Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Root Beer Reviewed To Date (8/11/10)

I have reviewed 15 root beers to date with many more reviews to come very soon.  Below is a list of the brews I have reviewed in the order I reviewed them (along with the rating I gave each brew).

Review 1: Dog n Suds (7/10)
Review 2: Bundaberg Australian (2/10)
Review 3: Red Ribbon (10/10)
Review 4: Americana (10/10) [My favorite so far]
Review 5: DAD'S (7/10)
Review 6: Sprecher (8/10)
Review 7: Bulldog (8/10)
Review 8: Abita (4/10)
Review 9: Virgil's (8/10)
Review 10: Frostie (8/10)
Review 11: Berghoff (9/10)
Review 12: A&P (7/10)
Review 13: Sioux City (3/10)
Review 14: Jones (7/10)
Review 15: Deerfield Trading Company (7/10)

Root Beer Review 15: Deerfield

Name: Deerfield Trading Company
My Rating: 7/10
My Review:  Deerfield Trading Company Root Beer (Walgreens brand) has a very good flavor.  This brew is made with cane sugar and is sweetened perfectly.  I wish this root beer would have had a little bit more bite to it...that would have increased the rating by 1 or 2 numbers.  I purchased this root beer at Walgreens in Fayetteville, AR, and would definitely drink it again.
Website: Walgreens (Deerfield Root Beer)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water , Sugar , Natural and Artificial Flavor , Sodium Benzoate , Caramel Color , Citric Acid.

Root Beer Review 14: Jones

Name: Jones Root Beer
My Rating: 7/10
My Review:  I was excited about trying Jones root beer.  I had seen a special on Unwrapped (Food Network) where they featured Jones soda and their unusual flavors.  I enjoyed Jones root beer but I was not blown away.  A good brew but not special.  It had an overall good root beer flavor...maybe a little on the weak side for my taste.  The sweetness was right on (Jones uses nothing but cane sugar in their sodas).  The bottles are unique.  You never know what picture your bottle will have.  You can submit photos to their website and if they like it they just might put it on one of their soda bottles.  I purchased Jones Root Beer at Hastings in Fayetteville, AR.
Website: Jones
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Inverted Cane Sugar, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate

Root Beer Review 13: Sioux City

Name: Sioux City Root Beer
My Rating: 3/10
My Review: Sioux City Root Beer, plain and simple, did not taste good at all.  The brew was too sweet and left a bitter after taste in my mouth.  If I had to describe this brew in one word it would have to be 'harsh'.  Surprisingly it is not the worst root beer I have tasted...that award still belongs to Bundaberg Australian root beer.  I will not be drinking Sioux City Root Beer again.  I purchased this brew at Harps Grocery Store in Springdale, AR.
Website: Sioux City
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid.

Root Beer Review 12: A&P

Name: A&P Premium Draft
My Rating: 7/10
My Review: A&P has a tall head with an overall good flavor.  Lots of carbonation.  I could really tell this was made with high fructose corn syrup and not cane sugar....not a bad thing but it was distinctive in this brew.  I would drink A&P again but would not go out of my way to find it.  I purchased A&P at Big Lots in Buena Park, CA.
Website: A&P Grocery
Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, natural and artificial flavor, potassium benzoate, citric acid, and potassium sorbate.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Root Beer Review 11: Berghoff

Name: Berghoff Famous Root Beer
My Rating: 9/10
My Review: Berghoff's is a simple brew full of flavor.  The root beer flavor is spot on, and the label says they use only natural flavors.  This is definitely a root beer I would like to drink again.  This brew is nicely sweetened with cane sugar with a bit of a root beer bite.  Not quite a 10 but very, very close.  I purchased Berghoff's at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Berghoff
Ingredients: Carbonated water, pure cane sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate, natural flavor, and citric acid.

Root Beer Review 10: Frostie

Name: Frostie Root Beer
My Rating: 8/10
My Review: Frostie makes a good root beer.  Nice root beer taste with a little bit of bite...yet smooth and creamy.  I can imagine that this root beer would make a tasty root beer float.  I looked into my crystal ball and see that I will visit Frostie root beer again in the future.  I purchased Frostie root beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Frostie
Ingredients: Carbonated water, pure cane sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors.

Root Beer Review 9: Virgil's

Name: Virgil's Root Beer
My Ranking: 8/10
My Review: This is a very good root beer.  I was skeptical going in with all the extra ingredients that Virgil's throws into the mix.  The only extra ingredients that really stand out are the licorice and molasses flavors (nice hints and not overpowering).  The other ingredients blend quite well: Anise, Vanilla (Bourbon), Cinnamon, Clove, Wintergreen, Nutmeg, Pimento Berry Oil, Balsam Oil, and Oil of Cassia (none distract from the taste but I am sure add nuances I could not detect...and they do search the world over for the best ingredients...just check out their website to see for yourself).  This is a surprisingly refreshing brew.  The bottle states that Virgil's Root Beer has won the NASFT Outstanding Beverage Award.  I purchased Virgil's Root Beer at Trader Joe's in Cerritos, CA.
Website: Virgil's
Ingredients: Purified carbonated water, unbleached cane sugar, caramelized unrefined cane sugar, herbs, spices, and citric acid.

Explaining My Ranking Number System

I have always loved root beer.  I remember the excitement when my mom would buy me a six pack of IBC root beer as a kid.  I am not sure if it was the bottles that made me so excited or the great taste of IBC root beer (I will review IBC soon).  As I have stated before I am looking for the world's best root beer.  Below explains what my number system of ranking mean.

10 - As Good As It Gets!
9 - Extremely Good Brew!
8 - Very Good Brew!
7 - Good Brew.
6 - Slightly Above Average.
5 - Average....Nothing Special.
4 - Slightly Below Average.
3 - Not Very Good.
2 - Just Plain Bad.
1 - Should Not Claim To Be Root Beer.

Disclaimer:  I am no taste expert, or have I ever claimed to be. This is all very subjective.  Do not let my reviews discourage you from tasting a root beer.  Who knows, you may love a root beer that I give low marks to.  However, my rankings may give you a starting point with so many root beers out there to taste.  Enjoy!

Root Beer Review 8: Abita

Name: Abita Root Beer
My Rating: 4/10
My Review: I have read many reviews that speak of this root beer's great taste.  I just do not agree.  Something seems  a little bit strange with the root beer flavor...in fact, it leaves a strange after taste in my mouth after each drink.  This brew is way too sweet.  They state on the bottle that they use pure Louisiana Cane Sugar...I recommend using less...much less.  This is a below average brew, and I doubt I will ever drink Abita root beer again.  Nothing really redeeming about this root beer to write about.  I purchased this root beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Abita Root Beer
Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, root beer flavor, and phosphoric acid.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Root Beer Review 7: Bulldog

Name: Bulldog
My Rating: 8/10
My Review: Bulldog was a very good root beer.  However I thought it was missing something to make it special.  It does have a hint of vanilla and honey flavor (I have found that I like both of these ingredients in root beer).  This root beer could stand to have a little bit more bite to it...it would be fitting since it's named Bulldog.  Bulldog root beer does have a nice feel in the mouth though.  Their website says that maltodextrin is added for 'body and mouth feel'.  Bulldog is another very good root beer that I will drink again in the future.  I purchased Bulldog at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Bulldog
Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, honey, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate, real vanilla, phosphoric acid, and salt.

Root Beer Review 6: Sprecher

Name: Sprecher Fire-Brewed Root Beer
My Rating: 8/10
My Review:  Sprecher is a nice root beer.  It was smooth and had a nice hint of vanilla.  The overall flavor was a little weak...needs more root beer flavor.  This brew uses both high fructose corn syrup and WI raw honey as sweetners (I thought the sweetness was right on).  The bottle says that The New York Times rated this root beer #1...I disagree.   Good root beer but not great.  However, I would not hesitate drinking Sprecher root beer again.  I purchased this root beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Sprecher Brewery
Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, dextrin, WI raw honey, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate, phosphoric acid, quillaia/yucca  extract, sodium chloride, caramel color, and vanilla.

Root Beer Review 5: DAD'S

Name: DAD'S Root Beer
My Rating: 7/10
My Review:  DAD'S is a good root beer but not great.  It has a nice overall taste with a little bit of bite.  There was just something missing from this brew that kept me from giving it an 8/10 (I just can't put my finger on it).  However, I would not hesitate to drink DAD'S again.  I purchased this root beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: DAD'S
Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate, citric acid, natrual and artificial flavors.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Root Beer Review 4: Americana

Name: Americana
My Rating: 10/10
My Review:  I thought it might take me awhile to find another root beer as good as Red Ribbon.  However, it did not (about 1 hour to be exact).  In fact, Americana had a overall better flavor than Red Ribbon.  It has a hint of licorice but not overpowering.  The root beer flavor is perfect and you can really taste the sassafras root (just the right amount).  This root beer also uses honey along with cane sugar to sweeten (not too sweet at all).  This is another root beer you must try if you really like root beer.  I purchased this root beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Orca Beverage
Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavor, caramel color, pure organic honey, extracts from licorice and sassafras root bark, citric acid, and phosphoric acid.

Root Beer Review 3: Red Ribbon

Name: Red Ribbon Root Beer
My Rating: 10/10
My Review:  Wow...what a great tasting root beer.  I highly recommend this brew.  The carbonation is perfection.  It might have something to do with the Natrona Bottling Company (who makes and bottles Red Ribbon Root Beer) being the last bottling company to add carbonation using dry ice and not pumping carbon dioxide gas into the soda.  The strength of the root beer is great and just the right amount of cane sugar is added for sweetness.  I will be drinking this root beer again in the future.  Is it the best out there....I don't know.  I have about 1,000 more root beers to try before I can start talking about which is the best.  Until then, do not hesitate to buy some Red Ribbon.  I purchased it at Galco's Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles, CA (you can order right from their website and they will deliver).  Or you can purchase straight from Natron Bottling Company.
Website: Natron Bottling Company
Ingredients: Filtered carbonated water, sugar, natural and articifical flavor, citric acid, and caramel color.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Root Beer Review 2: Bundaberg Australian Root Beer

Name: Bundaberg Australian Root Beer
My Rating: 2/10
My Review: Bundaberg Root Beer was a big disappointment.  The licorice flavor was overpowering.  The brew had very little carbonation and was too sweet for my taste.  Don't let my review discourage you too much.  I dislike licorice (I don't mind a little but this brew has a lot of it).  I will not be trying this Root Beer again...in fact I could not even finish this small bottle.  I purchased this Root Beer at Galco's Soda Pop Stop.
Website: Bundaberg
Ingredients:  Carbonated water, cane sugar, molasses, ginger root, sarsaparilla root, licorice root, vanilla bean, yeast, caramel color, citric acid, preservatives, and root beer flavor.

Root Beer Review 1: Dogs n Suds

Name: Dogs n Suds
My Rating: 7/10
My Review:  Dogs n Suds is a tasty Root Beer.  Extremely smooth and creamy...with lots of froth!  It would have easily received a higher rating if the overall flavor was stronger (a little weak for my taste).  I would definitely drink this Root Beer again.  I purchased Dog n Suds at Galco's Soda Pop Stop just outside of Los Angeles, CA.
Website: Dogs n Suds
Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate, natural and artificial flavor.

WELCOME TO THE ROOT BEER BLOG.

Welcome.  This blog is for those who enjoy Root Beer.  Each week I will review new Root Beers.  I hope Root Beer lovers will stop by for a visit and tell me what they think: what Root Beers they like, don't like, and what they think about my reviews.  I am not a Root Beer snob.  Many sites will only review brews made with pure cane sugar and leave out those made with high fructose corn syrup.  Not me...I am in search of the world's best Root Beer regardless of sweetener.  Let the fun begin!