Maine Root Sarsaparilla - #92, 9.9 out of 12

 Maine Root company started when Mark Seiler’s younger brother, Matt, graduated from the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design in Kennebunk, Maine.  Working as a boat builder and former fishing guide, Mark helped a friend, Bobby Morgan, build the oven at Flatbread Pizza Company, a wood-fired organic pizza restaurant in Portland, Maine. The menu featured natural and organic ingredients but had no natural beverages to match.  The Seiler’s set to work using my home brewing equipment and developed some recipes for a root beer.  They sold more root beer than Coke at the restaurant that first summer.  Praises and orders flowed, and soon, Mark quit his software sales job to expand their distribution.

Distribution started in Scarborough, Maine, in a surfer shack in Higgins Beach Brewing Company in a lobster pot, delivering hand-packed cases from a VW Jetta converted to run-on used vegetable oil.  All bottled products are made in the brewery in Portland, Maine, but the Kegs are made in Austin.  Austin also houses the soda fountain syrup operation in Austin.  

 

Main Root uses Fair Trade Certified Organic Evaporated Cane Juice to sweeten the sodas.  Sweetness is made by passing the whole sugar cane through a set of rollers and then drying the extract into crystals with no extra processing or additives. Organic Evaporated Cane Juice sweeteners are derived from the first carbohydrate of photosynthesis, sucrose. The bottom line, so they say, is it tastes better.  Since it is Organic, it should be better for you, the farmers, and the ecosystem. 

 

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

 

Ingredients: Carbonated pure water, organic fair trade–certified cane juice, and spices.

 

Nutrition 12 oz. serving (from the bottle)

 

145 Calories

35 mg Sodium.
35g (11%) of Daily Carbohydrates

0 mg Caffeine

 

Aroma and Flavor – 2.8 out of 3 mugs 

 

When opening the bottle, I noticed a solid root beer aroma.  No other aromas, like cloves, wintergreen, or licorice notes in other brews, are found.  While I have not reviewed Maine Root Beer yet, it has been one of my all-time favorites.  The brews emphasize the ingredients, including FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED ORGANIC SUGAR, to allow the flavor of each of these extracts to come through.

 

Surprisingly, even with the definite root beer smell, it is a color between 7-UP and Ginger Ale—almost clear. It is smooth and has little to no creamy taste. There is a slight ginger aftertaste. However, I love ginger, so it was pleasing to me.     

 

Head – 2 out of 3 mugs

 

The head was full and dissipated to a small head, which stayed for another few minutes.  The glass had foam remnants on the side after several sipes. 

 

Zip – 2.4 out of 3 mugs

 

This is not the multiple-flavor bold brew that would be commercially sold.  It is smooth without being creamy.  I prefer my beverage to have a low sweetness level.  This is well-balanced, yet less sugar would suit me fine.

 

Post Consumption Impression – 2.7 out of 3 mugs

 

This may not be for you if you thrive on complex recipes with higher carbonation. It has the fewest ingredients of anything I have reviewed to date and is very smooth. It is enjoyable as a beverage, yet perfect for a meal!

  

Would I recommend this at 9.9 out of 12 mugs?

 

If you look at my ratings, I enjoy Sarsaparilla Brews the best and would highly recommend a six-pack. However, this may not be for you if you like a heavier root taste with many other dominant flavors, such as wintergreen or anise! 

 

OTHER RATINGS

Anthony’s Root Beer Barrel – 89 out of 100

Rob’s Root Beer Reviews – 6 of 10

Soda Jerks - A

Thirsty Dudes – 5 out of 5