A&W root beer float

Background information: New for 2026, A&W are introducing the limited edition flavor, "root beer float". Inspired by the dirty soda trend, this root beer is claimed to offer a creamier experience straight out of the bottle. The copywriting for this launch says, "A&W’s new Root Beer Float soda features a blend of sassafras and licorice-flavored, earthy root beer with the “vanilla-kissed” flavor and creamy mouthfeel of vanilla ice cream. It’s meant to emanate the flavors of a classic diner root beer float—without the need for a spoon."

Unfortunately, for a brand that owns the coveted "rootbeer.com" website, the actual page is sparse (hardly any content) and semi-functional (the side navigation tabs don't work), with just a basic listing of the 4 usual flavors they carry (regular A&W cream soda and root beer, plus the zero sugar versions) and a couple float recipes. No history of the brand, insight into the company, root beer knowledge/facts, or anything noteworthy. When I reviewed A&W 11 years ago, the site had historical information, but that's all been stripped for some corporate, minimum effort, nutrition facts only landing page. What a waste of a website.

Product details: 20 fl. oz.  Produced under the authority of Dr. Pepper/Seven Up Inc., 6425 Hall of Fame Lane, Frisco, TX 76034. 250 calories, 66g sugar (~40g sugar per 12 oz.). Plastic bottle with twist-off top. www.rootbeer.com

Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavors, maple syrup, natural caramel color, sodium benzoate (as a preservative), and citric acid.


My thoughts: When I first started this root beer review blog, I decided to grade on an A-to-F scale, with the middle "C average" represented by what I considered to be an all around average root beer; A&W. Now, some may think a "C" is a bad score (in a world where any movie that isn't an "A" is a terrible movie), but it truly represents the average expectation for what a root beer should be. I've been a fan of "dirty sodas" for some time now, but wonder how close a factory produced soda can come to a soda with real dairy creamer in it. Let's see if A&W manage to capture lightning in a bottle.

My first thoughts are that this has a weaker than expected rooty sassafras flavor to it. The flavor is a little thin and watery. While the copywriting mentions licorice, I'm not tasting any anise at all, and certainly not the "earthy" aspect. Vanilla, while part of the initial flavor, is the main star of the aftertaste. It has a really good vanilla bean flavor, reminding me of vanilla ice cream. While I like the vanilla, it's unable to replicate the thicker texture that actual cream adds.

I noted in my original A&W review that the carbonation, while adequate, was a little on the weak side and 11 years later I have similar feelings. The bubbles are there, but very tiny and don't prickle at all, which some may favor, but I like my carbonation a little more aggressive. That said, it doesn't feel flat and it stays moderately fizzy through the whole bottle. The sugar levels seem pretty dialed in, with a less syrupy feel to my mouth than the worst offenders, but A&W continues to use high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar cane like the better root beers use. Partially due to the micro bubbles and partially due to the vanilla cream flavor, this has a smooth feel to it, but the lack of a creamy froth does keep it from being an exceptionally smooth drinking experience. It could use a little more foaminess.

Not too far off from their regular root beer, this float version ends up being just an average one. The flavor profile plays it very safe, with little to offer in the way of spice variations other than the vanilla cream. I do think it captures a "float" taste to it, but I think I would just prefer an actual float with the added texture of real ice cream. But it's certainly worth giving a try if you enjoy very vanilla-forward root beers.

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

Bloom Pop root beer float

Background information: (from the website) "When co-founder Mari Llewellyn hit rock bottom mentally and physically, she decided to take ownership of her health by turning to wellness. With the help of her now-husband, Greg, she lost 90 pounds and finally found self-love. Inspired to help other women do the same, Mari created Bloom: high-quality, delicious health supplements designed to help everyone bloom into their best selves."

"All our supplements come in delicious flavors you can’t find anywhere else, so you can enjoy every scoop and stick to your wellness routine with ease. Designed with you in mind, our supplements are made with high-quality, effective ingredients that provide amazing benefits to help you feel your best daily.

With a female founder and female-led team, our mission is to make approachable, delicious, and effective supplements so every woman can bloom into their best self."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Designed by Bloom Nu LLC. Distributed by Nutrabolt, Austin, TX 78746. 20 calories, 3g sugar. Aluminum can. https://bloomnu.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Pear Juice Concentrate, Fruit and Vegetable Juice (color), Prebiotic Xylooligosaccharides, Natural Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract (Rebaudioside M), Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. (Contains 2% juice)

My thoughts: Another "healthy" root beer, these have been popping up like crazy. I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the pre/pro-biotic sodas, but it's a root beer and must be reviewed. Let's see if this continues the trend of ho-hum to downright not appetizing, or finally breaks through to deliver a complete, satisfying root beer experience.

The root beer flavor in the is the real deal. It has a good rooty sassafras base with a decent vanilla mixed in. It does have some of the traditional stevia flavor to it, but I feel like it's well masked and managed, so not too strong. The aftertaste leans toward vanilla with more of the stevia showing through. 

Upon cracking open the can, I was expecting a not too fizzy drink based on the whimper of escaping carbonation, and a moderately weak experience is what I get. It's not flat by any means, but the bubbles aren't very energetic and it feels a bit dull, especially as I neared the end of the can. Sweetness is good, though (as mentioned above) the use of stevia downgrades the flavor experience. Like most pre/pro-biotic sodas, this has a thick texture to it and, combined with the lack of carbonation, makes it very smooth to drink.

Keeping in mind that this is a "healthy" soda, I ended up thinking that it isn't that bad. If somebody offered me a can, I'd take it. As a root beer, it's okay, but it's hard to overcome the basic fact that this isn't a normal soda, so doesn't quite live up to what a real root beer can be. I think I prefer this to most diet root beers, however, so for those looking to cut their sugar intake, I think this is a perfectly valid option. For those looking for a classic root beer soda, however, there are certainly better options.

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

carbonation: D+

Waterloo root beer float

Background information: (from the website) "Waterloo was founded in 2017 with an unwavering commitment to create better-tasting, better-for-you sparkling waters that support a healthy, active lifestyle. We formed a team of people who have worked together on previous ventures, ready to challenge the status quo again."

"We taste everything within a particular flavor profile – dozens of products in supermarkets and restaurants! Then, we bookend our flavor vision for the new sparkling water – from the best in nature (like a ripe, juicy peach) to the more playful and nostalgic (like a peach gummy ring). Our craft then comes into play, layering the flavors with meticulous attention to the nuances of taste and aroma until we hit our bullseye."

"We cast a wide net when we begin creating a new sparkling water, often bringing in 30-50 relevant flavor components.

We mix and taste, allowing time for dozens of such iterations. For most flavors, it’s a 6-9 month process of tweaking flavors to finalize our recipe. Through it all, we are aiming for what we call “sessionability” – easily drinkable, refreshing and enjoyable many times a day."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Distributed by Waterloo Sparkling Water Corp, Austin, TX 78702. 0 calories, 0g sugar. Aluminum can. https://www.drinkwaterloo.com/

Ingredients: Purified Carbonated Water, Natural Flavors.


My thoughts: This is a new one for me; root beer flavored sparkling water. I'm actually a big fan of sparkling waters and have enjoyed the interesting flavors in Guy Fieri's Flavortown lineup, but am not sure what to expect when combining the lightly flavored carbonated waters with root beer. Well, let's see if this can take the heat, or needs to get out of my kitchen (I know, I'm paraphrasing the wrong person).

This has a good rooty sassafras smell and taste. It's not some other flavor masquerading as a root beer. It legitimately tastes like root beer! Obviously, it's not going to have that super thick root beer taste since it's a sparkling water, but it comes close. It is supported by vanilla tones. The flavor does fade away quickly, but I feel like part of that is this not being sugary, so it doesn't coat and stick to my tongue and mouth the same way regular soda does. And even though it fades, it does so in a light and refreshingly pleasant sort of way.

Like other Waterloo products, this is nice and fizzy with a good amount of bubbles that dance across my tongue. The bubbles are small and not too prickly and the can stays well carbonated as I drink it. Smoothness is a little harder to judge compared to other root beers, in that this doesn't froth up and get creamy, but as a sparkling water, it feels crisp and satisfying. Sweetness is perfect for what this is, with zero sugar and zero artificial sweeteners. If doesn't feel lacking in sweetness unless you want and are comparing it to a traditional soda. But I like it.

This is a very different "root beer" than I'm used to reviewing. In a way, it's not a root beer at all so much as a sparkling soda that's flavored like root beer. I've really grown to prefer sparkling waters over traditional soda, especially when it's hot and I want something cold and refreshing that's going to hydrate me. Getting one that tastes like a good root beer is just a huge bonus and I'm very happy with the flavor they captured. The biggest disappointment is that this is a temporary flavor, so once it's gone, we likely won't see it again. If it stuck around, this would become a staple flavor in my rotation. For those avoiding sugar, I find this way better than any of the diet or other artificial sweetener options. This is one drink that can take the heat.

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

carbonation: A+ 

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+

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-