VitaLife Prebiotic root beer

Background information: This root beer is sold at Aldi grocery stores, but has no product information. It is a seasonal item, however, so may not be readily available.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Dist. & sold exclusively by Aldi Batavia, IL 60510. 40 calories, 5g sugar. Aluminum can. https://www.aldi.us

Ingredients: Water, Organic Water Kefir (Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Kefir Culture), Organic Agave Inulin, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Root Beer Flavor (Water, Organic Caramel Color, Organic Gum Acacia, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid), Organic Stevia, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Tartaric Acid, Sea Salt.


My thoughts: I'll admit that I'm not generally a fan of prebiotic sodas. But I saw this root beer and figured that it needed to be added to my reviews, so I bought a can (from my local Aldi's).

Taking a whiff of the just cracked can, it smells like an ordinary root beer. Taste, however, is completely different. Okay, I guess not completely different, as there are some rooty undertones, but the overall flavor is kind of a fruity...something. It doesn't really have a specific fruit flavor so much as it creates an impression of the fruitiness without being a definite flavor. I know that may not make a whole lot of sense, but that's the impression I get. It's not a particularly pleasant flavor, but it's not gag inducing. The aftertaste reveals a little hint of the root beer undertones and some wintergreen or some such mint along with some vanilla. At this point, not having read the ingredient list yet, I suspect the fruitiness is monk fruit, which is often used as a natural sweetener (edit: monk fruit confirmed on the list).

One thing this gets right is the carbonation. While not the really aggressive bubbles I love, it's probably more along the lines of what the average person prefers, a suitably prickly experience that doesn't necessarily dance on the tongue. To go along with that, I feel like it has a decently creamy sensation, going down nice and smooth. As for sweetness, I don't like the flavor monk fruit imparts as a sweetener, so am marking the sweetness down as a negative due to the influence on the flavor profile.

Alright, so as a prebiotic soda, this isn't a terrible drink by any stretch. But as a root beer, it's just not good, falling well below the average tasting root beer. This might be a decent option for those trying to drink healthier beverages, though I'm sure that -as in many things- the health advantages are overstated. I'd rather just eat healthier in general and mix in good tasting root beers in moderation instead.

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

carbonation: B+ 

Summit root beer

Background information: (from the website) "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."

The root beer is a seasonally available item.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Dist. & sold exclusively by: Aldi, Batavia, IL 60510. 160 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. www.aldi.us

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


My thoughts: 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!

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.

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.

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.

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