Root Beer Review process

For the first round, I purchased 49 different root beers and then found 45 more, for 94 bottles of root beer in the closet! Before I end, I hope to have over 100 reviews.  

But first, I will describe the critique criteria used. This will provide an understanding of how I formulated my opinion. Recall that my reviews are my opinion, and I am sure many will not agree.   

I will rate each root beer using four variables: 

1. Aroma and Flavor
2. Head
3. Zip
4. Post Consumption Impression.  

Each variable will be awarded with a score of 0 to 3.  A “0” should be avoided, even if it is free.  A “3” is top of the line.  I will total the ratings and have a final number for the review. Therefore, 12 is a root beer made in heaven, based on my preferred taste and texture.



Aroma and Flavor: First, the aroma when you open the bottle is the first impression. An excellent root beer has an aroma that enhances the anticipation of the first drink.  This is followed by taste or smoothness in my mouth.  The flavor is the most common reference for people enjoying a beverage or food.  I prefer a thick and rich, with a little water-like texture, for my root beer.  I understand that means the sugar count is high.



I prefer root Beer with a hint of vanilla. I can often tell immediately which are flavored with honey. I even noted that some use maple syrup.  



Head: While this is not a significant factor for me, it is essential to many. This is the A/W mentality my generation grew up experiencing.  It was a psychological belief that big foam meant big taste. Do some actually put additives in place to create the head?
  In addition, the taste of all that delightful foam may add to this score.  In some cases, it’s tasteless.  



Zip: Proper spices and carbonation make a great root beer. I love a smooth, spice-like zip as it passes through the taste buds. The carbonation provides a slight tongue tingle and is an outstanding balance. 



Post-consumption impression: The root beer must intensify my desire for something else. My post-consumption experience should be a highlight, a lasting impression. 


The following list will be updated with scores as the reviews are completed.  

SORTED BY SCORE WITHOUT HEAD to emphasize my flavor-rated brews.

BRAND	Overall	Flavor	Head	Zip	Post	W/O Head
Columbia Soda Works Sarsaparilla	10.6	2.8	2.2	2.7	2.9	8.4
Druthers Black Cow - HFCS is - 0.5	9.9	2.5	2	3	2.4	7.9
Wild Spur Sarsaparilla	10.4	2.75	2.5	2.4	2.75	7.9
Maine Root Sarsparilla	9.9	2.8	2	2.4	2.7	7.9
Dublin Texas	10.2	2.8	2.4	2.5	2.5	7.8
Lost Trail Sarsaparilla	10.3	2.9	2.5	2	2.9	7.8
NORKA	10.25	2.75	2.5	2.5	2.5	7.75
Earp's Sarsaparilla	8.75	2.25	1	2.75	2.75	7.75
Hippo Size	9.2	2.6	1.5	2.7	2.4	7.7
Fitz's Premium	9.35	2.5	1.75	2.5	2.6	7.6
Dachshunds III	10.3	2.5	2.8	2.5	2.5	7.5
Briar's Premium	9	2.5	1.5	2.5	2.5	7.5
Uncle Scott's  (#90)	9.3	2.7	1.8	2	2.8	7.5
Ozark Mountain	9.3	2.4	2	2.5	2.4	7.3
Hosmer Mountain Sarsaparilla	9.7	2.6	2.5	2.2	2.4	7.2
Saranac 1888	10.1	2.1	3	2.5	2.5	7.1
Point Premium- HFCS is -0.5	9.4	2	2.5	2.4	2.5	6.9
Penny Frosted	7.75	2.25	1	2.25	2.25	6.75
Bulldog   (#86)	9.25	2.25	2.5	2	2.5	6.75
Yacht Club	8.25	2.25	1.5	2.5	2	6.75
Jack Black's Dead Red	9	2.5	2.25	2	2.25	6.75
Fireman's Brew	8.4	2.2	1.8	2.1	2.3	6.6
Towne Club	8	2.2	1.4	2.1	2.3	6.6
Kutztown Sarsaparilla	8.1	2.2	1.5	2.2	2.2	6.6
Homer Soda Maple Syrup	8.6	2.3	2	2	2.3	6.6
Dog N Suds - HFCS is - 0.5	9	2.2	2.5	1.9	2.4	6.5
Rocket Fizz Gene Autry	8.5	2	2	2	2.5	6.5
Zuberfizz Creamy Root Beer	8	2.25	1.5	2	2.25	6.5
Saint Arnold	8.25	2.25	1.75	2	2.25	6.5
American Classics Ginseng	8	2.25	1.5	2	2.25	6.5
Barons	7.9	2.4	1.5	1.75	2.25	6.4
Baumeister - HFCS is - 0.5	8.25	1.75	2	2.25	2.25	6.25
Crater Lake	7.5	2.5	1.25	1.75	2	6.25
Capone  (6 drink fast / 10 drink slow)	7.75	2	1.5	2	2.25	6.25
Henry Weinhard's- HFCS is - 0.5	8.7	2.2	2.5	2	2	6.2
Racinette (Johnnie Ryan)	7.5	2	1.5	2	2	6
Spring Grove - HFCS is - 0.5	8.5	2	2.5	2	2	6
Judge Wapner	8	2.25	2	1.75	2	6
Dead World Twilight Shuffler	7.5	2	1.5	2	2	6
Foxon Park Draft Style	7.5	2.25	1.5	1.75	2	6
Route 66 (Edited)	7	2	1	2	2	6
Bedford's	6.75	2	1	1.75	2	5.75
Natural Brew	7	2	1.25	2	1.75	5.75
Blumer's	7.5	1.75	2	1.75	2	5.5
Cicero Beverage Co Salted Caramel	6.25	1.5	1	2	1.75	5.25
Empire Bottling Works	6	1.75	0.75	1.75	1.75	5.25
Caamano Bros High Noon Sarsaparilla	6.5	1.75	1.25	1.75	1.75	5.25
Naturally Crafted (US Foods)	6.75	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.75	5
Death Valley (#87)	7	1.75	2	1.5	1.75	5
Tyler the Kid	6.75	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.75	5
Thomas Kemper Small Batch	7.8	2	2.8	1.5	1.5	5
Ramblin	7.5	1.8	2.5	1.5	1.7	5
Rocky Mountain	7	1.5	2	1.7	1.8	5
Dad's Old Fashioned	7	2	2	1	2	5
Red Arrow	6.5	1.5	1.5	1.75	1.75	5
Harmony Springs Sarsaparilla	6.25	1.75	1.5	1.5	1.5	4.75
Mom's	5.25	1.5	0.5	1.5	1.75	4.75
Sprecher Rev’d Up	6.5	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.5	4.75
Fest Pecan	6.25	2	1.5	1.5	1.25	4.75
Bar Harbor Old Soaker Root Beer (#89)	7.25	1.5	2.5	1.75	1.5	4.75
Filberts Old Time (HFCS is - 0.5)	7	1.5	2.4	1.4	1.7	4.6
Masons	6.25	1.5	1.75	1.25	1.75	4.5
Crim City Soda	6.5	1.5	2	1.5	1.5	4.5
Dead World Slow Decay	6	1.25	1.5	2	1.25	4.5
Dang	5.5	1.5	1	1.5	1.5	4.5
Joe's	6.75	1.5	2.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
The Pop Shop	5.75	1.5	1.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
Three Stooges Wise Guy	6.75	1.5	2.5	1.5	1.25	4.25
Rugged Mountain	5.25	1.25	1	1.5	1.5	4.25
Gale's	5.75	1	1.5	1.75	1.5	4.25
Red Ribbon Home Brewed	6.25	1.5	2	1.5	1.25	4.25
Freaky Dog	5	1	1	1.5	1.5	4
Dorothy's Isle of Pines - HFCS is - 0.5	5	1.5	1	1	1.5	4
Sparky's  (#88)	5	1	1	2	1	4
Stubborn Classic	4.5	1.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	4
Oogave	5	1.25	1	1.25	1.5	4
Root Jack Orange (HFCS is - 0.5)	6	1.25	2	1.5	1.25	4
Tree Fort	5.75	1.5	1.75	1.25	1.25	4
Grown Up Soda (GUS)	6.25	1.25	2.5	1.25	1.25	3.75
Myers Avenue Red (HFCS is - 0.5)	5.75	1.25	2.25	1.25	1	3.5
Big Ben's	4	1.5	0.5	1	1	3.5
Dr. Browns	4.5	1	1	1.5	1	3.5
Golden Maple	3.8	1.3	0.5	1	1	3.3
Bawls	5.5	1.25	2.25	1	1	3.25
Rocket Fizz Root Beer Float	4.5	1	1.25	1	1.25	3.25
Reading Draft  (#85)	4.7	1	1.5	1.2	1	3.2
Frostie Vanilla	3	1	0	1	1	3
Tower	3.5	0.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	3
Boots Sarsaparilla	4	1	1	1	1	3
Serenity Brothers Root Beer/Vanilla	2.5	1	0	1	0.5	2.5
Sky Valley Organic	3.25	1	1	0.5	0.75	2.25
Cool Mountain	2.75	0.75	0.5	1	0.5	2.25
Always Ask for Avery's - HFCS is - 0.5	2	1	0	0	1	2
Sassy Lil Lass	1.5	0	1	0.5	0	0.5