Brownie caramel cream root beer

Background information: (from the internet) "Brownie Root Beer was one of the many carbonated beverages made by the Atlas Beverage Company. Atlas was started in Detroit, Michigan in 1929 by a Polish immigrant named Tomaszewski. When he retired, he passed the business to his sons, Walter and Butch. They ran the company together until Walter retired and Butch bought his share of the business. Atlas Beverages closed about 1996 and the building was sold around 2003."

(from the bottle) "With a Sprite on the label, it's easy to see how this mischievous and delicious blend of root beer & caramel came about.  Produced with care in small batches, Brownie has been enjoyed since 1929."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authroity of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275.  170 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.orcabeverage.com


Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (a preservative).


My thoughts: Popping off the twist off top, I'm greeted by the aggressive crackling of carbonation.  So it comes as a bit of a surprise when I find out that the carbonation is mostly bark and not as much bite.  Not that it's bad, but it does run a little bit flat.  On the other hand, the flavor makes up for the lack of gas, coming on strong and hearty.  There is a very straightforward root beer taste and the "caramel cream" designation lives up to its claims, having a noticeable vanilla caramel flavor, which holds on into the aftertaste.  This is one of the creamiest root beers I've had so far and is probably partly related to the warning on the bottle: CONTAINS MILK.  The after-aftertaste is hard to describe, but feels once again like it may have to do with the aforementioned milk warning, as it has dairy overtones to it, but with a bit of tang.  Not really a plus, but it's there.  While initial sweetness seems fine, it leaves a slightly over-sugary coating in my mouth afterward, something that other drinks manage to not do.  Overall, I was moderately disappointed by the undelivered promise of carbonation, but the taste is a winner in my book.  If they just get that fizz upped a little bit and figure out how to reduce the sugary coating feeling, then they'll have a more well rounded root beer capable of contending with the highest ranks.


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