Ozark Mountain #82 - 9.3 of 12

Ozark Mountain Bottleworks, Inc. was started in 2009 by a mother-and-daughter combo of Debbie Walters and Tina King. Tina’s husband, Chris King, is also a joint owner of the company.

I again see Quillaia Extract in the ingredients. What is Quillaia Extract? After reading a significant amount, I learned that it is a foaming agent—an artificial ingredient that makes foam in a drink. I thought that was reserved for detergents. Well, the last three were low scores, and I hope this is a turn for the better.

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

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water, Sugar, natural flavors, caramel color, quillaia extract, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative)

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

160 Calories

15 mg Sodium.

41 g (14 %) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 2.4 out of 3 mugs

The first aroma from the bottle was a sweet vanilla-hinted and well-balanced root beer. The first drink was very sweet yet solid! For being pure cane sugar, there was a slight syrup feel.  It has a subtle aftertaste that I attribute to the Quillaia. This dropped it slightly. It was very creamy, with notes of vanilla and caramel and a hint of winter green.  I found a sarsaparilla tone, which was pleasing.

Head – 2.25 out of 3 mugs

The head was near perfect, although the foam was very dense.

Zip – 2.5 out of 3 mugs

This is a well-balanced brew. The flavors make an interesting combination, with no single flavor dominating the brew.

Post Consumption Impression – 2.4 out of 3 mugs

This was smooth.  The only issue was the slight syrup sensation and a slight aftertaste.  This drops the score slightly.  These were not significant enough to even hesitate to purchase the brew again.

Would I recommend this at 9.3 out of 12 mugs?

I suggest giving this a try.  I enjoyed the brew significantly.

OTHER REVIEWS

Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel – 94 out of 100  

Brad’s Brew Review – 10 out of 10  

Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer – 4 of 5 barrels 

Root Beer Respect – 8 of 10

Saw-Whet Root Beer – 10 out of 10 

Soda Fry – 7.5 of 10

Steve’s Root Beer – 8.5 of 10

Rocket Fizz Root Beer Float- #81, 4.5 out of 12

Yet another Rocket Fizz concoction!  They make more soda flavors than anyone in the world. Only a little to say that was written earlier in the blog.

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

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate as a Preservative, Gum Acadia, Natural and Artificial Flavors.

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

170 Calories

25 mg Sodium.

43 g Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 1 out of 3 mugs

The aroma was that of a commercial root beer float—nothing distinctive. At first drink, I thought I was drinking an excessively creamy cream soda, yet there was an odd aftertaste. The sugar level was excessive for me, somewhat syrupy. I assume sugar lovers would thrive on the sugar content. 

Head – 1.25 out of 3 mugs

The head is rather frothy and dissipated to about ¼ inch immediately, then slowly dissipated in about a minute.

Zip – 1 out of 3 mugs

This is a basic beverage, and I found nothing unique and memorable. The oddity was the strong creamy flavor, but it was not a creamy beverage, if that makes sense. It was not smooth; it was a little harsh, with an aftertaste that lingers.

Post Consumption Impression – 1.25 out of 3 mugs

While some may love the brew, the beverage is simple and sweet. It is not my preference.  I really found a little root beer flavor to enjoy.

Would I recommend this at 4.5 out of 12 mugs?

I would hesitate to suggest you buy a six-pack, but maybe try it. If you like a heavily sweetened cream soda, this may be to your liking.

OTHER REVIEWS

Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel – 74 out of 100

Cosmo’s Root Beer Review – 5 out of 10

Root Beer Respect – 7 of 10 

Reviews by ZP – 5 of 10

Saw-Whet Root Beer – 8 out of 10

Soda Jerks - A

Thirsty Dudes – 4 out of 5

Kyle’s Root Beer Galacticus - C

Freaky Dog Rooffbeer - #80, 5.0 out of 12

Freaky Dog Soda Company is founded by Tom and Jim Magill.  They are the self-proclaimed “Sultans of Soda.” “Brain Trust of Beverage,” and “Friends of the Fizz.”   They are the owners of Drinks Unlimited Inc.  Freaky Dog is their creation.

They desired to create a low-sodium, caffeine-free soda that contains no high fructose corn syrup and tastes great? They use pure cane sugar in environmentally friendly glass bottles. 

Tom has 25 years of experience selling every kind of alternative beverage. As a kid, he loved Nehi Soda because of its amazing flavors and colors. Grape was his favorite. Before joining the family business, Jim learned the ropes as a route salesman for Joyce Beverages in New York. Tom and Jim’s father had been in the industry for over 40 years. His experience and mentoring taught them how to transform the alternative beverage business.

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, citric acid, sodium benzoate and caramel color (contains sulfites).

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

130 Calories

30 mg Sodium.

50 g (16%) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

Aroma and Flavor – 1.0 out of 3 mugs

Immediately upon opening, I knew licorice or molasses was coming. There was a slight hint of vanilla and a little caramel. There was a medicinal and less-than-desirable taste for me.

Head – 1.0 out of 3 mugs

This is a moderate head that disappears as quickly as it forms.

Zip – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

I have to credit the intensity of the flavors.  They are just flavors that I do not prominently.

Post Consumption Impression – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

While I imagine drinking root beer, I don't believe that. Maybe that is why it is called Roof Beer. It is a mix of less-than-traditional flavors loved by dogs.  

Would I recommend this at 5.0 out of 12 mugs?

I would assume someone who wants to reminisce about old-time soda with a licorice flavor would really enjoy the drink. I may have enjoyed it more if I was not expecting a cool, refreshing root beer. The more I consumed, the more enjoyable it became.

OTHER RATINGS

Cosmo’s Root Beer Review – 6 out of 10

Brad’s Brew Review – 6.5 out of 10

Root Beer Reviews – B-

Eric's Gourmet Root Beer - 2.5 out of 5 barrels 

Root Jack – #79, 8.25 out of 12

This Midwest brew is more of an energy drink than a soda. The website reads, “RootJack's a tasty Root Beer with a hint of Orange flavor and Vanilla, Guarana to liven yer step, and a full daily dose of Vitamin C to keep scurvy in check.”

Jonathan Zook, the founder’s husband, explains the name. “Back in Caribbean pirate times, they’d drink from a wooden mug lined with tar called a ‘blackjack.’ So we speculated if you were ordering a root beer out of blackjack, you might eventually just call it a ‘Root Jack,’ so that’s the name.”

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

Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Quillaja, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Potassium Citrate, Caramel Color, Guarana Seed Extract.

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

195 Calories

0 mg Sodium.

49 g (16%) of Daily Carbohydrates

120 mg Caffeine

100% of daily Vitamin C

Aroma and Flavor – 1.25 out of 3 mugs (Docked 0.5 for HCS)

I see Quillaja once again.  This is the fourth time Quillaja was in a drink, and the past three were lower rated.  We have GUS at 6.25, Boots Sarsaparilla at 4, and Tree Fort at 5.75 (all out of 12). The first sensation I get from the bottle is root beer with orange cream, which is appropriate as the bottle said it is orange flavored.  After a few sips, I like it, yet the orange cream dominates, and it loses any resemblance to a root beer.  This reminds me of an orange sweet tart. 

Head – 2.0 out of 3 mugs

This is as near as perfect here for the amount of foam with very slow dissipation. The foam is really dense, with few noted bubbles. It seems the Quillaja beverages have similar heads. Is this a coincidence or not?

Zip – 1.5 out of 3 mugs

The orange cream taste is the most prominent.  It has a solid zip for a soda, yet one for root beer purists.

Post Consumption Impression – 1.25 out of 3 mugs

I like it and would purchase another bottle if I wanted a soda.  However, I would not repurchase this if I wanted pure, smooth root beer.

Would I recommend this at 6.0 out of 12 mugs?

Give it a try if you want a soda with heavy orange cream.  Use caution if you are sensitive to caffeine.  This is loaded.  Also, the more I consumed, the less I enjoyed it!

OTHER RATINGS

Cosmo’s Root Beer Review – 4 out of 10

Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer 1.5 of 5 barrels

Thirsty Dudes - 3 out of 5

Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel 55 out of 100

The Soda Jerk’s - A