Dad's root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Dad's Root Beer, one of America's most popular soft drinks, was developed in the 1930s by partners Barney Berns and Ely Klapman in the basement of Klapman's Chicago-area home. The first trademark registration was filed on September 24, 1938, granted on February 14, 1939 to The Dad's Root Beer Company of Chicago, and alleged use since February, 1937. Dad's unique and delicious flavor earned a loyal following. The Dad's Root Beer brand was famous throughout the Midwest and by the late 1940s, was one of the most consumed brands of root beer throughout the United States. Jules Klapman, son of co-founder Ely, successfully took the Dad's brand international. The name Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer was selected in honor of Ely Klapman's father, and other fathers, who used to make root beer at home for their families (popular in the early 20th Century)."

(from the bottle) "Orca Beverage Soda Works.  Manufacturer of nostalgic and gourmet glass bottle sodas.  See our authentic 50's style bottling plant at OrcaBeverage.com"


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Produced under the authority of the Dad's Root Beer Company, LLC, Jasper, IN 47546.  160 calories, 40g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.dadsrootbeer.com and www.orcabeverage.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate (a preservative), citric acid, natural and artificial flavors.


My thoughts: "Oh yeah?!  My Dad's can beat up your Dad's!"  Okay, maybe not.  Either way, this root beer may not be worth beating anybody up for, even though it tastes somewhat good.  The initial flavor is a fairly sweet, moderately rooty taste, with hints of other flavors.  These other flavors develop a little, but remain somewhat vague in the aftertaste, though there's certainly some wintergreen in there and a bit of the soda water flavor makes itself present as well.  I initially thought I may have detected some licorice too, but am not quite so sure now.  Carbonation is slightly sub par and could use a bit more kick to it.  So does Dad's win the father of the year award?  Not quite.  Turns out this Dad's is only about average.

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