Mug Vanilla Howler Float root beer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

carbonation: B+

Barq's root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Barq’s has bite! Do you know why? Well, it’s unique Barq’s spice is what makes this root beer soda truly original and truly tasty, complete with a caffeine kick. Not to mention the full-bodied flavor that is so distinct and different it can only be Barq’s."

The Barq's Brothers Bottling Company was founded in 1890, with Orangine being their most popular flavor. Root beer was introduced to the lineup around 1900, though not marketed as a "root beer" as Hires was attempting to trademark that. It was owned by the family until they sold their remaining operations to Coca-Cola in 2000. Barq's is notable as one of the caffeinated root beers.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  The Coca-Cola Company. 160 calories, 44g sugar. Caffeine content: 22mg/12 fl oz. Glass bottle with pry off top. https://www.coca-cola.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, sodium benzoate (to protect taste), citric acid, caffeine, artificial and natural flavors, acacia.

My thoughts: In my younger years, Barq's was one of my less favored standard root beer offerings. I've only had it as a fountain drink, so this will be my first bottled experience. I'm curious to see if I still consider it a lesser of the average root beers.

The first flavor to stand out is the basic rooty sassafras taste that gives root beer its iconic flavor. It has a medium strength to it, though it tapers off into slightly thin tasting as the aftertaste develops. The vanilla is quite present and it has a light minty taste that becomes more apparent as the initial flavor wears off. I'd say it goes just a tiny bit too minty, but isn't nearly as overwhelmingly so as the worst offenders.

The "Barq's has bite" slogan works decently for the carbonation, as it has a decent fizz to it and the bubbles are slightly prickly. It does foam up a little bit and has a creamy sensation, so goes down smooth in spite of the slightly more aggressive than normal carbonation. It is sweetened with corn syrup instead of sugar, and leaves a bit more of a coating on my mouth than I prefer, but it's not too thick feeling.

Well, I'd have to say that young me was fairly spot on with his assessment of Barq's. It's a decent root beer, but not one that really wows me or anything. It's a perfectly serviceable one, however, even if the flavor feels a tiny bit thin to me. If I wanted cans just to make floats with or something, then Barq's would be in the running along with A&W for something I can just grab a 12-pack of off the shelf of any grocery store.

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

carbonation: B+

Judge For Yourself! root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Judge For Yourself Root Beer is crafted for those who appreciate the true, unadulterated essence of a classic fountain root beer. We put the power back in your hands, relying on traditional craftsmanship and a blend of natural spices to deliver a verdict of undeniable quality.

Every batch honors artisanal brewing methods, marrying the deep, earthy tones of classic root bark with the bright aromatic lifts of star anise and spicy ginger. We rest our case."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Real Soda in Real Bottles, Gardena, CA. 190 calories, 40g sugar. Brown glass bottle with twist off top. https://www.realsoda.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (preservative).

My thoughts: Since I'm obviously a lawyer (okay, I saw a movie about a lawyer once, so that's close enough), I think I'm well within my rights to execute summary judgement on this root beer. No need to bring this to a jury. I can determine whether this root beer goes free or gets a "straight to root beer prison" decree.

Okay, I'm not unhappy with the initial rooty flavor. It has a decent amount of that traditional rooty sassafras taste with a bit of vanilla. It's pleasant, though not necessarily unique. The aftertaste leaves behind a good amount of that flavor, with a slight wintergreen hint. I didn't really feel the ginger that the website mentions, but a maybe I'm just used to the much bigger ginger kick from my ginger beers.

After several complete carbonation failures in a row, I'm happy to report that I judge this one just fizzy enough! It has a mild effervescence, not super aggressive, but it maintains that level through nearly the entire bottle, tapering off slightly at the end, but still decent. This one has a good sweetness level that might feel a tad on the sugary side, but not unpleasantly so. With the more laid back carbonation, this doesn't really froth up with a foamy feel, but the tiny carbonation helps it feel smooth.

After reviewing the evidence on behalf of this root beer, I render my final verdict of: Guilty...of being good. It's a pleasant root beer that won't knock your socks off (that would be 2nd degree assault), nor does it scream at you (disturbing the peace) with new and exciting spice formulations. The carbonation won't stab (attempted murder) at your tongue with bubbles either. So it might not excel in any category, but it's solid all around. Overall, I'm happy with this one.

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

carbonation: B-

Surf City, USA root beer

Background information: BrewBakers is a pub and brewery located in Huntington Beach, California. The location is showing up as permanently closed, so this may not be produced any longer.

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Brewed for BrewBakers, Huntington Beach, CA. n/a calories, n/a g sugar. Glass bottle with pry off top. https://www.averysoda.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated spring water, sugar, raw honey, artificial flavor, vanilla.

My thoughts: This root beer is actually somewhat local to me, so it's fun to try one from around here. The "Surf City, USA" name makes me think of The Beach Boys, and all the fun, energy, and good times they would have, so I'm expecting this root beer to live up to that image.

The flavor of this one is a decent, rooty sassafras with a noticeable honey flavor and some vanilla. While the flavor is pretty strong, it does fade away fairly quickly, with the aftertaste mostly just a diminished version of the initial flavor. I really like what the honey is doing to the aftertaste, though. And I don't necessarily taste wintergreen, but I am feeling the slightest cooling sensation, which I like.

The bottle I got was pretty flat. It has a tiny bit of carbonation at first, but was pretty much totally flat about halfway though the bottle. I'm not sure if this is maybe some old stock since they are no longer in business, which may explain the low carbonation. Sweetness is really good, and I like that the honey is pulling some double duty as a flavor and a sweetener. While it does leave a sugary feel, it leans towards the honey side and doesn't seem as objectionable. Since it is so flat, I have a hard time judging smoothness, but it does have a semi-thick consistency (as opposed to watery and light); not syrupy or anything, just it has some body to it.

The words "Surf City" bring to mind the rolling waves and active ocean, which to me, would be a soda with lots of carbonation making the liquid feel alive and energetic. Instead, we get more of a flat pond, which I find disappointing. I really do like the flavor, even if it's just a honey-enhanced basic formula, lacking some of the wider range of spices that normally get me excited. This one is different enough, however, from a standard root beer that I'd like to give it another try and maybe I'll get one from a fizzier batch if that's possible.

Rating: B-
flavor: B+
aftertaste: B+
sweetness: A
smoothness: n/a

carbonation: F+

Avery's root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Herman F. Avery began making soda in the red barn on Corbin Avenue in the summer of 1904.

Avery's quickly became known for its variety of flavors, especially the Cream, Birch Beer, Root Beer and Ginger Ale.

Using a horse pulled wagon, Mr. Avery delivered soda to the homes and stores in and around New Britain, Connecticut, and it wasn't until 1914 that he purchased his first delivery truck.

This 100-year tradition of old-fashioned customer service continues today and Avery's commitment to a quality product has earned a loyal following across the country.

Our sodas are still handcrafted using methods and recipes from generations ago including real cane sugar and the finest quality ingredients.

Each flavor is carefully made in small batches and is packaged only in glass bottles to preserve the wonderful old-fashioned flavor."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Avery's Bottling Works, New Britain, Conn. 06052. 150 calories, 38g sugar. Clear glass bottle with twist off top. https://www.averysoda.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, and Sodium Benzoate (a preservative).

My thoughts: With an old timey label design, I want this root beer to transport me to the past, with root beer made with real spices and natural ingredients. With no flux capacitor nor a DeLorean to take me back in time, I must rely on this root beer to break the known laws of physics for me. Will it leave me saying, "Great Scott!" or will it end up being the Biff of root beers? Let's take it for a spin and see if I really will "Always ask for Avery's".

The flavor has a decent, upfront rooty sassafras taste that we all know with vanilla tones. There really isn't much else in the spice department that stands out. The aftertaste, as the main flavor fades away, gives me the slightest hint of wintergreen, but only the tiniest amount.

Carbonation is not at all detectable in the bottle I got. Old stock? Perhaps. But with a lack of any manufacture or best before date on the bottle, I just have to assume this is how the root beer is. So a complete failure in the carbonation department. Sweetness is okay and doesn't feel too syrupy. I'll have to leave the smoothness rating empty, as I can't truly judge it in the complete absence of any effervescent attributes.

Well, just as Doc Brown managed to steal the plutonium from the Libyan nationalists, it appears somebody stole the CO2 from this root beer, leaving the carbonation lower than Biff's IQ. Beyond that, the flavor is pretty much just a generic, run of the mill root beer with nothing special to offer. Too bad I can't go back in time and warn myself not to ask for Avery's That said, it's not awful or anything, just not one I'd grab considering all the other options I have.

Rating: C-
flavor: C-
aftertaste: C-
sweetness: B
smoothness: n/a

carbonation: F-

Black Bear root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Today Sprecher is one of the only breweries in the U.S. that uses fire brewing to create craft beer and soda with bold flavor. It is fire-brewing, plus Raw honey, that makes Sprecher Root Beer the best-tasting root beer in the United States. Don’t believe us? Ask the New York Times. The popularity of Sprecher’s unique craft beverages has led to continued expansion of the Glendale, Wisconsin facilities. In February of 2020, Randy Sprecher retired having achieved his dreams. He wanted the company to stay in local hands, so he sold it to a small team of Milwaukee investors.

 In these capable hands, Sprecher will continue to fire-brew delicious craft sodas and beers in the Milwaukee area. Visit today to see what we are up to! Take the tour to see our lab, brewhouse, and production area, and learn all about our history and craft brewing process. Then, relax in our beer garden and sample craft beverages while munching on local snacks. Become part of the Sprecher story—visit today. Prost!"

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Sprecher Brewing Co,. Glendale, WI 53209. 140 calories, 5g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top (though I had to pry it off since it was so tight). https://www.local1860.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated water, glucose syrup, contains 2% or less of: natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, gum arabic, sodium benzoate (preservative), citric acid, phosphoric acid, yucca extract, propylene glycol alginate.

My thoughts: I haven't had the best opinion of Sprecher root beers, with them failing to deliver on many fronts, though consistently disappointing in the flavor department. Will this side brand finally deliver the goods, or will it just be bearable? Let's pull out those claws and find out.

My initial flavor impression is that this is a fairly basic root beer. It has a bit of the expected rooty sassafras flavor, though a little watery feeling (maybe due to the carbonation, which I'll touch on in a moment). I can't really call out any specific spices, though the aftertaste (which fades away extremely fast) gives me just the slightest impression of cinnamon.

Okay, time for the carbonation...well, time for the complete absence of any carbonation. I heard the expected hiss of gas escaping when I popped the top, but inside is a completely flat root beer; not a single bubble to be found. I don't think I've ever had a root beer this flat before. There is no date of manufacture that I can see on the bottle to indicate if maybe I got an old one off the shelf. Sweetness is good, and I don't feel like it leaves an overly syrupy coating in my mouth. Of all the things this root beer is getting wrong, at least they got this one right. The nutrition facts list this at 35g, while the normal root beer is around 40g (+/-2g), so this one is less sugared than usual and I don't find it lacking at all, so job well done, even if it's not a cane sugar. With the complete lack of carbonation, I don't feel I can give this an accurate smoothness score, so am skipping that criteria in this review.

Well, this is completely disappointing. The lackluster flavor profile mixed with the absolute absence of carbonation made this a less than ideal root beer experience. The flavor follows in classic Sprecher form, with nothing special going on. What's odd is regular Sprecher carbonation is at an A-level, but then their maple and now this are awful. Between the three, I'm starting to think Sprecher should reconsider being in the root beer game at all, as they're not succeeding.

Rating: D+
flavor: C-
aftertaste: D
sweetness: A-
smoothness: n/a

carbonation: F-

Old Keg root beer

Background information: (from the website) "We’ve traced the Old Keg root beer back to 1941. The Excelsior Bottling Company in Reading, PA bottled beer, porter, brown stout, ginger ale, seltzer, and carbonated drinks. including root beers. The company was owned by T. J. Fessler and S. G. Dunkelberger. Not much is known of the distribution or other brand names and flavors. The Old Keg root beer is often praised for its classic, nostalgic taste, featuring a smooth, creamy texture with a good amount of carbonation, making it a beloved choice for those seeking a traditional root beer experience. Our Old Keg Root Beer, made with honey and brewed to have a full, smooth, rich flavor, will surely be one of your favorite root beers."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Old Keg is a trademark of Orca Beverage Inc., Mukilteo, WA 98275. 170 calories, 45g sugar. Glass bottle with pry-off top. https://www.orcabeverage.com

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Colors, Brewed Natural & Artificial Flavors, Honey, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (A Preservative).

My thoughts: Orca beverages has been slowly acquiring various brands of soda under their manufacturing roof. It's hard to say if this is good or bad, as Orca has a pretty good distributor reach that smaller labels would struggle to achieve, making many of these available in places they otherwise wouldn't have. Bottling all at one bottler may remove some of the uniqueness, however, as processes are more corporatized. Whatever small changes may have been made, I hope these root beers are able to retain most of their core identities. Okay, enough of my corporate observations, you're here for the root beer itself.

Old Keg opens up with the smell of vanilla wafting out. It has a good rooty sassafras flavor up front with vanilla undertones. As those two basic flavors fade into the aftertaste, the honey flavor makes itself known, adding a little bit of complex sweetness that I find quite pleasant. I can't say I really detect any other spices hiding underneath the somewhat basic root beer flavor, so they're not swinging for the fences in flavor profile, but it is a solid root beer taste.

Carbonation is moderate, with bubbles that are both moderate in aggressiveness as well as quantity. This mellow level of carbonation is fine, even if I am a fan of slightly higher levels. Sweetness is excellent, combining both cane sugar and honey for an added benefit that shows up in the flavor, as mentioned above. I like what honey does in my root beers. Even though the sugar content is on the slightly high side at 45g, it never feels syrupy or like it's leaving an unpleasantly thick coating in my mouth. The moderate carbonation lends itself to a smooth drinking experience, though I do with it had a little more of a creamy froth to it.

For being such a basic root beer flavor with a simple spice profile, I think it's fairly good. The honey does a lot of the heavy lifting to add some flavor variation to this recipe and I think it pays off, even if it can't quite elevate the whole profile in a way that more spices can. That said, it's quite enjoyable a little better than a basic level, mid-tier root beer.

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

carbonation: C+