Teddy's root beer

Background information: (from the internet): "Unique Beverage Company, LLC manufactures and distributes non alcoholic beverages. The company offers refreshing drinks, flavoured drinks and energy drinks. The company markets its products under the Cascade Ice, Teddy’s Root Beer and Wired Energy Drinks brands. Unique Beverage Company, LLC was founded in 2001 and is based in Everett, Washington."

*note: I pulled this description from an internet search because the website is pretty much useless, with no real information.

(from the bottle): "Root Beer has been an American Classic since the late 1800's.  First used for medicinal purposes, Root Beer is now enjoyed as a soft drink or as the main ingredient in Root Beer floats.  Teddy's is a hand crafted, traditionally rich and creamy Root Beer, made from only the finest ingredients.  We know you will love Teddy's classic Root Beer."

Product details: 26 fl. oz.  Unique Beverage Company, LLC., Everett, WA 98213.  288 calories, 70g sugar. Plastic bottle with twist off top. http://teddyspremiumsoda.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, natural and artificial flavor, sodium benzoate (preservative), phosphoric acid, sucralose, Ace K.


My thoughts: After my previous unpleasant root beer experience, I decided to try something a bit different from usual.  Instead of the usual glass-bottled variety, I opted to try a cheap grocery store root beer that comes in a plastic bottle.  At the very least, I figured it couldn't be any worse than the last.  Also, unlike the typical 12 oz in a bottle, this one come with a whopping 26 oz.

Seeing as how it isn't a very fancy looking soda, I had low expectations.  Unscrewing the lid off, I was greeted with a root beer candy smell.  Not a particularly good sign.  The flavor matched the smell exactly.  It had a very strong root beer taste, but it was a very artificial taste.  There were no hints of other spices or flavors other than an overbearing wintergreen.  The aftertaste brought me more of the same wintergreen mint flavor.

Carbonation is pretty poor.  It runs flat.  Sugar-wise, it's sweet, but not too terrible.  Pretty much what I've come to expect from a generic grocery store root beer.  I couldn't detect any of the sucralose taste, something I'm usually able to suss out.  It seems smooth enough, helped in part by the lack of effervescence.

Nothing special here folks, so move along.  This root beer doesn't do anything particularly well, but at the same time it also doesn't completely fail.  I wouldn't buy this again, as I can find slightly better generic root beer in bulk for cheaper.

Rating: D+
flavor: C-
aftertaste: D
sweetness: C
smoothness: C-
carbonation: D-