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

Upon consuming the beverage, a familiar melody from Bob Seger’s song immediately came to mind.

Unlike some sodas with extensive histories in various online communities, Crater Lake presented itself as an enigma and a newcomer in comparison to others I have evaluated. The most comprehensive information is available on their official website. I have limited unique insights 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

Upon opening the bottle, the aroma was initially appealing. It possessed a subtle fruity note, but the overall fruit flavor was not pronounced. I had anticipated a robust soda experience.

However, upon the first sip, I was met with disappointment. Nevertheless, after a brief pause, I found myself craving another sip. The absence of HFCS and low carbonation did not deter me from enjoying the beverage, as I was not expecting an overly sweet or fizzy taste. The beverage struck a solid balance, but I personally prefer a stronger vanilla flavor. A more pronounced vanilla note would have elevated this beverage to a highly-rated status in terms of aroma and flavor, despite its other shortcomings.

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

Although root beer does not provide me with a pure sense of enjoyment, it falls within the category of root beer. I am curious to know if sparkling water diminished the effervescence but enhanced the aroma and flavor profile. This beverage has a low carbonation level. It does possess a subtle citric acid taste that I find unpleasant, although the overall effervescence is slightly above average.

Post Consumption Impression -- 2 out of 3 mugs

This beverage lacks any distinctive qualities; it offers a balanced taste without the presence of HFCS. Enhancing the carbonation and vanilla flavor would elevate its rating to the pinnacle of its class. Nevertheless, I would purchase it again, but I would not make a special effort to find it, unlike a few other beverages I have rated.

Would I recommend this at 7.5 out of 12 mugs?

In my opinion, this root beer is a satisfactory, average-quality beverage that I recommend trying. Notably, its sodium content surpasses that of any other root beer I have reviewed to date.

While I would not make a special effort to seek out this brew, I encourage you to try it if it is available and share your thoughts in a comment.

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