Doc Brown (#19 - Rated 4.5 out of 12)

Dr. Brown’s soda originated in 1869 by J&R Bottling.  Former marketing director, Harry Gold, said a New York doctor used celery seeds and sugar to invent the cream soda and celery tonic now known as Cel-Ray.  Rumor has it that this was a preferred Jewish soda, and root beer followed.  It is an East Coast brand sold primarily in New York and South Florida.  In 2013, J & R Bottling transferred the bottling rights to LA Bottleworks.  Pepsi currently bottles it so I bet the premium 1869 aspects are no longer part of the mix.

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

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial flavors, Gum Acadia and Citric Acid.

Nutrition (from the 12 oz bottle)

Calories 170

0 mg Sodium.

42 g Sugar (14%) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 1.0 out of 3 mugs

(Docked 0.5 for HFCS)

Immediately upon opening, the bottle released a heavy spearmint/wintergreen aroma, which carried right over to the first drink. There was little vanilla, sarsaparilla, or caramel taste. It was like drinking a liquefied tic-tac. It was surprisingly low on sweetness, although it was packed with 42 g of sugar.

Head – 1.0 out of 3 mugs

The head was very low and almost non-existent.  I was really disappointed, and for me, one is pretty poor.

Zip – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

This is a very low-carbonated beverage with the taste of liquid breath mints. I could equate that to zip if I was drinking a beverage other than root beer. The typical sarsaparilla taste is not apparent. I gave it 1.5 as it had some impacting flavors, although not to my liking.

Post Consumption Impression – 1.0 out of 3 mugs (0.5 docked for HFCS)

This is a beverage that I would not run away from although it would be enjoyed with food.  Imagine how food would taste if before every bite you brushed your teeth with wintergreen toothpaste. 

Would I recommend this at 4.5 out of 12 mugs?

I'm not really sure if I would recommend this root beer. It wasn't memorable and would pass for any old root beer. I would not refuse it if offered to me as a last choice, but I might ask for other options to verify that it is the last choice.

OTHER REVIEWS

Root Beer Review 4 out of 10
Eric's 3 out of 5 barrels
Root Beer Respect 6 out of 10
Cosmo's 5 out of 10 IBCs