Old Red Eye root beer

Background information: (from the bottle) "Legend has it, there was a craggy old bull named Red Eye - with a glint and a gnarly attitude, he could only be coaxed from his pen to do his daily duties when a brave soul would pop open a bottle of his favorite root beer, pour it in his tin bowl, then run like heck before being stomped. Red Eye preferred his root beer frosty cold."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authority of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275 (425) 349-5655. 170 calories, 42g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.orcabeverage.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, caramel color, sodium benzoate (a preservative).


My thoughts: Yet another root beer coming out of Orca Beverage. These guys seem to make a lot of different root beers. But the question about this one is: will this be one of the good ones, or is it just a piece of bull****?

The initial flavor is very heavy on the rooty sassafras. There's no mistaking that this is a root beer and it comes on strong. Mixed in with this is a very apparent wintergreen, but mintier than I care for. Beneath all this is a hint of the anise/black licorice taste. As the aftertaste kicks in, while still dominated with wintergreen, the anise becomes slightly more apparent. I typically am not a fan of black licorice, but the flavor is subdued enough (or perhaps overwhelmed by the wintergreen) that I don't mind it at all.

Sugar content is right about where I'd expect it to land, but it does feel a tad on the sugary side, leaving a noticeable coating in my mouth. Carbonation is nice, as it's slightly aggressive, which I like. I can certainly feel some bite on my tongue, but I don't particularly feel the effects in my throat. I think they did a good job on the carbonation. That said, the aggressive carbonation takes away a little from the smoothness in my mouth (though it does have some creaminess to it), but it's a nice tradeoff.

In the end, it's a pretty decent root beer, but goes a little overboard on the wintergreen. If they'd tone that down a little, I think they'd have a winner on their hands. As it is, I'm fairly pleased with this root beer and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to those that enjoy the minty side. It's not a bull**** drink, but neither is it one I'd sing its praises until the cows come home.


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

Bulldog root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Award winning honey root beer. Complex flavor blending root beer extracts, vanilla and organic honey. Sweetened with cane sugar, this top rated root beer is a rich blend of all the right ingredients for the perfect root beer flavor experience. Bottled in long neck glass bottles, each batch is made fresh at our facility in Mukilteo, WA. 12 - 12 oz. long neck glass bottled sodas."

(from the bottle) "Unleash the Taste"


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275. 160 calories, 41g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.orcabeverage.com/


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, honey, maltodextrin, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate, real vanilla, phosphoric acid, salt.


My thoughts: Bulldogs bring to mind the attributes of strength, stoutness, and maybe some face puckering, all of which this drink lacks.  It's not a bad root beer by any means, but is extremely underwhelming.  The flavor is fairly tame, but on the weak side.  After the rootiness fades, I'm left with a bit of vanilla flavor and perhaps a touch of honey; nice and pleasant, but also a tad weak.  I like the level of sweetness, one of this drink's strengths.  There is a very glaring weakness, however, as the carbonation is terrible.  As in almost completely flat.  Of course, this makes the drink incredibly smooth, but smoothness should be a balancing act with carbonation, and this one is out of whack.  Despite the good taste, this drink is all bark and no bite, dragged down by lack of carbonation, and isn't one I would particularly recommend.


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

Dad's root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Dad's Root Beer, one of America's most popular soft drinks, was developed in the 1930s by partners Barney Berns and Ely Klapman in the basement of Klapman's Chicago-area home. The first trademark registration was filed on September 24, 1938, granted on February 14, 1939 to The Dad's Root Beer Company of Chicago, and alleged use since February, 1937. Dad's unique and delicious flavor earned a loyal following. The Dad's Root Beer brand was famous throughout the Midwest and by the late 1940s, was one of the most consumed brands of root beer throughout the United States. Jules Klapman, son of co-founder Ely, successfully took the Dad's brand international. The name Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer was selected in honor of Ely Klapman's father, and other fathers, who used to make root beer at home for their families (popular in the early 20th Century)."

(from the bottle) "Orca Beverage Soda Works.  Manufacturer of nostalgic and gourmet glass bottle sodas.  See our authentic 50's style bottling plant at OrcaBeverage.com"


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Produced under the authority of the Dad's Root Beer Company, LLC, Jasper, IN 47546.  160 calories, 40g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top. http://www.dadsrootbeer.com and www.orcabeverage.com


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


My thoughts: "Oh yeah?!  My Dad's can beat up your Dad's!"  Okay, maybe not.  Either way, this root beer may not be worth beating anybody up for, even though it tastes somewhat good.  The initial flavor is a fairly sweet, moderately rooty taste, with hints of other flavors.  These other flavors develop a little, but remain somewhat vague in the aftertaste, though there's certainly some wintergreen in there and a bit of the soda water flavor makes itself present as well.  I initially thought I may have detected some licorice too, but am not quite so sure now.  Carbonation is slightly sub par and could use a bit more kick to it.  So does Dad's win the father of the year award?  Not quite.  Turns out this Dad's is only about average.

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

Sioux City root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Sioux City embossed bottles were developed in 1987 and were one of the first western-themed soft drink brands in the country. This premium line of drinks boasts the leading sarsaparilla drink and other unique flavors that capture the flavor of the Old West using brightly colored ACL graphics and in either amber or flint glass. When you’re ready to belly up to the bar, reach for a thirst-quenching Sioux City."

(from the bottle) "Orca Beverage Soda Works.  Manufacturer of nostalgic gourmet glass bottle sodas.  See our authentic 50's style plant at OrcaBeverage.com"


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled under the authority of White Rock Products Corp., NY 11357.  160 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.orcabeverage.com or www.whiterockbeverages.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, sodium benzoate (a preservative), natural and artificial flavor, citric acid.


My thoughts: I'll keep this one short and simple, as this root beer does nothing particularly wrong nor right to merit much discussion.  Flavor kicks off with a strong, though moderately artificial root beer flavor.  It follows that up with...nothing else.  There are no hints of extra spices or flavors.  Carbonation is good.  A bit sweet, leaving a faint syrupy sugar coating in my mouth.  Just your run-of-the-mill root beer, though at slightly higher than run-of-the-mill prices.

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

Brownie caramel cream root beer

Background information: (from the internet) "Brownie Root Beer was one of the many carbonated beverages made by the Atlas Beverage Company. Atlas was started in Detroit, Michigan in 1929 by a Polish immigrant named Tomaszewski. When he retired, he passed the business to his sons, Walter and Butch. They ran the company together until Walter retired and Butch bought his share of the business. Atlas Beverages closed about 1996 and the building was sold around 2003."

(from the bottle) "With a Sprite on the label, it's easy to see how this mischievous and delicious blend of root beer & caramel came about.  Produced with care in small batches, Brownie has been enjoyed since 1929."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authroity of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275.  170 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.orcabeverage.com


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


My thoughts: Popping off the twist off top, I'm greeted by the aggressive crackling of carbonation.  So it comes as a bit of a surprise when I find out that the carbonation is mostly bark and not as much bite.  Not that it's bad, but it does run a little bit flat.  On the other hand, the flavor makes up for the lack of gas, coming on strong and hearty.  There is a very straightforward root beer taste and the "caramel cream" designation lives up to its claims, having a noticeable vanilla caramel flavor, which holds on into the aftertaste.  This is one of the creamiest root beers I've had so far and is probably partly related to the warning on the bottle: CONTAINS MILK.  The after-aftertaste is hard to describe, but feels once again like it may have to do with the aforementioned milk warning, as it has dairy overtones to it, but with a bit of tang.  Not really a plus, but it's there.  While initial sweetness seems fine, it leaves a slightly over-sugary coating in my mouth afterward, something that other drinks manage to not do.  Overall, I was moderately disappointed by the undelivered promise of carbonation, but the taste is a winner in my book.  If they just get that fizz upped a little bit and figure out how to reduce the sugary coating feeling, then they'll have a more well rounded root beer capable of contending with the highest ranks.


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

Anchor ginger root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Orca Beverage was created in the 1980’s by owner Mike Bourgeois while he was studying a new and emerging class of beverages called the “New Age Beverage Category” at the Albers School of Business at Seattle University."

(from the bottle) "As tribute to all the Sea Dogs and Scallywags looking for adventure on the high seas, Anchor has the sweet tase of root beer with a soothing touch of ginger to help keep you sailing all day - Enjoy!"

Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authority of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275.  170 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top. www.orcabeverage.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural & artificial flavors, caramel color, phosphoric acid, citric acid, sodium benzoate (a preservative).


My thoughts: Anchor lives up to its name, for just as an anchor vanishes quickly when dropped into the water, so the flavor similarly disappears upon consumption.  There is a nice, subtle ginger taste and which gets stronger as an aftertaste, never overpowering, but it can't make up for lack of substance in the other flavors.  Carbonation is okay, but not nearly as aggressive as it could be, especially considering this drink claims to be for "Sea Dogs and Scallywags looking for adventure on the high seas".  I like the ginger part of this drink, but unfortunately the rest of it isn't worthy of that one good attribute.  Anchor would be best used if you just toss it over the side of the ship.  Wait, strike that.  I'd hate for this to float away like some message in a bottle, only to wash up on shore of a deserted island where a shipwrecked sailor finds this root beer and excitedly drinks it down, thinking he is going to get a fresh, tasty brew.  No, no.  The disappointment of it's taste would likely be too much for his downtrodden spirits and he would abandon all hope, and I'd hate to be the cause of such despair and agony.  Instead, just pour it down the toilet, bypassing your digestive system, cause it's going to just end up in the sewer one way or another.

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

Hippo Size root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Orca Beverage was created in the 1980’s by owner Mike Bourgeois while he was studying a new and emerging class of beverages called the “New Age Beverage Category” at the Albers School of Business at Seattle University."

(from the bottle label) "Looking for a drink with GARGANTUAN flavor?  Go for the Hippo.  The original Texas size drink, Hippo Beverages satisfy that immense craving with a selection of great flavors using our best extracts and flavors.  Open wide and experience the little bottle with big taste - Hippo Size Beverages since 1927."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authority of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275.  160 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.OrcaBeverage.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural & artificial flavors, caramel color, extract of wintergreen, sodium benzoate (preservative).


My thoughts: For a root beer with a Hippo logo, I'd expect a gargantuan taste of root beer flavor.  Alas, 'tis not so.  There is a moderate flavoring initially, but that flavor quickly thins out and is replaced with a very strong wintergreen flavor, too much in my opinion.  Carbonation is also certainly not 'hippo sized' as it comes up short, though the added flatness makes it feel creamier.  The sweetness isn't spectacular either; initially it is okay, but my mouth and throat felt like it had a thick syrupy coating on it after drinking, requiring me to drink something else to clear the sugary film off.  I really wanted to like this root beer more than I did, but there isn't anything to recommend about it.  If I need my hippo fix, I'll watch some BBC nature documentary instead.


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

Red Arrow root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Red Arrow Root Beer originated in Michigan and known for it's authentic root beer flavor. Made with hints of wintergreen and licorice and a spice kick to pull the full flavor together. Folklore says the brand was a tribute to the Red Arrow Brigade. Red Arrow Root Beer is bottled at our retro soda facility in Mukilteo, WA, 12 - 12 oz. glass bottle sodas."

(from the bottle) "Red Arrow Root Beer from Michigan, known for authentic root beer flavor.  Folklore says the brand was a tribute to the Red Arrow Brigade."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Bottled by & under the authority of Orca Beverage Soda Works, Mukilteo, WA 98275.  160 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  www.orcabeverage.com MFG DATE 052112


Ingredients: Carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, phosphoric acid, extract of wintergreen and licorice, sodium benzoate (a preservative).


My thoughts: Like any good root beer, Red Arrow tastes like root beer.  The advantage it holds is that there is a definite commingling of flavors, giving it a slightly above average complexity.  As the aftertaste kicks in, these other flavors become more apparent, resolving into a minty, licorice flavor.  These flavors are pretty forward, for better or worse, as they are a bit too strong for my sensibilities.  While I prefer this aftertaste to the usual store-brand, no spice-flavor taste that many cheap sodas use, it could stand to be dialed back just a little bit.  My mouth felt like I had just chewed some mint gum and toothpaste after I was done drinking, but without the refreshing clean feeling those two give (probably because this is full of sugar).  The carbonation is decent, though slightly flat.  It could use just a little more kick in that department.  Of course, the lowered carbonation lends to added smoothness, keeping it from feeling too harsh and also avoiding the dreaded 'soda water flavor'.  Sweetness isn't terrible, but along with the overpowering aftertaste, could probably stand to tone it down just a notch or two.  Overall, it could use a little tweaking of proportions to get it from overbearing to just right.


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