couple bottles of this stuff left in the fridge. I think I bought it in a four-pack. As a Green Bay native, and die-hard Packer fan, it really pains me to admit that something good can come from Chicago. However, in this case, I have no choice. I will score this one as……………………………………………90.

Black Bear Soda

2010-08-15T20:50:00.016-04:00

Who Made This Stuff?
Black Bear Bottling Group,
Oak Creek, WI
Website: www.blackbearbeverages.com

Where’d It Come From? Parks Cheese & Candy Shop, Crivitz, WI

Review Date: 8/15/10

Commentary: OK, let me just admit this up front… I do not have high hopes for this one. I grabbed a couple bottles of this stuff while making a cheese run on our Root Beer Road Trip. A cheese shop was about the last place I expected to find a new (to me) brand of root beer. From the start, it has a few things working against it. First, it is in a plastic bottle rather than glass. Second, it has HFCS instead of sugar. Finally, the name – Black Bear Root Beer Soda. Did you catch that? Soda. My guess is that this is going to be a root beer flavored soda instead of an actual root beer. Maybe I am jumping to conclusions here. I could be wrong about all of this and it could be amazing. After all, the bottle does state that you “Gotta love the bear!” I guess that is why we do these reviews, huh? Let’s find out, shall we?

Yup. Right on the money. When I opened the bottle, the first whiff smelled like a mass-produced, generic root beer. It even smelled sweet. No head whatsoever when poured. This is very syrupy sweet. Not a pleasant sweetness. No creaminess here. The carbonation seems to be disappearing in near-record time. I don’t think I’ll finish this one. Oh great. What am I supposed to do with the second bottle?

Now, to be fair, the company website shows a different label for their plastic-bottled soda, and proclaims that it contains 100% real sugar. Maybe they have changed their formula recently. If I ever come across one of their new-label root beer sodas, I guess I could give them another shot. The site also highlights their line of Caruso Legacy Gourmet Soda (in glass bottles!) that includes “Robusto Root Beer” among other flavors. It even states that their root beer is an old Italian recipe. Really? I was not aware that Italians were known for their root beers. I guess you learn something new every day. I bet you are pretty happy with yourself for stopping by the Root Beer Rundown today, huh?

I will stop short of calling this a “bad” root beer. I will stick with saying it just is not a good one. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this stuff to friends. Sorry bear. I guess I can still love you, but just not your root beer soda, right?

Well, in order to get this over with I guess I have to give this stuff a score. Let's go with...........................................65.

Are there any Black Bear Soda lovers out there? Has anyone tried their new formula or their gourmet line of sodas?

Sno-Cap

2010-08-02T22:16:00.018-04:00

Who Made This Stuff?   Titletown Brewing Company,
   Green Bay, WI
Website:   www.titletownbrewing.com

Where’d It Come From? At the source – Titletown Brewing

Review Date: 8/2/10

Commentary: Surprise! It’s another Root Beer Road Trip brew. Actually, I have been drinking this stuff for quite a while now, but I just have not taken the time to write a review. Well, the wait is now officially over.

Whenever I make it back to the homeland, I always try to pick up some Sno-Cap. Also, they serve this tasty stuff at the finish line of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon (which is a GREAT race, by the way). I know it may not sound appealing, but after 26.2 miles a couple brats and a root beer actually taste pretty wonderful.

This is some good stuff – that is for sure. It had a nice traditional root beer aroma when I first opened the bottle, and I picked up just a hint of wintergreen in there. It produced a nice, frothy head when poured. The head stuck around for a minute or so, which was nice. I would prefer a little bit longer hang time, but I will take what I can get. Ahhhh, the first sip is nice and creamy.

This is definitely some sweet stuff. Good, for sure, but sweet. It left a slight syrupy feel in my mouth after a few swigs. My suspicions were confirmed by a quick check of the ingredient list. There is some high fructose corn syrup in this one, but they are using sugar as well. In fact, the sugar precedes the HFCS on the list. Maybe that is while the syrupy feel was not too bad. I wish they would go all the way with the sugar, though, and leave out the corn syrup. Next time they ask my opinion, I will be sure to tell them.

The carbonation is just about spot on. In fact, the carbonation level is still doing well as I pass the half-way point of my glass. The bubbles are tiny, which I like. I am picking up just a hint of a bite in here, but I think it is from the carbonation rather than the spices. In case you had not noticed, I am enjoying this one.

Sno-Cap is definitely a keeper. The last few sips have confirmed that this is one I would definitely serve and recommend to friends. In my (feeble) mind, the only thing holding this one back is the HFCS in there.

Whenever I see Sno-Cap on the menu in one of Green Bay’s local restaurants, I will be sure to order it. I bought a 4-pack of bottles at the brewery when I was there, and I believe they sell it in growlers, too. This is definitely worth the trip to Titletown Brewing to pick some up if you are ever in the area. What? You were not planning to travel to Green Bay anytime soon? Sorry – your loss.

One other note – I really like the label design on this one. Unfortunately, it is a pretty wide design, so the photo does not do it justice. Go get some yourself to see the whole design.

Like I said, this is a good one. I think I will score it as……………………………………..87.

How about you? Anyone out there tried Sno-Cap? Have you enjoyed one at the finish line of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon? Do you want to run the race now just based on my review of this brew?

Millstream

2010-07-25T22:55:00.003-04:00

Who Made This Stuff?   Millstream Brewing Company,
   Amana, IA
Website:   www.millstreambrewing.com

Where’d It Come From? Grocery store in Amana, IA
Review Date: 7/25/10

Commentary: Another Root Beer Road Trip find. We actually did not find this one ourselves. The Road Trip did not take us through Amana, IA, but some friends we were meeting up with in Des Moines passed through Amana on their way to our rendezvous. They were kind enough to grab some for us on their way through. Thanks, Killians!

Wow! What a great head on this one. It formed a huge head when I poured it, and it stuck around for quite a while. I was able to get several photos of the brew and bottle together before it dissipated. There is still a nice ring of foam on the top clinging to the glass even after a couple sips. Well done, Millstream, well done.

This is a sweet one, for sure. Very smooth. Nice and creamy. Vanilla is the last item on the ingredient list, but you can definitely taste it in this one. When I first opened the bottle, I was greeted by a pleasant, traditional root beer aroma. I could smell the vanilla in there, too. This was a nice surprise, since several of the brews I have reviewed have hit me with licorice or wintergreen at first. It is funny though, how the smell of this one has changed since it has been in the glass for a few minutes now. I do not even detect any type of root beer aroma now. The smell is not bad, but it is not distinctive either. If I were blindfolded, I would be hard pressed to identify the smell as root beer at this point.

This one has a very slight bite. If you blink you might miss it. The carbonation is pretty light now, too, as I approach the bottom of the glass. Maybe it worked too hard during the pour to produce that awesome head. Timing is everything. This one just peaked a little too soon in the carbonation department. It could benefit from a few more bubbles at this point.

All in all, this is a nice brew. I would definitely serve it to friends, or request one if I saw it on a menu. It will not fill a slot near the top of my rankings, but it is a solid entry. I think it deserves a score of………………………………………..80.

What do you think? Have you tried a Millstream? Anyone tried one of their other sodas? Let’s hear it folks!

What's Your Pleasure?

2010-06-07T14:32:00.003-04:00

Chilled? Frosted? Mug? Pint Glass? Straight from the bottle?

What is your preferred way to enjoy your root beer? I am very curious to hear about how others like to drink their favorite root beers, and why they like 'em that way.

I like to pour mine in a chilled pint glass, but that is just me. I do not own any decent mugs, so that makes my choice a little easier. Maybe I should invest in a few good mugs and give that a try. Then again, maybe I shouldn't mess with a good thing. I am not opposed to a frosted glass, but I often end up with just a chilled glass since I usually forget to put one in the fridge or freezer until just before I open a bottle of rooty, creamy goodness.

So, let's hear it. Do you put your glasses or mugs in the freezer or the refrigerator, or just take it straight out of the cabinet? Are you a mug or a glass person? Why? What size of glass or mug do you prefer? Out with it, people! Share your insights with the rest of us. Who knows, maybe you'll change a few minds or even have your mind changed in the process.

Also, what have you found to be the best way to produce a good head on your root beer when you pour it? Does pouring method even matter, or is it totally dependent on the brew?

One more question, and I hesitate to even ask it for fear of some of the responses -- do you (gasp!) put ice in your root beer? Boy, I sure hope not.

Leave a comment on this post with your thoughts, tips, hints, etc.

Thanks!

Iron Horse

2010-06-05T15:54:00.004-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Iron Horse Products, Edina, MN

Website: Could not find one!

Where’d It Come From? Grocery store in Minneapolis area

Review Date: 6/5/10

Commentary: This is another root beer picked up on our Root Beer Road Trip. A sweep of all the local grocery stores near our hotel in Minneapolis yielded several nice finds. I am looking forward to finally working my way through the root beer stash we accumulated.

I got a strong whiff of licorice when I first opened the bottle. When poured, the head was downright disappointing. It never really formed anything of substance and what was there disappeared pretty quickly. The first sip has a definite wintergreen taste. The carbonation is okay at the start of the glass, but I have feeling it is going to fade fast. It has a decent bite, not overpowering, but present at least. It is sweet, but the bite balances the sweetness a bit. A quick look at the ingredients list reveals the presence of high fructose corn syrup. I think it shows.

Okay, the carbonation is beginning to wane. There was never any significant accumulation of bubbles on the inside of the glass. The wintergreen taste is bit much for me.

On a positive note, I really like the label design with the old train engine image and the arch of train tracks over the top. With a name like “Iron Horse” you just have to believe there is a story there somewhere. Unfortunately, the label does not provide any clues to a story. The label does state that this is “Authentic Root Beer” and it is supposed to be “Just Like You Remember.” Ummm, nope, I do not think so. If I had remembered this, I would have remembered it as a root beer with great potential (due to a nifty name) that did not quite deliver.

As I approach the bottom of the glass, wishing for a little more carbonation, I just cannot bring myself to be sad about it. Honestly, I am really okay with being done with it. I do not think I will miss it. Now, this is not a truly bad root beer, but it is not a notably good one either. I would not make a special trip to the store for this stuff. Would I turn one down if offered to me? I guess that depends on my other options. I think I will score this one as…………………………………………..68.

Fitz's

2010-05-31T15:23:00.006-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Fitz’s Bottling Company

Website: www.fitzsrootbeer.com

Where’d It Come From? Fitz’s Bottling Company, St. Louis, MO

Review Date: 5/31/10

Commentary: This is one of the many brews we accumulated on our Root Beer Road Trip back in November. We stopped in at Fitz’s Bottling Company in St. Louis, MO and ate a great lunch in the restaurant and enjoyed a couple root beers on tap. This review is for the bottled root beer, though. I did not attempt to make any notes on the brew in my mug while eating lunch.

The first whiff had hints of licorice, but not too strong. The head dissipated almost immediately. I did not even have time to get the camera ready before it was gone. Lots of bubbles on the glass indicated lots of carbonation, maybe even too much just based on appearances. The first sip dispelled that myth. Carbonation was right on. A closer inspection of bubbles revealed that there were lots and lots of small bubbles (a good thing, in my book) rather than just a bunch of really big bubbles.

This is a sweet one, that is for sure. The sweetness is not a problem since they use the real stuff in here – cane sugar. There is no syrupy sensation in my mouth. Very smooth. I did not have a root beer float when we were in the restaurant, but I wish now that I had. This stuff would be great for floats.

I am half-way through the glass now, and the carbonation level is still just about right. It is just enough to give it a little tingle on the way down. I am not picking up a real strong bite in this. That is not a bad thing, though. I do like a bite in root beers, but only if it works with everything else in the brew. This one does not need a strong bite to make it good. This is not a complex brew. It is simply a straight-on, classic root beer taste. As I approach the bottom of the glass, the pleasant aroma of this one remains.

Before we get to score on this one, let me pause for a moment and make a recommendation. If you ever find yourself in St. Louis, it is worth a trip to see their bottling operation and eat in the restaurant. We all enjoyed our meal, and the best part was that we could watch the bottling operation from our table. You can get up an up close view of everything because they have some big windows right in front of the bottling line. Even though you are not actually in the room, you are only a couple feet away from the action.

Okay, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. I think this is a good root beer. Like I said, I think it would make great floats. I may have to try that with one of the remaining bottles from the four-pack I bought. But enough about floats. I will give this one a score of……………………….85.

Culver's

2009-12-03T12:53:00.017-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Culver's

Website: www.culvers.com

Where’d It Come From? Culver's restaurant, Wausau, WI

Review Date: 11/24/09

Commentary: For anyone who does not know about Culver's -- it is a Wisconsin-based restaurant chain that specializes in great frozen custard (so much better than ice cream!) and "butter burgers." We stopped by their location in Wausau, WI on our recent Thanksgiving Root Beer Road Trip because I had heard good things about the root beer available in their fountains. That's right, this one is a fountain-only root beer. According to an employee, it is Culver's own recipe, but it is not brewed up at each store. They just get the syrup delivered to them. They do not bottle or can their brew, nor is it available in kegs of any sort. But that is enough about the restaurant and how to get their root beer....

This brew had an awesome head on it when I filled my cup at the fountain. Don't believe me? Just take another look at the picture. I only wish I had been able to enjoy this in a mug so that you could better comprehend the true magnitude of the head on this one. The head stuck around for a long time, too. This root beer has a nice, simple bite to start but transitions well to a pleasant, creamy finish. There is good sweetness in this one, but not too much to be distracting. The carbonation was good in this one throughout the (brief) time it was in my cup. It had some large bubbles in it, which I am not usually crazy about, but it worked for me this time.

As far as fountain root beers go, this may be the best I have had. It tasted like a true root beer instead of a root beer-flavored fountain drink. And the best part? Free refills!

What do you think? Have you ever tried this one? Have you come across any other fountain root beers that taste great? In my opinion, this one definitely deserves a score of...................................84.

Come Along On A Root Beer Road Trip

2009-11-13T00:00:00.009-05:00

So we're preparing for our annual pilgrimage to the Great White North for Thanksgiving. By last count, I think we'll be passing through portions 12 states on the trip: GA, TN, KY, IL, MO, IA, MN, WI, MI, IL, IN, and OH. We added a few states to the route this year. In our quest to get the kids to all 50 states before they graduate, we're swinging a little bit west to check 3 more states (MO, IA, and MN) off the list.

Of course, this westward swing has a few fringe benefits. First, we'll be stopping in Des Moine so I can run in the Living History Farms cross country race. Check out the race website, because it looks to be a really cool race. Second, after the race we're headed up to the Twin Cities where we'll get to visit with one of my best high school buddies and hit the Mall of America. Third, and most importantly, this little jaunt west will give me the opportunity to pick up a few new root beers to bring home and review!

So here's the plan -- I'm hoping to pick up some Fitz's when we pass through St. Louis. Then, when we get into Iowa, I'm hoping to track down some Millstream. In the Twin Cities, I want to get my hands on some Dorothy's Isle of Pines and some Killebrews. I'm also planning to get a mug (or two) of the elusive 1919 root beer at a favorite restaurant of ours later on in the week when we pass through Iron River, MI. This stuff is not available in bottles or cans, so you either have to buy a keg of it, or find it on tap somewhere. The Zippidy Duda restaurant in Iron River has it on tap, and I aim to drink some and hopefully remember to jot down a few notes so I can post a review of it when we get back home.

I need your help here. Can anyone tell me where I can get my hands on the brands I've mentioned above as we're passing through these states? Also, are there some other brands that I'm just not aware of that are available in these areas? Our approximate route will look something like this: Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, Paducah (KY), St. Louis, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Wausau (WI), Northern WI, Green Bay, Chicago, Indy, Cincinnati, Lexington (KY), Atlanta.

Thanks for your help!

Maine Root

2009-11-10T21:40:00.012-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Maine Root Handcrafted Sodas

Website: www.maineroot.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market

Review Date: 11/10/09

Commentary: I have had this one in the fridge for quite a while now, just sitting there taunting me because I did not have time to do a proper review. Well, not any longer. I popped the top on the bottle and caught a slight wintergreeny aroma. The pour produced a small head, but it did not last very long. The first sip has a bit of a bite, but finishes with a nice creaminess. This one is not too sweet – a good balance of rooty-ness and sweetness. Carbonation is good. I am several sips in now, and the bubbles are holding up nicely.

This is a good root beer. I do not think it is going to end up at the top of my list, but it is a solid entry. It does not have a very strong aroma, which is a shame. I think a strong aroma probably could have helped this one score a couple extra points. The label indicates that this is sweetened with “organic cane juice.” Anyone know exactly what that is?

Speaking of the label…this label is quite busy. There is a bunch of text on there. It is a bit distracting, actually. There is a cool design of something that looks sort of like a root, but it is surrounded by way too much lowercased text for my tastes.

Label designs aside, I think this is a good brew so I will score it as………………………………….82.

Virgil's

2009-11-09T21:00:00.017-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Reed’s Inc.

Website: http://www.reedsinc.com/virgils

Where’d It Come From? T.

Review Date: 11/09/09

Commentary: I am pleased to announce that this is my first “requested” review. I arrived at my desk one day last week to find two bottles of Virgil’s waiting for me along with a note that read, “Please review. (signed) T.” Now that I am mostly over the cold I was nursing last week (and can taste things again) I am more than happy to accommodate T’s request. So, T, this one is for you….

Great first sniff when I opened the bottle. A nice spicy aroma, a good whiff of licorice and classic root beer smell. The head was not anything special to behold, with large bubbles that dissipated rather quickly. The first sip is really good. Lots of flavors in the mix here. The ingredient list from the label confirms this: anise, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, sweet birch, molasses, nutmeg, pimento berry oil, balsam oil, and oil of cassia. Wow, that is quite a list. I cannot claim to identify all those flavors in there, but I can certainly pick out the licorice, wintergreen, and cinnamon. This is not what I would call a smooth, sweet, or creamy brew – far from it. With all those ingredients, it does have a bite. It is a bite I like, though. Unfortunately, the fizz has left my glass pretty quickly. Maybe I had poor pouring technique?

This one has a unique, complex flavor. I definitely like it. I do not think this is one I would drink with a meal though -- too much going on. For me, this will have to be a stand-alone brew to be enjoyed by itself. I may need to take a few points off due to that fact. I would serve this to friends, for sure. It might not be my first choice to grab from the fridge, but I will be happy to score it as..................................................................80.

Traffic Generated by Napa Valley Soda Company?

2009-10-25T23:19:00.005-04:00

I haven't posted a review here in a while (that will be changing soon), but I have been noticing something. I have seen a large number of hits to this site that have come from Google, and more specifically, from Google searches for "Napa Valley Soda Company". I posted a review not too long ago of their root beer. It wasn't a great review, but I didn't think it was a bad one, either. The post of that review is what is coming back in the results of all those searches.

So, why are so many people searching for info on Napa Valley Soda? Anyone have any opinions out there? These searches that have resulted in hits on this site were not necessarily searches for info on Napa Valley's root beer. Has anyone tried any of their other flavors? Just curious.

Thomas Kemper

2009-09-15T21:47:00.009-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Thomas Kemper Soda Co.

Website: www.tksoda.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market, Kennesaw, GA

Review Date: 9/15/09

Commentary: It had a pleasant, traditional root beer aroma when I first opened the bottle. Then the real fun began. It created a beautiful foamy head when poured. Really, the head was impressive. Plus, it was kind enough to stay around for quite awhile, through a few sips and some photos. The first few sips proved to be very creamy, with just a little bit of bite. This stuff goes down smooth. Carbonation is on the light side, with some nice tiny bubbles in there, and doesn’t get in the way of the brew itself. The taste is very pleasant, starting with a bit of spiciness and finishing nice and sweet and creamy. This is really a great brew. I could see myself downing a couple of these things in one evening. I am getting near the bottom of the glass now, and the carbonation has hung around, just like it should. There is still a slight ring of foam around the top as well, which I think is a nice touch. My suspicions about sweeteners were confirmed with a review of the ingredients list. No HFCS here, just cane sugar and honey – and it shows!

I was very happy to find this brew on the shelves at Cost Plus World Market. Actually, it came in a variety pack of 8 bottles, so I still have one more bottle of root beer to drink, as well as two bottles each of Cream Soda, Orange Cream, and Ginger Ale. I was pretty sure this one would get a good review, even before I opened the bottle this evening. I had read a few reviews of this brew on some other root beer sites, plus I was fortunate enough to drink one of these a few years ago on a business trip to the west coast. Tonight’s bottle certainly lives up to the memory of that first bottle. I like the bottle and label design too. Nothing fancy, just a classic style.

I would gladly serve this root beer to friends. On second thought, I may only serve it if they notice it in my fridge…otherwise it’s all mine. I think I’ll score this one as………………………..94.

Boylan's Creamy Red Birch

2009-08-31T22:11:00.008-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Boylan Bottling Company

Website: www.boylanbottling.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market, Kennesaw, GA

Review Date: 8/31/09

Commentary: I picked up a strong wintergreen aroma when I opened the bottle. It did produce a decent head when poured, although it did not hang around too long. It has an equally strong wintergreen taste there in the first few sips. As I would expect from a birch beer, it greets me with a sharp bite. I can’t pick up any creaminess in there, as I think I should expect based on the name. If there is some “creamy” in there anywhere, it is overpowered by the bite and the carbonation. I do not detect anything in here that could be tied to the red coloring though, considering the coloring might suggest a hint of cherry or strawberry or some other red fruit. Okay, as the fizz settles down a little bit, maybe I am picking up a little creaminess in there. The ingredient list does include vanilla and vanillin, after all. I have tried Boylan’s regular birch beer in the past and seem to recall that it had quite a bite as well, maybe even more than this one. I think birch beers must be an acquired taste. I am enjoying this one, but I do not think I would want to drink them regularly. I can envision drinking one every so often just to mix things up and cleanse the palate a little bit. On the other hand, if you have a passion for Wint-o-green Life Savers, well then this is the beverage for you. I remember reading somewhere exactly why birch beers have such a distinct wintergreen taste. Oh yes, here it is over on Spike’s root beer site (thanks Spike!).

As far as scoring goes, I really don’t know what to do with this one. It has quite a bite to start out, but it has mellowed out now. The creaminess didn’t really come through until that last few sips. On that basis, I think the name is misleading. However, I did enjoy the brew, and I do like Boylan’s overall. I think they have some very good sodas. The bottle gets good marks, too. With the raised lettering and the classic style of the painted label, I think it just looks cool. This is the first birch beer I have reviewed, so I do not have any others with which I can compare it. Therefore, I have to hold it up against root beers in general. On that basis, which may or may not be considered fair, I will give it a score of …………………………80.

Napa Valley Soda Company

2009-08-26T22:27:00.014-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Wet Planet Beverages, Rochester, NY

Website: http://www.wetplanet.com/

Where’d It Come From? Not real sure, now that you mention it.

Review Date: 8/26/09

Commentary: So, I’m already a little suspicious about this one. I have been looking forward to trying this root beer because I thought it was from some little craft soda company nestled in the hills of California’s wine country, brewed by a few vintners with some extra time on their hands between grape harvests. With a name like Napa Valley Soda Company, how could you NOT come up with a nice little mental image like that? Well, one visit to their website destroyed that image. I’m not nearly as excited now. This stuff is brought to you by the same folks who were kind enough to bring us Jolt Cola over 20 years ago. I do not consider myself a geography expert, but just exactly how close is Rochester, NY to Napa Valley? Hmmm.

It actually looked good going into my chilled glass as it started to form a dark head. Unfortunately, that head disappeared before I could set the glass down and pick up the camera for the picture. I got a slight whiff of wintergreen when I first opened the bottle. Once poured, that same smell came on very strong. That usually is not a good sign for me. However, the first few sips are not too bad. I can definitely taste the wintergreen, but it is not too strong. I can pick it up a little more in the aftertaste now. So far, this is just an okay root beer. It has a decent bite, it is not overly sweet, and not creamy.

Speaking of sweet, their website has a tagline of “Organic – Natural – Gourmet”, but a quick review of the ingredients shows high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar, as well as artificial flavor. What gives here? Since when are HFCS and artificial flavors considered organic? I was about to say that for an “organic” soda, this one tasted pretty good…but not now. For a soda with the same basic ingredients as most mass produced mega-brands, this one is not anything special.

The carbonation is pretty good. There is still a fair amount of fizz left in my glass as I near the bottom of this less than stellar experience. The bubbles are tiny, which is nice. I will give it good marks there. Even at the bottom of the glass, the wintergreen is still strong. Maybe that is one of those gourmet organic artificial flavors? Overall, I would say this is just an okay root beer. It is not bad by any means, but it is also not really good either. It is sort of a middle of the road type thing. Though it is not a memorable brew, I will remember to give it a score of..........................................75.

Sprecher

2009-08-23T18:43:00.011-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Sprecher Brewing Company, Inc. , Glendale, WI

Website: www.sprecherbrewery.com

Where’d It Come From? Menards in Green Bay, WI

Review Date: 8/23/09

Commentary: Okay, to be fair, I already know this one is going to score well, even before opening the bottle. I’ve been imbibing Sprecher’s root beer for quite some time now. My family and I even toured their brewery and bottling facility a few months ago (more about that, later). We like the stuff, that’s for sure. I’ve just never actually written a review of it. Here goes…

Nice traditional, sweet smell when opened. Great foamy, long lasting head when poured into a chilled glass. Oh wow, that’s good stuff. Nice little bite, but it doesn’t last too long. The bite departs just in time to introduce the great creaminess following close on its heels. I love that there is still a bit of foam on top (and clinging to the sides of the glass) even after several sips. I am thoroughly enjoying this. Normally, as I get down to the last few sips left in my glass, I have to start mentally and emotionally preparing myself for the fact that the fun is almost done. Not this time, though. That’s because a bottle of Sprecher’s is a FULL 16 OUNCES! Yes, you read that right. I still have some left in the bottle with which to refill my glass. Oh joy! I just poured the rest of the bottle in my glass, and was greeted by ANOTHER beautiful, lip-smacking, smile-inducing foamy head. This is great stuff. Have I made that clear yet? I’m down to the last few sips now, and there are still plenty of bubbles hanging around. It is made with high fructose corn syrup, BUT it also has raw Wisconsin honey in there. I think the honey really adds a nice touch, making it nice and smooth from start to finish. No icky, syrupy mouth feel here. This is one fine brew – one I’d be proud to serve to my guests any day of the week. Now, don’t get me wrong here. This is not a complex brew. It is a straight forward, creamy, delicious, pretty close-to-classic tasting root beer. One of the best. I’m so glad I still have nearly a full case of this stuff out in the garage. I feel I must give it a score of……………………96.

P.S. No, the glass (in the picture) doesn't come with a 4-pack of bottles. We bought a set of glasses in the gift shop when we took the tour.

Baumeister

2009-08-05T23:50:00.010-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Lakeshore Bottling, Inc. Green Bay, WI

Website: www.baumeistersoda.com

Where’d It Come From? Grocery store in Green Bay, WI

Review Date: 8/05/09

Commentary: Ahhh, Baumeister. This is the one that started it all for me – the root beer that got my attention. I still remember the first time I heard of it. Just hearing the name…..”Baumeister”….made me want to try some. It was the early 80s. I was probably around 12 years old, and my family was having dinner at the home of our friends, the Klasks. Mrs. Klask told us about this great root beer a neighbor had told her about. She said it was really good, and her kids seemed to like it. That was it. I tried one shortly thereafter. That’s when I discovered that I really liked good root beer, and the rest is history. The bottles have changed a bit over the years, and the label seems to have finally changed just in the last year or so. Okay, enough of this stroll down memory lane

I picked up that classic root beer smell when opening the bottle. It showed the promise of a good head while pouring, but it disappointingly dissipated almost as fast as I could set the frosty glass down. The first taste was very creamy, with a bit of bite. Second taste leads me to think some of the bite may be from the carbonation. I can pick up some wintergreen in here. I don’t normally like a strong wintergreen taste, but it’s not overdone here. The carbonation, while strong at first, lasts for a good while which is definitely appreciated. This is a good root beer, but I’m not picking up anything in here that is going to really set this one a part. I’d say it’s a good mid-pack brew. It is certainly a solid performer, but probably not one that will grab a lot of headlines. You know the type – trustworthy, unassuming, dependable, always there for you, won’t leave you hanging…but at the same time it’s not going to change your life. As I continue drinking it, the wintergreen taste has started to taper off. It’s still nice and creamy and that carbonation is still there in just the right amount. So, in the end, I’d say this is a good root beer. I’d gladly serve it at my table. I’ll give it a score of ………… 82

Berghoff

2009-08-03T22:21:00.001-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Clover Club Bottling Co., Chicago, IL

Where’d It Come From? Somewhere in WI

Review Date: 8/1/09

Commentary:

“Chicago’s Famous Root Beer” -- it says so right there on the label, so it must be true! Being a Packer fan, I’m willing to set aside the whole “Chicago” thing and give this root beer a fair evaluation…here goes.

When poured, it produced a small head which dissipated quickly (evidenced by the photo taken as soon as I could stop pouring and pick up the camera). It has a pleasant aroma, but nothing strong. Detected a little bit of licorice, but not too much.

First taste was good. Not too creamy, little bit of bite. Second sip confirms that this is a really good root beer. Definitely one I would recommend (and serve) to friends. Carbonation is good, bubbles in the glass are medium sized. Yup, just checked the label between swigs and my suspicions were confirmed. Pure cane sugar in this one, and it shows! This particular bottle has been sitting on a shelf out in the garage for about two months now. I’m embarrassed to admit that I had forgotten about it. I was concerned that it might have lost a little somethin' somethin' sitting for so long. I’m glad I found it again, because I sure am enjoying it. It’s not too filling either. I think I could down a couple of these with a meal.

The bottle itself is pretty nice. I really like the old school script. I guess they’ve honed their label design skills over the years with their line of beers. The label states “Founded 1898”, but I don’t know how long they’ve actually been making root beer there. I know that this good stuff comes in a big 32 oz. bottle as well. I know, because I once had one in my possession but alas, it was not meant to be. The bottle was broken before I could chill and enjoy it. I need to get my hands on one of those again.

I’m down to the last few sips now, and there is still an adequate amount of carbonation left, which makes those final sips oh so enjoyable. Unfortunately, this is my last bottle of the stuff, so I’ll have to wait for my friendly traveling supplier to bring some down on her next trip south from WI.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed this one. I will definitely buy some anytime I see it in a store. When you try one it probably won’t knock your socks off, but you will definitely enjoy it, I’m sure. I’m going to give this one …………..a 90 (the first one of my reviews to crack into 90s!).

Seymour Beverages

2009-06-01T22:13:00.008-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Seymour Beverages, Seymour, WI

Where’d It Come From? Purchased at the source, Seymour Beverages

Review Date: 3/8/09

Commentary: I really like this root beer for a couple reasons. The first reason has to be that this stuff is bottled the old fashioned way – in returnable/refillable glass bottles. The cool thing about the case I got was that of the 12 bottles in the box, I think there were probably six or seven different bottle types in there, all from old time soda bottlers that have apparently gone out of business over the years. None of the bottles bear the Seymour Beverages name. The picture at right shows a sampling of the different bottles. Check out this write-up on the soda company. Second, this root beer is made with real sugar. It is evident in its nice, clean taste. I don’t feel a syrupy coating on my tongue after taking a big swig of this stuff. Finally, of course, is that it tastes good. It has a nice, simple, sweet and creamy taste. There’s no hard bite, no overpowering licorice or wintergreen. Just a nice basic root beer. When poured in my glass, it produced a decent head of the soft, frothy kind that hung around for a little while. The carbonation was just right, too. Bottom line – it tastes good, and goes down smooth.

I hope I can get my hands on another case while this place is still in business. I’m down to just one last bottle in the fridge, and then it will all be gone. So sad. The bottles are 7 ounces, so they’re just right for a quick root beer refresher or for nice little dessert after dinner.

This isn’t the greatest root beer on the face of the planet, but it’s not trying to be. This is a good root beer, in just the right size and just the right taste to please a lot of the folks a lot of the time. I’ll score it as…………..84.

Boylan's

2009-05-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Boylan Bottling Company

Website: www.boylanbottling.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market

Review Date: 5/9/08

Commentary: Ya know what? I really like this root beer. I’d had it before, but it had been a long time so I couldn’t really remember any specifics about it. I had read a few reviews of Boylan’s in the last few days, and a few of them gave this root beer low scores. Everyone gave the bottle high marks though. The bottle really does look great with its throw-back design of raised letters and painted label. When I opened the bottle, there wasn’t a very strong aroma. When poured, it did produce a decent head that managed to stick around a little while. Carbonation was good – the last few sips here in my mug still have a bit of bubble to them even though it has been in there a while. This brew has a decent bite with no weird aftertaste or anything. I think the cane sugar gives it a nice clean feel – no lingering corn-syrupy coating in my mouth after each swig. It’s not real creamy, and not overly sweet. This evening it proved to be a good complement to my two slices of pepperoni and hamburger pizza. In the mug, I can pick up a slight licorice scent when I drink it, but there doesn’t seem to be an overwhelming licorice taste to it. I enjoyed this one, and I intend to drink more the next time I find it on the shelves in the store. Overall, I’d say…..a solid 84.

How about you? Have you tried Boylan's Root Beer or any of their other flavors?

Bulldog

2009-03-10T21:42:00.006-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? Orca Beverage Soda Works,

Website: www.bulldogrootbeer.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market

Review Date: 5/6/08

Commentary: Hmmmm. I’m just a little confused. The first time I ever drank this stuff, over a year ago, I thought it was awesome – quite possibly the best I’d ever tasted. It’s been a long time since I last had any. Maybe I was just visiting my local Cost Plus on the wrong days when they were all sold out. When I finally found it there on the shelf again, I was quite happy. This time around, it wasn’t so awesome. It wasn’t bad, just not as good as I remembered. It’s still a really good root beer. I did notice the “Orca Beverage Soda Works” name on the side of the label. I don’t seem to remember that being there the first time around. Maybe a change in production crew/locale has affected the recipe somehow. I know the Dad’s label also mentioned Orca, but these are definitely two different brews. This one is still creamy, but it had another flavor in there that I couldn’t quite place…licorice or something. I think that cost it a few points in the “smoothness” department. Anyway, I’d still recommend this one. Maybe I can get some answers from the folks at Bulldog. Does anyone out there in Root Beer Land know anything about this? As for a score, for now I’m going to give this one a score of………86.

Anyone out there taken Bulldog for a walk lately?

Point

2009-03-08T15:47:00.016-04:00

Who Made This Stuff? The Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI

Website: http://www.pointbeer.com/

Where’d It Come From? I don’t know…some grocery store in WI.

Review Date: 5/5/08

Commentary: I had my concerns about how realistic this review could be since this bottle of Point had been sitting in the fridge for several months. I must confess that I had actually forgotten it was in there. I was afraid that its age might have a negative impact on the taste, but I soon learned that I had nothing to fear. WOW! This is one great root beer! Creamy, creamy, creamy, and just the right amount of sweetness…must be that “pure Wisconsin honey”. The list of ingredients says it includes cane sugar “and/or” fructose corn sweetener. “And/or”? Maybe it depends on the day of the week, or maybe just what kind of mood the brewer is in when he gets to this item on the recipe card. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he used cane sugar when he made my bottle. When I poured it in the mug, the head wasn’t anything special--kinda on the smallish side--but it did do me the courtesy of hanging around for a little while, which I appreciated. It was the nice foamy kind too, not the kind you get from any other soda. You can really pick up the vanilla, but other than that, no other ingredient really jumps out and slaps you around. No real bite here, just smoooooooothness. It could use a little more carbonation, but this one has so much other stuff going for it that I’m willing to look past that little fault. The Point Brewery also makes a few other premium soda flavors, but I’ve not tried any of them…yet. I’m still having too much fun drinking all this root beer. As for this bottle of Point Premium Root Beer, I’ll give it……….88.

Have you tried Point? What do you think?

Dad's

2009-03-06T23:10:00.013-05:00

Who Made This Stuff? Produced Under the authority of the Dad’s Root Beer Company, LLC Jasper, IN. Bottled by Orca Beverage Soda Works?

Website: www.dadsrootbeer.com

Where’d It Come From? Cost Plus World Market

Review Date: 5/3/08

Commentary: I was excited to try this classic brand when I found it at my local Cost Plus World Market, as I had not seen there on any of my previous trips. I can remember this brand from my childhood, although I honestly can’t say that I drank a lot of it. Anyway, enough of the trip down memory lane… When I poured this one into my frosty mug, it started out with great promise. It produced a decent foamy head, but unfortunately it dissipated pretty quickly – very much like the way the foam dissipates when you pour a certain cola product. It had a little more bite than I expected, but nothing that knocked my socks off. Some of that bite may actually have been due to a little too much carbonation for my taste. I enjoyed this one just fine, but as some of the carbonation fizzled out, the drink became a lot smoother and much more enjoyable. Not a lot of creaminess here, and definitely not too sweet. My mug had a definite Wint-O-Green aroma, but fortunately the taste wasn’t overwhelmed by it. Overall, a decent product – nothing to complain about, but I didn’t feel the need to jump up and dance a little jig when I drank it either. I’ll say……80.

What do you think of Dad's?

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2009-01-01T23:33:00.002-05:00

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