Monday, November 28, 2022

#90 Uncle Scotts - A North Carolina brew

In my last post, almost two years ago, I thought I was ready to begin ratings. Covid did not take me out but work almost did.  We have significant turnover as 66% of the staff have been in their position less than six months.  For the past two years, I have had less than 30 days off (including weekends and Holidays) and average work weeks of about 60 hours.  Things are finally getting stable, I think.  Therefore, the reviews will start again.


I was visiting my son in Cary, North Carolina where I found Uncle Scott’s All Natural Root Beer.  The brew is created nearby at Mooresville, NC.  The location is just southwest of the Research Triangle and only a few miles from my son’s home.

 

Scott and Suzanne Ramsey created the brew in 2007.  Root beer is part of an old tradition of making beverages from natural things, like the roots and bark of the sassafras tree, as well as the bark of birch and cherry trees. Suzanne and Scott tweaked an old-time recipe out of Pennsylvania to develop this robust brew made with cane sugar and natural flavors. It only contains ingredients you can pronounce.


Suzanne says, “We really wanted to go back to an old-fashioned flavor.” For me it was an instant taste flashback to my grandfather’s home-brewed root brew from my childhood. 

The Ramseys didn’t intend to make a living from root beer. Suzanne and Scott and Jeff Fleenor launched Carolina Country Provisions as a hobby to make wine from organically grown grapes. They planted a specialty grape vineyard of French and Spanish grapes. Root beer was just going to be a side project until the wine was ready. But a freeze wiped out all 700 of their vines. Scott loved making root beer as a child. So they refocused their efforts on root beer and it took off. Scott explains, “You cook it like you’re making beer. It’s as complex as making wine.

The root beer’s name came from the reaction of one of Suzanne’s nieces when Scott and Suzanne took some of their root beer on a visit to her family in New Mexico. Her niece took a first swallow and declared, “Uncle Scott! This is the best root beer I ever tasted!” Suzanne says. “I said, ‘There’s our name.’” It’s amazing, she says, how many people have an Uncle Scott. “Sometimes you have these magic moments.”

 

So, it is time for the review. (Click here for information on the rating criteria and a table of all the root beers tested or to be tested.)

 





Ingredients:

 

Filtered carbonated water, pure cane sugar, vanilla, cinnamon oil, natural caramel, birch and cherry extract, licorice root oil, anise oil, and natural gum arabic.   NO CORN SYRUP, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, OR PRESERVATIVES.

 

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

 

 180 Calories

 15 mg Sodium.

 41g -  14% of Daily Carbohydrates

 0 mg Caffeine

 

Aroma and Flavor – 2.7 out of 3 mugs 

 

The aroma was not strong, yet was a basic aroma from the bottle.  The first sip was wonderful, with well-balanced carbonation and a smooth taste.  Nothing was overpowering, yet there was a discernable root aftertaste.  Some may not like that, but it was unique and pleasant.  

 

Head – 1.8 out of 3 mugs   

 

The head is small which makes for an easy pour.  I find essential natural ingredients and little carbonation typically result in reduced foam. 

 

Zip – 2.00 out of 3 mugs   

 

There is nothing I would call zip, although the blend of flavors warrants the score.  Nothing is overpowering.  Just a smooth brew that goes down well.

 

Post Consumption Impression – 2.8 out of 3 mugs   

 

I really enjoyed the beverage with its own taste and unique blend of flavors I have yet to experience.  I loved the woody aftertaste, which I wonder is the Birch extract.

 

Would I recommend this at 9.3 out of 12 mugs?

 

I highly suggest trying the brew if you enjoy a fundamental flavor that leaves a smooth woody aftertaste.  Since it is a local brew, it may not be easy to find nationally.

 

OTHER REVIEWS

 

    NO OTHER REVIEWS FOUND

 

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Been a while

About a year ago my health became an major issue.  I spent several days in the hospital with a long recovery.  While there are still minor obstacles, I am near the point where I will continue the reviews.

During my recovery, I have been making my own root beer.  I tested many ingredients and am really enjoying my unique blends.  I found I like molasses as a notable ingredient.  Never expected that to be an option for me, but testing has found it add a unique flavor.

I am looking forward to a new review soon and getting to the 100th brew review!

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Bar Harbor Old Soaker - #89, 7.25 out of 12

This brew was gifted from Leslie and Taylor Guillory, who found it on their honeymoon in Bar harbor.  The Atlantic Brewing Company in Bar Harbor Maine brews Old Soaker Root Beer. They initially were the Acadia Brewing company in 1990 located inside the Lompoc Cafe in downtown Bar Harbor. The location only allowed them to brew one barrel at a time. A few years later the demand forced two doors down from the restaurant and increased the capacity to seven-barrel batches.  In 1998, they outgrew that facility and moved to where they are today, 27 years after starting the business.  They occupy a 19th century Maine farmstead, that employs native vegetation and local stonework.

The company, which claims their root beer is a “Bar Harbor favorite and cult classic,” uses an old-fashioned root beer recipe made with natural quillaja extract from the bark of the yucca plant. In the past, I found quillaja to have foam, but also an aftertaste I did not enjoy.



Ingredients:

Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate as a Preservative
  


Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

      NONE FOUND ON THE BOTTLE OR WEB

Aroma and Flavor – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

There was very little aroma from the bottle.  I was not sure what to expect.  The first drink was not one I expected.  While this is a root beer, there was a sensation that I was drinking a mix of Cherry Dr. Pepper and root beer.  This is a very sweet and creamy beverage with noted caramel and vanilla.  There was just an odd taste which I attribute to the quillaja

Head – 2.5 out of 3 mugs  

The head is well above average which dissipated slowly and left slight ring after several minutes. 

Zip – 1.75 out of 3 mugs  

There is a slight zip and a slight spiciness to the finish

Post Consumption Impression – 1.75 out of 3 mugs  

Overall, I enjoyed the beverage, yet would not seek it out like some others.  I am sure it is the quillaja aftertaste.  My mouth was left dry after each drink.

Would I recommend this at 7.25 out of 12 mugs?

If you enjoy a complex flavor that leaves a dry mouth with the slightly bitter aftertaste, this is for you.  I however was happy to try the brew and would drink is again, if it was the best option available. 

OTHER REVIEWS

    NO OTHER REVIEWS FOUND



Sunday, August 27, 2017

Sparky’s - #88, 5 out of 12

It all started in the 80's with a beer brewing kit in Pacific Grove, California. Kevin Knox got hooked on home brewing and his beers won many local, state and national awards.  He also wanted to make soda to give away to friends and family. After experimenting unsuccessfully with various flavors of soda, he began developing a recipe for his boyhood favorite, root beer. It took many years and many five-gallon batches before the recipe became fine-tuned. Throughout that time, Sparky’s was hand bottled in the same type 22oz. bottles used for his beer and gave both away as gifts, especially at Christmas.  After much encouragement from friends and family to offer Sparky’s Root Beer to the public, it was on April 1, 2000 this brew was born and debuted in Pacific Grove, California at the annual Good Old Days Celebration.

To make Sparky’s, a small commercial kitchen was rented and converted into a root beer brewery. The original plan was to produce Sparky’s on draft only, in 5 gallon kegs, for use in restaurants, private parties and other special events.  Now in bottles and distributed, which is why I have this to review.


Ingredients:

Carbonated Filtered Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Honey, Caramel Color, Natural and Imitation Flavorings, Spices, Sodium Benzoate as a Preservative, Phosphoric Acid and Caramel Color.



Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

 160 Calories
 45 mg Sodium.
 42g ( %) of Daily Carbohydrates
 0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 1 out of 3 mugs

Immediately upon opening the aroma was one of cough syrup or overly fermented.  I have long questioned if soda can just go bad.  I will need to try this again just like Sassy Lil’lass which I tried three times and found very disliked by me.  The taste had a strong birch, wintergreen and honey flavor that really are not to my liking.  I am not much of a birch flavor lover.

Head – 1 out of 3 mugs  

The head was rather small and what did appear was gone just as quickly. 

Zip – 2 out of 3 mugs  

The carbonation was on the lower side and the flavor an interesting mix.  Although I was not pleased with the flavors, it scores high for the combination and zip.

Post Consumption Impression – 1 out of 3 mugs  

I will try this again in case I have a bad bottle.  Although, based on this experience, I have a hesitation as it was not one I enjoyed at all.

Would I recommend this at 5 out of 12 mugs?

If you like birch flavor and high sweetness, maybe give it a try. It really should be a 4 total score yet the zip was unique and prominent, just not to my liking.

OTHER REVIEWS