Lost Trail Sarsaparilla (#17 - Rated 10.3 out of 12)

Today, I grabbed Lost Trail Sarsaparilla. Lost Trail also makes a root beer. The difference was the immediate, little activity that goes on above my shoulders.

Sarsaparilla is typically used in all root beer recipes and is augmented with various flavors: live honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, clove, licorice, vanilla, and wintergreen.  At a higher dose, Sarsaparilla is used for treating psoriasis and other skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis(RA), and kidney disease; for increasing urination to reduce fluid retention; and for increasing sweating. Sarsaparilla is also used along with conventional drugs for treating leprosy and for syphilis.  Athletes sometimes use sarsaparilla as a steroid for performance enhancement or bodybuilding. Mexican and Honduran sarsaparillas are used for treating gonorrhea, fevers, and digestive disorders.

Lost Trail is a company I am unable to find much information about. I generally like to learn a little history to understand how the beverage was formulated, but little information is available. The website shows four employees, and it is located in Louisburg, Kansas. They make snacks, dips, and soda.

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

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial flavors, Caramel Color, Benzoate of Soda (as a preservative), and Citric Acid

Nutrition (from the bottle)

Calories  150

 7 mg Sodium.

 37 g (13%) of Daily Carbohydrates

 37 g Sugar

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 2.9 out of 3 mugs

Freshly opened, the aroma is mild.  No notable flavors like many root beers I have tested.  Then I took a drink.  THIS IS GREAT!  No flavor dominant, just smooth!  It does not have the vanilla that I typically prefer; the caramel is faint, yet this is very solid.  I only dropped it to 0.1 as I prefer a little more carbonation

Head – 2.5 out of 3 mugs

Based on my preference, this is solid. I do not like excessive foam, yet I prefer it not to fully dissipate. The head here is smaller, yet it lingers, with a small portion lasting much longer. The transition could be a little longer.

Zip -- 2 out of 3 mugs

It loses some points in this category. There is little zip and a mix of flavors. I hated to dock this smooth beverage at all. A slight increase in carbonation would increase the score. 

Post Consumption Impression – 2.9 out of 3 mugs

This is the best I have experienced so far. If I want a simple and flavorful beverage with low carbonation, this is it. If I prefer a variety of flavors to provide a sensation, I would look for others immediately upon my first sip. I loved the smoothness. 

Would I recommend this at 10.3 out of 12 mugs?

Yes, I would! While this is not my go-to beverage, it will have its place at the top of the class. There are times I prefer more carbonation and flavor complexities. But when I was looking for a basic, simple, and enjoyable root beer (sorry, Sarsaparilla), this is it. It is the highest-scoring root beer without HFCS of the 17 I have tested. Give it a try and leave a comment. 

Other Reviews

• Steve's Root Beer Journal - 9 out of 10
• Root Beer Reviews - A-

Crater Lake (#16 - Rated 7.5 out of 12)

I know this is a twist of the Bob Seger song, but that song came to mind immediately upon picking up the bottle.

Unlike some sodas with a long history in many places on the web, Crater Lake was a mystery and a new player compared to others I have tested.  The best information is on their own website. I have very little unique info to share.

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

Ingredients: Sparkling Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Citric Acid.

Nutrition for 12 oz (from the bottle) 

• Calories 160
•  Mg Sodium 60
•  41g (14%) of Daily Carbohydrates
• 41g Sugar
• NO Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 2.5 out of 3 mugs

When I opened the bottle, the aroma was pleasing.  It has a dash of fruit but no strong fruit taste.  I was anticipating a solid soda. 

At first sip, I was really disappointed. Then, a few seconds went by, and I desired a second sip. Because I did not have HFCS and low carbonation, I was not turned off by not being ready to rave either. It had a solid balance, yet I prefer great vanilla, and it lacked in that category. A stronger hint of vanilla would have made this a highly-rated beverage for aroma and flavor, although it lacks other qualities.

Head – 1.25 out of 3 mugs

Well, it is below average, and little there was disappearing fast. 

Zip – 1.75 out of 3 mugs

The root beer does not give me a sensation of pure enjoyment, but it is a root beer in this category. I wonder if sparkling water removed some of the zip but added to the aroma and flavor. This is a very low-carbonated beverage. It does have a slight citric acid taste that I prefer not to experience, although overall, the zip is slightly above average.

Post Consumption Impression -- 2 out of 3 mugs

There is nothing special here; it's just a balanced taste without HFCS. A little more carbonation and vanilla would increase the score to be at the top of the class.  The way it is, I would buy it again but not go out of the way to find it like a few others I have rated.

Would I recommend this at 7.5 out of 12 mugs?

I think this is a solid, middle-of-the-road root beer that you should try. I noted that the sodium content is higher than any other I have reviewed to date.  

I would not go out of my way to find this brew, but if it is available, try it and leave a comment on your thoughts.

OTHER REVIEWS

Anthony's 90 out of 100
Eric's Gourmet Root Beer 2 of 5
Rob's Root Beer Review 8 of 10
Saw Whet 9 of 10

Gene Autry (#15 - Rated 8.5 out of 12)

I have been very busy and have yet to have time to do a review. While listening to a City Council meeting tonight, I decided to work on one. I went for Gene Autry because it was the perfect way to get back in the saddle!

Rocket Fizz is the maker of this and a variety of other sodas. I have Rocket Fizz Root Beer Float and Judge Wopner’s Root Beer in my “to be reviewed” stock. Rocket Fizz is predominately known for its diverse candy line (some say over 4,000 varieties), but unique sodas are also a niche. A web search found they have made over 500 varieties of soda over their history, not all directly under the Rocket Fizz parent company. 

For example, they have Lester’s Fixins soda, which makes Bacon Soda, Buffalo Wings Soda, Sweet Corn Soda, Coffee Soda, and Ranch Dressing Soda. They also have Melba’s Fixings, which include Key Lime Pie Soda, Apple Pie Soda, Sweet Tea Soda, Peaches and Cream Soda, and Strawberries and Cream Soda. They even made a Sugar Ray Leonard Root Beer!

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

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavor, Real Vanilla and Citric Acid.  (What is Natural Flavor?)

Nutrition (from the 12 oz bottle)

 180 Calories

 25 mg Sodium.

 45 g (15%) of Daily Carbohydrates

 45 g Sugar

 0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor -- 2 out of  3 mugs

Before I opened the bottle, I had high hopes that no HFCS was used!  It is sweetened with cane sugar, and the flavor profile is built using natural flavors and real vanilla. They just had a Caramel Color and appeared to lack caramel flavor. What are natural flavors?  When not, be more open with the details.  

As soon as I opened the bottle, the vanilla and wintergreen surfaced immediately. The aroma was much more significant than the flavor. The wintergreen was harsh, and the citric acid resulted in a slightly unpleasant feel in the mouth. The Body is very light and mild. 

Head – 2 out of 3 mugs

This root beer was not overly foamy, yet it disappeared pretty quickly. It is quite unique, and this might be more of a by-product of the citric acid than many who use benzoates.   

Zip -- 2 out of 3 mugs

The bite from the wintergreen, very deep licorice, and herbs is excellent if you like that type of bite. I prefer a better balance with a little more sweetness and vanilla. It is definitely above average, yet I scored it a little lower for my taste. 

Post Consumption Impression – 2.5 out of 3 mugs

The Aftertaste is wintergreen and a splash of vanilla that lasts a long time.  It is actually a better drink a little faster than sip.  If you sip the beverage, the overall taste and feel are different from drinking it, not guzzling or sipping.  I score this higher as it has that unique taste with a long-lasting impression, which I am mixed about, but again, if you love wintergreen and licorice, this is the drink for you.

Would I recommend this at 8.5 out of 12 mugs?

I write this blog and love root beer, as I truly believe Root beer is the original All American beverage, not beer! Now Gene Autry is singing “Back in the Saddle Again,” and drinking root beer just has a strong American feel! Even better, the ingredient list is simple and pure, so even though it is not to my highest liking, it is worth the try, and I will purchase it again!