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
Wild Spur Sarsaparilla	10.4	2.75	2.5	2.4	2.75	7.9
Druthers Black Cow - HFCS is - 0.5	9.9	2.5	2	3	2.4	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
Earp's Sarsaparilla	8.75	2.25	1	2.75	2.75	7.75
NORKA	10.25	2.75	2.5	2.5	2.5	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
Uncle Scott's  (#90)	9.3	2.7	1.8	2	2.8	7.5
Briar's Premium	9	2.5	1.5	2.5	2.5	7.5
Dachshunds III	10.3	2.5	2.8	2.5	2.5	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
Bulldog   (#86)	9.25	2.25	2.5	2	2.5	6.75
Penny Frosted	7.75	2.25	1	2.25	2.25	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
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
Fireman's Brew	8.4	2.2	1.8	2.1	2.3	6.6
Homer Soda Maple Syrup	8.6	2.3	2	2	2.3	6.6
Saint Arnold	8.25	2.25	1.75	2	2.25	6.5
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
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
Crater Lake	7.5	2.5	1.25	1.75	2	6.25
Baumeister - HFCS is - 0.5	8.25	1.75	2	2.25	2.25	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
Foxon Park Draft Style	7.5	2.25	1.5	1.75	2	6
Judge Wapner	8	2.25	2	1.75	2	6
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
Route 66 (Edited)	7	2	1	2	2	6
Dead World Twilight Shuffler	7.5	2	1.5	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
Thomas Kemper Small Batch	7.8	2	2.8	1.5	1.5	5
Dad's Old Fashioned	7	2	2	1	2	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
Naturally Crafted (US Foods)	6.75	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.75	5
Red Arrow	6.5	1.5	1.5	1.75	1.75	5
Ramblin	7.5	1.8	2.5	1.5	1.7	5
Rocky Mountain	7	1.5	2	1.7	1.8	5
Mom's	5.25	1.5	0.5	1.5	1.75	4.75
Fest Pecan	6.25	2	1.5	1.5	1.25	4.75
Harmony Springs Sarsaparilla	6.25	1.75	1.5	1.5	1.5	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
Dang	5.5	1.5	1	1.5	1.5	4.5
Dead World Slow Decay	6	1.25	1.5	2	1.25	4.5
Crim City Soda	6.5	1.5	2	1.5	1.5	4.5
Serenity Sodas Root Beer/Vanilla Cream	5	1.25	0.75	1.5	1.5	4.25
Gale's	5.75	1	1.5	1.75	1.5	4.25
Joe's	6.75	1.5	2.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
Three Stooges Wise Guy	6.75	1.5	2.5	1.5	1.25	4.25
The Pop Shop	5.75	1.5	1.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
Red Ribbon Home Brewed	6.25	1.5	2	1.5	1.25	4.25
Rugged Mountain	5.25	1.25	1	1.5	1.5	4.25
Stubborn Classic	4.5	1.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	4
Sparky's  (#88)	5	1	1	2	1	4
Freaky Dog	5	1	1	1.5	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
Dorothy's Isle of Pines - HFCS is - 0.5	5	1.5	1	1	1.5	4
Oogave	5	1.25	1	1.25	1.5	4
Dr. Browns	4.5	1	1	1.5	1	3.5
Big Ben's	4	1.5	0.5	1	1	3.5
Myers Avenue Red (HFCS is - 0.5)	5.75	1.25	2.25	1.25	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
Tower	3.5	0.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	3
Boots Sarsaparilla	4	1	1	1	1	3
Frostie Vanilla	3	1	0	1	1	3
Grown Up Soda (GUS)	5.5	1	2.5	1	1	3
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