(from the bottle) "In 1888, when our small brewery was founded, real rich, creamy root beers were not uncommon. Thirty years ago, we brought this tradition back with the introduction of real brewery-fresh root beer on draft in our brewery's 1888 tavern. Our Saranac root beer has been acclaimed by consumers from all 50 states and over 100 countries. We hope you'll enjoy it too."
Product details: 12 fl. oz. The Matt Brewing Company, Utica, NY. 180 calories, 46g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.saranac.com/page/root-beer
Ingredients: Filtered water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), natural & artificial flavors, citric acid.
My thoughts: It's been a little while since my last root beer, so perhaps my tastebuds would have been satisfied with anything, but this is awfully good. The drink starts off with a nice hearty root beer flavor, not the artificial kind, but the delicious natural tasting stuff. Behind this rooty taste there is something else just beneath the surface, but becomes more apparent as the rootiness dies down and the other flavors take over. This provides a complex, but pleasant aftertaste of vanilla, wintergreen, and a little licorice. Not only is the flavor great, but this root beer is nice and creamy as well. Carbonation is just perfect and if there were one thing I could change about this root beer, it would be swapping the high fructose corn syrup, which leaves a bit of a coating in my mouth, for cane sugar instead. But a minor quibble for an excellent root beer.
Rating: A-
flavor: A-
aftertaste: A
sweetness: B-
smoothness: A
carbonation: A
