Foxon Park root beer

Background information: (from the website): "Foxon Park Beverages, Inc. was founded in 1922 in East Haven, Connecticut by Matteo Naclerio, an immigrant from Italy. He quickly embraced the entrepreneurial spirit of his era and decided to open up a beverage company called “Foxon Park,” named after the street on which it resided at the time. Home delivery and a vast variety of flavors were the key to success back then, and unique flavors such as Iron Brew (a drink made famous in Scotland), Gassosa (a lemon flavored Italian soda), Birch Beer, Root Beer, and many others set Foxon Park apart from the vast competition. Ownership has been passed from generation to generation and still remains in the family today, continuing the tradition that was started so long ago."

"Although much has changed over the years, the recipe has remained the same. Using only the best ingredients, including real cane sugar, Foxon Park has become a drink of choice throughout many parts of Connecticut and has started to garner interest in other parts of the country as well. Thanks to its ever growing distribution radius, this soda has been spotted in restaurants as far west as California and as far south as Florida."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Foxon Park Beverages, INC. East Haven, Conn 06513 CT.  130 calories, 34g sugar. Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.foxonpark.com


Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, and sodium benzoate.


My thoughts: Whoa!  There is some wintergreen in this thing and it's pretty strong.  The initial flavor is fairly weak in the rootiness, but I there are some spices in there but it's hard to single them out with the overwhelming mint.  Not only does it dominate the upfront flavor, but the aftertaste as well.  It's certainly not a well balanced mix of flavors.

I do like the crispness of the carbonation.  It's strong and a bit prickly, just how I like my CO₂.  Of course, high carbonation usually means less smooth, which is the case here, but not negatively so.  There is still a hint of creaminess and I think it works well.  The sugar seems to be just about right too, not leaving the dreaded coating behind that some of the more poorly sweetened beverages can.

Unfortunately for this root beer, it just doesn't have what it takes in the flavor department.  With a lack or rootiness and an overabundance of wintergreen, it's unable to take advantage of the strengths offered by the other criteria, which is too bad.


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

Virgil's Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg root beer

Background information: (from the website): "This Special Edition of Virgil’s Bavarian Nutmeg is imported from Bavaria and produced with swing-top pint size bottles. Virgil’s is a gourmet root beer. We’re what Ben and Jerry’s is to ice cream, what Dom Perignon is to champagne.

We’re a micro-brewed root beer made with all-natural ingredients. We use herbs imported from around the world and unbleached pure cane sugar.

Virgil’s Microbrewed Root Beer contains these key all-natural ingredients:

carbonated water

unbleached cane sugar

Along with these natural herbs and spices (including point of origin):

anise from Spain

licorice from France

vanilla (bourbon) from Madagascar

cinnamon from Ceylon

clove from Indonesia

wintergreen from China

sweet birch from the southern US

molasses from the US

nutmeg from Indonesia

pimento berry oil from Jamaica

balsam oil from Peru

cassia oil from China

Gluten Free. No Preservatives, No Caffeine, No GMO’s, and No artificial anything! Some root beers claim to be “cold-brewed”. This is merely another term for the filtering process that yields common soda. Even so-called premium root beers like Stewarts, IBC and Weinhard’s are not hand crafted brews like Virgil’s. Only Virgil’s Microbrewed Root Beer is truly “brewed”."

(from the bottle): "Virgil's is a superb blend of spices and herbs gathered from the world over; anise, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, sweet birch, molasses, nutmeg, pimento berry oil, balsam oil and cassia oil."


Product details: 16.9 fl. oz.  REED's Inc, L.A., CA 90061. (800) 99-REEDS.   214 calories, 28g sugar. Glass bottle with lever activated rubber-stopper top.  http://www.virgils.com


Ingredients: Purified carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, herbs and spices.


My thoughts: This is a big bottle of root beer (16.9 oz vs 12 oz).  And the ingenious sealing mechanism for the lid is fun.  But does that translate to a good root beer?  Read on.

This is a hearty root beer.  There is a nice strong rooty flavor right off the bat, but mixed in is a very noticeable note of licorice or anise.  I like to taste my root beers before looking at the ingredient list, so as to not alter my perceptions by anticipating certain flavors.  So I was happy to see that my tongue wasn't lying and both licorice and anise were on the menu.  The aftertaste has lingering licorice/anise as well, but the vanilla makes itself known and, while the ingredients say it has wintergreen, I didn't notice it until reading the label and sampling it once again, as the wintergreen is extremely subtle.  There are a few other spices listed, but none of them made themselves known to my tastebuds in any distinguishing manner.

This drink goes down nice and smooth.  The mix of spices makes it soothing and the moderate amount of under-carbonation certainly helps in this aspect, but I would certainly trade some of the smoothness for a bit more carbonation bite.  Sugar-wise, I'm quite pleased with this root beer.  It may be ever so slightly too sweet, but nothing that detracts too much from the enjoyement.

Overall, a pretty good root beer.  I didn't notice the nutmeg contributing much, despite the prominence on the bottle.  Maybe I just got a bottle that was a little flat, but it could certainly use some help in the carbonation department and would make this a much better root beer overall.  The score is mostly saved by the mix of spices, though the licorice/anise could be toned down a notch or two.


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

Old Town root beer

Background information: (from the website): "Here at Old Town Root Beer Company We have over 500 Sodas in glass bottles...all ice cold and ready to go...our Root Beer Floats will really hit the spot on any day!!  We are family owned and operated since 2000. Come in and enjoy a taste of the past and try our very own Micro Brewed Root Beer!!"

*note: website listed on bottle says .com, but actual website is .net


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Old Town Rootbeer Co. Temecula, San Diego, Barstow, Chicago, Branson and a city near you! ? calories, ?g sugar. (no health info on bottle) Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.oldtownrootbeer.net


Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Honey, Natural and other Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Phosphoric Acid, Real Vanilla.


My thoughts: Judging from the size of the root beer collection at their location in Temecula ("Over 100 Choices!" according to their website), I'd assume that if Old Town Rootbeer Co. was going to craft their own root beer, it would be something special.  How could connoisseurs such as the fine owners of this establishment create anything mediocre?

Happily, I can report that this is a really good, bordering on great root beer.  First of all, this doesn't taste like a boring old root beer extract.  There are various spices at work here, and there is a nice rooty flavor and the spices are subtle, and so well blended, that it is hard to single out any one flavor.  This complexity is quite appealing.  As the delicious nectar finishes the journey in my mouth, I'm left with a pleasing hint of wintergreen, anise, and the slightest touch of vanilla.  Sweetness is spot on, perhaps due to the combo of cane sugar and honey; it leaves no overly sugary coating feeling in my mouth.

Is it perfect?  Not quite.  While smooth and creamy, I think the carbonation could use about 10% more fizziness to it.  And...well, dang... I can't think of any other glaring deficiencies that need to be addressed.  But for some reason, despite all this has going for it, the numbers just don't add up.  It has all these qualities that I love in a root beer, but for some reason the overall package just doesn't blow me away.  Looking at the numbers, this should be an "A" soda, yet I feel that it isn't quite there.  I can't really explain why, as the root beer is tasty, but it doesn't "Wow!" me for some reason.  This is a good root beer that I'll be happy to make room for in the future, but hopefully it resonates with me a bit more, as I feel that I should like it even better than my grade suggests.  Looking at their Facebook page, it also appears that they have two additional root beer products I need to try: D-n-A (sweeter w/ honey) and Rt. 66 (spicier with cinnamon).


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

Zuberfizz root beer

Background information: (from the website) "We take pride in the manufacturing process, ingredients and packaging we use at Durango Soda Company Inc. Each batch is handcrafted in small quantities with fresh Rocky Mountain water from the San Juans. Our finished product is then transferred to glass bottles - a superior container to aluminum or plastic for both taste and the environment. So twist one off and drink it down. It's the real deal."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Durango Soda Company Inc., Durango, Colorado. 159 calories, 43g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.zuberfizz.com


Ingredients: Triple-Filtered Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Gum Arabic, Phosphoric Acid and Sodium Benzoate.


My thoughts: It's been a few months since my last root beer, so I was hoping to return with an übergetränk, and I thought with a name like Zuberfizz, how could I go wrong?  "Zuber" sounds exciting and powerful, while "fizz" sounds...well...fizzy.

Flavor-wise, it's strong, but artificial.  I can't taste much except the rooty flavor, with nary a hint of spices except for a lingering minty aftertaste.  Not bad, but nothing special.  It's also a little bit sugary syrup tasting, not particularly bad, but again, nothing special.  The carbonation starts out just about right, but as I drank my way through the bottle, the fizz fizzled out.  Is it "creamy" smooth like the label suggests?  Sure, but nothing extraordinary.

In the end, my übergetränk ended up being a mittelmäßiggetränk, neither exceeding nor lagging behind your garden variety, grocery store root beers.


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

Waialua root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Waialua Soda Works, Inc. brings back the “experience” of drinking soda by using natural, high quality ingredients to create a refreshing and lightly carbonated gourmet soda. Down to the glass bottle, Waialua Soda Works is a source for the nostalgic soda connoisseur, and those who prefer to savor a purer beverage."

"Founded in 2003 by Waialua residents Karen and Jason Campbell, Waialua Soda Works’ recipes are inspired by the elements familiar to the Hawaiian Islands. Reviving a local soda bottling tradition that goes back more than 100 years, the company uses only clear glass bottles, pure cane sugar, and natural flavors to make its pineapple, mango, root beer, and vanilla cream sodas. The products feature local ingredients such as Maui Brand natural white cane sugar, Big Island vanilla, and honey from Kauai. Waialua Soda Works is owned and operated from a warehouse in the historic town of Waialua, located on the famous North Shore of Oahu."

"Reaching consumers through hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores as a wholesale distributor, Waialua Soda Works launched pineapple as its first, full-flavored premium soda in early 2004. With aspirations of reaching consumers worldwide, Waialua Soda Works' gourmet products will attract soda connoisseurs with the palate for a light and uniquely flavored beverage."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Waialua Soda Works Inc, PO Box 657, Waialua, HI 96791 USA 818.371.7556. 140 calories, 35g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.waialuasodaworks.com


Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar Blend (cans sugar and Maui natural white cane sugar), natural flavor, caramel color, phosphoric acid and hawaiian vanilla extract.


My thoughts: I had exhausted the variety of root beers from the local soda seller, but after a couple months, I thought I'd drop by and see if anything new had arrived.  Fortune was on my side, as I found a few new root beers, the first of which I decided to try was Waialua, Hawaii's own root beer.  So the question remains, is this root beer going to be more like Lost: Season 1 or the disappointing Season 6?

My initial impression is that it smells quite nice.  The flavor feels very natural, not at all like the cheap syrup flavor of the grocery store canned product.  The rootiness is nice and crisp, with a pleasant vanilla hint.  The flavor may be a bit more subtle than it could be and diminishes quickly, but instead of disappearing completely, it subtly lingers behind.  Sugar balance is perfect, as it leaves my mouth feeling clean and dry rather than sugar-coated.  The dryness is nice, but sort of reminds me of the sensation when I put a wooden spoon or Popsicle stick on my tongue.  Carbonation is not too bad, but could use just a little more kick to it.  It may seem like a contradiction, but the dry sensation left behind also has an oddly creamy feel to it.  I really like the aftertaste attributes to this soda.

My conclusion?  Waialua root beer is more Lost: Season 1 than it is Season 6.  Plenty of promise, intrigue, and a moderately complex but natural flavor that doesn't make me angry.


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

GuS (Grown-up Soda) Dry root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Founded in early 2003 by Steve Hersh and Jeannette Luoh, GuS was what the founders and their friends were looking for in a beverage; something not so sweet like everything else out there. But not so dull and lifeless like flavored seltzers and waters. Or artificial, like diet drinks."

"Steve grew up in a household where his father added seltzer to everything. This was done to cut the sweetness, and make juice and soda lighter and more refreshing. It also reduced the calories, but that wasn't really the point."

"Now that tradition continues with GuS sodas. They're distinctive sodas made with real juice and real flavor extracts, in refreshing flavor varieties. They're 100% natural, pasteurized and kosher, with no caffeine. And they're lightly sweetened with natural cane sugar, with only 90 - 98 calories in each 12oz. bottle."

(from the bottle) "Lightly sweetened root beer with birch oil & vanilla ."


Product details: 12 fl. oz.  Utmost Brands, Inc., New York, NY 10022 (212) 355-7454. 98 calories, 24g sugar.  Glass bottle with twist off top.  http://www.drinkgus.com


Ingredients: Purified sparkling water, cane sugar, birch oil and other natural flavors, caramel color (from sugar), quillaja, citric acid.


My thoughts: With claims of being a"grown up soda", I was expecting a complex flavor, which GUS sort of delivers on.  The initial taste is quite good, with a nice blend of vanilla and rootiness.  It even delivers on the "dry" claim, a pleasant sensation on the tongue.  But where it really falls short is in the aftertaste.  The good flavor is fleeting, rapidly leaving behind the soda water taste I detest.  Sweetness is excellent, with just enough without leaving behind a costing of sugar residue.  Carbonation is almost spot on as well, with a pleasant smoothness that is a bit lacking in creaminess.  Overall, the overly rapid vanishing of flavor left me disappointed, and I wish it lingered a bit longer, as this could be a very good root beer.


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

Saranac root beer

Background information: (from the website) "Our Hand-crafted Saranac Root Beer is made in small batches in our own hometown Brewery. The flavor will take you to the fresh root beer taste from days-gone-by.  We make our Saranac Root Beer with the best of ingredients - look for the fresh vanilla and licorice notes. Saranac Root Beer has the trademark rich, creamy head that only a real Brewery Root Beer can achieve."

(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