Druthers (#8 - Rated 9.9 out of 12)

This is an Illinois brew.  Timothy Iwaanicki is the owner of Drutherss Beverage Company in Oglesby, Illinois.  In June of 2013, he was interviewed and stated when he grew up, ‘Black Cow’ was a colloquialism for a root beer float.  He started the business in approximately 1998 to make a root beer with vanilla crème, creating the Black Cow Float in a bottle.   After securing trademark approval for Druthers Black Cow, he launched Druthers Red Cow, a red crème soda, and Druthers Orange Cow, an orange crème soda.

Click here for rating criteria and a summary table of root beers reviewed.

Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate as a preservative.

Nutrition information from the label (Per 12 0z):  

• 195 Calories  (13.75 per oz)
• 7.5 mg Sodium.  (0.63 mg per oz)
• 43.5 g sugar  (10%) of Daily Carbohydrates (3.63 g per oz)

Aroma and Flavor - 2 out of 3 mugs - Docked the traditional 0.5 for the use of HFCS 

 I want to remind you having “Vanilla Cream” in the name means I would look forward to this beverage!  When I opened the bottle, it was a heavenly aroma of vanilla cream, yet it lacked the sassafras.

The flavor is my dream come true, and I desire more vanilla than usual.  The body is creamy and light.  It is refreshing that it is as close to a root beer float as any other beverage I have enjoyed.  While HFCS is its sweetener, it is not overly sweet and subtle.

Head - 2 out of 3 mugs

The head is tall but vanishes quickly.  If you get distracted for a very short moment, it is gone. 

Zip - 3 out of 3 mugs

The aroma is full, as I anticipated the first drink. It has a thicker sweetness, and I noted a touch of licorice after each swallow. While it is on the lower side of medium carbonation, it is free of the syrupy texture I would expect with HFCS as the main ingredient.

Post Consumption Impression - 2.4 out of 3 mugs

The beverage is smooth and has a great flavor combination that is hard to beat. This would easily be the highest-scoring root beer had it not received the traditional 0.5 education for using HFCS. The Aftertaste is vanilla cream, like store-brand vanilla ice cream, that lasts a while.  

Would I recommend this at 9.9 out of 12 mugs (7.9 out of 3 mugs without head)?

YES, YES, YES. Even though I try to avoid HFCS, this is not overly sweetened. I do not sense a syrup taste or aroma from the major commercial brands that use excess HFCS.  

Other reviews

• Anthony's Root Beer Barrel - 82 out of 100
• Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer – 3.5 of 5 barrels
• Steve’s Root Beer – 8 out of 10 

Henry Weinhard’s Draught Style Head (#7 - Rated 8.7 out of 12)

Henry Weinhard, Portland, Oregon, started as a beer maker in 1862.  Seems like most early brewers made a root beer as well, and he was no exception.  A common period for starting the root beer brew was a way to stay in business when prohibition was established.  He partnered with Arnold Blitz and they had the Blitz-Weinhard brewery.  It was sold to Pabst Brewing Company in 1979, who then sold it to Stroh’s in 1996.  By 1999, the brewing operation was sold, and the last brew from the original Weinhard brewery was on August 27, 1999.  The Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve brand survives today and is currently owned by SAB Miller in London England. 

Now for the review!  (Click here for rating criteria information)

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, vanilla extract, natural and artificial flavor, phosphoric acid and sodium benzoate, honey essence, and acacia sassafras extract.   (14 calories per ounce)

  

Aroma and Flavor - 2.2 out of 3 mugs (Decreased 0.5 by high amount of HFCS)

When you open the bottle, the aroma is not overpowering.  You get a sense it will be a sweet brew, and the vanilla is notable (a high point for me).  The flavor is very prominent with a nice full, sweet body.  The smoothness is nice; it made me think, “Life is good!”  Since this is made with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) as the second ingredient, I expected a syrup taste and feel.  I think the honey with the balance of vanilla and sassafras gives it a high degree of sweetness yet dampens the HFCS.

Head - 2.5 out of 3 mugs

This is the best head of any root beer I have reviewed. It is the perfect Head—long-lasting and does not detract from the beverage quality. Not much more can be said about the top-quality head. However, if you drink it from the bottle, the head is excessive.

Zip - 2 out of 3 mugs

There is not much bite that does not come from the HFCS. However, you know you are drinking more than HFCS, which rates this higher than similar beverages.

Post Consumption Impression - 2 out of 3 mugs (HFCS deduction)

Your Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer experience is capped off with a fairly clean ending, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.  Even though this is a solid root beer, I really do not like HFCS.  Everything about this product is superior to many others.   

Would I recommend this at 8.7 out of 12 mugs (6.2 out of 9 mugs without head)?

Other internet ratings list this highly.  I think I am the only reviewer that reduces the score for HFCS. Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer could be a solid gourmet root beer if it was not laced with HFCS. To date, I have found root beers seem to have a solid result in one aspect yet lack in others. The spice mix and the head make it a tough brew to beat. The level of HFCS also affects the sugars and calories, at almost 4 grams of sugar and 14 calories per ounce.  

Other Reviews

• The Root Beer Person - 3 out of 5
• Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel – 88 out of 100
• The Soda Jerk - A
• Steve’s Root Beer – 9.5 out of 10 
• Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer – 4.5 of 5 barrels

Filberts (#6 reviewed - Rated 7 of 12)

Root beer is a real family business product. Ronald Filbert and his wife Karen continue to run the family business that started in 1926 when George Filbert and his family delivered milk, ice, and coal to homes in the Bridgeport neighborhood by horse-drawn wagon. The family added root beer when it became popular during Prohibition. It was manufactured in half barrels and supplied mostly to taverns across five nearby states. Known best for its namesake root beer, Filbert’s also produces 17 flavors of soda.

Click here for the rating criteria and a summary table of all brews reviewed.

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, sugar and/or corn sweetener, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate (as a preservative)

Aroma and Flavor -1.5 out of 3 mugs

When I open the bottle, there is not much to notice other than this is one of the darkest root beers I have seen.  Carbonation is not noticeable and the aroma is faint.  The brew has a sweet taste, more like a root beer barrel candy.  While I did not dislike the brew, it was just there.  There is a taste I cannot identify yet it is slightly smooth.  A slight hint of sugar and vanilla, but it is nowhere near enough for my liking.  I also think Cane Sugar for part of the sweetener may be what is missing?  I really am beginning to tell the difference in sweeteners. 

Head - 2.4 out of 3 mugs

 The head is solid with a good deal of froth.  I really resemble a real draft head.  Would make a great float!

Zip - 1.4 out of 3 mugs

 This is really a bland root beer. The carbonation is slightly above the low side. The flavor is great for washing down a meal, but it lacks the overall sensation one gets from a solid brew.

Post Consumption Impression - 1.7 out of 3 mugs

This root beer would be okay in a restaurant or at the dinner table. However, to balance out the flavor, it needs to be enjoyed with food. It would be a 2.4 with food and a 1 as a stand-alone.

Would I recommend this at 7 out of 12 mugs (4.6 out of 9 mugs without head)?

I really do not like it when they put “sugar and/or corn sweetener” in the ingredients.  Why the “or” as opposed to just picking one or the other, or both?  Overall, I would recommend this for a root beer float or with a nice burger.  I would not suggest the brew if you are just sitting out on a cool autumn night, enjoying nature, or looking for a refreshment after a hot day outside.

OTHER REVIEWS:

Eric's - 3.5 of 5

Hosmer Mountain Sarsaparilla (#5 reviewed - Rated 9.9 of 12)

Hosmer Mountain Sarsaparilla Root Beer is produced in Easter Connecticut.  Homer Mountain Bottling Company was founded in 1912 specializing in water.  In 1958, it was purchased by Arthur J. Potvin, who tested many flavors through trial and error.  Unlike many, this is not a beer company that dabbles in soda, but all soda.  Hosmer Mountain produces over 30 flavors of soda. 

It is important to note that they make more than one root beer. They even make an energy drink called Red Lightning! This is a very diverse brand. Again, this is not a root beer. This is a sarsaparilla root beer.

Click here for rating criteria and a summary table of brews reviewed.

Ingredients: Carbonated non-chlorinated water, sugar, brown sugar, caramel color, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, potassium benzoate, and extract of sarsaparilla root.

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

170 Calories

7.5 mg Sodium.

43.5 g Sugar

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor - 2.6 of 3 mugs

When you open the bottle, the aroma is not overly strong.  It has a slight caramel popcorn smell.  At first drink, I can taste the brown sugar.  It is a unique way of adding sweetness to the beverage.  While it had a little syrup-like texture that was small compared to others?  Certainly not watery!  It is creamy, VERY creamy.  The unique flavor is enjoyable, although the sweetness is a little higher than I prefer. 

Head - 2.5 out of 3 mugs

This is the largest head I have seen.  Of course, this is only my fifth review, but it is very frothy.  It is not a long-lasting head, which is a preference for me.  This scores the highest to date, as it is exactly the level of head I desire in a solid pour.

Zip - 2.2 out of 3 mugs

Carbonization is low to moderate, which may be when the creamy feely intensifies. I like moderate to high carbonization. One disappointment is how quickly the beverage started to go flat. This is not a beverage you want to savor for an hour, but within 30 minutes, it is hard to beat.

Post Consumption Impression - 2.6 out of 3 mugs

Unlike many beverages, this beverage was very fulfilling and did not leave me longing for a second.  There is a hint of wintergreen and vanilla that is noted more afterward than during consumption.  I am mixed as the post-consumption will cease the desire to over-consume, but then again, it did not leave me longing for another.

Would I recommend this at 9.9 out of 12 mugs (7.4 out of 9 mugs without head)?

While this is not the first soda I would reach for, it is certainly in the top 10. I would not enjoy it regularly, but occasionally, it will fill a specific void in overall quality.

Other reviews:

Eric's - 4 of 5
Rob's - 9 of 10
Soda Jerks - A