Tree Fort Soda is a hometown brew. Meaning in the metropolitan area where I
live. Eva and Sam Ducker stated they would spend
time tasting sodas while the adults in the family tasted wine. They wanted to “make something better,” Now they make four flavors: Root Beer, Juicy Orange, Ginger Ale, and Classic Cola. The root beer is “wintergreen,
anise, cinnamon, sarsaparilla, marigold, peppercorn, and real honey,
for a subtle, rich brew great out of the bottle.”
Eva Ducker,
17, brought Tree Fort Root Beer to market in 2015 after developing the brand
for her senior project at Blake, a private school in Minneapolis, MN. Eva’s brother and sister-in-law, David and Lily Duckler, own a tea house and café in the Seward neighborhood and helped develop the brand by providing the know-how, ingredients, and facility to
help the young entrepreneur with her ambition.
Duckler wanted
to develop something creamy, sweet, all-natural, and different from traditional sodas like Coke and Pepsi that she deemed “kind of rough stuff.” According to Duckler, root beer is hand-brewed with herbs and flowers, including marigold and chicory, and vanilla and honey are added to the mix. She
creates most flavors by “steeping out a bunch of herbs using
water extraction.” Indeed, the soda is not in line with a traditional root beer
flavor, but Duckler acknowledges this, adding that the soda is much more
“layered and balanced.” She says, “It’s what I’d like to think root beer tasted
like back at its origins in the 1800s when people were just drinking it made from
roots!”
After 70
failed attempts and much trial and error, Duckler finalized the beverage she sought.
Ingredients: Filtered Water, Cane sugar, White Honey, Natural flavors, Caramel Color, Quillaja
Extract, Malic Acid, Sunflower Oil, Phosphoric Acid, and Xanthan Gum.
Nutrition 12
oz. serving (from the bottle)
180
Calories
170 mg Sodium.
45 g (15%) of Daily
Carbohydrates
0 mg Caffeine
Aroma and Flavor – 1.5 out
of 3 mugs
The aroma is very medicinal and unlike the deep, dark root beer I prefer. The color is almost Crème Soda/Ginger Ale
tomes.
At first daring,
this is not really a root beer. It is
closer to a root beer/ginger ale mix. The
honey is noted along with a light wintergreen or cinnamon taste. I almost felt like I was drinking dandelion?
Head –1.75 out of 3 mugs
The head is average. Quick dissipation with a slight remnant at
the outer edge when fully dissipated.
Zip – 1.25 out of 3 mugs
The zip is made of clove, ginger, and cinnamon. It is light
and dry.
Post Consumption Impression – 1.25 out of 3
mugs
I do not know what to say? It is a good soda, but not really a root
beer. It is unique and very dry. My mouth felt dry after drinking the
brew. Oddly, I have the sensation of drinking carbonated tea with honey for a soft drink.
Would I recommend this at 5.75 out of 12 mugs?
I really like the story of the young entrepreneur breaking
out with something different, yet as a root beer lover, I would look twice before making a purchase. However, if you want to try a dry beverage that would give you the sensation
of drinking a solid tea with honey, try it!
OTHER
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