Dominion Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Old Dominion Brewing Co.

Where’d It Come From?       Huck's General Store, Blue Ridge, GA

Review Date:                                 3/1/15

Commentary:  We made a trip up to Blue Ridge, GA a few weekends ago for a long weekend getaway.  While we were strolling around town, we wandered into Huck's General Store and I hit the root beer jackpot.  I picked up 7 new brews that I'd never tried, many of which I'd never even heard of before.  They probably had another 5 or 6 root beers in the cooler that I had already reviewed.  If you're ever in the Blue Ridge area of north GA, be sure to stop in at Huck's to load up on new brews.

When I opened this bottle, I noticed a nice, close-to-traditional root beer scent.  It was not particularly rooty or spicy, but I picked up some vanilla and something else.  That something may have been honey, since the label prominently announces that this brew is made with pure honey.  The pour produced a small head.  The head didn't last long, but it was of the foamy/frothy variety while it lasted.  That's worth a few points right there.

The first sips indicate a decent carbonation level, sort of middle-of-the-road.  There is a small bite in this one.  The bite doesn't last long and it isn't due to the carbonation.  There really aren't many bubbles forming on the sides of the glass, but I do notice the smaller bubbles when I take a few swigs.

This one is creamy, but not too much.  Definitely taste vanilla in there, along with the honey they mentioned.  It's pretty smooth.  The carbonation is hanging around a good while as I work my way through this one.  I don't notice any licorice or wintergreen in there, so it just picked up a couple more bonus points.

I'll even give it another bonus point for the cool label.

Overall, I think this is an okay brew.  I don't think I'd go out of my way to get more, but if offered one I'd readily accept it.  I'd probably serve it to friends, and if I had easy access to more I might buy a few more bottles.

I've given this one a bunch of middle-of-the-road comments, so it should probably get that same kind of score.  I'll give this one a......77

Who else has tried Old Dominion?  What did you think?

Mountain Top Soda Pop Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Blue Ridge Pure Water, Inc.                                                                                     Anderson, SC                                                                                                             www.blueridgepure.com

Where’d It Come From?       The Pot Belly Deli, Clemson, SC

Review Date:                                 3/1/15

Commentary:  I pick up this root beer on a recent college visit to Clemson.  I highly recommend The Pot Belly Deli if you ever find yourself in Clemson, SC -- great sandwiches.  But, we're not here to talk about sandwiches.  

When I first twisted the top off this bottle, I picked up a light wintergreen aroma and just a little bit of spice.  Nothing overwhelming, and nothing particularly inviting.  When poured into my glass, it produced a short-lived, fizzy head.  It was a lot like any other soda.  Lots of big bubbles that disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived.  No foam or froth at all.  Not a great way to start.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised when the name of the product includes the words "soda pop." 

The first several sips are just sweet.  Very sweet.  That's really all there is to say about them.

The carbonation is on the light side.  The root beer isn't flat, though.  There are almost no bubbles forming on the sides of the pint glass.  On the plus side, after getting about half-way through the glass, the carbonation is still there.  The bubbles are tiny, which I prefer.

Sweet.  Still very sweet.  At the half-way point, that remains the defining characteristic of this root beer.  As far as flavor, I think I'll have to go with something like a light Wint-o-green taste.  There is no bite to this at all, no rooty-ness, no spices.  It isn't creamy either.

There really isn't anything notable or memorable about this root beer.  It isn't bad, it really just isn't a special one.  I think it's saving grace is that it's made with real sugar so I'm not getting any syrupy mouth-feel. 

After a little research, it appears that this company probably produces this same root beer under a number of different labels.  I guess that means I'll eventually run into it again someday under a different name.  Wow.  I can hardly wait.   

So in summary, this one is sweet, has no bite, and is not distinctive.  No hard feelings, Mountain Top, but I'm just not that into you.

I'll give this one a score of..............................................................................68

Has anyone else hiked to the Mountain Top?  What did you think?

Henry Weinhard's Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Blitz-Weinhard Gourmet Soda                                                                       Company,  Ft. Worth, TX

Where’d It Come From?       Bristol Farms, San Francisco, CA

Review Date:                                 4/30/14

Commentary:  I'm out in San Francisco at the moment.  As soon as I booked my flight out here I started looking forward to getting my hands on a few bottles of the this awesomeness.  I've had this stuff a few times before, but never got around to writing a review of it.  I apologize for the quality of the photo.  I had to take it with my phone here in the hotel room.  

I picked up a nice spicy aroma when I opened the bottle.  I detected just a hint of licorice scent in there, but not too strong.  I didn't have a frosty mug or pint glass here, so I had to make do with one of the water glasses available in the hotel room -- at least it's glass instead of plastic.  When I poured it in the small glass, it immediately produced a nice foamy head that lingered for quite a while despite the fact that there really wasn't much in the glass to begin with. 

The first sip was great.  This brew starts smooth, is sweet and creamy in the middle, and has a just-right bite on the back end to finish it off.  The level of spice is just right, for me.  I didn't detect any overwhelming individual flavors, just a great, balanced blend.

This brew kept its carbonation for long time.  It has the nice tiny bubbles I like and after several minutes, there was still a nice ring of foam in the glass. When I poured a second glass full to finish off the bottle, it produced an enormous head, even bigger than the first, and seemed to hang around like it was trying to set some sort of record for longevity.

I liked this one...a lot.  You'll like it too, I promise.  If you see this one in the store, buy it.  You will not be disappointed.  If it turns out that you actually are disappointed, I'll accept full blame.  

I'll score this one as.......................................................................................95

 
Have you tried this one?  What did you think?

Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Reeds, Inc. 
                                                               Los Angeles, CA

Website:                                          reedsinc.com

Where’d It Come From?       don't know

Review Date:                                   11/28/13

Commentary:  Let me start by stating, right up front, that this is one beverage I would not have purchased on my own.  This one was a gift, so I sorta feel obligated to review it.  This may be the one and only butterscotch beer, anywhere.  I've recently reviewed a butterscotch root beer, but at least that one was trying to be a root beer.  This one looks like it makes no such attempts.  It's brought to us by Reeds, the same nice folks who brought us Virgil's Root Beer (some fine stuff) as well as some awful, awful ginger beer.  Upon further review, the label states that this is a "butterscotch cream soda."

What, exactly, do you do with a butterscotch beer?  What is the protocol here?  I'm not sure if a frosty mug is in order, but that's what I've got, so that's what I'm going with.

When I poured it in the mug, it produced almost no head.  I can't hold that against it though, now can I?  Since it's not a root beer, I'm not sure I can hold it to the same standards.  This stuff looks and smells exactly like your grandma's butterscotch candies.  That's fine for the first few sips.  I'm not sure I want to drink a whole bottle of those candies, though.

The carbonation didn't last very long in this one.  The sweetness is just overpowering.  There isn't any sort of bite in here, but again, I'm not sure there should be.  I'm sorry.  I just can't finish this one.   

Nothing left to do here but rate it.  I'll give it a..............................................................................40. 

Dr. Brown's Draft Style Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of NY, Inc. 
                                                               College Point, NY

Where’d It Come From?       Angeli's Central Market - Iron River, MI

Review Date:                              11/28/13

Commentary:  I was quite pleased to find this root beer at Angeli's in Iron River, MI.  I have seen other Dr. Brown's flavors in my local grocery stores for years, but hadn't been able to track down their root beer.  Angeli's came through for me, though.  I've never found the Dr. Brown sodas in bottles, but apparently bottled version do exist.  If you ever find yourself in Iron River, be sure to stop in at this grocery store.  They have a great selection of root beers, and they make a point of highlighting the root beer section on the soda aisle.

My excitement about this root beer dropped a few notches when I read the can just a few minutes ago.  This one was actually produced by a Pepsi bottler.  So much for a premium brew or a secret family recipe.  

When I opened the can I detected a slight wintergreen aroma.  After pouring it in my frosty mug, it produced a huge, very fizzy head -- lots of big fizzy bubbles but no real foam.  It quickly dissipated, in typical fizzy soda style.  No marks here in the foam/head department.

The first sip delivered a strong wintergreen taste.  Even though the head only lasted a few seconds, the carbonation did stick around while I drank this.  The tagline on the can reads, "Blended for full-bodied flavor."  I'm not sure what they mean by that.  This one is not creamy.  It's not smooth.  It's not overly sweet.  It does have a very slight bite, but that doesn't last long either.  After that quick flash in the pan, it left a little bit of a weird aftertaste.  

I'm not really sure what else to say about this one.  It wasn't notable or memorable in any way.  Would it pass for a root beer?  Sure.  Would I recommend it?  Probably not.  Would I refuse one if offered to me?  Depends on what else might be available.

I have nothing left to say here, other that I think I'll score this one as a........................................................................................67.

What do you think of Dr. Brown's?  Have you tried it?  Have you found it in bottles?  If so, does that make a difference in the taste?  

Dang! That's Good Butterscotch Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Imperial Flavors Beverage Co., 
                                                               Milwaukee, WI

Website:                                          www.imperialflavors.com

Where’d It Come From?       Mars Cheese Castle, Kenosha, WI

Review Date:                                   9/17/13

Commentary:  I really liked this one's brother, the standard Dang! That's Good root beer, so I'm hoping this one will be good too.  However, I don't really know what to expect here.  What exactly is a butterscotch root beer, anyway?  I'd never heard of this flavor combination until I found this one on the shelf at the Mars Cheese Castle.  Let's open this one and see what it's all about, shall we?

When I opened the bottle and caught the aroma, I immediately detected licorice but then I noticed a very subtle butterscotch smell.  It's interesting that the butterscotch came second.  When I poured it in the mug, it did produce a respectable head (as you can see in the photo) but it just didn't stick around very long.

The first sip, like the aroma, started with the taste of licorice but then quickly changed to the butterscotch flavor which carried through to the aftertaste.  The taste really reminds me of those yellow butterscotch hard candies.  You know the ones...wrapped in the little yellow cellophane wrappers...yeah, those. I wasn't expecting that, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  I was hoping for a more traditional butterscotch flavor.  The carbonation level is good and the bubbles are tiny.

Before I even opened it, I was wondering if this brew might end up tasting more like a cream soda, but it really does try to stick to its root beer roots.  The butterscotch isn't overpowering, but it is certainly present.  There is a small bite to this one right at the start, but it doesn't last long at all and everything quickly transitions the butterscotch candy aftertaste.  The creaminess is sort of middle-of-the road -- not overdoing things one way or the other.  As I work my way through this mug the carbonation is holding out okay, but not great.

I think I really wanted to like this one -- partly because I actually really like butterscotch and partly just because this one is a bit off the beaten path.  In the end, I was a disappointed by the candy-like taste of this one rather than the traditional butterscotch flavor I was hoping for.

Bottom line -- the next time I have a choice between a regular Dang! That's Good root beer and one of these butterscotch root beers, I'll stick with the regular brew.  It was a nice change of pace, but I don't think I could drink very many of these.  It's not bad, it's just not for me.  Maybe it will be a winner for you, so give it a try if you ever come across one.

It's time to give this one a score, so I think I'll give it a...............................................................................................71.

Have you ever tried this one?  Ever had any other butterscotch brews?  What did you think?  Does the thought of a butterscotch drink make you gag just a little?

Uncle Scott's All Natural Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Carolina Country Provisions, Inc., 
                                                               Mooresville, NC

Website:                                          www.unclescottsrootbeer.com

Where’d It Come From?       gift

Review Date:                                 8/20/13

Commentary:  Although yours truly is called Uncle Scott by a select group of awesome nieces and one nephew, I can not claim to be the creator of this brew.  I received this root beer as a gift and I think it came from somewhere in GA, but I don't know exactly where.  Oh wait.  I just checked Uncle Scott's website and it looks like in GA it is only available at various Whole Foods Markets.  I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this one was purchased at Whole Foods.  It is a relatively recent acquisition, so I'm proud of myself for getting to the review of this one without delay.

When I popped the top on this one, I detected a spicy, medicinal aroma that almost seemed to have hints of cough syrup.  The head was disappointing as it disappeared quickly.  That wasn't a good sign.  The first sip confirmed that bad omen as it seemed like the brew was already getting a little flat.  Speaking of that first sip...WHOA!  There was A LOT going on in there all at once.  It had a strong medicinal flavor, with some vanilla and maybe some licorice, too.  I could tell there were some other flavors lurking around in there as well, I just couldn't pinpoint them right away.

A few more sips told me the carbonation was holding a little better than I had first anticipated.  There was no real bite at all to this one, but that strong flavor came through every time after a fleeting flash of vanilla.  I would not characterize this brew as creamy at all.

I finally gave up trying to identify all the flavors and just looked at the ingredients list.  This one has a little bit of everything in there.  Among other things, it has certified organic sugar (nice!), vanilla, cinnamon oil, natural caramel, wood extract (what?), licorice root oil, and anise oil.  That's a lot of flavors for Uncle Scott to try to get to play nicely together.  I can understand how this one has such a complex flavor.  I don't think I picked up every one of those flavors in there, but I did notice some of them.  Of course, I'm not really sure what wood extract is supposed to taste like.

This root beer just isn't for me.  It's not a horrible root beer and I wouldn't try to caution anyone from drinking it.  I just wouldn't reach for this one when others are available.  Now, if you like lots of different flavors in your root beer you may very well enjoy this one.  Or, if you just want to try something a little bit off the beaten path, then you may want to try one of these.  I'll leave that up to you.  I trust you to make a good choice.

Personally, I'm not looking for a root beer quite so complex, so I'll give this one a score of...........................................................................................70.                 

Frostop Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Frostop Beverages, Inc. 
                                                               Columbus, OH

Website:                                          www.frostop.com

Where’d It Come From?       Angeli's Market, Iron River, MI

Review Date:                                   8/15/13

Commentary:  I think this is another brew I picked up in WI last fall.  I can't remember for sure.  All I know is it's been waiting very patiently for me to review it.  This one looks like it has potential.  According to the label, this root beer has been around since 1926, and they claim that "NOTHING tops it...but the foam!"  That's quite a claim, especially since the used both ALL CAPS and italics within the same claim.  Let's get down to business.

When I opened the bottle, I detected a definite spicy, wintergreeny aroma.  As I poured it in my mug, it did form a nice head but it wasn't anywhere near huge or anything.  Most of the head dissipated in short order, but a small amount of foam remained on top for quite a while as I worked may way through this one.  

The first sip was definitely sweet and smooth.  There was just a wee little bit of a bite in there but it didn't really last long.  Things started nicely, but then everything got weird.  There was some sort of odd finish and aftertaste in this one.  It kind of overshadowed everything else.  Each sip started with the potential to be really good with its balance of creamy and spicy but then that strange aftertaste would kick in every time.  It left a lasting impression and almost made me forget about the good start to each sip. 

The carbonation was actually pretty good.  The brew held its fizz all the way to the bottom of the mug, and I didn't rush through this one.  I took my time with it because I was so puzzled by that aftertaste.  I couldn't ever really figure out exactly what I was tasting in there. My best guess is that it was licorice but there had to be some else along with it.  It also left just a little bit of a syrupy mouth feel.  My guess is that is from the corn syrup.  According to the ingredients list they use corn syrup and cane sugar, but the corn syrup precedes the sugar in the list.

As I was drinking this, I couldn't help thinking that someone else might actually like this one.  Maybe that aftertaste would appeal to them.  This did have a few things going for it, like the sweet, creamy, spicy start and the good carbonation.  Personally, I couldn't get past that weird taste.  This isn't a bad root beer.  It just isn't for me.  

OK.  Now I'm really confused.  After I finished writing up most of this review, I read a few reviews of this same root beer by other root beer aficionados.  They all had very positive reviews of it, with no mention of the weird taste.  Maybe I just got a bum batch.  Oh well, I can only review and rate the root beers I drink.  Maybe I'll give this a second chance the next time I see it in a store.   

Enough typing, time to for scoring.  I'll give this one a......................................................................................71.

What about you?  Have you tried this one?  Any weird aftertaste for you?       

Dang! That's Good Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Imperial Flavors Beverage Co., 
                                                               Milwaukee, WI

Website:                                          www.imperialflavors.com

Where’d It Come From?       Mars Cheese Castle, Kenosha, WI

Review Date:                                   8/14/13

Commentary:  Based on the name of this brew, this review could go really well or really poorly for our good friends over at Imperial Flavors.  With a name like that it has a lot to live up to.  I found this one at the famous Mars Cheese Castle near Kenosha, WI.  If you ever get the chance to stop in there, you should definitely stop.  If the abundance of cheese isn't enough to draw you in, they also have a fine selection of bottled sodas.  But enough about cheese.  Let's get down to business here.

As I removed the cap from the bottle, I got a nice little "pop", which told me the carbonation had held up well since I bought this back in November (almost 9 months ago now).  It also had a good spicy aroma.  So far, things were looking up.  When poured into my frosty mug, it produced a small head that dissipated rather quickly.

The first sip was really good.  This one has a nice little bite to it.  It's spicy and sweet at the same time.  The spice was up front as soon as it hit my tongue.  It made a nice transition to a creamy vanilla on the back end, but the bite sticks around for just a bit after going down the hatch.  I did detect a little wintergreen in there, but that flavor is far from overpowering.  That same aroma I picked up when I first opened the bottle was able to stick around all the way to the very last sip in the mug.  Nice.

This one isn't super smooth, but that's really okay.  It has so many other things going for it that I'm fine with it skipping the smoothness.  It is definitely sweet, but because it's made with sugar instead of HFCS, it doesn't leave any syrupy mouth feel at all.  I would consider this a "sipping" root beer.  It's one I think deserves to be enjoyed slowly so you can take in the different characteristics of this brew.  If you were to gulp this down, you'd miss out on the really nice balance between the bite and the creamy.  The carbonation level is just about perfect too, so you really can take your time with this one and it will hold its fizz all the way to when you're ready for that last sip.

I liked this one a lot.  I would gladly serve this one to friends and as I mentioned, I'd recommend that they take their time and enjoy it.

I think this root beer lives up to it's name.  I'm giving it a score of........................................................................................89.    

Have you ever tried this one?  Did it live up to its name for you?  Did you shout "Dang!" when you drank it?  Let me hear about it in the comments.        

Bundaberg Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           Bundaberg Brewed Drink Pty Ltd., Queensland, Australia

Website:                                          www.bundaberg.com

Where’d It Come From?       gift

Review Date:                                   8/11/13

Commentary:  I received a four-pack of these funky little bottles as a gift recently.  I had seen this brew on the shelves in a few stores before but I'd always been hesitant to plunk down my own cash for it simply because of the (usually) less-than-flattering reviews it has received.  Well, now I don't have to worry about wasting my own money.

This root beer comes to us from Australia.  It has an unusual pull top on it, but I'm not really sure why.  It doesn't seem to be any easier to open than a standard twist-off cap.  Maybe once I drink it everything will makes sense.  A quick review of the ingredients list is actually encouraging.  It's got cane sugar (yea!), molasses, ginger root, sarsaparilla root, licorice root, and vanilla bean.  Based on that list, I'm expecting a bold, medicinal flavor.  Let's open it up and see what happens.

When I popped the top, I did pick up a medicinal aroma but it wasn't anything unusual.  It quickly formed a medium-sized head when poured, but it disappeared almost as fast as it appeared and left no residual froth.  That's unfortunate.  The first sip yields a very unusual flavor.  There isn't anything too strong or overpowering, just weird.  Okay, after a few more sips, I am picking up some slight hints of licorice and vanilla.  There seems to be some sort of fruitiness in there.  I can't put my finger on exactly what kind of fruit, though.  This isn't creamy or smooth and there's just a wee little bit of bite.

The carbonation is holding up decently as I take my time with this one.  The bubbles in here are tiny, just the way I like 'em.  This just doesn't taste like a root beer to me.  In fact, if I were doing a blind taste test and didn't know this was supposed to be a root beer, I don't think I would even guess that it is trying to be a root beer.  I'm trying to figure out how to describe this one -- maybe a cross between a Vanilla Coke and a Dr. Pepper?  I don't know.  

Honestly, it's not nearly as bad as I had expected.  I'm not going to bother finishing it, though.  As I've been sipping my way through the glass, it just isn't growing on me.  I just don't think it's worth the calories.  This isn't terrible, but I can't even justify an average score for it simply because it is so far off from what I expect a root beer to taste like or at least try to taste like.

Sorry, Bundaberg.  I'm going to have to give this a score of.........................................................................55.

Have you tried this stuff?  What did you think?  What kind of flavors did you pick up in there?      

III Dachshunds Old Fashioned Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?           III Dachshunds Beer Company

Website:                                          www.3dachshundsbeer.com

Where’d It Come From?       City Lounge, Cudahy, WI

Review Date:                                   8/10/13

Commentary:  Don't be fooled by the spelling of the name on this one.  Those are Roman numerals.  It's not "ill Dachshunds", it's "3 Dachshunds".  No sick doggies here.  I learned about this root beer last fall as we prepared for another road trip to WI.  I had never heard of it before, but I'm always up for trying new brews so I made a point to stop by City Lounge in Cudahy to pick up a six pack as we passed by on our way north.  That trip was several months ago, so I was a little concerned that this one might have lost a little somethin' somethin' after sitting in the fridge for so long.  As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about.

I didn't pick up any distinct aroma when I opened this bottle.  I didn't take that as a good sign.  However, everything changed when I poured it into my frosty mug.  The head on this thing was huge!  After a minute or so, it settled down to just "large" and it was awesomely frothy.

From the first sip to the last, this root beer had a sweet, classic root beer flavor with just the right balance of creamy vanilla-ness and spice.  It is super smooth.  This is good stuff!  The carbonation is spot-on.  We've already discussed the head on this thing.  The bubbles in here are tiny -- just the way I like 'em.  That just adds to the smoothness. The carbonation held on all the way through to the bottom of my mug.  I even had to take about a 10 minute break in the middle of this review (to unload groceries) and when I came back, bubbles were still there.  Awesome.

This root beer doesn't attempt anything crazy or make any real stretches in the flavor department.  It aims directly at traditional, creamy root beer flavor and nails it.  This is a top-shelf root beer for me.  I will definitely buy more the next time I'm headed for WI and I would definitely serve it to friends, though I may reserve it for those few friends who can truly appreciate a great root beer.

III Dachshunds earns high marks from me.  I'm going to give this one a score of...................................................................94.

Anyone else out there ever had the pleasure of drinking this stuff?  Was your experience as awesome as mine?  Let me hear from you!     

Abita Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?          Abita Brewing Company, Abita Springs, LA

Website:                                 abita.com

Where’d It Come From?       ???

Review Date:                         8/10/13

Commentary:  I received a six-pack of this brew a while ago and I have had to guard this last bottle carefully.  My son and his friends enjoy root beer just as much as I do and I noticed that my six-pack quickly became a one-pack.  Well, this bottle's day has finally arrived.  Let's see what we've got here.

Hold on, let me go find a bottle opener.  This one doesn't have a twist-off cap.  Okay, after opening it, I picked up a standard root beer aroma but with a bit of spice thrown in, so it was off to a good start.  It produced a great big head when I poured it.  The head even stuck around for a few photos, which I thought was a nice touch.

The first sip was surprisingly sweet.  It wasn't too sweet by any means, but based on the aroma I didn't expect this sweetness.  I like the carbonation here -- small bubbles.  There is a certain amount of creaminess here as well, but not overly so.  It's the kind of creamy that lets you know it's there but mainly hangs out in the background, not overplaying its hand.  Abita uses pure cane sugar in the recipe (announced prominently on the label), and I think it definitely shows in the taste of this one.

I don't detect any kind of bite.  There is just a little hint of wintergreen and I don't detect any licorice in here.  That's two points in the plus column for Abita.  Unfortunately, the carbonation didn't hang around very long.  It seems to have disappeared and I've still got about a third of the mug left.

Nothing about this root beer really jumps out at me.  I enjoyed it.  It is a good, solid, middle of the road root beer.  I think I could enjoy this one with a meal.  I'd buy it again if given the opportunity, and I'd serve it to friends without any reservations.

So, I think I'll give this one a score of..................................80

Are you a fan of Abita?  How do your tasting notes compare to mine?  Sound off in the comments!

Oogave Esteban's Root Beer

Who Made This Stuff?       Oogave Sodas, Denver, CO

Website:                            www.oogave.com

Where’d It Come From?   ???

Review Date:                     12/13/12

Commentary:  This one had had been lounging in the back of the fridge for a while now.  I was intrigued by it because it is sweetened with agave nectar instead of cane sugar or HFCS.  However, I was hesitant to try it for a long time just because I wasn't impressed with what I saw in the bottle.  It just looked weak.  This is a very light-colored root beer.  It almost looks like iced tea.

When I opened the bottle I got a little hint of licorice but nothing too strong.  It poured well, producing a decent, foamy head.  Even with the foam, it just looks weird in my glass since it is such a light brown.  The first taste was kinda medicinal.  No bite. Not great.  The carbonation is leaving town with haste.  Things are going downhill fast here.  

I don't really notice anything good in here as a result of the agave nectar.  Of course, I've never tried agave nectar before, so maybe that's the one thing that is making this a bad one and I just don't have the agave chops to recognize it.  Second, third, and subsequent sips are not improving.  This brew can't even claim to have smoothness or creaminess going for it.  Unfortunately, there isn't anything memorable in this one.  It does have enough root beer taste to make sure the drinker understands that this is, in fact, supposed to be a root beer, but that's about it.

Sorry Esteban, but I'm not even going to finish this one.  I definitely would not serve this one to friends.  I'm not sure what to do with the other one I still have in the fridge.  It breaks my heart to have to pour out an entire root beer, but I just might have to.  Blech.

Okay. Enough is enough.  I have no choice but to score this one as..................................................52.

What about you?  Have you tried this stuff?  Am I way off base here?

Virgil's Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg

Who Made This Stuff?     Reed’s Inc.

Website:                            www.reedsinc.com/virgils

Where’d It Come From?   ???

Review Date:                     12/2/12

Commentary:  I have read several reviews of this very unique root beer and the reviews have been all over the board.  Some people loved it, others hated it.  I was glad to finally have the opportunity to try this one myself and see what all the fuss was about.  I'd been waiting a while to get to this one.  Would the wait be worth it?  Read on.

This one gets a bunch of style points right off the bat.  It has a cool swing-top ceramic lid (a la Grolsch), a label that has to be ripped in order to open the bottle, and of course it comes in a larger-than-normal bottle.  This one is a full 500 ml, just a hair over a pint. It may lose a point or two on price though.  Depending on where you find it, you'll probably drop $3-5 for this one.  A few more points are awarded for the back story.  According to the label, this root beer is imported from Bavaria and they use well water from the Bohemian Forest region.  Obviously, this root beer had to make quite a journey to get to my fridge.

When I opened it, it had a nice "pop" and a pleasant aroma.  It wasn't a particularly strong aroma, but I picked up a little licorice and cinnamon.  When poured, it formed a nice big head which, although it didn't hang around for a long time, didn't disappear immediately.  The second pour (remember, it's a big bottle) created another big head.

This has a complex flavor, not unlike it's cousin, the original Virgil's root beer.  What this one has going for it is its smoothness.  Much smoother than the standard Virgils, it is more to my liking.  It is creamy as well, but not over the top.  The label claims it is "so rich and creamy you'll swear it's made in Heaven."  I don't think I'd go that far, but it does earn the "rich and creamy" badge.

The ingredient list on this one is long, including anise, honey, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, wintergreen, cassia oil, sweet birch, and molasses.  That's a lot of stuff to cram into one brew.  I didn't pick up any of its namesake nutmeg.  All those ingredients result in a pretty complex flavor.  This is not your standard root beer.  As I mentioned, I think they did a better job blending the flavors on this one than they did in their original.

The sweetness level is very good.  They use real cane sugar and I think it shows.  With all the flavors in this one, I think it would make for a nice post-meal drink.  This is a very satisfying brew and I would definitely serve it to friends, although given its price I probably wouldn't serve it very often.

So, yes, the wait for this brew was worth it.  I'll score it as..........................................................89.

What about you?  Have you shelled out the big bucks for a bottle of this stuff?  Would you?

Appalachian Brewing Company

Who Made This Stuff?    Appalachian Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA

Website:                             www.abcbrew.com

Where’d It Come From?   Grocery store in Exton, PA

Review Date:                     11/28/12

Commentary:  This was another one of the brews we picked up on our summer family road trip while passing through PA.  It’s always fun to stumble on a new root beer when we’re traveling.  We bought a six pack but I never got to drink any of them, until now.  Fortunately, I had hidden one of the bottles from my son and his friends!

When I opened the bottle, I got a very nice, spicy aroma.  It wasn’t overpowering, but it was intriguing.  When poured, it did produce a small head that managed to stick around for just a little while, but again I was too slow with the camera to capture it.  This is a nice, dark brew.  The carbonation level in this one is just about spot on – nice small bubbles that managed to hang around all the way to the bottom of the glass, and I didn’t drink this one very fast.

It has a nice little bite to it, but nothing ferocious.  I really like the spicyness in there.  I liked this one from the start, but I enjoyed it more and more with each sip.  As I mentioned, I took my time working through this one so I could try to figure out the flavors in it.  I just looked at the label and noticed they used real sugar and honey in this.  I think that really comes through in the great flavor and mouth feel.  Did I mention the spices?  The best way I can describe it is that this root beer is giving just a little bit of a nod to his birch beer cousins without smacking you around with the wintergreen.  I would not consider this a creamy brew. 

I really liked this one.  I would definitely recommend it and serve it to friends.  If I ever find myself back up in that neck of the woods, I will seek it out again. 

I’ll give this one a score of ……………………….94.

Have you ever tried Appalachian?  Can it be found outside of PA?  According to their website, they also make a white birch and a ginger beer.  I’ll skip the ginger beer, but I may have to try their white birch.

Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer

Who Made This Stuff?      USA Beverage Distribution, LLC

Website:                             www.daretogodutch.com

Where’d It Come From?   Somewhere on the edge of Amish country, PA

Review Date:                    11/26/12

Commentary:  I picked up this birch beer at a convenience store in PA on our summer road trip.  It had been languishing in the back of the fridge since July.  I’m not a big fan of birch beers so I had been sort of putting this one off for a while.  I didn’t have high hopes for its carbonation level given the long time it had been sitting around in a plastic bottle.  I was pleasantly surprised.

When I opened the bottle, I picked up that distinct wintergreen aroma for which birch beers are known.  A quick pour into the chilled glass revealed that the brew had a reddish tint, as did the small head that made a brief appearance.  I wasn’t expecting that color, so I guess that was a nice little surprise.

 

This one has a nice little bite to it.  The carbonation level is just about right.  The bubbles are in the medium to large size, but they work with the flavor to produce that pleasant bite.  It definitely has the wintergreen taste.  I’m not a big fan of that taste.  I guess it’s not too overpowering in this one, though. I’m giving this one high marks in the carbonation department.  Even after a lengthy stay in my glass, the carbonation is sticking around.  I like that.  This one isn’t very creamy.

As I said, I’m not a big fan of birch beers but I think I’d actually serve this one to friends – maybe just to bring a little something different to the party.  According to the company’s website, this brew is also available in cans and glass bottles.  I think I’d serve the glass-bottled version to those friends.

I’ll score this one as…………………………………………..77

What do you think. Ever tried this one?  Do you consider root beers and birch beers interchangeable, or do you have a definite preference?

Chowning's Tavern

Who Made This Stuff?     Old Dominion Brewing Co., Dover, DE

Website:                              www.olddominion.com

Where’d It Come From?    Picked up a by a friend

Review Date:                      11/24/12

             
Commentary:  I received this root beer from a friend who picked it up on a weekend road trip.  I can’t remember exactly where he got it, though.  I liked the artwork on the label (a drawing of Old Man Chowning, perhaps?) and saw that it was made by Old Dominion.  Those two things gave me high hopes for this brew:  1) a nice label that led me to believe some real thought went into its design, and 2) a pedigree of an actual brewery.

When I opened this bottle, it had a significant licorice and spice aroma. You may have noticed by now that I’m not a huge fan of the licorice thing, but the spice side of the aroma intrigued me.  When poured in the glass it did create a head, but it was mainly composed of large bubbles and is dissipated really quickly.  By the time I could get a photo, the head was pretty much gone.
     

The first sips told me this was not going to be a creamy brew.  The sweetness was there, but it wasn’t overpowering.  The fact that sugar and honey were on the ingredient list, instead of HFCS, earns it a few points.  I got a few nice spicey drinks from the glass.  Things went downhill from there.

This root beer had the potential to develop a nice bite.  Unfortunately, it could not live up to that potential.  The carbonation dissipated way too fast to work with the spices to help produce any bite.  Half-way through the glass, the aroma had disappeared completely.  Once the carbonation was mostly gone, this one did not have a pleasant taste at all and left a strong wintergreeny aftertaste.

Sorry folks.  I can’t give this one high marks.  I think I’ll go with…………………….63.

What about you?  Have you tried this one?  I understand that Old Dominion produces a few different root beers under different labels.  Have you tried any of Old Dominion’s root beers? 

Sea Dog

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

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?