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?

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!     

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.

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?

Goose Island

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. 

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.

Sprecher

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.

Berghoff

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!).