Mug Vanilla Howler Float root beer

Background information: Originally started as Belfast root beer in 1940, made by the Belfast Beverage Company that had started making beverages in 1877 (and Belfast was acquired by New Century Beverage Co. in 1936), the name changed to Belfast Old Fashioned Mug Root Beer in the 1950s before being shortened to just "Mug". Pepsi then acquired New Century in 1986, where Mug is still produced.

Product details: 20 fl. oz.  Bottled under the authority of New Century Beverage Company LLC, Purchase, NY 10577. 260 calories, 71g sugar (160 calories, 43g sugar per 12 oz). Clear plastic bottle with twist off top. https://www.mugrootbeer.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavor, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), citric acid, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor).

My thoughts: Mug was one of my staple root beers growing up. It was easy to find at the grocery store and, as I remember it, was a pretty good root beer (though I now realize I have overlooked Mug for my reviews, so I'll have to track down some of the regular stuff). Back to this one, it was released just a couple days ago and I stopped by a gas station on a trip and looked for it, but there was none. After using the restroom, I walked by the coolers again on the way out and glanced over only to see it in there. In fact, it was added so recently (probably in the couple minutes I was in the restroom) that the bottles were still room temp warm. So fate decided I needed it. Seeing as how today is International Root Beer day, I figured giving the absolute newest root beer a try was a good way to celebrate.

Like most grocery store root beers, the actual rooty flavor leans a little on the artificial root beer candy taste, eschewing any interesting spices that make the tastes unique. The initial flavor also has strong vanilla tones and those tend to dominate the aftertaste. It does have a semi-chemical hint to the aftertaste that isn't great but not super noticeable if I'm not paying attention.

The carbonation is nice and fizzy, with a bit of bite to it and maintaining the effervescence from start to finish, though the bubbles do become a little more tame and less prickly after the halfway point. This also tastes and feels a little sugary, with a thickish coating sticking behind in my mouth. Using high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar cane is probably contributing to the slightly less crisp sweetness. It isn't a very foamy drink, though the vanilla does add a small sense of creaminess, so while it goes down smooth, it's just average in that area.

Was this the best root beer to celebrate today? Probably not. It's a semi-decent choice with a vanilla-heavy taste, almost as if root beer was mixed with cream soda. I'm primarily disappointed in the slight chemical aftertaste, making this seem like the chemical concoction root beer really is instead of tricking me into believing it's a magical elixir made from spices.

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

carbonation: B+