Rocket Fizz root beer (with nutmeg)

Background information: (from the website) "Ryan Morgan and Rich Shane own The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC. It was founded in 2007 by Ryan and Robert (Rob) Powells. Rich joined in 2012 as the company’s CEO.

The original store opened in 2009. The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop is the largest and fastest growing soda pop and candy shop franchise brand in America.

All of the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop locations throughout the U.S.A. and Canada are franchised and are independently owned and operated. Rich, Ryan, and Bob Campbell (our Vice President of Franchising) carefully select each Rocket Fizz franchise store operator."

Product details: 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. Brown glass bottle with pry off top. https://www.rocketfizz.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated artesian spring water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, ester gum, caramel color and natural flavors. No preservatives: flash pasteurized for safety.

My thoughts: Rocket Fizz has produced many root beers over the years under a variety of names, but this one is the root beer they deemed worthy of bearing the company name. I've found their root beers to generally be a bit below average, so not a stellar record. So does this one finally break out of the rut of mediocrity, or simply continue the trend? Read on to find out!

The very initial flavor hit brings on the rooty sassafras flavor root beer is known for, but it's a very thin flavor, fading away extremely fast to a more watered down aftertaste. I like the flavor, there's just not enough of it that sticks around. I like what the nutmeg is doing, even if I feel like I smell the nutmeg more than I taste it, but it does add a bit of texture to the flavor profile. There is a bit of vanilla in the flavor as well as wintergreen, with the wintergreen playing a more prominent role in the aftertaste and leaving a cooling sensation behind.

This is a well carbonated root beer from start to finish. While it may not be quite as aggressively bubbly as I like, it presents a solid fizz that won't prickle your tongue too hard, but also not going flat. I like the amount of sweetness and the cane sugar doesn't leave as syrupy of a mouth coating behind. The root beer does foam and froth up a little, so gives it a slightly creamy texture that helps it feel smooth. 

Of all the Rocket Fizz in-house varieties I've tried, this is my favorite so far. Yes, the flavor leaves a bit to be desired (from a strength and longevity standpoint), but I think the basic formulation tastes good. The aftertaste isn't too revealing of new flavors, but with how quickly the flavor dissipates, the aftertaste might be the main profile one ends up tasting. I wouldn't mind drinking this root beer again. I think the nutmeg brings an interesting flavor profile that sets it apart from your average root beer.

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

carbonation: B+

Hoover Dam root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Ryan Morgan and Rich Shane own The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC. It was founded in 2007 by Ryan and Robert (Rob) Powells. Rich joined in 2012 as the company’s CEO.

The original store opened in 2009. The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop is the largest and fastest growing soda pop and candy shop franchise brand in America.

All of the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop locations throughout the U.S.A. and Canada are franchised and are independently owned and operated. Rich, Ryan, and Bob Campbell (our Vice President of Franchising) carefully select each Rocket Fizz franchise store operator."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled and distributed by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC. 170 calories, 42g sugar. Brown glass bottle with pry off top. https://www.rocketfizz.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated artesian spring water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, ester gum, caramel color and natural flavors. No preservatives: flash pasteurized for safety.

My thoughts: Okay, two Rocket Fizz produced root beers in a row. It would be a dam shame if this one is another mediocre Rocket Fizz root beer attempt.

This is a pretty straightforward root beer. It has a thicky, rooty sassafras taste with a good helping of vanilla. The flavor sticks around instead of fading away quickly, which I appreciate. The aftertaste reveals a touch of wintergreen, though it's more of the telltale cooling sensation than an overt flavor. The mint flavor did become more prominent in the aftertaste as I reached the end of the bottle, but never "toothpaste" levels of mintiness.

Carbonation is not great, as it's barely there at all. The first swig or two felt slightly carbonated, but then after that it was more of an "aftertaste" of carbonation that I could just barely feel at all. I thought it was appropriately sweet and didn't leave too much of a sugary coating behind. I described the flavor as "thick" and would also describe the texture the same way. This isn't a watery, light feeling root beer, with a heavier, more substantial texture to it so it feels very smooth and almost creamy to drink, though the lack of carbonation probably contributes to that.

For a basic, no frills root beer flavor, this one is good. It doesn't have an exceptionally complex flavor profile, but what it does have it goes all in on. They must have damed up the carbonation machine, as this is one flat root beer. I don't know if if was produced that way, or if the bottle is old. The Rocket Fizz location I went to (between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) had super dusty shelves, with all the bottles coated in dust, so who knows how long they've been sitting there (and there's no manufacture date on the bottle itself). Either way, lack of carbonation is a damning trait to have. I would really like to try this with proper amounts of carbonation, as I think it has the capacity to be a "dam good soda" (but not a dam great one).

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

carbonation: D-

KISS Army root beer

Background information: (from the website) "KISS wants you to join their Army! The KISS ARMY is the legendary and official fan club for the most exciting and electrifying rock band in the world, KISS! KISS ARMY ROOT BEER is loud & Proud."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  KISS Catalog, Ltd. Under license to Epic Rights. Bottled and distributed by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Store, LLC. 170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.RocketFizz.com


Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, citric acid, ester gum, caramel color & natural flavors. No preservatives. Flash Pasteurized for Safety.


My thoughts: Another product of the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop people, who manufacture a variety of root beer labels, most of which are more towards the generic end of the flavor spectrum. But KISS is known for rocking sold out stadiums, putting on a show with explosions and fire, and generally creating chaos and commotion. So, will their root beer follow in their footsteps and face paint, offering a raucous experience, or will I get another ho-hum re-label? Let's dive in.

The rootiness is strong with this one, with a very powerful root beer flavor that's strong on the sassafras flavor, though more towards the artificial side, as there don't seem to be much spice action happening. It does have wintergreen, as that is the predominate secondary flavor and the major aftertaste, with some anise hiding underneath.

Sweetness is good, but maybe a bit sugarier than I prefer by just a small amount. The carbonation is nice and strong, though the bubbles must be tiny because I don't feel them bouncing around so much as leaving a bit of a sting on my tongue. I usually like strong carbonation, but this one is a bit more sting and less effervescence. Still, I'll take that over flatness any day. This isn't a particularly smooth root beer, lacking a creamy feeling and the carbonation sting adding some bite.

Strangely, even though I don't love any particular aspect of this root beer, the parts seem to work together decently well, as it's not a bad root beer by any means. In fact, I think I would slightly prefer it to the middle of the road, root beer in a can. But with so many other great bottled offerings, I doubt I'll be seeking this one out again. Oddly enough, if ordering from the Rocket Fizz website, it says, "Due to limitations beyond our control only 1 bottle per order. However if desired, you can place multiple orders." Seems like an odd way to make fans pay a bunch in shipping costs if they want multiple bottles, but hey, who am I to give the multi-million dollar KISS conglomerate business advice when they make more in a week than I've made my whole life?


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

Tractor root beer

Background information: (from the website) "We launched Tractor Soda to take a product people have loved for decades and make it better. It’s as simple as that. Our commitment to sourcing only 100% organic and non-GMO ingredients comes from our immense respect for the farmers and growers who bring food to our plates each day. We hope they'll be proud of our product. And we hope you enjoy our hand-crafted sodas.

As we tread further into the 21st century, consumers continue to make it clear that they want an earth-friendly, healthier alternative to the products and services they've grown accustomed to. For years, the soda industry has refused to change. And, in many ways, it’s gone the opposite route entirely: producing beverages that are loaded with alternative sweeteners and other unnecessary ingredients. 

Tractor Soda was created for the consumer who’s mindful of the planet we live on. We give our retail partners the tools they need to present an alternative soda that’s new yet familiar, organic yet refreshing, simple yet full of flavor. 

Our innovative delivery system eliminates the excessive waste of traditional soda packaging, making Tractor Fountain Sodas an eco-friendly alternative to bottled sodas."

As a side note, I see that Tractor Soda Co. is based out of Coeur d'Alene, ID, the city right next to my small, childhood town.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC. P.O. Box 3663, Camarillo, CA 93011. 118 calories, 29g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  https://tractorsodaco.com/tractor-soda/root-beer/


Ingredients: ultra-filtered carbonated water, organic cane sugar, organic blackstrap molasses, organic aged bourbon vanilla, organic wintergreen, organic sassafras, organic sarsaparilla, organic sweet birch, organic bark/roots/spices (including organic licorice, organic nutmeg, organic cinnamon), organic caramel color, organic juniper berry extract, organic quillaja.


My thoughts: With a huge list of "organic" ingredients (did I mention they're organic?), this seems like a root beer that ought to offer a complex taste, with plenty of subtleties to be discovered. That said, the initial flavor is not super rooty. It's certainly a root beer, make no mistake, but the sassafras is a little on the weak side. It really wouldn't be a big deal, as there are plenty of other things going on here, however I do note that overall flavor could use another notch or two of intensity. As for how the other spices play out, I'd be hard pressed to pick out any particular flavor over another, as the blend is nice with no particular spice overpowering the others. The aftertaste does feel a like the sassafras stands out just a bit more. Interestingly, the wintergreen doesn't seem to add a minty flavor to the drink, but I can certainly feel it's cooling effect.

This is one of the less sugary feeling root beers I've had; sweet enough, but not making me reach for a water immediately after to wash down my mouth after finishing the bottle (looking at the nutritional facts, I note that most root beers have about 50% more sugar). I really like the carbonation, as I'm a fan of aggressive bubbles that sting just a little bit. Carbonation seemed to stay strong through the whole bottle. A general side effect of high carbonation is that often the smoothness suffers a little bit, and this is no exception. The bubbles of carbonation remained just that, without transforming into a frothy foam that makes the drink a bit creamier. In fact, this is probably one of the least creamy root beers I've had that lists quillaja (an additive to increase foaminess in drinks).

My end impression is that this is a moderately good root beer with a bevy of spices, however it's held back by the strength of the flavors, all lacking in intensity and making it feel slightly watered down. Keep the proportion of spices the same, but dilute them a little less and this could jump up into the "A" catagory. I wish more root beers nailed the carbonation the way this does, but they missed the opportunity to transform some of that effervescent might into foam. An admirable effort that needs a bit more work to really dial it in.

Rating: B-
flavor: B-
aftertaste: B-
sweetness: A-
smoothness: D
carbonation: A-

Dad-Gum-It! butterscotch root beer

Background information: You know what? I couldn't find anything about this root beer on the internet other than a couple other reviews. Perhaps, in a bid to be authentic, this root beer is like the stereotypical shotgun toting redneck and comes out of a double wide trailer in a swamp where they have no internet. Whatever it is, there isn't any info about this on the Rocket Fizz site either, even though they produce it.


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC. PO Box 3663, Camarillo, CA 93011. 170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.rocketfizz.com


Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, citric acid, caramel color, gum acacia & natural flavors.


My thoughts: I do like my butterscotch, so how does it mesh with this root beer? Well, unlike the camouflaged, gun toting redneck on the bottle, the butterscotch is very subtle. In fact, if the bottle hadn't said "butterscotch" on it, I may never have guessed it was an attribute. The root beer factor is mediocre, with a moderately rooty flavor that quickly feels a bit thin. The aftertaste has some minty wintergreen to it with a very very slight hint of butterscotch, which I find an odd combination. Part way through the bottle, I felt like perhaps there was just a little bit of black licorice showing through, but extremely subtle.

Maybe it's just the lack of sassafras punch, but the sugar content seems to play just slightly too much of a role, as it's a pinch too sweet for the amount of flavor. It's still pretty decent, but worth noting. Carbonation is nice, with a bit of bite, though the last third of the bottle started to feel weak. It also didn't feel particularly creamy or smooth and could have used a little more froth.

Well, the redneck lifestyle has never particularly appealed to me and neither does this root beer. Really, I feel the same way about both: indifferent. The butterscotch failed to elevate this decidedly mediocre root beer and it had no particularly outstanding traits. There are much better options out there.


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

The Three Stooges Wise Guy root beer

Background information: Another root beer brought to us by Rocket Fizz - "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 "flagship" store located in Camarillo, California opened in 2009. The Camarillo and Sherman Oaks, California locations are company-owned. In under five years the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops has become 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. 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."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by the Rocket Fizz Sode Pop and Candy Shops, LLC P.O. Box 3663, Camarillo, CA 93011. 170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.rocketfizz.com


Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, citric acid, ester gum, caramel color & natural flavors.


My thoughts: I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the Three Stooges or their slapstick style of humor. Even as a child, I thought them very unfunny. So here we have a root beer named after them. Will I find it as incredibly unsatisfying as the Stooges themselves? Or will this drink transcend their terrible humor and achieve the lofty heights of Buster Keaton status? Find out, in the exciting* review below! (* disclaimer: the review may not be exciting).

Okay, I'm not going to make you wait. I'm not terribly impressed. This seems to be another fairly generic root beer cranked out by Rocket Fizz and then a zany label is attached. Not that it's bad, but for a bottled root beer, I expect more than a generic soda that I can get in a cheap can. It has a candy-like rootiness to it, with nary a hint of other spices other than a strong wintergreen presence and some slight vanilla, but the wintergreen is by far the dominating spice. The aftertaste has no major revelations, but I *might* be tasting a little bit of anise (licorice).

With it's candy-like taste, it comes off as feeling a bit on the sweet side. It isn't thick or syrupy, so isn't awful for a soda, so I can't really knock it down too far, as soda is fairly sugary on average. Now to the carbonation, I can only compare it to how the humor of the Stooges lands with me: flat. There is a little fizz to it initially, but as I hit the halfway point in the bottle, the carbonation has faded away to minimal amounts. Smoothness is nothing out of character with a flat drink and I wish it was creamier.

I'm glad Buster Keaton's name wasn't slapped on this root beer, as its qualities are more befitting the Three Stooges and their very unfunny brand of humor. I feel like Rocket Fizz isn't trying to make any exceptional root beers, but spends more time coming up with clever names to repackage their bland root beers. Don't get me wrong, I like the Rocket Fizz store with their huge selection of sodas, but their own branded drinks leave a lot to be desired. They aren't turning out anything super terrible, but nothing amazing either.

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

Joby Joe's root beer float

Background information: Joby Joe's is produced by Rocket Fizz. This particular variety came about after Rocket Fizz president and co-founder Robert Powells participated in the television show Undercover Boss, where he went undercover to see what improvements needed to be made to his business. During the course of one of these visits, he learned of franchise owner's Marianne Banales' loss of her brother and bonded with her due to his own experience with the passing of his girlfriend.

After concluding the show, Powells decided to honor Banales' brother, Joe, by creating a beverage based on his favorite soda, root beer. It's now carried in every Rock Fizz store.


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Intellectual property of and bottled by the Rocket Fizz Soda and Candy Shops, LLC, P.O. Box 3663, Camarillo, CA 93011. 170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://rocketfizz.com/


Ingredients: Spring water, cane sugar, citric acid, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preservative), gum acacia, natural & artificial flavor.


My thoughts: Root Beer *Float*, eh? I'm a big fan of floats, so can this root beer live up to my lofty expectations? Well, I admit that I do like it. The flavor is good, though not super "rooty". It almost tastes like a vanilla and butterscotch drink, with a little bit of root beer hiding underneath those flavors. Certainly an interesting mix. It does feel pretty artificial in it's approach to taste, but at least it isn't a root beer candy kind of artificial. The aftertaste is primarily dominated by the butterscotch sensation.

The drink is pretty sweet and doesn't let you forget you're consuming a sugar-filled liquid. It has a candy-like feel to it, making it less refreshing on a hot day. It does seem to be moderately creamy and smooth, but not as creamy as I would expect from a "float". Carbonation is great, feeling fairly strong but it does lack a little bit of the crisp bite of the very best.

At the end of the bottle, I was quite satisfied, even if it isn't necessarily one of the best root beers. And perhaps that was one reason that I enjoyed what it did, giving me a little bit of the root beer experience while also providing a drink with a whole other appeal to it. I think this is one that I'd be happy to drink again.


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

Judge Wapner root beer

Background information: The website doesn't have much information on this drink, listing it in their "Soda Pop Labels of Fame" section and merely detailing it with, "I sentence you to drink my root beer!"


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Intellectual property of and bottled by Judge Wapner's real life family member Robert Powells of the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC, PO Box 3663 Camarillo, CA 93011.  180 calories, 45g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.rocketfizz.com


Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, caramel color, natural flavor, real vanilla, citric acid.


My thoughts: I can't say for certain whether this and the Gene Audry root beer I had yesterday are rebadges of the same recipe, or if they are merely very similar.  It seems that they are ever so slightly different, but it's entirely possible that the minute differences I think I'm detecting are due to variances with how my taste buds are registering it today.

Like Gene's, this has a basic root beer flavor, though it seems a little stronger and slightly less candy-like.  No individual spices seem apparent, the vague touch of vanilla in the aftertaste is still there.  Carbonation is okay, perhaps leaning a little more flat.  It could use a little more bubbly punch.  It feels a little bit thicker than yesterday's root beer, perhaps lending it a slight lead in smoothness.  That thickness seems to make the sugar stick a little more in my mouth, but not too badly.

Just as the Gene Autry root beer before it, this one isn't anything exceptional and doesn't offer enough to compel me to buy it again instead of the cheaper root beer in a can.  I feel like this could be a slightly different recipe, but it isn't enough to elevate it above the same average score.  The bottle has Judge Wapner proclaiming, "I sentence you to drink my root beer!"  Compared to some of the other root beers I've had, I'd be happy to accept the sentencing, knowing I got off relatively well.  But since the judge isn't going to make me drink this, I think there are better ways to do my root beer time.

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

Gene Autry root beer

Background information: The website doesn't have much information on this drink, listing it in their "Soda Pop Labels of Fame" section and merely detailing it with, "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy presents and exceptional root beer!"

The bottle has some info about the Gene Autry's foundation: Autry Qualified Intrest Trust and The Autry Foundation; Visit www.geneautry.com

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops, LLC, PO Box 3663 Camarillo, CA 93011.  180 calories, 45g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.rocketfizz.com


Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, caramel color, natural flavor, real vanilla, citric acid.


My thoughts: I have a sneaking suspicion that this root beer and my next one (Judge Wapner), both being made by Rocket Fizz, are likely rebadges of the same root beer, so I'm curious to see if tomorrow's root beer tastes the same.

As for this one, it has a basic root beer flavor, maybe leaning a bit towards the artificial.  There really isn't any hint of individual spices, though there is a hint of vanilla in the aftertaste.  Carbonation is decent, though nothing special either.  It merely does the job of carbonating the liquid, but doesn't create any pop or crispness.  Like the regular mass-market grocery store root beers, this one isn't particularly creamy and doesn't get any bonus points in the smoothness category.  Finally, it has the normal amount of sweetness that does it's job while leaving just a little bit of a sugary feeling behind, perhaps a tad better than the high fructose corn syrup variety.

In the end, this is just a run-of-the-mill root beer that doesn't offer anything exceptional for it's higher-than-typical price.  I can get virtually the same experience out of a can of A&W for a fraction of the cost.  It's not a bad root beer, but the value just isn't there to justify buying this again.  I will note, however, that this is a different root beer formula from Rocket Fizz's own Root Beer Float that I tried a little while back.

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

Rocket Fizz root beer float

Background information: (from the website): "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 "flagship" store located in Camarillo, California opened in 2009. The Camarillo and Sherman Oaks, California locations are company-owned. In under five years the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shops has become 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. 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. Thank you and we hope your day is a BLAST-off!"

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Intellectual property of and bottled by: Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shops, LLC. P.O. Box 3663, Camarillo, CA 93011.  170 calories, 42g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.rocketfizz.com/


Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, caramel color. sodium benzoate (preservative), gum acacia, natural & artificial flavor.


My thoughts: I like root beer.  I also like ice cream.  Combine the two and you have one of the most delicious concoctions on the face of the earth.  So when you have a rocket as part of your logo and name, it tells me that this concoction should be one of the most delicious things not only on the face of earth, but anywhere in space as well.  So, is this drink more SpaceX or Orbital Science?

This is sort of an odd root beer.  The initial flavor is moderately rooty, but there is a dominating creamy flavored overtone.  I'm not sure what the exact flavor is that I'm tasting; it's odd, but interesting.  Aftertaste reminds me a bit of the butterscotch root beers I've tried, but I'm not entirely certain that butterscotch is quite the right name for the flavor.  The website offers no insight into what these flavors might be.

Rocket Fizz root beer float is a pretty sweet drink, sort of reminding me of candy.  I'm left with a moderately sugary feeling in my mouth, a bit more than I care for.  This is probably due to trying to replicate the ice cream part of the float, something that's difficult to pull off without having chunks of the frozen goodness.  Carbonation is okay, but could certainly use a little more "fizz" to it.  This is a pretty creamy drink, though, and goes down nice and smooth.

Normally, I only go through about half a bottle figuring out my thoughts (and then I just finish off the other half while filling out the technical details such as product details, ingredients, and background info).  This drink was different enough that I drank the whole bottle just to compile this "my thoughts" section.  I don't necessarily love it, as it's a bit too candy-like, but it isn't a total disaster either.  In the end, it's an interesting root beer that offers something a bit different than I'm used to, for better or worse.  It's neither the SpaceX of root beers, nor is it the complete disaster of Orbital Science (note to self, don't buy old Russian rocket engines that were built well before I was born).  If you're looking for a root beer that is out of this world, you'll have to look elsewhere.

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