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?

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.