Saturday, June 13, 2015

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.

BRANDOverallFlavorHeadZipPostW/O Head
Columbia Soda Works Sarsaparilla10.62.82.22.72.98.4
Wild Spur Sarsaparilla10.42.752.52.42.757.9
Druthers Black Cow - HFCS is - 0.59.92.5232.47.9
Maine Root Sarsparilla9.92.822.42.77.9
Lost Trail Sarsaparilla10.32.92.522.97.8
Dublin Texas10.22.82.42.52.57.8
Earp's Sarsaparilla8.752.2512.752.757.75
NORKA10.252.752.52.52.57.75
Hippo Size9.22.61.52.72.47.7
Fitz's Premium9.352.51.752.52.67.6
Uncle Scott's  (#90)9.32.71.822.87.5
Dachshunds III10.32.52.82.52.57.5
Briar's Premium92.51.52.52.57.5
Ozark Mountain9.32.422.52.47.3
Hosmer Mountain Sarsaparilla9.72.62.52.22.47.2
Saranac 188810.12.132.52.57.1
Point Premium- HFCS is -0.59.422.52.42.56.9
Bulldog   (#86)9.252.252.522.56.75
Penny Frosted  7.752.2512.252.256.75
Jack Black's Dead Red  92.52.2522.256.75
Yacht Club8.252.251.52.526.75
Fireman's Brew8.42.21.82.12.36.6
Towne Club  82.21.42.12.36.6
Kutztown Sarsaparilla8.12.21.52.22.26.6
Homer Soda Maple Syrup8.62.3222.36.6
Rocket Fizz Gene Autry8.52222.56.5
Dog N Suds - HFCS is - 0.592.22.51.92.46.5
Saint Arnold 8.252.251.7522.256.5
American Classics Ginseng  82.251.522.256.5
Barons7.92.41.51.752.256.4
Baumeister - HFCS is - 0.58.251.7522.252.256.25
Capone  (6 drink fast / 10 drink slow)7.7521.522.256.25
Crater Lake7.52.51.251.7526.25
Henry Weinhard's- HFCS is - 0.58.72.22.5226.2
Racinette (Johnnie Ryan)7.521.5226
Spring Grove - HFCS is - 0.58.522.5226
Judge Wapner  82.2521.7526
Dead World Twilight Shuffler  7.521.5226
Foxon Park Draft Style7.52.251.51.7526
Route 66 (Edited)721226
Bedford's6.75211.7525.75
Natural Brew721.2521.755.75
Blumer's7.51.7521.7525.5
Cicero Beverage Co Salted Caramel6.251.5121.755.25
Empire Bottling Works  61.750.751.751.755.25
Caamano Bros High Noon Sarsaparilla6.51.751.251.751.755.25
Dad's Old Fashioned  722125
Rocky Mountain  71.521.71.85
Naturally Crafted (US Foods)6.751.751.751.51.755
Death Valley (#87)71.7521.51.755
Tyler the Kid6.751.751.751.51.755
Red Arrow6.51.51.51.751.755
Ramblin  7.51.82.51.51.75
Thomas Kemper Small Batch7.822.81.51.55
Mom's5.251.50.51.51.754.75
Harmony Springs Sarsaparilla6.251.751.51.51.54.75
Bar Harbor Old Soaker Root Beer (#89)7.251.52.51.751.54.75
Fest Pecan  6.2521.51.51.254.75
Filberts Old Time (HFCS is - 0.5)71.52.41.41.74.6
Masons6.251.51.751.251.754.5
Crim City Soda  6.51.521.51.54.5
Dang5.51.511.51.54.5
Dead World Slow Decay61.251.521.254.5
Joe's6.751.52.51.251.54.25
Rugged Mountain  5.251.2511.51.54.25
Gale's  5.7511.51.751.54.25
The Pop Shop5.751.51.51.251.54.25
Three Stooges Wise Guy  6.751.52.51.51.254.25
Red Ribbon Home Brewed6.251.521.51.254.25
Freaky Dog5111.51.54
Dorothy's Isle of Pines - HFCS is - 0.551.5111.54
Oogave51.2511.251.54
Stubborn Classic4.51.50.51.251.254
Root Jack Orange (HFCS is - 0.5)61.2521.51.254
Tree Fort5.751.51.751.251.254
Sparky's  (#88)511214
Grown Up Soda (GUS)6.251.252.51.251.253.75
Myers Avenue Red (HFCS is - 0.5)5.751.252.251.2513.5
Big Ben's  41.50.5113.5
Dr. Browns4.5111.513.5
Golden Maple  3.81.30.5113.3
Rocket Fizz Root Beer Float4.511.2511.253.25
Bawls5.51.252.25113.25
Reading Draft  (#85)4.711.51.213.2
Tower3.50.50.51.251.253
Frostie Vanilla  310113
Boots Sarsaparilla411113
Serenity Brothers Root Beer/Vanilla2.51010.52.5
Sky Valley Organic3.25110.50.752.25
Cool Mountain2.750.750.510.52.25
Always Ask for Avery's - HFCS is - 0.5210012
Sassy Lil Lass1.5010.500.5


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