Rocky Mountain root beer

Background information: (from the website): "Rocky Mountain Root Beer was the idea that started it all.  We wanted to make the best flavored, all natural root beer available. We set out to create a flavor that evokes memories of the old West.  Think warm vanilla and caramel notes that glide along a creamy cloud of delicious sassafras flavor.  We also add a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg to give a grounded earthiness that ends with a spicy finish.  We hope you enjoy the end result of our quest to create the best root beer made.

Rocky Mountain Soda Company was created with one goal in mind, quality. We strive to make the most unique, best tasting, highest quality, all natural soda available. We achieve our goal by using only the finest all natural ingredients.

We custom craft each of our flavors in small batches and package every bottle by hand.  The benefit of our efforts is realized in every sip you take. We thank you for the opportunity to present our soda for your drinking pleasure. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do…Cheers!"

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Rocky Mountain Soda Co, 4420 Glencoe Street, Denver, Colorado 80216.  140 calories, 39g sugar. Glass bottle with pop off top. http://www.rockymountainsoda.com


Ingredients: Carbonated Colorado water, Rocky Mountain beet sugar, natural flavors, potassium sorbate as a preservative.


My thoughts: Rams are some badass animals.  If you get in their way, they'll destroy you with a massive head-butt to the face.  Not only that, but unlike most other root beers with a twist off top, this one is a pop-off variety that requires a bottle opener or one of many opening methods developed across the bars of the world. So for a root beer to rock one tough mofo on their label and a cap that requires more than just a twist of the hand, I expect this root beer to back it up with an equally manly drinking experience.

So, to the flavor.  While it didn't smash me in the face with taste, there is a fairly strong sassafras flavor, making it nice and rooty, though I think it could use just a tad more as it goes just a tad thin as the aftertaste kicks in.  Underlying this is a variety of spices, though none so strong as to overpower the others.  As the sassafras dies away, the aftertaste develops into a few flavors, with cinnamon and nutmeg coming through.  Their site doesn't say anything about anise (black licorice), but I could swear there is a hint in there.

Another oddity is that this drink is sweetened with beet sugar, rather than the normal cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup.  I'm not sure if this is a huge factor, but it didn't leave my mouth all sugary feeling.  The carbonation is okay; it gets the job done but could stand to have a little more spark to it.  It's also not super foamy, making it less creamy smooth than it should be, especially considering the average carbonation.

I really appreciated the complexity of natural spices that this root beer brings to the table.  It tastes pretty good, though the sassafras could use a little more face-smashing intensity.  At the end of the day, I can heartily recommend that ewe try ramming some of this down your gullet.

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