All Natural (Local 1860) root beer

Background information: This root beer is manufactured for Big Bear, CA based clothing retailer Local 1860. They have a very sparse website with no real info about their root beer on it, though their social media posts state that "Big Bears All Natural California Root Beer. Starts as a Root Beer ends as a cream soda."

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled under the authority of We Wandered West by LA Bottleworks, Montebello, CA 90640. 160 calories, 40g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top.. https://www.local1860.com/

Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavors, sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness), caramel color, phosphoric acid.

My thoughts: I didn't realize until going to review this "All Natural" branded root beer that it was one I've been intending to get from Local 1860 the next time I found myself out in Big Bear, CA (usually only once every few years). But apparently this is made specifically for this retailer and I just happened to find it at their Los Angeles based supplier/distributor.

I was surprised just upon opening up this bottle, as I was met with a thick, almost smokey-like scent that reminds me of molasses and brown sugar. My first taste reveals a strong flavor anchored by the molasses scents I first detected with some vanilla undertones. The aftertaste is a deep caramelized flavor that reveals a bit more of the vanilla and almost a butterscotch flavor.

The carbonation isn't too fizzy, relying more on a low-key effervescence that persists throughout the bottle, but doesn't necessarily tickle my tongue. It's a fairly sweet root beer and leaves a faint sugary coating, but not out of the ordinary for a soda. It does feel very smooth, though, with a very pleasant heaviness to the texture.

I'm very pleased with this and immediately after finishing the bottle, wished I had more. While it doesn't have the strongest rooty sassafras flavor, I really like what they are doing with the other flavors. It's an interesting take on root beer that may not line up exactly with what is traditionally expected, but not so far out that I would consider it to be a non-root beer. Like many others I've tried, I would have liked to see a bit more aggressiveness from the carbonation, but I do like mine with a little extra bite. This is certainly worth giving a try.

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

carbonation: B-