Serenity Root Beet & Vanilla Bean - #91 , 5 out of 12 mugs

This is a series of sodas from Blue Sun Soda in Minnesota. Serenity Sodas come in your choice of 6 flavors, including Lime and coconut, Orange and cinnamon, Pineapple and cream, Raspberry and basil, Root Beer and vanilla Bean, and Strawberry and rhubarb. The website claims each bottle is handcrafted with a harmonious blend of flavors and real sugar to perfect everything. With each sip, you will feel yourself shedding the stresses of daily life and entering a state of pure serenity.

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

Ingredients:

 

Filtered Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Artificial Color, Sodium Benzoate and Citric Acid 

 

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

 

 Calories 180

 90 mg Sodium.

 43g ( 16%) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

 

Aroma and Flavor – 1.25 out of 3 mugs 

 

From the start, this is a cream soda. The aroma and flavor have little, if any, root beer characteristics. This brew has the third highest sodium contact of the 91 root beers I tested.

 

Head – 0.75 out of 3 mugs   

 

The head was nearly non-existent.  Within seconds, there was no remnant to see.   

 

Zip – 1.5 out of 3 mugs   

 

 The carbonation is low, and the vanilla and sugar are high.  

 

Post Consumption Impression – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

This is a very sweet and vanilla beverage. I found no sense in traditional root beer. I love vanilla cream, yet the sweetness and sodium were too much for my taste. The high sodium, at 90 mg, is evident.

Would I recommend this at 5 out of 12 mugs (4.25 out of 9 mugs without head)?

 

If you love sweet vanilla cream soda, I highly suggest this for your inventory. If you are looking for a vanilla and root beer combination, maybe mix it with your favorite strong root beer to make a well-balanced beverage. 

 

OTHER REVIEWS

Cosmo’s Root Beer Review – 6 out of 10

Steve’s Root Beer – 8.5 out of 10 

Time to get back

After several challenging years in a highly toxic work environment, I retired. It has taken almost two months to breathe again after escaping the hell I was experiencing. The good part is that as a retiree, I now have time to do things I enjoy, like reviewing my favorite beverage—root beer. I will continue to use the same criteria and synopsis data at this link (and below).  Here are my criteria.

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 mugs.  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 mugs 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: The zip from proper spices and carbonation makes a great root beer. I love a smooth, spice-like zip as it passes through the taste buds. The carbonation that provides a slight tongue tingle is an outstanding balance. 



Post-consumption impression: It is important that the root beer intensifies 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 WITHOUT HEAD to emphasize my taste-tested preferred 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
Druthers Black Cow - HFCS docked 0.5	9.9	2.5	2	3	2.4	7.9
Wild Spur Sarasparilla	10.4	2.75	2.5	2.4	2.75	7.9
Lost Trail Sarasparilla	10.3	2.9	2.5	2	2.9	7.8
Dublin Texas	10.2	2.8	2.4	2.5	2.5	7.8
NORKA	10.25	2.75	2.5	2.5	2.5	7.75
Earp's Sarsparilla	8.75	2.25	1	2.75	2.75	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
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
Uncle Scott's	9.3	2.7	1.8	2	2.8	7.5
Ozark Mountain	9.3	2.4	2	2.5	2.4	7.3
Hosmer Mountain Sasparilla	9.7	2.6	2.5	2.2	2.4	7.2
Point Premium- HFCS docked 0.5	9.7	2.3	2.5	2.4	2.5	7.2
Saranac 1888	10.1	2.1	3	2.5	2.5	7.1
Penny Frosted	7.75	2.25	1	2.25	2.25	6.75
Dead World Twilight Shuffler	8.25	2.25	1.5	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
Bulldog	9.25	2.25	2.5	2	2.5	6.75
Towne Club	8	2.2	1.4	2.1	2.3	6.6
Firemans Brew	8.4	2.2	1.8	2.1	2.3	6.6
Kutztown Sarsaparilla	8.1	2.2	1.5	2.2	2.2	6.6
Homer Soda Maple Syrup	8.6	2.3	2	2	2.3	6.6
Rocket Fizz Gene Autry	8.5	2	2	2	2.5	6.5
Henry Weinhard's- HFCS docked 0.5	9	2.2	2.5	2	2.3	6.5
Saint Arnold	8.25	2.25	1.75	2	2.25	6.5
American Classics Ginseng	8	2.25	1.5	2	2.25	6.5
Dog N Suds - HFCS docked 0.5	9	2.2	2.5	1.9	2.4	6.5
Barons	7.9	2.4	1.5	1.75	2.25	6.4
Capone  (6 drink fast / 10 drink slow)	7.75	2	1.5	2	2.25	6.25
Baumeister - HFCS docked 0.5	8.25	1.75	2	2.25	2.25	6.25
Crater Lake	7.5	2.5	1.25	1.75	2	6.25
Judge Wapner	8	2.25	2	1.75	2	6
Racinette (Johnnie Ryan)	7.5	2	1.5	2	2	6
Route 66   (Edited)	7	2	1	2	2	6
Foxon Park Draft Style	7.5	2.25	1.5	1.75	2	6
Spring Grove - HFCS docked 0.5	8.5	2	2.5	2	2	6
Natural Brew	7	2	1.25	2	1.75	5.75
Bedfords	6.75	2	1	1.75	2	5.75
Rocky Mountain	7.7	1.5	2	2	2.2	5.7
Blummers	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
Caamano Bros High Noon Sarsaparilla	6.5	1.75	1.25	1.75	1.75	5.25
Empire Bottling Works	6	1.75	0.75	1.75	1.75	5.25
Dad's Old Fashioned	7	2	2	1	2	5
Naturally Crafted (US Foods)	6.75	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.75	5
Tyler the Kid	6.75	1.75	1.75	1.5	1.75	5
Harmony Springs Sarsparilla	6.5	1.75	1.5	1.5	1.75	5
Ramblin	7.5	1.8	2.5	1.5	1.7	5
Thomas Kemper Small Batch	7.8	2	2.8	1.5	1.5	5
Red Arrow	6.5	1.5	1.5	1.75	1.75	5
Death Valley	7	1.75	2	1.5	1.75	5
Bar Harbor Old Soaker Root Beer	7.25	1.5	2.5	1.75	1.5	4.75
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
Filberts Old Time - HFCS docked 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
Crim City Soda	6.5	1.5	2	1.5	1.5	4.5
Dead World Slow Decay	6	1.25	1.5	2	1.25	4.5
Dang	5.5	1.5	1	1.5	1.5	4.5
Joe's	6.75	1.5	2.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
The Pop Shop	5.75	1.5	1.5	1.25	1.5	4.25
Rugged Mountian	5.25	1.25	1	1.5	1.5	4.25
Three Stooges Wise Guy	7	1.5	2.75	1.5	1.25	4.25
Gale's	5.75	1	1.5	1.75	1.5	4.25
Red Ribbon Home Brewed	6.25	1.5	2	1.5	1.25	4.25
Root Jack Orange  (HFCS Docked 0.5)	6	1.25	2	1.5	1.25	4
Dorothy's Isle of Pines - HFCS docked 0.5	5	1.5	1	1	1.5	4
Oogave	5	1.25	1	1.25	1.5	4
Stubborn Classic	4.5	1.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	4
Tree Fort	5.75	1.5	1.75	1.25	1.25	4
Freaky Dog	5	1	1	1.5	1.5	4
Sparky's	5	1	1	2	1	4
Grown Up Soda (GUS)	6.25	1.25	2.5	1.25	1.25	3.75
Big Ben's	4	1.5	0.5	1	1	3.5
Myers Avenue Red - HFCS docked 0.5	5.75	1.25	2.25	1.25	1	3.5
Dr. Browns	4.5	1	1	1.5	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	4.7	1	1.5	1.2	1	3.2
Tower	3.5	0.5	0.5	1.25	1.25	3
Frostie Vanilla	3	1	0	1	1	3
Boots Sarsparilla	4	1	1	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 docked 0.5	2	1	0	0	1	2
Sassy Lil Lass	1.5	0	1	0.5	0	0.5