January 14, 2012

25 More Root Beers

A few years ago I started documenting my opinions on various gourmet root beers. In retrospect, I kind of wish I would have used a more practical rating system (or ANY rating system for that matter) but I guess the purpose was more artistic than scientific. So if you're wondering what the "best" root beer is, this won't really help. But if you're wondering which ones taste more like vegetables and which ones taste more like cleaning supplies, I've got you covered. And if you haven't seen the original post, please start here.

TOWER: Nice mild spice. Tastes like licorice and moonlight.

THOMAS KEMPER: Distinguished, but slightly off; like a leather couch in a dorm room. Definitely on the spicy end of the root beer spectrum, versus the sweet end.

BEDFORD'S: Black Cherry & Pistachio. Unique and delicious.

THE POP SHOPPE: Sugar, Spearmint, Windex, Ham.

DANG! THAT'S GOOD: Actually, I'd call it "Dang, that's root beer." It was good, but it wasn't extraordinary in anyway. Definitely not impressive enough to name it after an exclamation.

OOGAVE: Oh, Green Tea, you shouldn't be ashamed of what you are. There's nothing wrong with- What? You're not Green Tea, you're Root Beer? Oh. Um. So... Hey, did you see The Office last week?

STEWART'S: Sugar, mixed with brown sugar, mixed with caramel. Opposite Thomas Kemper on the sweet/spicy flavor spectrum.

VIRGIL'S SPECIAL EDITION BAVARIAN NUTMEG: Really good flavor, but not as special as I was expecting. "I'm searching for the nutmeg..." -Jenette Cementina

BAWS GUARANA G33K B33R: Nice brown sugar taste but also slightly watery. And there's something slightly... mediciny about it. Maybe that's the G33K.

A&W: "Clear", with a faint scent of fireworks.

TRADER JOE'S VINTAGE: Sugary opening, leading to the mellow butteryness of a Ritz cracker.

ZUBERFIZ: A Necco Wafer dreaming about lemons.

PITHY LITTLE SODA WORKS: A handsome man in a plum colored suit sits alone in the corner booth of a darkened bar eating a steak.

APPLE FARM: Molasses, Brown Sugar... and Beer. This one might require a second taste with the assurance that it hasn't fermented...

CENTRAL COAST BREWING: "Old" + "Dry" + "Soap" + "Chai".

MYERS AVENUE: Tastes like a cinnamon roll dipped in cough medicine. But not soaked or anything. Just dipped. Briefly.

CHICO SHINE: Smooth and Honey-y

RED ARROW: This root beer makes me want a hamburger.

MARGO'S BARK: Sharp black licorice with a hint of ash tray.

JOE'S: Smooth and sweet, reminds me of the Toasted Marshmallow Jelly Belly.

ITHICA: Rosemary and Cola.

SQUAMSCOT: Cream Soda in disguise.

SO DUH ROCKIN' ROOT BEER: Tastes like a spice rack. Is that numeg? Cloves? Oregano? Bonus points for uniqueness, except I can't tell if I want to drink it or sprinkle it on pizza...

FOXON PARK: Cotton candy and lemon. And kinda... woodsy? But less like fern covered forest and more like potpourri meant to smell like a fern covered forest.

RED RIBBON: Black licorice dipped in blood, wrapped in iceberg lettuce.