Thursday, April 18, 2024

Time to get back

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: 
  1. Aroma and Flavor
  2. Head
  3. Zip
  4. Post Consumption Impression.  
Each variable will be awarded with a score of 0 to 3 mugs.  A "0" should be avoided, even if it is free.  A "3" is top of the line.  I will total the ratings and have a final number for the review. Therefore, 12 mugs is a root beer made in heaven, based on my preferred taste and texture.


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.

BRANDOverallFlavorHeadZipPostW/O Head
Columbia Soda Works Sarsaparilla10.62.82.22.72.98.4
Druthers Black Cow - HFCS docked 0.59.92.5232.47.9
Wild Spur Sarasparilla10.42.752.52.42.757.9
Lost Trail Sarasparilla10.32.92.522.97.8
Dublin Texas  10.22.82.42.52.57.8
NORKA10.252.752.52.52.57.75
Earp's Sarsparilla8.752.2512.752.757.75
Hippo Size9.22.61.52.72.47.7
Fitz's Premium9.352.51.752.52.67.6
Briar's Premium92.51.52.52.57.5
Dachshunds III10.32.52.82.52.57.5
Uncle Scott's9.32.71.822.87.5
Ozark Mountain9.32.422.52.47.3
Hosmer Mountain Sasparilla9.72.62.52.22.47.2
Point Premium- HFCS docked 0.59.72.32.52.42.57.2
Saranac 188810.12.132.52.57.1
Penny Frosted  7.752.2512.252.256.75
Dead World Twilight Shuffler  8.252.251.52.252.256.75
Yacht Club8.252.251.52.526.75
Jack Black's Dead Red  92.52.2522.256.75
Bulldog  9.252.252.522.56.75
Towne Club  82.21.42.12.36.6
Firemans Brew8.42.21.82.12.36.6
Kutztown Sarsaparilla8.12.21.52.22.26.6
Homer Soda Maple Syrup8.62.3222.36.6
Rocket Fizz Gene Autry8.52222.56.5
Henry Weinhard's- HFCS docked 0.592.22.522.36.5
Saint Arnold 8.252.251.7522.256.5
American Classics Ginseng  82.251.522.256.5
Dog N Suds - HFCS docked 0.592.22.51.92.46.5
Barons7.92.41.51.752.256.4
Capone  (6 drink fast / 10 drink slow)7.7521.522.256.25
Baumeister - HFCS docked 0.58.251.7522.252.256.25
Crater Lake7.52.51.251.7526.25
Judge Wapner  82.2521.7526
Racinette (Johnnie Ryan)7.521.5226
Route 66   (Edited)721226
Foxon Park Draft Style7.52.251.51.7526
Spring Grove - HFCS docked 0.58.522.5226
Natural Brew721.2521.755.75
Bedfords6.75211.7525.75
Rocky Mountain  7.71.5222.25.7
Blummers7.51.7521.7525.5
Cicero Beverage Co Salted Caramel6.251.5121.755.25
Caamano Bros High Noon Sarsaparilla6.51.751.251.751.755.25
Empire Bottling Works  61.750.751.751.755.25
Dad's Old Fashioned  722125
Naturally Crafted (US Foods)6.751.751.751.51.755
Tyler the Kid6.751.751.751.51.755
Harmony Springs Sarsparilla6.51.751.51.51.755
Ramblin  7.51.82.51.51.75
Thomas Kemper Small Batch7.822.81.51.55
Red Arrow6.51.51.51.751.755
Death Valley71.7521.51.755
Bar Harbor Old Soaker Root Beer7.251.52.51.751.54.75
Mom's5.251.50.51.51.754.75
Fest Pecan  6.2521.51.51.254.75
Filberts Old Time - HFCS docked 0.571.52.41.41.74.6
Masons6.251.51.751.251.754.5
Crim City Soda  6.51.521.51.54.5
Dead World Slow Decay61.251.521.254.5
Dang5.51.511.51.54.5
Joe's  6.751.52.51.251.54.25
The Pop Shop5.751.51.51.251.54.25
Rugged Mountian  5.251.2511.51.54.25
Three Stooges Wise Guy  71.52.751.51.254.25
Gale's  5.7511.51.751.54.25
Red Ribbon Home Brewed6.251.521.51.254.25
Root Jack Orange  (HFCS Docked 0.5)61.2521.51.254
Dorothy's Isle of Pines - HFCS docked 0.551.5111.54
Oogave51.2511.251.54
Stubborn Classic4.51.50.51.251.254
Tree Fort5.751.51.751.251.254
Freaky Dog5111.51.54
Sparky's511214
Grown Up Soda (GUS)6.251.252.51.251.253.75
Big Ben's  41.50.5113.5
Myers Avenue Red - HFCS docked 0.55.751.252.251.2513.5
Dr. Browns4.5111.513.5
Golden Maple  3.81.30.5113.3
Bawls5.51.252.25113.25
Rocket Fizz Root Beer Float4.511.2511.253.25
Reading Draft4.711.51.213.2
Tower3.50.50.51.251.253
Frostie Vanilla  310113
Boots Sarsparilla411113
Sky Valley Organic3.25110.50.752.25
Cool Mountain2.750.750.510.52.25
Always Ask for Avery's - HFCS docked 0.5210012
Sassy Lil Lass1.5010.500.5


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