After several challenging years in a highly toxic work environment, I retired. It has taken almost two months to breathe again after escaping the hell I was experiencing. The good part is that as a retiree, I now have time to do things I enjoy, like reviewing my favorite beverage—root beer. I will continue to use the same criteria and synopsis data at this link (and below). Here are my criteria.
I will rate each root beer using four variables:
- Aroma and Flavor
- Head
- Zip
- Post Consumption Impression.
Aroma and Flavor: First, the aroma when you open the bottle is the first impression. An excellent root beer has an aroma that enhances the anticipation of the first drink. This is followed by taste or smoothness in my mouth. The flavor is the most common reference for people enjoying a beverage or food. I prefer a thick and rich, with a little water-like texture, for my root beer. I understand that means the sugar count is high.I prefer root Beer with a hint of vanilla. I can often tell immediately which are flavored with honey. I even noted that some use maple syrup.Head: While this is not a significant factor for me, it is essential to many. This is the A/W mentality my generation grew up experiencing. It was a psychological belief that big foam meant big taste. Do some actually put additives in place to create the head? In addition, the taste of all that delightful foam may add to this score. In some cases, it's tasteless.Zip: The zip from proper spices and carbonation makes a great root beer. I love a smooth, spice-like zip as it passes through the taste buds. The carbonation that provides a slight tongue tingle is an outstanding balance.Post-consumption impression: It is important that the root beer intensifies my desire for something else. My post-consumption experience should be a highlight, a lasting impression.
The following list will be updated with scores as the reviews are completed.
SORTED WITHOUT HEAD to emphasize my taste-tested preferred brews.
