Harmony
springs is a brew from Massachusetts.
It is real big on promoting the use of natural ingredients, including pure artesian water. The bottle states the company originated
in 1908, yet I can’t find any details.
For being it 109 years old, I expected to see some info related to the
founders. The website states:
At Harmony Springs, it isn’t just our sodas that are
old-fashioned. Our customer service is a bit old-fashioned too. We still
operate our own home delivery service throughout the local community and take
pride in the fact that we can count area police stations, firehouses, schools,
churches, spas, wellness centers, and local TV and radio stations as some of
our best and oldest customers.
Not sure why
they make a big deal about the artesian water. Chemically and physically, artesian water is
not different than other groundwater, but it comes to the surface differently.
Your mom is drinking water from a well that taps an aquifer that is
"confined". This aquifer is water-bearing rock (the pores and cracks
between rock particles are filled with water) that is surrounded by other rock
or material that does not allow water to pass through. So, the water in this
aquifer is squeezed by the other rocks, creating pressure in the water-bearing
aquifer. When an artesian aquifer
is tapped by a well the pressure pushes the water up the well, sometimes all
the way to the surface, creating a flowing well. Imagine it as a very wet
sponge contained in a closed plastic bag. Put a straw through the bag into the sponge;
hold the bag tightly around the straw, and SQUEEZE - that would be artesian
water squirting you in the face.
So not sure what makes it special, other than for marketing to people
who do not know the difference.
Now
for the official root beer review. (Click here for information on the rating criteria and a table of all
the root beer tested or to be tested.)
Ingredients:
Carbonated Pure Artesian Water, 100% Cane Sugar, natural
and artificial Flavors and color, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzonate.
Nutrition 12 oz serving (from the bottle)
170 Calories
0 mg Sodium.
45g (14%) of Daily Carbohydrates
0 mg Caffeine
Aroma and Flavor – 1.75 out of 3 mugs
At first, the aroma was outstanding. It filled me with anticipation of a beverage I was anxious
to enjoy. Then the first sip was a
let down. Not that this is bad; I
just had such high expectation from the aroma. The flavor is slightly bland with a taste that almost
reminds me of seltzer water. The
score is a little higher because of the strong aroma
Head – 1.5 out of 3 mugs
It was almost non-existent.
It did fizz, but within 10 seconds you would not know there was a
head. Kind of disappointing for a
root beer and really reminds of a sugar flavored seltzer water with a hint of sarsaparilla.
Zip – 1.5 out of 3 mugs
The beverage
is rather plain. There is a
balance of carbonation and flavors I can’t readily identify. Carbonation level is just below moderate.
Post Consumption Impression – 1.75 out of 3 mugs
This
is an average beverage. I would
choose it over most highly commercialized beverages; although it has high sugar
content and the ingredients are unknown (just listed natural flavors).
Would I recommend this at 6.5 out of 12
mugs?
This
was not a great beverage or miserable.
It is one that I am sure some will like much more than I. I would suggest a taste, just don’t buy
a 6 pack until you know if you like the overall flavor mix.
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