Traffic Generated by Napa Valley Soda Company?

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

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

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.