tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59009570497346319152024-03-05T08:27:54.694-08:00Kyle's Root Beer GalacticusA place where the finer points may be discussed concerning this nectar of the gods. This is a continuing quest to seek out the holy grail of rootbeerdom.K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-37211618804181002382023-11-01T07:19:00.001-07:002023-11-01T07:19:00.144-07:00poppi Prebiotic root beer<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftLBMKGIC5sIirn_9jomvn2jmkoqyEirkQ3aj79OFYes1arh_AEQ2RsdWX4tCLXfNchTfTkbIJjiHnP2t-AgzFaF2SBclZUjjlPZ5lOEBLFxo_rTJZlncjnM1019tby0dyGv3oXn3abXiEOWY4vd5rgHxoy47zjMUqkxeMK1pEyoAl94Grk6iBcJPWDbO/s4608/IMG_20230812_093621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftLBMKGIC5sIirn_9jomvn2jmkoqyEirkQ3aj79OFYes1arh_AEQ2RsdWX4tCLXfNchTfTkbIJjiHnP2t-AgzFaF2SBclZUjjlPZ5lOEBLFxo_rTJZlncjnM1019tby0dyGv3oXn3abXiEOWY4vd5rgHxoy47zjMUqkxeMK1pEyoAl94Grk6iBcJPWDbO/w300-h400/IMG_20230812_093621.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>Founded by husband-and-wife duo Stephen and Allison and based in Austin, TX, poppi combines fresh fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and inulin prebiotics for a deliciously refreshing, full-of-flavor soda with benefits.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><i>With the help of an investment on Shark Tank, poppi has gone from farmer's-market-favorite to sitting pretty on the shelves of thousands of retailers across the nation. Along the way, we’ve become beloved by some new besties like Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Russell Westbrook, JLo, Olivia Munn, and more.</i>"<div><br /></div><div>(from the can) "<i>Facts... No one wants a basic drink. So make every hour happy with this bubbly, better for you prebiotic soda that keeps your gut happy and gives your bod a boost. Classic flavors that are downright delicious, these bubbles with benefits will be your new BFF.</i>"<div><br /><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Distributed by: poppi, Austin, TX 78731. 25 calories, 5g sugar. Aluminum can. <a href="https://www.drinkpoppi.com/">https://www.drinkpoppi.com/</a></p><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Sparkling Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Apple Juice*, Fruit Juice Color, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Agave Inulin, Natural Flavors, Stevia, Natural Tartaric Acid. *Concentrate (Contains 3% Juice)<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Prebiotic soda. These words strike some fear into my root beer loving heart. From the swampy depths of prehistoric earth emerge microorganisms, whose essence is being distilled into a soupy blend of sludge of slime molds, fungi, and bacteria, with the sole purpose of ruining what might be a perfectly decent root beer. Okay, perhaps I mischaracterize a perfectly decent beverage trend. Maybe this will be the best root beer I've had yet. We shall see if my preconceptions, though slightly exaggerated, hold true.<div><br /></div><div>The initial flavor, when one expects root beer, is a bit confusing. It has a strangely subtle fruitiness which I can't quite explain (looking at the ingredients, I now see "apple juice" and "apple cider vinegar" listed, which likely gives it that flavor). Seeing those ingredients might also explain the tangy sensation with the vinegar. It's such a strange flavor combination, I don't quite know how to describe them. It's not bad, exactly, but I don't know that I particularly like it, especially as far as root beers go. There is a little bit of that rooty sassafras flavor in there, which becomes a more prominent as the initial flavors fade into the aftertaste. It also has a vanilla taste that grows stronger as an aftertaste.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carbonation is fairly good, maintaining a decent fizz throughout the can. I tend to prefer my CO2 quite prickly, which this is a drink with smaller, less aggressive bubbles, but it does a decent job. The smaller bubbles don't froth a whole lot, which leaves it a little short on that bubbly creaminess I really like in my root beers, but something in the drink is leaving a thicker, creamier sensation behind. As for sweetness, I'm usually a bit skeptical of drinks sweetened with agave and Stevia, but the blend with cane sugar here works well, with no unusual sweetness related flavors I can detect. With only 5g of sugar (about 1/8 the usual amount), if leaves a much cleaner sensation behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a bit puzzled on how I should rate this. It's not a great root beer, but it's fairly decent as a "healthy" probiotic beverage. I wouldn't mind having it again, but if I'm putting it purely into the context of a root beer, it's certainly not one I'd seek out again. So when you see the lower score, just keep in mind that I think it's a moderately decent Prebiotic soda (and not some awful swamp water sludge), but not exactly a great root beer. But, if I had to keep my sugar or calorie intake low, I do think it beats most diet root beer options and would likely be one of my low sugar picks.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> C-<br />flavor: D+<br />aftertaste: C-<br />sweetness: A-<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: B</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpvaAdfRTOkwuHLXolyBc3nhPOM7kN9qaK6yGsqCAQTVsSgftAtkeZHWopYUvMRcEF9xa2UqPMAMPuewhEo159sfdWEWOuXX2WRTT9eEn6IQLQoU6J07-oZLTv_QltmwjXuUG4Wv5oT2hsC6rZu8XvLMia3p14B67kPACeuAMbQ13RnJng7BkDWHZ1RoN/s3456/IMG_20230809_210439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpvaAdfRTOkwuHLXolyBc3nhPOM7kN9qaK6yGsqCAQTVsSgftAtkeZHWopYUvMRcEF9xa2UqPMAMPuewhEo159sfdWEWOuXX2WRTT9eEn6IQLQoU6J07-oZLTv_QltmwjXuUG4Wv5oT2hsC6rZu8XvLMia3p14B67kPACeuAMbQ13RnJng7BkDWHZ1RoN/w200-h200/IMG_20230809_210439.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-36356397860747346242023-10-20T17:36:00.002-07:002023-10-20T17:36:00.161-07:00Twisted Root Burger Co. root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpEDtBxnlgO9VNTSzWbgYpN8rK_8VVhirES5aahN7nDJKbOUQLLe6bliGSX33rrdIRljDEWXXe8VNfTbjuxybdF-2hyphenhyphen1Xb_qCblp9qNvkZMMn45D02jZMqcDoxvqCu0WN79MNoUu48vgj8ZDKWarclZSQreAFVlrWe1-KR5GRjk-pJpKzWShLVSfUEjeq/s4608/IMG_20230521_120612.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpEDtBxnlgO9VNTSzWbgYpN8rK_8VVhirES5aahN7nDJKbOUQLLe6bliGSX33rrdIRljDEWXXe8VNfTbjuxybdF-2hyphenhyphen1Xb_qCblp9qNvkZMMn45D02jZMqcDoxvqCu0WN79MNoUu48vgj8ZDKWarclZSQreAFVlrWe1-KR5GRjk-pJpKzWShLVSfUEjeq/w300-h400/IMG_20230521_120612.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>With high-quality made-to-order burgers, a ‘come as you are’ environment and a strange reverence for Chuck Norris, there’s no place else quite like Twisted Root. Way back before ‘gourmet burgers’ was a thing, Chefs Jason Boso & Quincy Hart decided to build a restaurant around half-pound, fresh ground burgers with a menu that allowed customers to build their own burgers with a list of crazy and inventive toppings. The two met in culinary school, after jobs in stock brokerages and telephone line repair. After paying their dues working the line at The Four Seasons & Pappas Bros, Jason & Quincy finally opened Twisted Root Burger Co. in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, Texas in 2006. Twisted Root appeared on the second season of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri (2009) and suddenly Twisted Root was a dining destination in Dallas. While Twisted Root Burger Co. has seen incredible growth, Jason & Quincy have stuck to their roots and their senses of humor, using a hands-on approach to high-quality, fresh food in an casual atmosphere with tons of personality."</i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> Fountain drink. Dallas, TX. <a href="https://twistedrootburgerco.com/">https://twistedrootburgerco.com/</a></p><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>n/a<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I don't usually test fountain drinks, but since this isn't available any other way and I've lately run low on new root beers, I figured it was time to branch out. Unlike their <a href="https://kyledrinksrootbeer.blogspot.com/2023/10/twisted-root-burger-co-banana-cream-pie.html">banana cream pie</a> version, this is dominated by a sickly sour, fruity taste, though there is a decent rooty sassafras flavor. There might be a faint hint of mintiness, but it's hard to tell (disclaimer: I tried this root beer after eating my burger, which had a very strong garlic sauce, so my taste buds aren't quite as attuned as when I normally test the root beers). Aftertaste is a bit watery and thin.<div><br /></div><div>Having come out of the same spigot as their banana cream pie root beer, I was unsurprised to find the carbonation equally disappointing, with a major lack of effervescence. I don't care for the level of sweetness, perhaps the sickly sweet flavor lending the overall sweetness a feeling of being overbearing. There is no real creaminess to speak of, in spite of it being a banana *cream* variation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I should have stuck with their banana cream pie flavor they were offering at the time, as it was a far superior root beer experience, even if that one wasn't stellar by any means. The poor carbonation, bad flavor, and unappealing sweetness all combine to make this a root beer I never need to try again. But if you ever find yourself in the area, it's well worth stopping in for their delicious burgers!</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">D+</span><br />flavor: D<br />aftertaste: C-<br />sweetness: C-<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: D+</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrRLcfRQnYAP9CgYG0k5ZFnZak7MMUMtDqweBpC-AO2H3kJrMV5tnkQ_jsDUCYl0T7TZ2ovTVDVwYO6oo7kR6s8HsENggBCnDaQnCAoNvI5qOz2-jf5LwSN14DuukxLH5myxdqi_VMJfyrTxv4WXy55FlsxQnf-UkI8nI7l5A1HLnkupVC_wvT3Bum9g/s4608/IMG_20230521_120344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrRLcfRQnYAP9CgYG0k5ZFnZak7MMUMtDqweBpC-AO2H3kJrMV5tnkQ_jsDUCYl0T7TZ2ovTVDVwYO6oo7kR6s8HsENggBCnDaQnCAoNvI5qOz2-jf5LwSN14DuukxLH5myxdqi_VMJfyrTxv4WXy55FlsxQnf-UkI8nI7l5A1HLnkupVC_wvT3Bum9g/s320/IMG_20230521_120344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-8855092980775614532023-10-09T17:29:00.005-07:002023-10-09T17:29:56.589-07:00Twisted Root Burger Co. Banana Cream Pie root beer<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopX0XHLQfFg5mEY9ddPK-uUwzEHGg1xcLhgQITdW8L1IVpP_BVMnnNAq5BDFYRdVRdYdW7x0gDeAPUDEY9umPa28GkhFlLB2mMNRuCtPFT6SmZKPwMa9QOvIftxL2Vi13MkSYYrAtsUj6g-f5wkMKWQcuiLQZuDe5o14wFWkHAnRUjPyrc73JLV_86hCo/s4608/IMG_20230521_114223__01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopX0XHLQfFg5mEY9ddPK-uUwzEHGg1xcLhgQITdW8L1IVpP_BVMnnNAq5BDFYRdVRdYdW7x0gDeAPUDEY9umPa28GkhFlLB2mMNRuCtPFT6SmZKPwMa9QOvIftxL2Vi13MkSYYrAtsUj6g-f5wkMKWQcuiLQZuDe5o14wFWkHAnRUjPyrc73JLV_86hCo/w300-h400/IMG_20230521_114223__01.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>With high-quality made-to-order burgers, a ‘come as you are’ environment and a strange reverence for Chuck Norris, there’s no place else quite like Twisted Root. Way back before ‘gourmet burgers’ was a thing, Chefs Jason Boso & Quincy Hart decided to build a restaurant around half-pound, fresh ground burgers with a menu that allowed customers to build their own burgers with a list of crazy and inventive toppings. The two met in culinary school, after jobs in stock brokerages and telephone line repair. After paying their dues working the line at The Four Seasons & Pappas Bros, Jason & Quincy finally opened Twisted Root Burger Co. in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, Texas in 2006. Twisted Root appeared on the second season of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri (2009) and suddenly Twisted Root was a dining destination in Dallas. While Twisted Root Burger Co. has seen incredible growth, Jason & Quincy have stuck to their roots and their senses of humor, using a hands-on approach to high-quality, fresh food in an casual atmosphere with tons of personality."</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> Fountain drink. Dallas, TX. <a href="https://twistedrootburgerco.com/">https://twistedrootburgerco.com/</a></p><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>n/a<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I'm typically not a fan of banana flavor, so I was surprised to find that I liked this one. While their regular root beer was dominated by a sickly sour, fruity taste, this suffers no such fate. The rooty sassafras isn't quite as strong, but still present, but the interesting flavor is the banana cream. The banana does remind me a little of the banana Runts candy taste, but surprisingly it mixes well with root beer. There might be a faint hint of mintiness, but it's hard to tell (disclaimer: I tried this root beer after eating my burger, which had a very strong garlic sauce, so my taste buds aren't quite as attuned as when I normally test the root beers). Aftertaste is a bit watery and thin, mostly highlighting the banana cream.<div><br /></div><div>Having come out of the same spigot as their regular root beer, I was unsurprised to find the carbonation equally disappointing, with a major lack of effervescence. Unlike the regular root beer, I found that with the lack of the sickly sour sweetness, this offers a pleasant level of sweetness. I thought perhaps the banana cream would make it too much, but the lack of a syrupy coating left me with a positive impression. There is no real creaminess to speak of, in spite of it being a banana *cream* variation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm glad I gave this flavor a try after my meal, as it's a superior offering over the regular root beer. The lack of carbonation really holds this back from being a better drink, however.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B-</span><br />flavor: B<br />aftertaste: B-<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: D+</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrRLcfRQnYAP9CgYG0k5ZFnZak7MMUMtDqweBpC-AO2H3kJrMV5tnkQ_jsDUCYl0T7TZ2ovTVDVwYO6oo7kR6s8HsENggBCnDaQnCAoNvI5qOz2-jf5LwSN14DuukxLH5myxdqi_VMJfyrTxv4WXy55FlsxQnf-UkI8nI7l5A1HLnkupVC_wvT3Bum9g/s4608/IMG_20230521_120344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbrRLcfRQnYAP9CgYG0k5ZFnZak7MMUMtDqweBpC-AO2H3kJrMV5tnkQ_jsDUCYl0T7TZ2ovTVDVwYO6oo7kR6s8HsENggBCnDaQnCAoNvI5qOz2-jf5LwSN14DuukxLH5myxdqi_VMJfyrTxv4WXy55FlsxQnf-UkI8nI7l5A1HLnkupVC_wvT3Bum9g/s320/IMG_20230521_120344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-81001620679808983022023-04-24T14:45:00.006-07:002023-04-24T14:45:58.813-07:00Henry Weinhard's root beer (redux)<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUHRZBHvsyV_iCXhmmw7xRV3d8v3OWlVuxkV7tfChw7LQE8d98CK7i4uqLGnn7X2mI2Lq-YEsBAz4u99RIQHrPez76HkUBUXILINHeagFJ9-IfUbM7iGZhd07XO9CjjQpwmpALVnCMjSfTMVYuBw89vwfLs2pyCQZgQwX3SvAJHPWU4lJlJ7829YqJg/s4608/IMG_20230424_115823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUHRZBHvsyV_iCXhmmw7xRV3d8v3OWlVuxkV7tfChw7LQE8d98CK7i4uqLGnn7X2mI2Lq-YEsBAz4u99RIQHrPez76HkUBUXILINHeagFJ9-IfUbM7iGZhd07XO9CjjQpwmpALVnCMjSfTMVYuBw89vwfLs2pyCQZgQwX3SvAJHPWU4lJlJ7829YqJg/w300-h400/IMG_20230424_115823.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>In 1851, Henry journeyed from Germany to Portland with a love of beer. He loved it so much, he got a job in a brewery and began concocting his own recipes before deciding to go out on his own.</i><p></p><p><i>He was an eccentric man with an unmatched passion for bringing people together. He once offered to pump free beer through Skidmore Fountain to celebrate its unveiling, only to be turned down by the people in charge of the town who feared for rowdy horses.</i></p><p><i>It’s a story we love, and we often use it to remember to take a moment every now and then and be a little less like those in charge of Skidmore, and a bit more like Henry.</i></p><p><i>In 1920, Prohibition happened. Instead of giving up, as was expected, we spun our situation, switching from suds to sodas to stay afloat. We briefly left alcohol behind to carefully craft bottles of bubbles filled with flavor. It was the Henry thing to do, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.</i>"</p><p></p><p>Note: While the bottles used to list "honey essence" as an ingredient, it's no longer mentioned. The website does say, however, that "Out root beer is a truly great American original and has stayed the same since forever. We mix the finest sassafras, vanilla and honey to create a soda that's anything but ordinary." A couple thoughts on that: honey is supposedly still used but removed as a separate ingredient from the label and their claim that it's "stayed the same since forever" is categorically false, as they not only changed over from high fructose corn syrup sometime in the past 10 years to cane sugar (an upgrade, IMO), but sassafras -which was originally used in root beers- was banned in food in the 1960's, so they would have also changed over from real sassafras in the original Prohibition-era recipe to artificial sassafras (or possibly safrole-free sassafras, I haven't seen anybody making that distinction in their ingredients or ad copy).</p><p><br /></p><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Blitz-Weinhard Gourmet Soda Company, Fort Worth, TX 76134. 180 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.henryweinhards.com/">https://www.henryweinhards.com/</a></p><div><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavor (caramel color, acacia gum, potassium sorbate (preservative)), sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), phosphoric acid.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Having first discovered Henry Weinhard's root beer over 25 years ago, it quickly became my go-to, A-grade root beer by which all others were judged and was the subject of <a href="http://kyledrinksrootbeer.blogspot.com/2012/10/henry-weinhard-root-beer.html">my very first root beer review</a> over a decade ago. For a good portion of that time, their "sweetened (partially) by honey" was one of the things that stood out in the crowded root beer market, but recently I noticed they had changed the formulation and it no longer claims "honey" in any form on the ingredients label (though I notice they still claim honey on their website), but has also swapped high fructose corn syrup for cane sugar. In the light of these changes from their older formulation, I thought I would give it another review and see if it's held up and if they had improved on the slightly less than average carbonation.<div><br /></div><div>I like the blend of spices that they use in this root beer. It has an immediate, rooty sassafras taste, but the other flavors come through nicely, with some wintergreen and vanilla coming through. This isn't the most complex root beer profile, lacking hints of things like clove, cinnamon, and anise that I've come to enjoy over the years, but it's still a solid root beer. The aftertaste doesn't reveal anything hiding underneath the initial flavor.</div><div><br /></div><div>The carbonation is a bit on the weak side, though it doesn't necessarily feel like it's flat. Remember, I'm a fan of the big, aggressive bubbles and this has a smoother, calmer effervescence. It's not bad, but like the original, is lacking a little over what a "C" average root beer should be doing. Speaking of smooth, I like how this one has a pretty creamy texture to it. I wasn't expecting it as usually the creamier root beers list yucca root as an ingredient, something this one doesn't have listed. While this has dropped honey extract, it did replace the high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar. I haven't had the older formulation for some time, so I can't make an assessment as to how it's changed, but I will say that it never felt overly syrupy and felt appropriately sweet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know why "honey" has been taken off the labeling since the website still claims they "mix the finest sassafras, vanilla and honey...", but whatever they've changed Henry Weinhard's root beer still holds up decently well. Even back before I had tested all these root beers, I knew it wasn't the most complex flavor profile, though now in hindsight that's even more obvious. But fortunately, what it does do flavor-wise it still gets right. It may be slightly on the simpler side, but it's still deserving of finding a place on your buy list. In retrospect, it maybe didn't quite deserve the straight "A" I originally awarded it, so I'm knocking it down slightly to an "A-" here in this review.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">A-</span><br />flavor: A<br />aftertaste: A-<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: A-<br />carbonation: C-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEtS49zoMlTurag1SgInSA0UJM3fKp9W9ngTr1QWNhrecJOo9HclNxs1BI4he93kB5ZUU8R4T0H56jbsVVCcT9CxeoDcsKDp2cRMrbAnfm3Q-S9KOTo9H4kSCjgqaZtCXk8OWm7mVZMXRnf-sA4_L9QlIQF3NiyCEox5BFJwoYWmqMwWFiRSO_0bRpg/s2228/IMG_20230424_120002__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2228" data-original-width="2228" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEtS49zoMlTurag1SgInSA0UJM3fKp9W9ngTr1QWNhrecJOo9HclNxs1BI4he93kB5ZUU8R4T0H56jbsVVCcT9CxeoDcsKDp2cRMrbAnfm3Q-S9KOTo9H4kSCjgqaZtCXk8OWm7mVZMXRnf-sA4_L9QlIQF3NiyCEox5BFJwoYWmqMwWFiRSO_0bRpg/w200-h200/IMG_20230424_120002__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-44575107779808965722023-02-12T19:10:00.002-08:002023-04-19T12:41:23.097-07:00Summit root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNThS9bscV2svz6ayDfskaX9pOs9fDFP_s3ChJgMl7B3qVzbHh0gmIEIfxZm22JeDWsqYl_2BN1hO-2AfQWcMX9EIq_-IIfeSyjvMGzP7HLNGqdwsdD9dHbzNvZtyMLfSOuiT2newa4wpbuTanzO_axqFaE6oPE-db4h3z5HcwrCBNjtXTF5QdLV_GFQ/s4608/IMG_20230122_152020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNThS9bscV2svz6ayDfskaX9pOs9fDFP_s3ChJgMl7B3qVzbHh0gmIEIfxZm22JeDWsqYl_2BN1hO-2AfQWcMX9EIq_-IIfeSyjvMGzP7HLNGqdwsdD9dHbzNvZtyMLfSOuiT2newa4wpbuTanzO_axqFaE6oPE-db4h3z5HcwrCBNjtXTF5QdLV_GFQ/w300-h400/IMG_20230122_152020.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world’s first discount grocery store in Germany. 16 years later in 1976, we opened our first ALDI store in Iowa. Today, with our ALDI headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, we have grown to more than 2,000 stores across 36 states with over 25,000 employees.</i>"<p></p><p>The root beer is a seasonally available item.</p><div><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Dist. & sold exclusively by: Aldi, Batavia, IL 60510. 160 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.aldi.us/en/products/seasonal-products/seasonal-detail/ps/p/summit-ginger-beer-or-root-beer-4pk/">www.aldi.us</a></p><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, pure cane sugar, sodium benzoate (preservative), citric acid, natural and artificial flavors.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I've recently discovered the cost saving grocer, Aldi. Little did I know they had their own root beer until I was browsing the aisles the other day and came across one I hadn't seen before. The great question is, will this root beer reflect its basement bargain origins, or will it punch above its grocery store weight? We shall see directly!<div><br /></div><div>This one has a prominent mint flavor right out of the gate, which usually isn't something I care for, as they often seem a bit toothpasty for me. But this one manages to have a fairly strong mint without the dental care feel. This is likely helped by the strong, rooty sassafras flavor that follows right behind. There isn't a whole lot of separation of the spices, so I'm not picking out anything specific beyond vanilla. The aftertaste is pleasant, with the flavor sticking around for quite a while.</div><div><br /></div><div>All's not totally well, as the carbonation is a bit of a letdown. It doesn't come across flat, but the CO2 is definitely subdued and the bubbles don't prickle on the tongue, so it's moderately weak. On the plus side, it seems nice and creamy, no doubt aided by the less than exuberant effervescent qualities. But the creaminess isn't just a lack of carbonation, but offers a semi-thick feel, almost like a little bit of vanilla ice cream has been mixed in. Sweetness is on point, as the thicker, creamy feel might make it prone to leaving an overly sugary coating in my mouth, but it doesn't leave that sort of feeling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, color me impressed. This is a stout root beer, offering hardy flavor and a nicely creamy sensation. It isn't the most complex flavor palate, but I think it offers a good root beer experience. The main thing really holding it back is the less than stellar carbonation, which could use a bit more kick to it. I'd certainly recommend giving this one a try if you come across it.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B+</span><br />flavor: A-<br />aftertaste: A-<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: A<br />carbonation: C-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDypJM6_aWc_gR4XRJkFBpgMYl_y5pNtgAAzjjIQ2icGda1ZcUcoLTNAGe9Nwc1dcU3Fh0S5K7ygh4cy8a1DM8h_AoPueCKLDbMrFRhKFq3ttfDFWm1sqnxbeoMIC7JkgZeGNO8UbUTpOgaxLb5TPHrWDOxg7uOMwaf43KSVsQz9TQJTkfdkLvNgCr0w/s2016/IMG_20230122_152105__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="2016" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDypJM6_aWc_gR4XRJkFBpgMYl_y5pNtgAAzjjIQ2icGda1ZcUcoLTNAGe9Nwc1dcU3Fh0S5K7ygh4cy8a1DM8h_AoPueCKLDbMrFRhKFq3ttfDFWm1sqnxbeoMIC7JkgZeGNO8UbUTpOgaxLb5TPHrWDOxg7uOMwaf43KSVsQz9TQJTkfdkLvNgCr0w/w200-h200/IMG_20230122_152105__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-82914307936053075452023-01-09T19:44:00.002-08:002023-02-12T18:26:06.509-08:00Zia root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0kYd-7FG0bGz37KW5q7zU74N7C1clwYOOmj0GnIKs5HP7AKC3jOifaVfZyL42JZd-eAoxgB2irKgjxuFVcqLlv-BlfoOk1TWT7p6j1kDws6hnsdAPg9kDtouATCvAWKm3NppqH9GlV7FTkCLL5pLINoKD248qSoEdHP4L-4HQe9-ikU1EW-3YpZuXQ/s4608/IMG_20221224_110935.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0kYd-7FG0bGz37KW5q7zU74N7C1clwYOOmj0GnIKs5HP7AKC3jOifaVfZyL42JZd-eAoxgB2irKgjxuFVcqLlv-BlfoOk1TWT7p6j1kDws6hnsdAPg9kDtouATCvAWKm3NppqH9GlV7FTkCLL5pLINoKD248qSoEdHP4L-4HQe9-ikU1EW-3YpZuXQ/w300-h400/IMG_20221224_110935.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> There's not much info on this company and their website seems to be mostly non-functional at the time I'm writing this. But from the web, what I'm able to piece together is that they are an "all natural" beverage company specializing in energy drinks.<div><br /><p><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Zia Vida LLC, Taos, NM 87571. 148 calories, 39g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.ziabev.com/">www.ziabev.com</a></p><div><div><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Filtered carbonated water, cane sugar, anise, licorice, clove, mint, yucca root, madagascar bourbon vanilla, citric acid.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> With the label proudly listing Yucca, licorice & vanilla on the front, I'm not sure what to expect. Looking at the ingredients, we get both anise and licorice, which have a similar taste and could result in a double whammy of the black licorice taste I don't particularly like.<div><br /></div><div>I'll admit, this is a somewhat interesting flavor profile. The typical rooty sassafras taste is a lot weaker than normal, with the mint coming across super strong and drowning out a lot of the other flavors. One of the oddest things is that the main flavor slips away quickly, in a way that I can almost feel it just slide down my throat. I don't know that I've had a sensation quite like it. At first I thought the aftertaste was almost entirely mint, but as I savored the flavors, I began to make out the licorice/anise and the clove came through, with the latter providing a more complex flavor profile than I'm used to tasting. I'm happy to report that the double "black licorice" ingredient list didn't result in a very strong flavor. Throughout the whole experience there's a vanilla presence. I think this would be one stellar root beer if the mint didn't overwhelm everything else quite so thoroughly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hate to say it, but when it comes to carbonation this one is a complete and utter fail. There is the barest hint of carbonation, but that's it. It's almost completely flat. In spite of the absence of any effervescent qualities, the yucca root provides a slightly creamy sensation, but there's only so much it can do all by itself, as there are no bubbles to froth things up at all. But not all is lost, as this is one of the best root beers I've come across when it comes to sweetness. It leaves a cleaner feeling in my mouth than usual, but has a proper amount of sweetness to it. I attribute part of this clean feeling to not only the sugar levels, but how quickly the flavor disappears, leaving less of a trace behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a bit conflicted on how to rate this. I like the subtle spices they're using but it's so overpowered by mint. The usual rooty flavor you expect is also a little on the weak side and dissipates way too quickly. The overall flavor, mint notwithstanding, is pretty good, but fleeting. I might be able to overlook that quirk, but the near complete absence of carbonation on top of that is a huge disappointment. If they fixed even just the carbonation aspect, I'd be much more likely to cut it some slack, as I like that they aren't just delivering a generic flavor profile, but have a bit more interesting spice mix. In its current state, however, it's very hard to recommend.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">C-</span><br />flavor: B+<br />aftertaste: A-<br />sweetness: A+<br />smoothness: B<br />carbonation: F-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gIiUHHRwIg-JXCTynhT71uFD8SFg8F716SQd_zdC0ERDQlGGSj4lY5nkqfMcP7USzyqfsC6QHjvy4jb6t6WsRfHhdRWXpnoRNmA5A53cWRR_XSv4bPhMGr-FPJ7f0aCW8rz8RSrFINRGvzcAFiOd78lFLDHOSdL-EacPNdyI8bRWTlC986oNf0dQBQ/s2085/IMG_20221224_111020__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="2085" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gIiUHHRwIg-JXCTynhT71uFD8SFg8F716SQd_zdC0ERDQlGGSj4lY5nkqfMcP7USzyqfsC6QHjvy4jb6t6WsRfHhdRWXpnoRNmA5A53cWRR_XSv4bPhMGr-FPJ7f0aCW8rz8RSrFINRGvzcAFiOd78lFLDHOSdL-EacPNdyI8bRWTlC986oNf0dQBQ/w200-h200/IMG_20221224_111020__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-13251900581936076112023-01-03T11:52:00.004-08:002023-01-03T11:52:00.213-08:00Soda Beers root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaVRUaJVQQMBud3oLbp6kqYxmwsXA-gjWZhg6uB4GzBGH9qFWiBEYDrpbyVnZm_KWDw5sK2C5LKrV6g4sW1U9JoYpgwWqgJZs5Q-cevE1IESte44U7yUoiQQY4yr1V9nLZxsawN0-fQAX3SM8zOUyATPK4T7Hrts7JvfW8zTv2xyhSIb3ArP6kjlWyg/s4608/IMG_20221224_111246.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaVRUaJVQQMBud3oLbp6kqYxmwsXA-gjWZhg6uB4GzBGH9qFWiBEYDrpbyVnZm_KWDw5sK2C5LKrV6g4sW1U9JoYpgwWqgJZs5Q-cevE1IESte44U7yUoiQQY4yr1V9nLZxsawN0-fQAX3SM8zOUyATPK4T7Hrts7JvfW8zTv2xyhSIb3ArP6kjlWyg/w300-h400/IMG_20221224_111246.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>A German soft drink developed over a century ago by Bavarian Brewmeisters, called Fassbrause, was prepared using fruits and spices and stored in wooden kegs. When served it poured like a beer, with a thick foamy head, but without any alcohol.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We brought the Fassbrause tradition to the Rocky Mountains in the 1960’s, combined with high-quality ingredients, and Apple Beer was born!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Our family operation is focused on flavor. We bottle Apple Beer using all-natural ingredients and pure cane sugar. The result is a fruity, crisp, alcohol-free drink with a clean finish that can be consumed alone or used as a delicious base for mixed drinks.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We first expanded the Apple Beer line with the Apple Beer FIVE. This delicious 5-calorie drink is made with Acai Berry and Ginseng and delivers a refreshing guilt-free taste.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><i>We recently launched two new flavors - in 2018 our Ginger Beer and in 2019 our Root Beer. The growing family of beverages gave birth to the SodaBeers brand, soft drinks that employ similar methods to produce a variety of unique soda beers. Along with our four current sodas, we are pleased to announce the addition of Butterscotch Beer—coming to stores in 2021.</i>"<div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Bottled Under Authority of the Apple Beer, Corp., Holladay, Utah 84117. 180 calories, 44g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.sodabeers.com">www.sodabeers.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Quillaja Extract.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> "Family owned" brings to mind a smaller operation, one that might be willing to take a few more risks to stand out from the corporate behemoths that flood the store shelves with their products. Hopefully this is one of those stand outs that rises above the average. I've consumed their Apple Beer before on many occasion and really like it, so am looking forward to their take on a classic.<div><br /></div><div>The initial flavor is nice and strong, with a very obvious rooty sassafras taste and vanilla. It does have a minor hint of wintergreen in the main flavor which becomes more apparent in the aftertaste. I like the initial mint flavor, but am not the biggest fan of it being so overpowering, leaving little room for other subtle flavors in the aftertaste.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carbonation is not something this one lacks, having a good kick to my tongue. The bubbles stay strong throughout the bottle. One thing I really like is that even though it's quite prickly, it foams up into a creamy, smooth feeling that nicely balances out the strong effervescence. As far as sweetness, it's just ever so slightly more sugary feeling than what I deem perfect, but certainly doesn't cross over into being syrupy.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a pretty good root beer with some great attributes, but it ultimately plays it safe with the formula. Where it lacks is in the more subtle flavors and a bit too much mint for my sensibilities. If you are one that loves the wintergreen aspect, then this one may be a winner for you. If a bottle came around I wouldn't have any qualms giving it a drink.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B+</span><br />flavor: B+<br />aftertaste: B<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: A<br />carbonation: A</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2wjH64V3Rps0NN1icIaiWMgUTryWvnf-8DwOOn6MzB1wM-x1GiWYaqJkVMMb-d9I3iex-503VEG6DVCW9u9nR0xoyBOkdg-pckyifUNE2qFWlftkOv7uhAHbk_uWxg0T6aKpCm25LZoZDKrc39tD8sMBlqoVgE8hiKUXjXd08xxXGr42PITuYjuO1A/s2207/IMG_20221224_111318__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2207" data-original-width="2207" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2wjH64V3Rps0NN1icIaiWMgUTryWvnf-8DwOOn6MzB1wM-x1GiWYaqJkVMMb-d9I3iex-503VEG6DVCW9u9nR0xoyBOkdg-pckyifUNE2qFWlftkOv7uhAHbk_uWxg0T6aKpCm25LZoZDKrc39tD8sMBlqoVgE8hiKUXjXd08xxXGr42PITuYjuO1A/s320/IMG_20221224_111318__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-61272421196749512982022-12-20T19:16:00.002-08:002022-12-24T11:51:58.843-08:00Root Naturals Apothecary root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sV5OloxlVd2un3I7haYrPGi825wwtB-FGKg9Gam5ENBuh8cR1_1oCcFiLJt8tK0VWm5pJ7xH_G-RD7GRoE-yklZXzip-YzhZk64gNfT7FYDHlNBM76SxX1UQnHfEPfpyVu1yukawS6a-7Pz13e8H_BNL8VHj6QXgUpRskn0iRI3K7l5hHqD5tGtRsQ/s4608/IMG_20221125_145041.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sV5OloxlVd2un3I7haYrPGi825wwtB-FGKg9Gam5ENBuh8cR1_1oCcFiLJt8tK0VWm5pJ7xH_G-RD7GRoE-yklZXzip-YzhZk64gNfT7FYDHlNBM76SxX1UQnHfEPfpyVu1yukawS6a-7Pz13e8H_BNL8VHj6QXgUpRskn0iRI3K7l5hHqD5tGtRsQ/w300-h400/IMG_20221125_145041.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>The year was 1937, the country was in the midst of the Great Depression and the entire City of Cincinnati was flooded as the Spring waters jumped the banks of the Ohio river. It was in this bleak setting that a young Deno Spaccarelli (pictured below!), perhaps acting on the challenge of President Roosevelt that there was “nothing to fear but fear itself” decided to open his first apothecary on Erie Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati. It was here that he would compound custom prescriptions in the pharmacy and custom sodas at the fountain. And that is where our story begins. Eight decades later when the last Deno Apothecary was closed and the books were settled, we set out to keep the family tradition alive by bottling our apothecary sodas for all the world to taste.</i>"<p></p><p></p><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Root Naturals, 9891 Montgomery Road #115, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242. 160 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://rootbeverage.com/">www.rootbeverage.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Triple filtered carbonated water, cane sugar, botanical extract blend, natural flavor, caramelized cane sugar.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I like the marketing on the label for the "botanical extract blend" and calling it an "apothecary craft soda," as this brings to my mind rich, complex flavors that go beyond the basic rooty sassafras, vanilla, and wintergreen combo that so many employ. I'm hoping they mix things up with a few more of the lesser used spices, so we'll see if they deliver or not.<div><br /></div><div>This has a strong, rooty sassafras flavor that has good flavor. There are hints of vanilla and wintergreen, though this one keeps the wintergreen a bit tamer, which I appreciate, not letting it dominate the taste. I feel like there are some other more subtle spices at work, but I'm not quite sure what they are. All I can say is that they lend a bit of a more sophisticated flavor profile than your usual root beer. The aftertaste is mostly a continuation of these flavors, though maybe I detect a hint of anise/black licorice? Maybe I'm imagining things as I search for the hidden flavors, but I would not be at all surprised to find out this is on the list of flavors they sparingly use.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a shame that a good flavor like this is paired with such a weak carbonation. It's a pretty flat root beer with only a smattering of bubbles, which shifts into almost entire flatness about 2/3rds of the way into the bottle. It's very disappointing. Sweetness is just about perfect, with a very minimal sugary feeling being left behind relative to other sodas. The flatness makes it pretty smooth to drink, but it doesn't have any of that frothy creaminess that make for a top tier soda. And anyway, having carbonation is kind of a key component to this aspect.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like what they are doing with the flavor, but the root beer experience is really shattered by the incredibly weak carbonation. Fix the carbonation problem and this becomes a much better root beer, but in its current state, it's not something I'd seek out again.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B</span><br />flavor: A-<br />aftertaste: A-<br />sweetness: A<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: D-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkh1rTZthptVW-p17etDHAQpYnSEif4MMGdWZkg0Cb58A9SbjyjfyvkXd2loIEjD4aZT_XoJAvoPfThzqYzu0kzf3uTj-LWKoRCK7sGFacPhFf8JkISuvpaNK92XSO6NrdvDvPoogIBcsPOFIiwKBDJepsIg-NDsymYzGojgA0cWmLzTBss4X6HXEKA/s2118/IMG_20221125_145120__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2118" data-original-width="2118" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkh1rTZthptVW-p17etDHAQpYnSEif4MMGdWZkg0Cb58A9SbjyjfyvkXd2loIEjD4aZT_XoJAvoPfThzqYzu0kzf3uTj-LWKoRCK7sGFacPhFf8JkISuvpaNK92XSO6NrdvDvPoogIBcsPOFIiwKBDJepsIg-NDsymYzGojgA0cWmLzTBss4X6HXEKA/w200-h200/IMG_20221125_145120__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-62493055680263207342022-12-13T21:30:00.003-08:002022-12-13T21:35:44.380-08:00Oak Creek Blonde root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8qu1faxdJC8icZzSxz0fGUeNFEIbwiIu7xiceckHLDUkuLjgW47aAGRSSfEv4TYFwhiZ-xJpsK0THFZ_F7STBIkdT_pCUjAc_KMyW977aLaBt1gX75fwCyEZga_G9bfOY2vNowPSmvacl86fac5GaByT5-GuBiOzQbinJNmU5Z5Hb6zsTz0PzduLrw/s4608/IMG_20221125_144801.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8qu1faxdJC8icZzSxz0fGUeNFEIbwiIu7xiceckHLDUkuLjgW47aAGRSSfEv4TYFwhiZ-xJpsK0THFZ_F7STBIkdT_pCUjAc_KMyW977aLaBt1gX75fwCyEZga_G9bfOY2vNowPSmvacl86fac5GaByT5-GuBiOzQbinJNmU5Z5Hb6zsTz0PzduLrw/w300-h400/IMG_20221125_144801.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>Through a decade long journey, the team of Master Soda Craftsmen at OAK CREEK cultivated a unique process in which traditional sodas can be delivered in multiple varietals through time honored barrel aging techniques. This passion project was inspired and influenced by the rise of the barrel aged culture of wine, beer, and spirits. For the soda connoisseur with an eye for innovation and a thirst for a unique drinking experience, OAK CREEK Barrel Aged Sodas represent the next evolution of craft soda.</i><p></p><p><i>OAK CREEK uber-premium Root Beers are hand-crafted in American Oak barrels with a medium char which increases the oak’s influence on the color, aroma, flavor, and overall style. Naturally flavored and made with real sugar, each small batch of OAK CREEK Root Beer spends no less than ONE YEAR aging in the oak so that the full benefits can be drawn out and delivered to your glass.</i>"</p><div>(from the bottle): "<i>Barrel aged root beer is a traditional root beer turned upside down. Well, more like turned on its side and the aged in a medium-charred American Oak barrel. We're paying homage to the original soda fountains while elevating the process for the next Millenium. Share your vintage!</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>I noticed on this most recent bottle that it shows it's being made by the Sprecher Brewing Co. I'm not sure if they bought out Oak Creek or are just a manufacturer for Oak Creek now. No mention was made of Sprecher when I reviewed the regular <a href="https://kyledrinksrootbeer.blogspot.com/2021/12/oak-creek-root-beer.html">Oak Creek root beer</a> last year. The Blonde bottle I'm reviewing here, however, lists Sprecher as the manufacturer on the label as well as Sprecher's website instead of the <a href="https://www.oakcreekbarrelagedsodas.com/">www.oakcreekbarrelagedsodas.com</a> site that was on the non-blonde label.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Oak Creek website is loading very, very slowly as of this writing (I thought it was non-funtional at first, but after a minute or two finally loaded - though with some broken headers/images). In spite of the bottle pointing you to the Sprecher site, they make no mention of this root beer that I could find.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Sprecher Brewing Co. Glendale, WI 53209. 150 calories, 41g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="http://www.sprecherbrewery.com">www.sprecherbrewery.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, sugar, brown sugar, natural and artificial flavor, caramel color, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate (as a preservative), potassium sorbate.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> This is my second encounter with Oak Creek recently, with their last "regular" (non-blonde) root beer failing to impress. This one offers something a little different, however, with the label claiming "25% brown sugar/75% real sugar." I do like a well done, brown sugar sweetened root beer, so let's see if this gentleman [points to self with both thumbs] prefers blondes.<div><br /></div><div>Much like its non-blonde counterpart, the flavor is a bit weaker than I usually like. Not too terribly so, but I wouldn't mind a slight boost in the sassafras strength. Still mirroring the other root beer offering, it has an interesting flavor profile. Maybe it's just the "barrel aged" moniker putting it into my mind, but it does have a slight woody hint to it, reminding me of the sensation of when I eat a popsicle and my tongue licks the wooden stick. I think I like it, though. It's certainly different. The aftertaste doesn't seem to have the wintergreen or anise I was sensing from the non-blonde version, as the "woody" sensation becomes a little more prominent as the fairly basic rooty flavor fades away. I will say, this root beer does make me take more of a pause (in a good way) to experience the taste profile, as there's something going on that I'm not used to and can't quite figure out what it is. Perhaps it's the vanilla and brown sugar coming together at the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>The carbonation in this blonde version is pretty decent. It's not super aggressive, with a smaller bubble profile, but it seems to hold pretty consistent through the whole bottle. It doesn't have a foam or froth, so misses out on some of the finer creaminess points, coming in about average feeling. Interestingly, the brown sugar mix doesn't seem to add a ton to the flavor, but as noted above it might be adding a little flavor profile rather than beating me over the head with that taste. When it comes to the sweetness, I think it's dialed in fairly well, sweet, but not too cloyingly syrupy.</div><div><br /></div><div>This one is a tough one to rate. It has a lighter flavor than I usually care for, but there are some really interesting flavors going on underneath that I think benefit from not being overwhelmed by a super strong sassafras flavor. With the different approach here, I think this is a root beer all aficionados should try, even if I hesitate to call it one of the best. This is definitely one I'll need to circle back to and try again.</div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">A-</span><br />flavor: A-<br />aftertaste: A<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: C+<br />carbonation: B+</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTBMqXdnwjYxXyCuqUZ9_P4xlfq3cZvkBf0wkcdgsP4xJu-yVVZbF5rBTkZDbEUIdOPOGfs72jV9EZmtuycaD6ID5LNucBIRfRIPl_M-CC6_9NGzxfRtzrk7D53RJ3-FtFMi5ndhKW6ppJwyn0HdM2DlVG_UPuXLUyIzHsAQ6GrMbPcIEgJwcIXBPzQ/s2251/IMG_20221125_144844__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="2251" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTBMqXdnwjYxXyCuqUZ9_P4xlfq3cZvkBf0wkcdgsP4xJu-yVVZbF5rBTkZDbEUIdOPOGfs72jV9EZmtuycaD6ID5LNucBIRfRIPl_M-CC6_9NGzxfRtzrk7D53RJ3-FtFMi5ndhKW6ppJwyn0HdM2DlVG_UPuXLUyIzHsAQ6GrMbPcIEgJwcIXBPzQ/w200-h200/IMG_20221125_144844__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-29562420553914252952022-11-29T09:52:00.001-08:002022-11-29T09:52:00.207-08:00Otto's root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH1KHdXcxbrpNbxY9EpE33ndJ_B_JCZl0A4mFyiAvSn2xO00mBQfScURlILEwcT8ywJyy8xuBmMXDdG3bDhDFWd0uOYdqRWhKSLQyUMPCDWy4aRy7SFq_pjJZtBjYWfF4OYikaPjoySmeCgnv2fBznq2ow4C_uVpifB20Rk4a912dfGA4SXk5MUdbxQ/s4608/IMG_20220326_134742.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH1KHdXcxbrpNbxY9EpE33ndJ_B_JCZl0A4mFyiAvSn2xO00mBQfScURlILEwcT8ywJyy8xuBmMXDdG3bDhDFWd0uOYdqRWhKSLQyUMPCDWy4aRy7SFq_pjJZtBjYWfF4OYikaPjoySmeCgnv2fBznq2ow4C_uVpifB20Rk4a912dfGA4SXk5MUdbxQ/w300-h400/IMG_20220326_134742.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> Otto's is a brewery and distillery that makes both sodas and alcoholic beverages. The site doesn't really have any background information.<p></p><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Brewed and Bottled by Otto's Pub and Brewery, State College, PA. 180 calories, 45g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://www.ottos-barrel.com/">www.ottospubandbrewery.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, cane sugar, dark brown sugar, caramel color, gum arabic, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, citric acid, sodium benzoate, yucca extract, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Despite being a little creeped out by the Otto's mascot's mustache, I'm hoping that their pub and brewery expertise is better than their graphic design sensibilities. Just know that the creepy little guy kept staring at me as I drank the root beer. Sure, he's toasting some sort of festivities, but behind those beady eyes is the mind of a deranged serial killer, I'm sure of it.<div><br /></div><div>As far as root beers go, this one knows exactly what it is. There's a very strong root beer sassafras flavor. It's bold and good. Too often root beers are like, "I think I might want to be a root beer, but I'm not sure...so I'm just going to kind of do the flavor." Not here. Underneath the initial rooty flavor, I like what the brown sugar is doing. It's not as strong as some of the other brown sugar ones I've had, but I think the balance and slightly subtle molasses and vanilla/caramel taste is spot on. The aftertaste reveals a pleasant cooling wintergreen mint effect, with not too much mint flavor. Again, I like it when it doesn't feel like toothpaste minty, which this one happily avoids. I'll save that strong mint for when I'm brushing my teeth. probably my only knock against it is that it plays it a bit safe with the formula rather than trying anything super interesting with the spices. But sometimes I just want a solid root beer that's not trying to be too fancy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right out the gate, this isn't one of the aggressively carbonated root beers, but has a crisp, bubbly feel to it that only slightly prickles the tongue. This really comes down to personal preference, where I prefer the large bubbles of carbonation that attack my tongue, but this one is pretty dang good. I never felt like it was too flat. Sweetness is great, if not ever so slightly on the sugary side. I think this has to do with brown sugar feeling a bit thicker, but it's a tradeoff I'm more than happy to make. Finally, Otto's does have a creamy sensation, helped a bit by the vanilla flavor I'm sure, but it went down nice and smooth. Again, not a top-tier performer for creaminess, but much better than your average root beer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite Otto being a complete creep, I just turned the bottle around so he faced away and couldn't stare at me with those eyes while I enjoyed the root beer. This one does a lot of things right and I would gladly recommend giving it a try.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">A-</span><br />flavor: A<br />aftertaste: A-<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: B+<br />carbonation: A</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dun6nF_y7S3oAmO5GJG5OTabUNWMPF9ACWY8TgfI-cvtRPdji1jIq5zPbp-6WaDJG5VIuzbVygfGNanZbqFW37q9Y2-qeVM3J4ZaASWyBJkUM1bdP1wTVo6AKyz0MWTThADOGHv_DexR81o5A8awd65MJQodeL1vLPFzYclrpp9asCj1VwNoFMkyEA/s2299/IMG_20220326_134906__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="2299" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dun6nF_y7S3oAmO5GJG5OTabUNWMPF9ACWY8TgfI-cvtRPdji1jIq5zPbp-6WaDJG5VIuzbVygfGNanZbqFW37q9Y2-qeVM3J4ZaASWyBJkUM1bdP1wTVo6AKyz0MWTThADOGHv_DexR81o5A8awd65MJQodeL1vLPFzYclrpp9asCj1VwNoFMkyEA/w200-h200/IMG_20220326_134906__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-62744278043487172922022-11-26T15:48:00.000-08:002022-11-26T15:48:35.165-08:00Chumlee root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-OjdFVv3rC3L4wei8ELTxgbaxrLB5vrKX6kG02qrCo-mszX7aTzzTV-P1ToOCyvROOiJDGIGqMIUsD_SckZWwL7Qpzdzkujdcy_55xXS5To66pQkqFxdQTy8j0_jkSQcYrwarJl1I3Sg6-OoCoBY3aAdzV5Rt5Asy1DYwSka0HFfGJ063A9KdSw8Ew/s4608/IMG_20221125_145437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-OjdFVv3rC3L4wei8ELTxgbaxrLB5vrKX6kG02qrCo-mszX7aTzzTV-P1ToOCyvROOiJDGIGqMIUsD_SckZWwL7Qpzdzkujdcy_55xXS5To66pQkqFxdQTy8j0_jkSQcYrwarJl1I3Sg6-OoCoBY3aAdzV5Rt5Asy1DYwSka0HFfGJ063A9KdSw8Ew/w300-h400/IMG_20221125_145437.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br />Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC was founded in 2007 by Robert (Rob) Powells and Ryan Morgan and in 2012 Rich Shane became the company CEO. The original store opened in 2009. The Ventura, CA and Portland OR locations are company-owned. The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop is the largest and fastest growing soda pop and candy shop franchise brand in America. Besides the two company owned stores all of the other Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop locations throughout the U.S.A. and Canada are franchised and are independently owned and operated. As the creators and co-owners of the entire Rocket Fizz system, Rob and Ryan carefully select each Rocket Fizz franchise store operator.</i>"<p></p><p></p><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Intellectual property of and bottled by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC., P.O. Box 5400, Incline Village, NV 89450. 170 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://rocketfizz.com/">www.rocketfizz.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated artisan spring water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, ester gum, caramel color and natural flavors. No preservatives: flash pasteurized for safety.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Okay, I've seen the occasional episode of Pawn Stars and at least know who Chumlee is, but why he needed his own root beer, I'll never know. Seeing as how this comes from the Rocket Fizz lineup of root beers, I have a suspicion that it'll be another generic repackaging of their standard formula. I haven't had any of the Rocket Fizz root beers side by side to compare directly, but looking over my reviews they seem to provide a very similar experience, so maybe one day I'll do a side by side to see if they are all the same with just a different label, or if there is actually some customization of their basic recipe for each one. But today is not that day, so onto the Chumlee review I go.<div><br /></div><div>Up front, this is a wintergreen minty root beer, as the mint is immediately noticeable as a main flavor rather than just an aftertaste. It blends with the usual sassafras root beer flavor in a decent mix, but with those two absolutely dominating the flavor profile, don't leave room for other more subtle spices to make themselves known. There is a little hint of vanilla in the aftertaste, but this is primarily a wintergreen flavor profile, with the minty taste and cooling effects lingering behind long after drinking it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The carbonation is nice and crispy, though there's not as much of it as I would like. It doesn't feel flat, by any means, but it's not as infused with the sharp bite of the bubbles as I prefer, though I do tend to like my carbonation on the more aggressive side. Sweetness is fine, though it's slightly hard to say if it feels less syrupy because the cooling effect of the mint may cover up my ability to feel the more subtle sugary sensation. It doesn't seem to be as creamy as some of my favorites, but again, I wonder how much of that is my mouth being cooled/numbed by the strength of the mint.</div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't a bad root beer by any means. In fact, I thought it was fairly good, slightly above average. I'm not a huge fan of extremely minty root beers, as I prefer a little more subtlety so I can enjoy the other flavors. Even so, I did enjoy this one and if you love minty root beers, then this might be what you're looking for. This also seems to be a fair bit mintier than past Rocket Fizz root beers, so I guess I can safely say that they do allow for variation in their root beer recipes, so at least all their drinks are just rebadges of the same thing.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">C+</span><br />flavor: C+<br />aftertaste: C<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: B<br />carbonation: B-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtU8Gg0dLKGI3DteZjrIIdzsijktRGLTunQsRTVbM0Qu0lK6CNpWkXr2pF5RIBsPcRur7FcBr2gacQtCvpl8k_dkMIMn0Abd_LiYIh5jf0raUBSplNaoABooiKPgbP4TnX6V05a5Y6G1lMO1BbbE58hRkEpUEwMS-4ihEL9Swf-jyIUn7dVWewoPoY-A/s2348/IMG_20221125_145504__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="2348" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtU8Gg0dLKGI3DteZjrIIdzsijktRGLTunQsRTVbM0Qu0lK6CNpWkXr2pF5RIBsPcRur7FcBr2gacQtCvpl8k_dkMIMn0Abd_LiYIh5jf0raUBSplNaoABooiKPgbP4TnX6V05a5Y6G1lMO1BbbE58hRkEpUEwMS-4ihEL9Swf-jyIUn7dVWewoPoY-A/w200-h200/IMG_20221125_145504__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-48858898227285415382022-03-27T09:55:00.000-07:002022-03-27T09:55:09.448-07:00Root Jack Orange Flavored root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpfRdUEki0r84WuFKv2JHs5duBKnsiwCpASkz5rKT_OF0x8oEb4iRWTyDTPd5RWLjH5Py2iowibmHWJezWc0jimtINR-_ID4AaKqCQ2KfO5VNgJha8CZbuv9aMgTsckCTrnKPNaGgV-O80rUHDxdNr19S5xD2x91NB3lW1RvCBhMuG1Khwgz8YbnJjw/s4608/IMG_20220326_125433.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpfRdUEki0r84WuFKv2JHs5duBKnsiwCpASkz5rKT_OF0x8oEb4iRWTyDTPd5RWLjH5Py2iowibmHWJezWc0jimtINR-_ID4AaKqCQ2KfO5VNgJha8CZbuv9aMgTsckCTrnKPNaGgV-O80rUHDxdNr19S5xD2x91NB3lW1RvCBhMuG1Khwgz8YbnJjw/w300-h400/IMG_20220326_125433.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>Welcome to the Interport home of RootJack, the Pirate's most delicious alternative to the bane that is known as Scurvy!</i><p></p><p><i>Rest ye squiffy boots and hear the tale of Cap'n Astrea Valentine and her magical elixir what kept the crew healthy and n'er put one foot in the locker.</i></p><p><i>Rootjack will not only balance out yer four humors, you'll step lively and spot futher than ye even thought possible. Thar's power in this draught.</i></p><div><i>RootJack's a tasty Root Beer with a hint of Orange flavor and Vanilla, Guarana to liven yer step, and a full daily dose of Vitamin C to keep scurvy in check..</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>(from the bottle) "<i>A tasty Root Beer with a hint of Orange flavor, Guarana to liven yer step, and Vitamin C to keep scurvy in check.</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>(note about website info): while the website ingredients show "high fructose corn syrup" and also proclaims that no preservatives are used, the actual bottle label lists "sugar" as an ingredient as well as "Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (preserves freshness)," which are both preservatives, so I suspect the web info must be out of date.</div><div><br /><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Manufactured for VooDoo Elixers, Inc, Mishawaka, IN. 190 calories, 47g sugar. 100% Daily Recommended Value of Vitamin C. 120mg Caffeine. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="http://www.rootjack.com">www.rootjack.com</a> (root beer site) <a href="https://www.pvkii.com/">www.PVKII.com</a> (tie in with a video game). Not recommended for children, pregnant women or those sensitive to caffeine. </div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Quillaja, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (preserve freshness), Potassium Citrate, Caramel Color, Guarana Seed Extract, Calcium Disodium EDTA.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Yarrrrr! What be this draught of root beer? When me pirate crew needs a kick in the seat o' them britches, an energy drink they demand! Will this elixir ward off the scurvy, or tis it fit only fer them lily-livered landlubbers? We shall see if this earns its spot on me crew, or gets sent straight to the plank.<div><br /></div><div>What an interesting concoction they have made. I can certainly taste the orange and there's some root beer flavor to it as well, but there's a good reason the two flavors are not typically mixed. While not awful, I don't think they are very complimentary flavors (and I really like orange vanilla coke, so I'm okay mixing orange with other flavors). Perhaps the problem lies not in the mixing, but in the base root beer taste. The drink has one of those slightly sour hints at first and I'm not a fan of the sour root beers. That sourness lingers around as the aftertaste leaves a very basic root beer taste that clashes with the orange. The aftertaste texture isn't too bad, as the taste fades away to a creamy, slightly vanilla, sensation.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I think of pirates, I think of the high energy attacks on their enemies, with pirates swinging to and fro, leaping from banister to banister. Well, unfortunately the carbonation reminds me more of when they're in the middle of a large, empty ocean with the bright noon-day sun overhead, as the crew lounges around in the few spots of shade, the ship slowly lolling over gentle waves, rocking everyone to a lazy slumber. More directly to the point, the carbonation is weak, offering very little pizazz. In hand with this, there isn't enough carbonation to create a froth or creaminess to the drink, though there are hints of creaminess as part of the aftertaste, likely due to the quillaja in it. Not only does it betray me with little carbonation, but I'm left with a slightly filmier sugar feel in my mouth, with a touch too much sugar for my taste.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shiver me timbers, this here root beer is goin' to walk the plank. It's got no sea legs and has no place on any self-respecting pirate ship, other than to ward off the scurvy. Alas, I be sending this one down to Davy Jones's locker. </div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">D</span><br />flavor: D<br />aftertaste: D+<br />sweetness: C-<br />smoothness: C-<br />carbonation: D-</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUiU6QPvZcpLXP3nzyp50MgnIMNCQAvI4nIb0Dugly7q27eE08IusPYWC_4anAifEdwzW5b7vTf0Jkzkln10gd5C45udo1a3-fN0JO2KJ1xCEfUwd0yg0qJa5H9_0-4QZttZQXL6lL-yz87GKZKrJMYKi9HWt4XTNFm-UObaAdBZF5wka8C7sYrGg4Q/s2373/IMG_20220326_125553__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2373" data-original-width="2373" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUiU6QPvZcpLXP3nzyp50MgnIMNCQAvI4nIb0Dugly7q27eE08IusPYWC_4anAifEdwzW5b7vTf0Jkzkln10gd5C45udo1a3-fN0JO2KJ1xCEfUwd0yg0qJa5H9_0-4QZttZQXL6lL-yz87GKZKrJMYKi9HWt4XTNFm-UObaAdBZF5wka8C7sYrGg4Q/w200-h200/IMG_20220326_125553__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-72000050880550206632022-03-24T11:28:00.000-07:002022-03-24T11:28:20.845-07:00Batch brown sugar root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTnh5y2SSSgvFHBA48SpOZyzSnMs0WEzNEQA4EejewKnxyIKRPFsnUL3SuSoObn_yUCZWkuoigFCi6RwbohD1o9x6IuY4eZnxKm7yK6JO4H3z078z-II8M-Y43zRD_PfWLBkVqjh70CdRMQy5XjrWr7WQEnTf7HPo5iw0-Tsv2EyIbg6wd58D309W75g=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTnh5y2SSSgvFHBA48SpOZyzSnMs0WEzNEQA4EejewKnxyIKRPFsnUL3SuSoObn_yUCZWkuoigFCi6RwbohD1o9x6IuY4eZnxKm7yK6JO4H3z078z-II8M-Y43zRD_PfWLBkVqjh70CdRMQy5XjrWr7WQEnTf7HPo5iw0-Tsv2EyIbg6wd58D309W75g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>We feel that when you have a carbonated soft drink, it should be uncommonly good. A sweet and sticky corn syrup soda may not be a necessity, but it can be pleasurable. Make that experience all the more pleasurable with Batch Craft Soda.</i><p></p><div><i>Batch Craft Soda has been concocted to be just that: an exceptional beverage in every way. Our expert amalgamators blend only the finest ingredients to create a truly outstanding libation. Weights, measures, temperatures, rest times, and even the order in which the ingredients are added were carefully tried and tested. Efforts to create the perfect recipe took batch after batch.</i>"</div><div><br /><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. No company address info on the bottle. 174 calories, 45g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="http://batchsoda.com/index.php">www.batchcraftsoda.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Purified Sparkling Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Caramelized Unrefined Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Spices, Yucca Extract. No Caffeine.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Brown sugar? Color me intrigued. I think this might be the first root beer I've tried that uses it as a sweetener. The question is, will it actually do anything to the flavor or is it more of a gimmick? We shall see.<div><br /></div><div>This is one of the more interesting flavored root beers I've had in a while. It's definitely a root beer, but it's doing something a bit different with the flavors. There is the usual rooty flavor, but something in it gives me a slight souring impression. I generally don't care for the souring sensation of some past root beers, but this one is subtle enough I don't mind it too much (note: the souring reminds me of the souring process of dairy, not of sour candies). The brown sugar turns out to be a very welcome addition. I like the flavor it imparts, giving this root beer a little more flavor texture to the sweetness. There is the usual vanilla in there as well, perhaps a bit of cinnamon. The aftertaste is dominated by the brown sugar, which I enjoy. I don't necessarily taste any wintergreen, but there is a soft minty, cooling sensation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carbonation is mediocre. The bubbles are not particularly spirited and it comes off a tiny bit flat. It at least maintains this lower level of carbonation as I drink the entire bottle rather than vanishing completely, as many of the weaker ones usually do. There is a decent smoothness to it, helped in part by the lackluster effervescence, but not necessarily creamy, as that requires enough carbonation to form a froth. As for sweetness, I touched on it already, but I really like what the brown sugar is doing here. Perhaps it's just the novelty, but it adds a different feel to the sweetness that I welcome. Overall sweetness levels seem about average, with a bit of the expected sugary feeling one gets from sugar-based sodas.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are a few things this does right, and a few not so much. I don't know what causes the souring sensation in some of these root beers, but I'm not a fan, even when it's more subtle. The carbonation is not impressive at all and could use a good kick in the pants. But I do like the mixture of spices they're using to flavor this one and think the brown sugar is a really nice touch. </div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B-</span><br />flavor: B<br />aftertaste: A<br />sweetness: A<br />smoothness: C+<br />carbonation: D+</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL9QfUC5Rru_gFYVpunsMlDqF4HjA8bajSod_PDhgckInQCl2tj9nmBv34pFD5RiWo055KVuUbj7RNrFAi7P0VMt2f8XQWaDclKrFbQXDME1FKVMWYczLpQB3ooXtwTq9BpD6rOlJqz12BWxW6KSlnN0zaux0uYFZyuhPgnyR59dN5lQB0s9CJID102g=s1920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL9QfUC5Rru_gFYVpunsMlDqF4HjA8bajSod_PDhgckInQCl2tj9nmBv34pFD5RiWo055KVuUbj7RNrFAi7P0VMt2f8XQWaDclKrFbQXDME1FKVMWYczLpQB3ooXtwTq9BpD6rOlJqz12BWxW6KSlnN0zaux0uYFZyuhPgnyR59dN5lQB0s9CJID102g=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-27882394380080341922021-12-17T22:01:00.000-08:002021-12-17T22:01:57.642-08:00REBBL root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk6bOptIHb8dj5MF7_jk22hnl_rAIBD2pfBg2HNqtxYlQbG9QSF_xqGRCdfQtDni5YraK6ckH8JZhxLkl_F5Tz-t-uh-i1XvSR1p8MmzZ2sshYU6j12h8CsUFMAOLA8Ydb5xqQICKpsaZ/s4608/IMG_20211115_162157.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk6bOptIHb8dj5MF7_jk22hnl_rAIBD2pfBg2HNqtxYlQbG9QSF_xqGRCdfQtDni5YraK6ckH8JZhxLkl_F5Tz-t-uh-i1XvSR1p8MmzZ2sshYU6j12h8CsUFMAOLA8Ydb5xqQICKpsaZ/w300-h400/IMG_20211115_162157.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>A CAUSE LOOKING FOR A COMPANY…</i><p></p><p><i>REBBL was born out of a passionate collaboration between global thought-leaders to identify an innovative solution to uplift vulnerable communities around the world.</i>"</p><p>(from the can): "<i>Deliciously supercharged plants to power people."</i></p><p><i>"Every can of organic REBBL POP is packed with deliciously refreshing, nutrient-dense, plant-powered ingredients that support immunity and digestive health. We ethically source our ingredients, supporting the communities that grow them, and use sustainable packaging."</i></p><p><i>"Good for you, great for other, better for the world.</i>"</p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Distributed by REBBL, Emeryville, CA 94608. 50 calories, 5g sugar. Contains 3% juice. Aluminum can. <a href="http://www.rebbl.co">www.rebbl.co</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Sparkling water, organic acacia, organic coconut nectar, organic natural flavor, organic vanilla extract, organic stevia extract, pink salt, organic monk fruit extract, vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Contains: coconut. <br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Following up on my last "healthy" root beer review, I have yet another root beer with similar claims, with "supports immunity & digestive health." Sounds like another flavor disaster waiting to happen, but we'll see if this one can't offer something a little more palatable.<div><br /></div><div>First off, the rooty sassafras flavor isn't very pronounced. It does come across as definitely being a root beer, however. The stevia is just ruining it with a very pronounced taste. If you like Stevia, no big deal. But I detest the flavor it imparts and in this drink it overwhelms the other flavors with its presence. Notes of vanilla and what I believe is the monk fruit (which -according to the internet- has a caramel/toffee taste). There are some other flavors that I can't quite identify, though I do like what they are doing, but it's hard to sort them out underneath the oppressive stevia. The aftertaste starts out not very good, with more stevia taste on the menu. But an interesting thing happens if I wait a bit longer, as the stevia finally fades away and I can start tasting more of the underlying flavors that were hidden away before, with the vanilla and monk fruit finally taking over. This is one drink that is vastly improved by the aftertaste and benefits from longer pauses between taking another drink. One thing I didn't notice earlier in the drink is the wintergreen, but as I got down to the last 1/3 of the can I started to notice it and it seemed to get stronger the closer to the bottom of the can I got. It never did get too strong, though.</div><div><br /></div><div>The carbonation is on the weak side, but at least doesn't seem to totally vanish as I make my way through the drink. Again, when carbonation is low it's harder to gauge smoothness, but I'd rank this about average. It's not particularly creamy (I like a creamy foam froth), but there is a little bit of creamy texture in there. Sweetness is fine, leaving a pretty clean feeling in my mouth, but comes at the price of destroying the flavor, so gets some points knocked off for that detrimental side effect.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whereas the last "healthy" probiotic root beer I tried was an absolute failure on all levels, this one at least offers a somewhat pleasant experience. Other than the overly strong stevia influence, I like what the flavors are doing here. Yes, it could use a little more rooty sassafras taste and veers more towards a vanilla caramel flavor in the aftertaste, but overall I enjoyed this flavor blend that was hidden underneath. I think this is a good choice for those that are looking for very low sugar alternatives. If you're okay with the stevia taste, then adjust my rating accordingly as that was the main factor for my lower score. Absent that sweetener, this might be a mid to high "B" rating instead. I wish they'd offer this same blend with a cane sugar sweetener, as I think I'd really like it.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">D+</span><br />flavor: D+<br />aftertaste: C+<br />sweetness: D+<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: D</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTP4YuTZx_pPhF9FAFj3qBPhV0gQiFvuguIC5zSYGN3iv2EPBA4biYesdX3wyAYMV6PPP9DmrckJklLrFkuyNsJb0548ENMoHXv89syJuQ6qQXbcIJujJnW_X0khGZrAe5Pgh6V9S0lse/s2505/IMG_20211115_162230__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2505" data-original-width="2505" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTP4YuTZx_pPhF9FAFj3qBPhV0gQiFvuguIC5zSYGN3iv2EPBA4biYesdX3wyAYMV6PPP9DmrckJklLrFkuyNsJb0548ENMoHXv89syJuQ6qQXbcIJujJnW_X0khGZrAe5Pgh6V9S0lse/w200-h200/IMG_20211115_162230__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-45374262863063996472021-12-13T14:17:00.000-08:002021-12-13T14:17:45.881-08:00Olipop classic root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleSIJpZf8A2j6V82DHg-O4vdMf8jcMwje5Hyb7oic6bt_2eaU5SJnTC4d5-484q3lGTKXhnEUbsXsls_zaR0IXjlZqbaO5LP7YGiIf2Y29VUJu-Lp0hx0Zo0-bNsABeF-dSnwzBb4mbPb/s4608/IMG_20210626_120410.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleSIJpZf8A2j6V82DHg-O4vdMf8jcMwje5Hyb7oic6bt_2eaU5SJnTC4d5-484q3lGTKXhnEUbsXsls_zaR0IXjlZqbaO5LP7YGiIf2Y29VUJu-Lp0hx0Zo0-bNsABeF-dSnwzBb4mbPb/w300-h400/IMG_20210626_120410.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>OLIPOP tastes like the soda you grew up sipping, but with the added benefit of microbiome and digestive health support. With plant fiber, prebiotics, botanicals, and a touch of magic, we made soda healthier AND more delicious!"</i><p></p><p>"<i>Our botanically driven Root Beer marries a classic bite with a creamy sweetness with extracts of sweet birch, smooth-vanilla bean and naturally sourced burdock root. We recommend pairing it with your favorite ice-cream.</i>"</p><p>(from the can): "<i>We've spent years crafting a drink that;s as good for your digestion as it is delicious. OLIPOP combines the benefits of prebiotics, plant fiber and botanicals in a sparkling tonic that supports your microbiome and benefits digestive health.</i>"</p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Manufactured for OLIPOP Inc., Oakland, CA 94610. 35 calories, 2g sugar. Contains 3% juice. Aluminum can. <a href="http://www.drinkolipop.com">www.drinkolipop.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Purified water, OLISMART (Chicory Root*, Jerusalem Artichoke*, Kudzu root*, Cassava fiber, Cassava syrup, Marshmallow root*, Slippery Elm bark*, Nopal cactus*, Calendula flower*), Apple juice, Organic Root Beer Flavor extract*, Stevia*, Burdock root*, Pink rock salt, Vanilla bean essence, Sweet Birch*. *extract <br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Okay, I'm feeling adventurous. Not only is this not a bottle, but it hits all the buzzwords: Prebiotics; botanicals; plant fiber; digestive health. Seems like it could be a perfect pairing with my avocado toast. I jest. Sort of. Avocado toast is tasty.<div><br /></div><div>Okay, this is an interesting mix of flavors. I can tell it's a root beer, as it has some of the classic sassafras rootiness, but there are a lot of other competing flavors. A lot of the flavors I can't identify, as they are way outside my normal wheelhouse: Cassava, chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, Kudzu root, etc (see the ingredients list above and most of those I have never had before). These flavors do lend a slightly "healthy herbal medicinal" sensation to the flavors, and I'm not entirely sure I like it. Vanilla is somewhere in this mix and I can taste it a little. The worst offender is probably the stevia, of which I have never been a fan. The stevia lingers strongly in the aftertaste, making me regret this drink.</div><div><br /></div><div>With my first swig, the carbonation wasn't too bad. Weak, but okay. The effervescence quickly dissipated, leaving an almost entirely flat drink. (note: I had purchased this once before and only noticed it was past it's "best by" date after trying it and discovering it was totally flat, so I dumped it out. Giving it a chance with a newly purchased, fresh can, it seems that being flat is just how this drink rolls.) It's hard to judge smoothness in the near-complete absence of carbonation, but there is a sense of some creaminess. Sweetness is awful, not due to the texture, but the fact it's primarily sweetened with the awful stevia sweetener. Gross.</div><div><br /></div><div>So this was an absolute failure as a root beer, or even as a moderately drinkable beverage. There is so much going on flavor-wise, with a few hits but mostly misses. I get that this is supposed to be a healthy alternative to regular soda, but they certainly didn't do a good job of convincing me that they are a viable competitor with my regular, not-at-all healthy, root beer. I had a hard enough time finishing this one can and certainly won't be consuming this again.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">F</span><br />flavor: F<br />aftertaste: F<br />sweetness: D-<br />smoothness: C-<br />carbonation: F</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QcJ6aY6W7YcxuLJ3YKpNIhJjAnGSsZMQGUvNKC9a8xTcBTsB3_i6A9eUlt0GnmoSmGlxEQVaYd_wiUqTr9WKLeOdVcYBvQsi4x_9n9gew5MU1ClmEa-revzsnT5kZHv-5eV8VkROt71A/s3456/IMG_20210626_120432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QcJ6aY6W7YcxuLJ3YKpNIhJjAnGSsZMQGUvNKC9a8xTcBTsB3_i6A9eUlt0GnmoSmGlxEQVaYd_wiUqTr9WKLeOdVcYBvQsi4x_9n9gew5MU1ClmEa-revzsnT5kZHv-5eV8VkROt71A/w200-h200/IMG_20210626_120432.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-71963536132583812372021-12-06T12:11:00.000-08:002021-12-06T12:11:42.806-08:00Oak Creek root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq3990n_57kfpdKzNzmp_1LsRLXdUe1wjeTmOrO-groT3BuSK8pTeXGmcQMe6fGER_ENrWAYXjzfgkAaqh1rwqj89DLIrwxH9otq1K3qqLke1DuMLyrWyIDvQ0Q4tqWgOvpykX5oBkTa4/s4608/IMG_20211010_175108__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq3990n_57kfpdKzNzmp_1LsRLXdUe1wjeTmOrO-groT3BuSK8pTeXGmcQMe6fGER_ENrWAYXjzfgkAaqh1rwqj89DLIrwxH9otq1K3qqLke1DuMLyrWyIDvQ0Q4tqWgOvpykX5oBkTa4/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_175108__01.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>Through a decade long journey, the team of Master Soda Craftsmen at OAK CREEK cultivated a unique process in which traditional sodas can be delivered in multiple varietals through time honored barrel aging techniques. This passion project was inspired and influenced by the rise of the barrel aged culture of wine, beer, and spirits. For the soda connoisseur with an eye for innovation and a thirst for a unique drinking experience, OAK CREEK Barrel Aged Sodas represent the next evolution of craft soda.</i><p></p><p><i>OAK CREEK uber-premium Root Beers are hand-crafted in American Oak barrels with a medium char which increases the oak’s influence on the color, aroma, flavor, and overall style. Naturally flavored and made with real sugar, each small batch of OAK CREEK Root Beer spends no less than ONE YEAR aging in the oak so that the full benefits can be drawn out and delivered to your glass.</i>"</p><div>(from the bottle): "<i>Barrel aged root beer is a traditional root beer turned upside down. Well, more like turned on its side and the aged in a medium-charred American Oak barrel. We're paying homage to the original soda fountains while elevating the process for the next Millenium. Share your vintage!</i>"</div><div><br /><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Oak Creek Barrel Aged Sodas. 150 calories, 41g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://www.oakcreekbarrelagedsodas.com/">www.oakcreekbarrelagedsodas.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Water, sugar, natural & artificial flavor, caramel color, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Oak Creek's sodas are what they call "barrel aged." I'm not sure what exactly barrel aging is supposed to do to a soda, but I imagine it's supposed to impart a woody flavor to the drink. *Or are barrels made of plastic and metal these days? I'm hoping for a woody, earthy drink and am very curious what I'll find: pure marketing hype or something new and interesting?<div><br /></div><div>First off, the flavor is a little weaker than I usually like. Not terribly so, but the sensation that there could be a bit more rooty sassafras flavor was the first thought in my head. This was followed by me noticing a flavor profile that I couldn't place. Not being a drinker of other "barrel aged" beverages, perhaps this is the note that wooden barrels impart upon their contents. I like it, as it gives a subtle taste that sets it apart from the usual root beers. In a blind taste test I wouldn't note it as a wood flavor, but it does have a "natural" sort of inclination rather than the synthetic. The aftertaste is just a slow fade of the passable, but not entirely exceptional, root beer flavor. There's a very tiny hint of wintergreen and maybe a little anise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on, the carbonation is a little disappointing. It's ever so slightly on the flat side, though not too detrimentally so. This might just be because I prefer more aggressive carbonation, as others may find it perfectly serviceable. As such, it's fairly smooth to drink, but lacks a certain creaminess that the finer root beers possess. Sweetness-wise, I thought it seemed to leave a little more of a sugary coating than usual, so I was surprised to look at the nutrition facts and see that it actually has a little less sugar than the average. It's not cloyingly sweet and, like the carbonation, would likely not even register to the casual root beer drinker that it was any different than normal.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I look at each individual trait, it seems like a fairly disappointing root beer. But somehow the parts add up to one that exceeds the sum of the parts. I liked it pretty well. Perhaps it's the illogical part of me that enjoyed the novelty of the "barrel aged" flavor that is imparted to it, causing me to forgive the shortcomings in other areas. Whatever it is, while I wouldn't heartily recommend this as a top choice, it's one that I would recommend trying and one I wouldn't mind revisiting again in the near future.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Note: after drinking the root beer I read the label which reveals that the root beer is "aged in a medium-charred American Oak barrel."</i></div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B</span><br />flavor: B<br />aftertaste: B-<br />sweetness: C<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: C-</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3by523a4RhenuRHXDOeXo9RmnVR6YzUqSDsoGlzP6T88uZBfM6cOyZVJirUxYYlIXP3rB4TVDm2s8BMcn9ICAe5zhnRqO1DM3vkn3oyRTJB4sI0hDdJoKy7riHxNq5La-RE9h_hU0qcI/s1357/IMG_20211010_175208__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1357" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3by523a4RhenuRHXDOeXo9RmnVR6YzUqSDsoGlzP6T88uZBfM6cOyZVJirUxYYlIXP3rB4TVDm2s8BMcn9ICAe5zhnRqO1DM3vkn3oyRTJB4sI0hDdJoKy7riHxNq5La-RE9h_hU0qcI/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_175208__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-38932629763109880912021-11-15T17:33:00.000-08:002021-11-15T17:33:14.163-08:00Red Rock root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaMsBUA1GQATloM8K1RaEUusOiw_SVcP1H2uqKWPK0z82V_RiLhdSPQ0hzaP-z3Ad9wIy5X4L1SPtZV5jxG-eE2JW5Lg6K5Ayx7MbjyuMBkr1izCZ0HTMoekhLSk1_GSXQBkTM6IDC2QT/s4368/IMG_20211010_174821__01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4368" data-original-width="3276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaMsBUA1GQATloM8K1RaEUusOiw_SVcP1H2uqKWPK0z82V_RiLhdSPQ0hzaP-z3Ad9wIy5X4L1SPtZV5jxG-eE2JW5Lg6K5Ayx7MbjyuMBkr1izCZ0HTMoekhLSk1_GSXQBkTM6IDC2QT/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_174821__01.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br />Background information:</b> (from the wikipedia) "<i>The Red Rock Company was founded in 1885 by Lee Hagan and G. T. Dodd of Atlanta, Georgia. Dodd initially introduced ginger ale as the company's first product, which became popular in the Southern U.S. By 1938, Red Rock was an early leader in the distribution of carbonated beverages, distributing 12-ounce bottles by way of a distribution network of 200 bottlers. By 1947, Red Rock products were bottled in 45 of the 48 U.S. states but by 1958, the company's success began to decline.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><i>Red Rock Cola was endorsed by famous baseball player Babe Ruth. Posters of his endorsement were printed in 1939.</i>"<div><br /></div><div>An article from 1998 about the company: <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/1998/07/27/smallb1.html">https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/1998/07/27/smallb1.html</a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Produced under the authority of Red Rock Licensees by Clayton Dist. Co., Inc. Austell, Georgia 30168. 170 calories, 47g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://rocketfizz.com/">www.rocketfizz.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate (as a preservative), phosphoric acid, natural and artificial flavors.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I've only recently visited Atlanta for the first time. I had a great time there and met a bunch of really cool people. So I have a positive impression of the town. The television series Atlanta is visionary, so another win for "Atlanta" in my book. So will this root beer (I found it in a completely non-Atlanta related gas station in Texas) achieve the triple Atlanta crown, propelling that namesake to it's third victory (I guess fourth if you, unlike me, care about baseball)? Well, it's the bottom of the 9th and the bases are loaded with Atlanta is down by three, read on to see if Red Rock strikes out or manages the grand slam to bring home the prize (there, that metaphor should satisfy you baseball fans and hopefully redeem me somewhat in your eyes).<div><br /></div><div>Well, I like what they are doing here. While there is a strong rooty flavor, I like that there is also a very strong vanilla and caramel taste. It reminds me of the homemade caramels my mother used to make. This makes for a very nice combination with the regular root beer flavor. The aftertaste that follows is just a mellowing of the flavor, with the caramel sticking around the longest. And, while I don't taste any mint flavor, I'm pretty certain it's in the mix as this drink leaves the telltale cooling signs. No mint flavor but with the cooling aftermath!?!? Give me more like this!</div><div><br /></div><div>Following up the great flavor is some great carbonation. The CO<span style="display: inline-block; font-size: 9.8px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: -0.3em; vertical-align: -0.4em;">2</span> bubbles are nice and prickly without being too aggressive, dancing across my tastebuds with delight. It settles down to a decently creamy sensation as I swallow it, giving it a nice, smooth finish. Like most sodas, it's sugar derived and you have to expect the usual sugary coating they leave behind, but this one works fairly well, not seeming too overly syrupy. It could probably be a tiny bit less thick feeling, but I'm just nitpicking at this point. (note: Now that I look at the nutrition facts, I see it has more sugar than the usual, so that might be why it feels a little sugar-thick.)</div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, I was just expecting this drink to hit a double, putting in a solid effort but not winning the game. Little did I expect it would smash my expectations out of the field, just skimming over the outstretched hand of the left fielder for a grand slam win! I don't know that it's necessarily the very best root beer I've had (it doesn't have the complex notes of different spices that truly separate those select few), but I would be remiss if I didn't give it winning score. It's been a while since I've had a root beer that I would immediately want in my fridge again, but this is one of those. Highly recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Edit: I usually don't read other reviews before drinking root beers so they don't influence my perception. So after completing my review I was surprised to discover that the first search result that came up for this root beer also uses a baseball analogy. This was a surprising coincidence, but I'm not going to rewrite my review just to avoid it. I swear, I didn't copy their idea. So sorry if this root beer has too many baseball references in conjunction with it.</i></div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">A</span><br />flavor: A<br />aftertaste: A<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: A-<br />carbonation: A</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZOYZyPTAYhyOZfHTRaFuSE8tyhsfjG4_vVPgyn73ETMVcYfkvHdv8MH6QfHKFivZ1crqxJ1mVsSusvh4NG2kD9b3wJ0UY_Dg71deLyOBFC44-0TSWKAGs__fqK6R_TDA0kctpNScUttM/s1477/IMG_20211010_174934__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1477" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZOYZyPTAYhyOZfHTRaFuSE8tyhsfjG4_vVPgyn73ETMVcYfkvHdv8MH6QfHKFivZ1crqxJ1mVsSusvh4NG2kD9b3wJ0UY_Dg71deLyOBFC44-0TSWKAGs__fqK6R_TDA0kctpNScUttM/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_174934__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-19364952494457954832021-11-08T12:04:00.006-08:002021-11-08T12:04:57.209-08:00Labrador butterscotch root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ICuwa0KCDiJZOWL0HHWXpun7IsTJ7uIKeQFMENj9TlXSwbMN7yWGsBuscMtuTtOY2HV6AFWyA-ZrxySDOj1qJ4S-IhB2aElNrQ7mCaRpvpEi_Ql7HbWFqW3wicQcYT2psryX4otFNlcD/s4608/IMG_20211010_174547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ICuwa0KCDiJZOWL0HHWXpun7IsTJ7uIKeQFMENj9TlXSwbMN7yWGsBuscMtuTtOY2HV6AFWyA-ZrxySDOj1qJ4S-IhB2aElNrQ7mCaRpvpEi_Ql7HbWFqW3wicQcYT2psryX4otFNlcD/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_174547.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC was founded in 2007 by Robert (Rob) Powells and Ryan Morgan and in 2012 Rich Shane became the company CEO. The original store opened in 2009. The Ventura, CA and Portland OR locations are company-owned. The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop is the largest and fastest growing soda pop and candy shop franchise brand in America. Besides the two company owned stores all of the other Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop locations throughout the U.S.A. and Canada are franchised and are independently owned and operated. As the creators and co-owners of the entire Rocket Fizz system, Rob and Ryan carefully select each Rocket Fizz franchise store operator. Any questions or comments regarding the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops company, its history, its future, or its founders and owners Rob and Ryan, must be directed to the Rocket Fizz company at info@rocketfizz.com.</i>"<p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Bottled by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shoppes, LLC., PO Box 3663. Camarillo, CA 93011. 170 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://rocketfizz.com/">www.rocketfizz.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Spring water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, caramel color & natural flavors. No preservatives. Flash pasteurized for safety.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Here comes another root beer from the fairly decent Rocket Fizz lineup of drinks. While I've yet to find a top tier root beer from them, they haven't totally failed me yet. And, as I do enjoy the root beer and butterscotch flavor combination, I'm looking forward to seeing if this one is Best in Show worthy, or if it should be sent out to the dog house.<div><br /></div><div>Like a bloodhound, my first impression is the scent. And this scent has a very strong smell of mint. So diving into the flavor, I'm not at all surprised to find a very minty taste. But what is surprising is that there isn't a very rooty flavor to it, as the mint completely overpowers it. But even more surprising is that I can't detect the butterscotch at all. If it wasn't on the bottle label, I would never know there was any butterscotch at all. As for the aftertaste, more mint. If I let the aftertaste flavor sit long enough and fade away, I *think* there might be the tiniest of hints of butterscotch, but maybe that's just my tastebuds playing mind tricks on my butterscotch expectations. As anybody who has read my reviews of other minty root beers knows, while I like a tiny bit of cooling mint, I don't like the toothpaste, in-your-face assault of strong mint flavor. So this isn't doing this one any favors.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what does this one get right? Carbonation. It is strong, with a nice bite to it that stings my tongue just a little. While the actual bubbles aren't very large, it has a nice balance for those who like a strong carbonation without being overly aggressive. Unexpectedly, this one also follows through with a fairly creamy smoothness, leaving a contrastingly calm texture after the carbonation dissipates. It is slightly more sugary feeling in my mouth than some of my top root beers, so could probably benefit from a very minor reduction in sweetness. While not syrupy, it does leave a little more sugary coating than usual.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's get this out of the way: the "butterscotch" on the bottle is entirely misleading. As far as I can tell, this flavor just isn't there. Sorry to keep hounding on this, but what we have is an overabundance of mint. Root beers should have a variety of flavors from various spices, but everything is pushed aside by the mintiness. It's not a disgusting beverage (keep that in mind when looking at my ratings), but it's not really a good root beer. What I do like about this drink is the texture, with excellent carbonation and a pleasing creaminess. If they'd keep those attributes and work on the flavor balance, this could be a great root beer. As it is, I'm sending this one to the kennel.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">D+</span><br />flavor: D<br />aftertaste: D<br />sweetness: C-<br />smoothness: B<br />carbonation: A</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ22ay6AZ68xE6M2o-G7KlTCw52bTP6A3EfZFicp-uANyO_D793Gp3I85cxOovJAQ4z_30G4v1h-VRVFX6uCioXqoe2Jvnvl2rpIyQon2iWlrO_a24HSO6M83onnnWeFwBpIWJsBE0cAK/s1543/IMG_20211010_174617__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1543" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ22ay6AZ68xE6M2o-G7KlTCw52bTP6A3EfZFicp-uANyO_D793Gp3I85cxOovJAQ4z_30G4v1h-VRVFX6uCioXqoe2Jvnvl2rpIyQon2iWlrO_a24HSO6M83onnnWeFwBpIWJsBE0cAK/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_174617__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-25120595113062889782021-10-31T12:42:00.001-07:002021-10-31T12:44:30.257-07:00Sprecher maple root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtMwqW3mCnYJeEM6PvHLn5p2Q_rjVRbasawLQC_Ng51910nCzKHHSqnWT_K4q_c_jDsA9YIQhSsqYLfXOtKAXCHB2_W57yuPlsJEVRkgB7-snv_tiQ1egrK9qYwHI1rOyLXtya1nMDlqD/s4608/IMG_20211010_174342.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtMwqW3mCnYJeEM6PvHLn5p2Q_rjVRbasawLQC_Ng51910nCzKHHSqnWT_K4q_c_jDsA9YIQhSsqYLfXOtKAXCHB2_W57yuPlsJEVRkgB7-snv_tiQ1egrK9qYwHI1rOyLXtya1nMDlqD/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_174342.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br />Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>Sprecher Brewing Co. has a long history as the oldest Craft Brewery in Milwaukee, and our story is one of devotion to craft, commitment to the community, and a drive to share our fire-brewed sodas and beers with customers nationwide. We grew from an idea in the mind of Randy Sprecher to a Milwaukee craft brewing institution proudly owned by a small group of local investors. This is our story.</i><p></p><p></p><p><i>Before Randy Sprecher, there were no craft breweries in Milwaukee—only Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz. Randy himself was not in Milwaukee until 1980. Randy grew up on the west coast. He was drafted into the army during the Vietnam war, but due to colorblindness he was sent to work for a general in Augsburg, Germany instead of going to Vietnam.</i></p><p><i>Randy fell in love with German beers, and he was not able to find anything that compared when he moved back to the U.S. So, he began making his own German beers at home. Homebrewing quickly turned into an obsession for Randy. He was taking classes in Oceanography at Humboldt State when he returned from the service, but he switched to courses that helped him become a better brewer.</i></p><p><i>In 1972, Randy applied to study fermentation science at UC-Davis and refined his brewing skills to the point of expertise. Then, he perplexed the State of California by applying to establish a licensed brewery—a concept that the state did not understand. Down but not out, Randy secured a post as Supervisor of Brewing Operations at Pabst’s Milwaukee brewery. He packed up everything he owned into a VW Van and moved to Milwaukee.</i></p><p><i>While he worked at Pabst from 1980 to 1984, Randy held onto his dream of opening his own brewery. He continued homebrewing and saving money. When he lost his job in a big round of layoffs in 1984, Randy took the opportunity to begin building Sprecher Brewing Co. In 1985 Randy opened our first location at 701 W. Oregon St. in Walker’s Point. He hand-built much of the brewery equipment with friends, including the original gas-fired brew kettle. Milwaukeeans have always appreciated a good beer, and Randy’s flagship award-winning beers—the Black Bavarian and Special Amber, quickly became popular.</i></p><p><i>However, in 1993, a canal retainer wall fell into the Menominee river, and the brewery’s parking lot went down with it. It became difficult to access the brewery after that, so Sprecher began relocating to a renovated elevator cab factory in Glendale, a process that finished in 1995.</i></p><p><i>Today Sprecher is one of the only breweries in the U.S. that still uses a unique fire-brewing process that caramelizes the flavors to give Sprecher’s craft sodas and beers big bold flavor. The popularity of Sprecher’s unique craft beverages has led to continued expansion of the Glendale, Wisconsin facilities. Sprecher has gone from serving the Milwaukee and Wisconsin area to being distributed to retailers in over twenty states. In February of 2020, Randy Sprecher retired having achieved his dreams. He wanted the company to stay in competent local hands, so he sold it to a small team of Milwaukee investors.</i>"</p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Sprecher Brewing Co., Glendale, WI 53209. 200 calories, 44g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.sprecherbrewery.com/soda/year-round/">www.sprecherbrewery.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavors, maple syrup, natural caramel color, citric acid.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Fall is in the air. The temperatures are dropping. Flowers are withering away. The maple leaves on the trees are changing color...errr, wait. I'm in Los Angeles, so the only leaves I see are palm tree leaves and they are decidedly green. But you get the picture. This root beer bring so mind the fall season, with it's subdued yellow, brown and red label and maple leaf theme, so it's an appropriate that I give it a try at this time of the year. <a href="http://kyledrinksrootbeer.blogspot.com/2012/10/sprecher-root-beer.html">The last time I had Sprecher</a> (their regularly flavored version), it was barely better than average. This time, I'm hoping it'll be a flavor I'm more thankful for. So let's get on with it!<div><br /></div><div>It does have a good, rooty sassafras flavor to it, though knowing it's flavored with maple syrup leaves me searching for the hints of that aspect. Part of what makes this difficult is the strong wintergreen flavor. It's not extremely overpowering, but does overwhelm the other flavors that may be more subtle, including the maple, though I do detect slight hints of vanilla. As I let the initial flavor fade away, the mintiness stays behind, but wait long enough and a vague maple flavor eventually works its way to the surface, though if I didn't know this was "maple" root beer I might not notice it at all as the flavor takes long enough to get noticed that I would probably have stopped paying attention at that point and missed it completely.</div><div><br /></div><div>The carbonation is a major disappointment, as it's fairly weak and quickly dissipates. I prefer vigorous carbonation where it almost hurts my tongue, and this one is a below average score. Perhaps partly helped by the lower amounts of carbonation, this unsurprisingly is a fairly smooth root beer, but falls short of the creaminess offered by some of the competition. As for sweetness, the combination of cane sugar and maple syrup works out fine, as I was a bit worried it would come off too syrupy, as there is literally syrup in the bottle. But they struck a good balance and it's only slightly more sugary feeling than usual.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, when it comes to this season, this one doesn't fall flat on it's face though it does fall flat on carbonation. It's a decent effort, slightly surpassing their regular root beer offering, but a little more minty than I would prefer. I'd be curious to see if, in a blind taste test, anybody would detect the maple aspect of this? Perhaps I should do a taste test comparison with some of my root beer friends.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B-</span><br />flavor: B-<br />aftertaste: B<br />sweetness: B-<br />smoothness: C+<br />carbonation: D</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-JB7GWbMkbWNtN1B58rEe2mdKmr7BA8ZSvIWFokv_0i3uClqGrJZKr6PS0YOd5IJXLH6m2uX3nafI_ZdQNT5YQrZmrcoltxa2ihS7p_2myxVN8pSOp5duqzokgVXF_AEejknphE4_dQC/s1824/IMG_20211010_174428__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1824" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-JB7GWbMkbWNtN1B58rEe2mdKmr7BA8ZSvIWFokv_0i3uClqGrJZKr6PS0YOd5IJXLH6m2uX3nafI_ZdQNT5YQrZmrcoltxa2ihS7p_2myxVN8pSOp5duqzokgVXF_AEejknphE4_dQC/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_174428__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-44800830166301776602021-10-24T16:54:00.002-07:002021-10-24T16:56:49.864-07:00Towne Club root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt_DH1CSD_zN-EYf5Esq3IP3XTSAyUwUskK2NSanmrCyOuerN8w_UskKQfzC-8O_4dHOC7FtXSPJTOjaak0fk_jdMI2VvRmKu2RRMhZ4jeL5Jm-9jiXqFE7OYObolHP33phGnlexAj3SQ/s4608/IMG_20211010_174135.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVt_DH1CSD_zN-EYf5Esq3IP3XTSAyUwUskK2NSanmrCyOuerN8w_UskKQfzC-8O_4dHOC7FtXSPJTOjaak0fk_jdMI2VvRmKu2RRMhZ4jeL5Jm-9jiXqFE7OYObolHP33phGnlexAj3SQ/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_174135.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>Towne Club first entered the market in the mid-1960s, debuting its well-loved “Pop Shops” in Detroit. The Pop Shops offered an incredible number of soda flavors, much more than what was typically seen in grocery stores. The assortment of flavors was known to inspire curiosity and enjoyment among patrons. At Pop Shops, visitors entered the store, grabbed a sturdy wooden crate, and walked around the various stacks of pop—creating a memorable in-store experience. Customers would be encouraged to bring back empty bottles as well as cases, creating a virtuous cycle of experiences.</i><p></p><p><i>Towne Club is owned and bottled in Detroit by Intrastate Distributors, Inc. (IDI). IDI owns other beverages, including Frostie and Kist.</i></p><p><i>Towne Club is made for all Michiganders and bottled with love in Detroit.</i>"</p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 16 fl. oz. Bottled by: Towne Club Bev. Corp., Detroit, Michigan 48234. 215 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="http://www.towneclub.com/">www.towneclub.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> You're at the club. You see a hottie across the way. Your eyes meet. They walk over, the pulse of the music pounding in rhythm to your heartbeat as the rest of the people and the sounds fade away into a background haze. Is this the one you take home, or is it the one you "I gotta run to the bathroom" and ditch? Just what kind of party in your mouth is happening with this Towne Club?<div><br /></div><div>This root beer is the life of the party, with it's strong, rooty sassafrass taste that root beer is known for. It's got some fancy dance moves, ones that seem familiar. It's entertaining, though not entirely innovative. Behind the strong initial impression, there are little hints of vanilla and wintergreen. And as the song ends, the impressions slowly and pleasantly fade, leaving a good taste behind. This root beer may not have mastered the complexity of salsa dancing, or the technical prowess of a master break dancer, but its club party style is fun nonetheless.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of sweet dance moves, this one has solid sugar levels. Not too syrupy, with just the right amount of sugar. While I prefer my carbonation to bump, grind and twerk energetically over my tongue, this is a little classier, with a little more controlled roiling and jumping effervescence and only moderate amounts of carbonation twerking. While some pickup lines can be terribly grating, this one is fairly smooth. Maybe not the smoothest, but good enough that I'd say "yes."</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, if this root beer is a night out at the Towne Club, then maybe I've been missing out on this clubbing thing. It's a lot of fun, something I'd be up for doing again, though it wouldn't be my nightly routine. This root beer is good for a hookup, but if you're looking for a long term situation, there are other fish in the sea that would serve you better.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B</span><br />flavor: B<br />aftertaste: B<br />sweetness: B+<br />smoothness: B-<br />carbonation: B</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQaEbNw4oxAq1e4ZlR2b3CEX_zO9_9yJ-4eSybsx81PVZ1MC_bTk8uamE2OlU4nbeyJI8OyDoBdb5J9xhytLJ4QSVc3qBqfoCzGmDgcIsjO3bq2k8eR8xvR6LgNO4f6e5AwnMvK_pF7H/s1845/IMG_20211010_174205__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1845" data-original-width="1845" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQQaEbNw4oxAq1e4ZlR2b3CEX_zO9_9yJ-4eSybsx81PVZ1MC_bTk8uamE2OlU4nbeyJI8OyDoBdb5J9xhytLJ4QSVc3qBqfoCzGmDgcIsjO3bq2k8eR8xvR6LgNO4f6e5AwnMvK_pF7H/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_174205__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-72468968706305175852021-10-17T17:07:00.004-07:002021-10-24T16:55:40.310-07:00Bawls Guarana root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgXsx32fjnswzueJzgogZ8sH897DNbOnkhWepFM-863XtlVjG0mxzUt29BU1Yr2Ky8RjGLVK4KfLQ_muXm5BJL5NZKIbi7qLAYNaDJ4441frs1L0eW_dOXww-M26Lz0stabpEmJi5UcJq/s4608/IMG_20211010_173746.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgXsx32fjnswzueJzgogZ8sH897DNbOnkhWepFM-863XtlVjG0mxzUt29BU1Yr2Ky8RjGLVK4KfLQ_muXm5BJL5NZKIbi7qLAYNaDJ4441frs1L0eW_dOXww-M26Lz0stabpEmJi5UcJq/w300-h400/IMG_20211010_173746.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br />Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>BAWLS Guarana all started as a class project to provide college students with a great tasting alternative to coffee. Keep in mind this was a time before the term “energy drink” was around. The idea: in addition to caffeine, use the natural power of the Guarana Berry, not yet known to the US, to fuel the drink. </i><p></p><p><i>In 1996, BAWLS Guarana was released upon the world in the signature cobalt blue glass bottle making it one of the first drinks in the USA to use a natural energy supplement.</i></p><p><i>Turns out, BAWLS’ great taste, long lasting energy, bumpy non-slip glass bottle, and fun name, just so happened to be a perfect concoction. The blue bottle fuel soon became the go-to energy source. 25 years later we still have the best fans around! </i>"</p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 10 fl. oz. Manufactured for BAWLS, Twinsburg, OH 44087. 140 calories, 36g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://www.bawls.com/">www.bawls.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Natural Guarana Extract, Sodium Benzoate (as a preservative), Caffeine, Natural and Artificial Flavors. <b>Warning:</b> This product contains high levels of Caffeine.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> I have to admit, I like root beer. I'm sure that comes as a surprise to many of you. Having lived in Brazil for a couple years, I also am a big fan of Guaraná. I had never considered combining the two into a single beverage, as the flavors don't seem like they'd really go together. So, will this drink result in a "goooooooooooooolaso!" or "perna de pau"? Read on to see who takes home the cup!<div><br /></div><div>Well, I'm a bit surprised. There is no hint of guaraná flavor to be found. This one tastes like a straight up root beer, with a strong rooty flavor bolstered by vanilla and decent level of wintergreen, not coming across too minty while providing the cooling effect. It's not the most complex flavor profile, but a bit heartier than your average root beer. The aftertaste provides a nice roll off of the main flavor as it fades, but no other subtle spices make themselves known. I enjoy the cooling sensation that lingers from the mint.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first things I noticed upon trying this is that the carbonation level is excellent. When it comes to my effervescence, I prefer the kind of large, biting bubbles that prickle the tongue, and that's exactly what I get with this. Considering how the carbonation attacked my tongue, it's actually a fairly smooth root beer, with a subtle creaminess following the bubbles as they dance down my throat. It's not the creamiest, or smoothest, but strikes a pretty nice balance. Sugar levels are adequate, though my mouth felt a bit more syrupy than I prefer. Perhaps it would be better served by using cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, but whatever it is, there's some room for improvement there.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, does Bawls score a 6:1 blowout win? No. But there's no need to go down to penalty shots, as it manages to secure a decent win against the rival team. It's taking home the regional cup, but isn't quite ready to take home the world cup of root beers. It scores a gol instead of a golaso, putting the bawl into the back of the net in a convincing manner, but not worthy of the "goal of the week" award.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">B</span><br />flavor: B<br />aftertaste: B<br />sweetness: C+<br />smoothness: B-<br />carbonation: A+</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlvp5yVSKKG-tKOgzkEEIew2b5rNdEXn5h5B6xbkFW8EKX4KxmuO8zuMyPf6GglRMf2W0MGvuG91omCPAx-uLvtJBtyu6Lqfo0LtUpeCrefLO8JA-bYqlO7M3JBVefVpMl15ASIa8IfDR/s2468/IMG_20211010_173805__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="2468" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlvp5yVSKKG-tKOgzkEEIew2b5rNdEXn5h5B6xbkFW8EKX4KxmuO8zuMyPf6GglRMf2W0MGvuG91omCPAx-uLvtJBtyu6Lqfo0LtUpeCrefLO8JA-bYqlO7M3JBVefVpMl15ASIa8IfDR/w200-h200/IMG_20211010_173805__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-43656410710739572682021-10-10T17:12:00.003-07:002021-10-18T13:06:09.133-07:00HEB Old Fashioned root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCauU6neK7WDD4VbXUYaEi9zz4mQVUPBR4r2Ng1L3vy2m7xspUr8AyXPGeeO83xiZpsBwLPOfeYXg4OS1GYD6TaKRI1trOQlIAhtLE6ARg3QLSRjAvWdp0rNW4nc3RT5R8ntizVH1dnvRp/s4608/IMG_20210626_120609.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCauU6neK7WDD4VbXUYaEi9zz4mQVUPBR4r2Ng1L3vy2m7xspUr8AyXPGeeO83xiZpsBwLPOfeYXg4OS1GYD6TaKRI1trOQlIAhtLE6ARg3QLSRjAvWdp0rNW4nc3RT5R8ntizVH1dnvRp/w300-h400/IMG_20210626_120609.jpg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br />Background information:</b> (from the website) "<i>You don’t have to be from Texas to know that nothing beats the taste of a refreshing, ice‑cold sip of H‑E‑B Old Fashioned Root Beer Soda! This uniquely flavored drink delivers seriously delicious taste, and is perfect with home style BBQ, poured over ice cream, or just straight from the fridge.</i>"<p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 20 fl. oz. Made with pride and care for H-E-B, San Antonio, TX 78204. 270 calories, 74g sugar. Plastic bottle with twist off top. <a href="https://www.heb.com/category/shop/beverages/soda/490015/490043?N=2987967682+2909779678+4294966106">www.heb.com</a></div><div><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, potassium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), natural and artificial flavor, citric acid.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Continuing with my branching out to non-glass-bottled root beers, here's the in-house HEB brand. HEB is a Texas grocery store chain, so this one can't be found in other states. We'll see if that means you're missing out or not. I also have to admit that this one sat around for quite a while and I only noticed the "best by" date was almost a year ago, something I looked at after taking the first swig and finding no fizz at all.<div><br /></div><div>As far as flavor is concerned, this is a run of the mill root beer. It has the generic rooty flavor with wintergreen. It's not what I'd consider a "minty" root beer, but is a little more noticeable than some of the others. I don't mind it at all, and I generally try to steer clear of the overly minty, toothpasty flavor of the stronger mints. There isn't much to be discovered in the aftertaste, as they seem to have eschewed any other notes of spices.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 74g of sugar is right in line with the proportionality of the usual 12oz bottles I drink and it has an appropriately sugary feel to it. As I mentioned at the top of my thoughts, this one is past the "best by" date and I assume the total lack of carbonation is due to that, so I can't offer a fair evaluation at this time (I'll update if I find myself in Texas again). Smoothness is also nearly impossible to judge, as it's typically intertwined with the level of carbonation, though this one lacks the creamy sensation even when flat, so it's not a top-tier creaminess contender.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, with what information I have, this is a perfectly adequate root beer that is more or less the same as any other big grocery store chain generic branded drink. Nothing worth getting excited about, but perfectly serviceable in a pinch.</div><div><br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">C-</span><br />flavor: C-<br />aftertaste: C-<br />sweetness: B<br />smoothness: n/a<br />carbonation: n/a</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxtmJrkvkkkpxL-zQ_xkxWwUMqJ8aSy3G4o0RQ1dS0JBBkpe5_-3plCUInl6TOkMD1ljr1SUSx2qZI5yPRer0FO1qkmPx2ga8lGAqN8jul1-iWDP0_NtxzQsa2kDQ9Hfbf5ai69QZv3cx/s3456/IMG_20210626_120647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxtmJrkvkkkpxL-zQ_xkxWwUMqJ8aSy3G4o0RQ1dS0JBBkpe5_-3plCUInl6TOkMD1ljr1SUSx2qZI5yPRer0FO1qkmPx2ga8lGAqN8jul1-iWDP0_NtxzQsa2kDQ9Hfbf5ai69QZv3cx/w200-h200/IMG_20210626_120647.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-2028643180922058672021-07-20T20:49:00.002-07:002021-10-10T16:44:02.180-07:001927 Soda Co. root beer<p><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfHpPnjDOiHjg2B7Ni3FhdGEDYzpjZ6L2N60vc8QOvE2S0OtH_nkjPq5xFYQ0kTfTfdJ5NbiwBXgwP77HD121KNNlQUA2w6OQRPOJNYzVrDJgr_jlGBhr3ulZHbHoWbzegll8c-ZyVje-/s4608/IMG_20210720_221941.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfHpPnjDOiHjg2B7Ni3FhdGEDYzpjZ6L2N60vc8QOvE2S0OtH_nkjPq5xFYQ0kTfTfdJ5NbiwBXgwP77HD121KNNlQUA2w6OQRPOJNYzVrDJgr_jlGBhr3ulZHbHoWbzegll8c-ZyVje-/s320/IMG_20210720_221941.jpg" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> The 7-Eleven website makes no mention of this drink. The 1927 Soda Co. brand name comes from 7-11 originally starting up in 1927 as an ice house storefront before becoming Tote'm Stores from 1928-1946. This is likely a rebadged third party produced beverage.<p></p><div><b style="color: #f6b26b;"><br /></b><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 20 fl. oz. Distributed by 7-Eleven, Inc. Irving, TX 75063. 290 calories, 72g sugar. Plastic bottle with twist off top.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preservative), natural and artificial flavor.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Well, I've been having a tough time finding glass bottled root beers I haven't tried before, so I'm branching out a bit. This one is a root beer made for 7-11 convenience stores and comes in a regular plastic bottle. I'm keeping my expectations in check, as I don't expect a convenience store chain to really push the envelope of root beer flavor.<div><br /></div><div>Okay, they definitely went with a wintergreen vibe. The root beer flavor is a bit flat and so the minty dominates. It's not bad, but it's not exactly what I look for in a root beer. The wintergreen isn't too intense so much as it's noticeable due to the weakness of the rooty taste. The aftertaste lets some vanilla show through, so I actually find it to have a very pleasant aftertaste.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 72g of sugar may seem extremely high compared to the other root beers I've tested, but keep in mind that this is a 20oz bottle rather than the usual 12oz, so proportionally the sugar levels are right in line with the others. As such, it isn't too overly syrupy and at least uses real sugar. Carbonation, on the other hand, is abysmal. The first swig after opening was promising, but all the subsequent ones were almost completely flat. Where did all the carbonation go? It's hard to gauge smoothness with a complete absence of carbonation, but it does seem to have a decently creamy feel to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Consider me unimpressed. A mediocre flavor combined with terrible carbonation levels leave this one off my list. In spite of the good aftertaste, it's not one I'll drink again. Hopefully some of the upcoming plastic bottled and canned root beers can compete at least a little bit.<br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">D</span><br />flavor: C-<br />aftertaste: B<br />sweetness: B<br />smoothness: C<br />carbonation: F-<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHy2XY6SiJkK3UGFX3vNaa-OUg2D2Vqvp9Sn_vPjRqGazdIfBYFREgCPxSRXjH18TegP_ay1uKmEI1ZW2Em-hSbV3qd0J3jFQ7jJgEnQC9WddIOpWmWBhf0vzIe46_ATYrzcheC94us6N/s2027/IMG_20210720_222030__01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2027" data-original-width="2027" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHy2XY6SiJkK3UGFX3vNaa-OUg2D2Vqvp9Sn_vPjRqGazdIfBYFREgCPxSRXjH18TegP_ay1uKmEI1ZW2Em-hSbV3qd0J3jFQ7jJgEnQC9WddIOpWmWBhf0vzIe46_ATYrzcheC94us6N/w200-h200/IMG_20210720_222030__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-92001111024222034792020-08-02T21:58:00.002-07:002020-08-02T21:58:23.250-07:00Saint Arnold root beer<b style="color: #f9cb9c;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE8u92aR59j4UcBx0LHaZrZW3EK948QH83aM5dx974XwfqPKl0fUCgwa7ijEKOCzoG1G92EYuMs4UL8N7Zs6TbI9XgcRbNaw4nDDlbF9y-L82V_A9ZmGhDM-jvp9-DkxvS_EwNaFC4KBi/s4608/IMG_20200802_231123.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE8u92aR59j4UcBx0LHaZrZW3EK948QH83aM5dx974XwfqPKl0fUCgwa7ijEKOCzoG1G92EYuMs4UL8N7Zs6TbI9XgcRbNaw4nDDlbF9y-L82V_A9ZmGhDM-jvp9-DkxvS_EwNaFC4KBi/w300-h400/IMG_20200802_231123.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>We noticed that we had a lot of families attending our tours with their children. As giving the kids beer, while legal in the state of Texas as long as they were with their parents, was frowned upon, we decided we needed an alternative. Root beer seemed like a fun idea.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>And so the research began. Making root beer is much more of an immediate gratification process compared to beer. You heat up some water to dissolve the sugar, then you cool it down and add the root extracts. Most of the extracts are from real plants, but some, such as sassafrass, have pesky carcinogens in them and thus we opted to replace those with artificial flavors. We developed a good root beer base, but we wanted a great root beer so we started playing around with small amounts of other natural flavors. We finally found one that worked great and went with that. We could tell you what it is, but then we'd have to kill you. If we did tell you, you would immediately recognize it. Nobody has come up with it though without being prompted.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We use all cane sugar in our root beer which is stupidly expensive because of government controls on sugar pricing and imports. It creates a great mouthfeel to the root beer though and gives a much fuller sweetness than the thin sweet taste one gets with high fructose corn syrup.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>We actually make no money on our root beer. We make it for fun and put no effort into selling it. Sales continue to climb on it even without our trying though. Oh well.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Strange fact: drinking root beer gives you very refreshing burps. It's the wintergreen.</i>"<br /><b style="color: #f6b26b;"><br /></b><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Bottled by Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Houston, Texas 77020. 140 calories, 36g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. <a href="https://www.saintarnold.com/year-round-beers/#rootbeer">www.http://www.saintarnold.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Water, sugar, root beer extract (water, caramel color gum arabic, yucca concentrate, propylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, sodium benzoate, citric acid), sparkling foam (water, yucca extract, sodium benzoate), sodium benzoate (preservative), phosphoric acid.<br /><br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been seven months since my last root beer. I am lusting after some new root beer and want to gluttonously consume them. I envy my neighbor who has a cold root beer in his hand and greedily want to hoard all the beverage for me, but I have been too slothful to acquire this nectar of the gods. I'm proud to say I now have one to drink, and if anyone tries to take it from me, they will face my wrath!<div><br /></div><div>Bless me with your -WHOA! That's a lot of wintergreen! Yes, this is one minty root beer, with the main flavor of the day being wintergreen. I don't know if it's just been so long since I've had a root beer, but I don't mind the overwhelming mintiness as much as I usually do. Often they remind me of toothpaste, but this one not so much. There is a decent sassafras flavor underneath there, so it's definitely a root beer, however it's a little overwhelmed. There is a nice natural herbal and vanilla undertone, but again, it's overpowered by the wintergreen. The aftertaste does let these weaker flavors show off a tiny bit more.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carbonation is pretty weak. Not a whole lot of fizz or bite to this one, which is a letdown. It comes across a bit flat for my preference. It is fairly creamy, however (thanks yucca extract!!!), so has a pleasant smoothness to it, though that may be helped along by the lack of carbonation. I'm always looking for that holy grail of sharp, biting carbonation with a creamy froth to smooth things out. This one is missing the first half of that equation. The sweetness is pretty good and I was surprised that it felt just a tiny bit sugary even though it runs on the lower end of the sugar content spectrum. Strange indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, is this one getting in through the pearly gates or condemned to burn in an everlasting pit of flames? I don't think it deserves either status. It's not a bad root beer, but it certainly isn't worthy of being exalted either. I'd drink another if it was offered, but won't go out of my way to buy again.<br /><b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">C</span><br />flavor: C<br />aftertaste: C<br />sweetness: B-<br />smoothness: B<br />carbonation: D+<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N-P_76TqTgnI7ATT5mxVp1U00Uq6O3NZHabowrvh214IJF-K2xyXKXOlFxFr9XLcIbZzHNRaMQkknFpU1szlSNeU9EKnUfiB0bVDu11KpW_MP7-URdutmaQhrldZnTMKtRO5kmC2MI4b/s1962/IMG_20200802_231208__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="1962" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N-P_76TqTgnI7ATT5mxVp1U00Uq6O3NZHabowrvh214IJF-K2xyXKXOlFxFr9XLcIbZzHNRaMQkknFpU1szlSNeU9EKnUfiB0bVDu11KpW_MP7-URdutmaQhrldZnTMKtRO5kmC2MI4b/w200-h200/IMG_20200802_231208__01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div>K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900957049734631915.post-72633489608739536312020-01-05T13:46:00.001-08:002020-06-10T19:04:46.309-07:00Gene Simmons Moneybag root beer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiUu_QQ2w9HpwY3znRDIpSIOaHRpsADmMMRAh7473-LupDv0zz2JY9im_8ATaPCm4cz4qtzOY305R4VmoFbgJd9lzsv0Idz7qwIWLQOZ_9itEQYgHu1r-fzZT42tuxtH-4io4AJis78d2/s1600/IMG_20191228_215507_Bokeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiUu_QQ2w9HpwY3znRDIpSIOaHRpsADmMMRAh7473-LupDv0zz2JY9im_8ATaPCm4cz4qtzOY305R4VmoFbgJd9lzsv0Idz7qwIWLQOZ_9itEQYgHu1r-fzZT42tuxtH-4io4AJis78d2/s400/IMG_20191228_215507_Bokeh.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="color: #f9cb9c;">Background information:</b> (from the website): "<i>My Moneybag sodas are made only with the most elite of ingredients. This is soda royalty!!! If you have expensive taste, drink Moneybag!</i>"<br />
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Aside from this short blurb, the website seems to be quite light on actual information.<br />
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<b style="color: #f6b26b;"><br /></b><b style="color: #f6b26b;">Product details:</b> 12 fl. oz. Gene Simmons Company. 180 calories, 45g sugar (bottle says "45mg" but I'm pretty certain that's a typo). Glass bottle with twist off top. <a href="http://www.genesimmons.com/">www.</a><a href="http://www.genesimmonsmoneybag.com/">http://www.genesimmonsmoneybag.com/</a><br />
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<b style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients: </b>Carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, sodium benzoate (used as a preservative), natural flavour and caramel color.<br />
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<b style="color: #b45f06;">My thoughts:</b> A root beer brought to us from legendary KISS rock and roller Gene Simmons? Sure, I'll give it a try. I can only hope it rocks my mouth like KISS rocked the Popcorn Club on January 30, 1973.<br />
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After my last root beer, it was nice to once again have a strong, rooty sassafras taste. It leans a little more towards the candy root beer flavor, with less emphasis on subtle notes of other spices, but there is wintergreen in there. It's not necessarily doing anything special, but it has the basics down. The aftertaste is pleasant, with the wintergreen growing a little more noticeable, but never too strong, and the rooty taste slowly fading.<br />
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It is a little on the sugary side from the ingredient list, but not any more so than any other average root beer. I do like how strong the carbonation is, with fairly aggressive bubbles initially though they fade to average by the last third of the bottle. It's not super smooth up front due to the strong carbonation, but become smoother as the bottle empties. Strong carbonation is generally a tradeoff with smoothness, and this does a decent job. It's not super creamy, but good.<br />
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Well, it didn't quite rock my face off the way KISS was known to rock their concerts, but it is a solid, just above average root beer. And some days that's all I need. It doesn't quite compete with the best out there, but I wouldn't hesitate to grab one of these out of the fridge. I also have to note that I find it interesting that Gene made his own root beer, seeing as how there's already a <a href="https://kyledrinksrootbeer.blogspot.com/2017/11/kiss-army-root-beer.html">KISS Army branded root beer</a> in existence (and one that seems to have similar flavor characteristics).<br />
<b style="color: #783f04;">Rating:</b> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large;">C+</span><br />
flavor: C+<br />
aftertaste: C<br />
sweetness: B-<br />
smoothness: B-<br />
carbonation: B+<br />
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<br />K.F. Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07610913474559088921noreply@blogger.com0