A-Treat Sarsparilla - #103, 8 out of 12 mugs

A-Treat Beverage Company was founded by James J. Munjone in the family home on the 600 block of Front Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Later, he built a small manufacturing facility behind the house. Upon James's death, ownership was transferred to his sister, Vincenza Munjone, who was married to Gioacchino Egizio. The Egizio family assumed ownership of the business from the Munjones. 

The Egizio brothers moved their business to Union Boulevard in East Allentown, where it still operates. Joseph C. Egizio served as the chairman of the board for A-Treat Bottling Co. until his retirement in 1989. He passed away in 2000 at age 96. John L. Egizio, who began working at the company at age 13 by delivering sodas on his bicycle, served as vice president and co-owner until he died in 1990.

In 1991, the company received regional news coverage after a smear campaign was launched against A-Treat while it was trying to sell its sodas in New York City. The campaign, which targeted African Americans, claimed that certain brands of carbonated beverages, including those made by A-Treat, were actually produced by the Ku Klux Klan and contained stimulants that would "sterilize the black man". 
On July 21, 2015, it was announced that the Jaindl Companies had acquired the A-Treat brand, including its name, trademarks, formulas, and related intellectual property. A co-packing agreement was established with The Coca-Cola Company to keep production in the Lehigh Valley, with plans to resume production in August 2015. 

A poll was held on July 27, 2015, to determine which flavors A-Treat would release to store shelves. In an unexpected twist, Orange Cream won with 17% of the votes, and it was later revealed that the poll had been manipulated by one individual using multiple Google Chrome logins to cast over 10,000 votes. Black Cherry finished second with 8% of the votes, and production of these two flavors began immediately, alongside the eight flavors previously announced: Birch Beer, Cream, Big Blue, Ginger Ale, Sarsaparilla, Orange, Root Beer, Grapefruit, and Diet Cream. A-Treat Grapefruit, another flavor with a loyal following, was the first soda to roll off the line when A-Treat returned in 2015.

Ingredients

Filtered Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate as a Preservative, Natural Flavors, and Citric Acid.

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

160 Calories

25 mg Sodium

42 g (14%) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 Caffeine

Click here for information on the rating criteria and a table of all the root beers tested or to be tested.

Aroma and Flavor – 2.0 out of 3 mugs

The immediate sensation is a syrupy root. The sweetness exceeds my preferred level. The brew aligns more closely with most commercial root beers, with a stronger vanilla note. Nothing special so far, but nothing that makes it a low-rated beverage.

Head – 2.0 out of 3 mugs

The head is significant but disperses in less than 10 seconds. Once dissolved, there are no remnants of any head at all.

Zip – 2.0 out of 3 mugs

There is a mix of vanilla and root flavors, but the sweetness is honey-like. Nothing is enticing about the brew. It is overly sweet and has a basic zip, in my opinion.

Post Consumption Impression – 2.0 out of 3 mugs

This is an average brew that is best enjoyed with a meal rather than on its own.

Would I recommend this at 8 out of 12 mugs (6 out of 9 mugs without the head)?

There are many other options I would choose over this beverage, but if you prefer a sweeter drink, this might be more enjoyable for you than my experience.

OTHER REVIEWS

Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel – 86 out of 100