Boylan root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Our story starts in 1891, when a Pharmacist named William Boylan created an elixir in his Paterson, NJ apothecary. He named that serum, a derivative of birch trees, Boylan’s Birch, and through most of the 20th century Boylan remained a Birch Beer brand local to New Jersey."

(also from the website) "BOYLAN ROOT BEER has a rich and spicy sassafras flavor, thanks to its blend of cinnamon, anise, black pepper, mushroom, sweet birch, extracts of chocolate and coffee, vanillin, and wintergreen oil. Sounds complex, but the end result is an authentic, traditional tasting root beer with only a subtle creamy note."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Manufactured by Boylan Bottling Co., 100 Hollister Road, Teterboro, NJ 07608.  170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.boylanbottling.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, natural yucca extract, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness).


My thoughts: Holy licorice Batman!  Upon twisting off the cap, I am struck by a strong licorice (anise) scent.  "Sock!  Pow!  Whap!"  The anise punches my tastebuds right in the face, leaving very little room for the sassafras root beer flavor to make itself known.  Since licorice isn't my favorite flavor, that isn't necessarily a plus.  I do, however, enjoy how natural this tastes, with little to no hint of artificial-feeling flavor.  The carbonation is just right and the sweetness compliments the other flavors just right.  There is a creamy feel to it, which works well with the carbonation level.  If you love licorice, then this is the drink for you.  Licorice doesn't appeal to my sensibilities, so it's not particularly one that I would get again, as it masks the other interesting flavors this root beer has that I'd prefer to be enhoying.  "To the Batmobile, boy-wonder!"  Check in tomorrow for the next part of my root beer testing.  Same bat-time, same bat-blog.


Rating: B-
flavor: C+
aftertaste: C+
sweetness: A
smoothness: B+
carbonation: A