Dougie Dog Butterscotch Root Beer

Originally reviewed December 6, 2013 by guest judge Al. Al loves butterscotch - me not so much.

Name: Dougie Dog Butterscotch Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Dark like Coca Cola - almost black.

Foaminess: A little, short-lived, effervescence

Smell: Butterscotch

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 4

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Butterscotch

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: Butterscotch

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: 

Overall: Like a melted Werther's Original, mixed with cola. Not as cream as cream soda. Not really a root beer - more like a butterscotch cola.

Score: 4

Saranac Root Beer

Originally reviewed May 9, 2010.

Name: Saranac Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Coca Cola color

Foaminess: tall, slow, light color head

Smell: mint - burns the nose

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 4

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: pretty sweet, some minty-ness

Sweeteners: high fructose corn syrup

Roots/Spices: "natural"

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: No real aftertaste, but a lasting feel on the back of the throat.

 

Overall: Pretty good, but hard to define.

Score: 3

Yardy Roots Malta

Originally reviewed December 13, 2009.

Name: Yardy Roots Malta

Container: Glass

Color:

Foaminess:

Smell:

Bitterness:

Spiciness:

Flavor:

Sweetness:

Burping?

Prominent Flavor: Lingers?

Sweeteners: sugar

Roots/Spices: roasted barley, sarsaparilla, chaney root, ginger, nerve wist, sage, blackberry leaves, pimento, strong back, fourman strength root, hops

Caffeine?

Aftertaste:

Overall: Smells disgusting, tastes disgusting. Not even worth tasting. Not worth rating!

Score: 0

Mason's Root Beer

Originally reviewed December 12, 2009.

Name: Mason's Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: light brown

Foaminess: little head; brown

Smell: mint

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: old people; molasses and mint

Sweeteners: sugar

Roots/Spices:

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste:

Overall: Almost a 4, although the flavor seems kinda artificial.

Score: 3

Sparky's Fresh Draft Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 30, 2009.

Name: Sparky's Fresh Draft Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: very light, liked iced tea

Foaminess: little to none

Smell: Icy Hot

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

 

Burping? Yes

Prominent Flavor: honey and Icy Hot - very minty

Sweeteners: pure cane sugar and honey

Roots/Spices: "Spices"

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste: burning mint

Overall: not a "typical" root beer, but I like it. Better than average.

Score: 4

Where Do I Get My Root Beers?

If you want to find a variety of root beers, let me suggest a favorite:

Galco's Soda Pop Stop
5702 York Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90042

The majority of the root beers I've tried come from Galco's. I've even made my own with their Soda Creation Station. You can also order online, but I've never done that so I can't provide you any information on the experience. They do have a thorough FAQ page on shipping.

I've also found a few root beers at Rocket Fizz. They have locations in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. They are opening new locations in more states soon.

I've also found some at Old Town Root Beer Company in Temecula. It seems to be without a home right now, but follow its Facebook page for the lastest news.

And I found one or two new ones at Old Town Jerky and Root Beer in San Diego.

Olde Rhode Island Molasses Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 27, 2009.

Name: Olde Rhode Island Molasses Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: darkest; thick, black

Foaminess: tall head, slowly disappears

Smell: Icy Hot

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 3

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Tastes like Icy Hot and molasses.

Sweeteners: 100% cane sugar

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: 

Overall:

Score: 3

Route 66 Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 27, 2009.

Name: Route 66 Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: A little lighter than Coke.

 

Foaminess: Mid-size head, light color, disappears fast.

Smell: Sweet, gingerbread.

Bitterness: 1

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 4

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Very sweet - can't define.

Sweeteners: real cane sugar

Roots/Spices: quillaia

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: 

Overall:

Score: 3

Sioux City Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 25, 2009.

Name: Sioux City Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Dark, red.

Foaminess: tall head, dark.

Smell: molasses and mint - toothpaste

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 4

 

Sweetness: 2

Burping? No

Prominent Flavor: Molasses

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: toothpaste-feel, medicinal.

Overall:

Score: 2

Red Ribbon Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 21, 2009.

Name: Red Ribbon Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Pretty dark

Foaminess: Very tall, red head. Dissipates quickly. No carbonation afterwards.

Smell: Spicy.

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Soapy, syrupy cola.

Sweeteners: sugar

Roots/Spices:

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: 

Overall:

Score: 3

Kutztown Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 14, 2009.

Name: Kutztown Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Dark, thick

  

Foaminess: brown, medium head

Smell: mint and furniture polish

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 3

Sweetness: 1

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Coca Cola, with a little mint

Sweeteners: pure cane sugar

Roots/Spices: "natural"

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste: "Cool", travels down throat

Overall: 

Score: 3

Rat Bastard Root Beer

Originally reviewed by guest judge Adrian on November 7, 2009.

Name: Rat Bastard Root Beer

Container: glass

Color: deep brown

Foaminess: frothy light foam, medium head, normal carbonation

Smell: grandmother's house - spicy air freshener

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 3

Sweetness: 4

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: spicy, herbal - maybe clove.

Sweeteners: high fructose corn syrup, molasses

Roots/Spices: American ginseng, Siberian ginseng, Korean ginseng, jasmine, clove, dong quai, skullcap, African capsicum, kava kava, ginkgo biloba, gotu kola, goldenseal, echinacea, reishi, shiitake, cordyceps

Caffeine? Yes.

Aftertaste: Clove spice.

Overall: 

Score: 3

Jack Black's Dead Red Root Beer

Originally reviewed November 1, 2009.

Name: Jack Black's Dead Red Root Beer

Container: glass

Color: darkest yet - black

Foaminess: a little foam, slowly dissolves.

Smell: like most root beer - a little minty.

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 2

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? Yes

Prominent Flavor: Syrup.

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: Brazilian guarana

Caffeine? Yes.

Aftertaste: Like ginger beer.

Overall:

Score: 3

Frostie Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 28, 2009.

Name: Frostie Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Kinda lighter than usual.

Foaminess:

Smell: Molasses-y.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Molasses and mint.

Sweeteners: high fructose corn syrup

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste:

Overall:

Score: 3

Fitz's Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 27, 2009.

Name: Fitz's Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Brown.

Foaminess: Tall, thick, slow head.

Smell: vanilla and mint - deep smell.

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 2

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Dental rinse.

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: vanilla

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste: Sweet

Overall: Just not great.

Score: 2

Dr. Brown's Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 26, 2009.

Name: Dr. Brown's Root Beer

Container: Glass

 

Color: lightest yet - see through.

Foaminess: tall head, good carbonation.

Smell: very minty - mintier than most.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 3

Sweetness: 2

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Ginger ale and glue.

Sweeteners: sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Minty.

Overall: Perhaps the most "different" of any so far.

Score: 3

Dog 'N Suds Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 25, 2009.

Name: Dog 'N Suds Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Amber - lighter than usual.

Foaminess: Very tall head. Fades slowly.

Smell: Minty - smells a lot like Mug.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 4 - can feel it travel down throat and burns lips a little

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? No

Prominent Flavor: No real prominent flavor.

Sweeteners: high fructose corn syrup

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste: Mint.

Overall:

Score: 4

Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 23, 2009.

Name: Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Dark, dark.

Foaminess: Medium head.

Smell: minty, vanilla.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Dirt and syrup.

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Dirt.

Overall:

Score: 3

Capt'n Eli's Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 19, 2009.

Name: Capt'n Eli's Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Light color

Foaminess: Very foamy head - slow to disappear. Had to drink through head to get to the root beer.

Smell: Strongly wintergreen.

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 3

Sweetness: 2

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Not as wintergreen as smell, but it is a definite flavor.

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: wintergreen, anise, vanilla

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: sweet and minty.

Overall: 

Score: 3

Bulldog Root Beer

Name: Bulldog Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: A little lighter than usual.

Foaminess: Little head - medium carbonation.

Smell: Very light hint of sweetness.

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 2

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Strong vanilla, syrupy.

 

Sweeteners: cane sugar, honey

Roots/Spices: vanilla, salt

Caffeine? No

Aftertaste: Vanilla - burning taste.

Overall:

Score: 2

Buckin' Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 17, 2009.

Name: Buckin' Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Very dark.

Foaminess: Little, but long lasting. Carbonation great.

Smell: Sweet, but spicy (minty).

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Pretty minty, molasses-y. Kinda medicinal.

Sweeteners: real sugar

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Minty, a little metallic.

Overall: 

Score: 3

Berghoff Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 16, 2009.

Name: Berghoff Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Coke.

Foaminess: Big head.

Smell: sweet, tinge of spicy.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 1

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Reminds me of A&W. Minty-ness lingers.

Sweeteners: cane sugar

Roots/Spices: 

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Pretty long lasting minty-ness. Maybe like Vick's Vapor Rub.

Overall: No comment.

Score: 4

Americana Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 14, 2009.

Name: Americana Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Lightest so far.

Foaminess: Bubbly, but the head quickly disappeared.

Smell: Sweet.

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 4

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Gingerbread cookies-like. Lingers.

Sweeteners: cane sugar, honey

Roots/Spices: sassafras, vanilla, licorice

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: A little metallic.

Overall: No comment.

Score: 2

AJ Stephans Root Beer

Name: AJ Stephans Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Dark.

Foaminess: Very foamy, but not very carbonated.

Smell: Spearmint.

Bitterness: 3

Spiciness: 3

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: Minty - stays on the tongue.

Sweeteners: Cane sugar

Roots/Spices: "Flavor"

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Yes - minty. A little metallic.

Overall: Kinda like Mug.

Score: 4

Abita Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 12, 2009.

Name: Abita Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: Hard to tell through all the carbonation - probably Coke-like.

Foaminess: Tall head, a little slower than usual. Pretty carbonated.

Smell: Spicy and sweet.

Bitterness: 4

Spiciness: 2 - smells spicier than it tastes.

Flavor: 4

Sweetness: 2 - smells sweeter than it tastes.

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: What is prominent, I'm not exactly sure, but it does linger. Kinda licorice-y.

Sweeteners: Louisiana cane sugar

Roots/Spices: "Root Beer Flavor"

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: A little metallic, but not bad.

Overall: This is less than average.

Score: 2

Virgil's Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 11, 2009.

Name: Virgil's Root Beer

Container: Glass

Color: pretty dark; molasses-like

Foaminess: lots of head, but disappears quickly. Noisy.

Smell: Kinda medicinal, like a doctor's office.

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 3

Sweetness: 4

Burping? Yes.

Prominent Flavor: Not really anything prominent. Surprising, actually, since it should have strong flavor based on the ingredients.

Sweeteners: Cane sugar.

Roots/Spices: anise, licorice, sweet birch, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, wintergreen, molasses, nutmeg, pimento berry

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Not there.

Overall: Tried this one before. Better than I remembered.

Score: 3

Triple XXX Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 10, 2009.

Name: Triple XXX

Container: Glass

Color: lighter than Sprecher's, but still Coke color.

Foaminess: Good, but disappears quick; good carbonation.

Smell: Sweet, a little metallic.

Bitterness: 2

Spiciness: 1

Flavor: 4 - strong flavor.

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Prominent Flavor: kinda tastes like Coke, kinda tastes like dirt. Lingering.

Sweeteners: Corn syrup

Roots/Spices: natural and artificial

Caffeine? No.

Aftertaste: Dirt. Sticks to the teeth.

Overall: I like it - not bad. You might not realize its even root beer on first swallow.

Score: 3

Sprecher Root Beer

Originally reviewed October 9, 2009.

Name: Sprecher Root Beer (Milwaukee, WI)

Container: Glass

Color: very dark brown; like Coke, maybe darker

Foaminess: great, lasting foam

Smell: honey, but not strong

Prominent Flavor: mint. Not really noticeable, but a minty sting to it. Not like Mug.

Sweeteners: corn syrup and honey

Roots/Spices: yucca, vanilla,  and natural flavors

Caffeine? No.

Bitterness: 3 - a little bitter sting to the tongue

Spiciness: 2

Flavor: 3. Kinda flavorless, but not bad tasting.

Sweetness: 3

Burping? No.

Aftertaste: Has very little aftertaste, not bad. Pleasant, I guess. The aftertaste becomes more prominent after every taste. Darker, like licorice.

Overall: This is not a very flavorful root beer, but that is not necessarily bad. This seems to be more quenching in nature than other root beers.

Score: 3

Welcome to Alex's Root Beer Taste Test blog!

Back in 2009, I tried a bunch of different root beers and wrote down my thoughts.  I came across my notes  recently and figured I should just type them up and put them online. For whom? Probably just me.

I began each review by writing down its container (glass, plastic, can), and its color, foaminess, and smell upon pour.

Then for each root beer, I evaluated it on bitterness, spiciness, flavor, and sweetness on a scale from 1-5, 5 being strong. I evaluated the carbonation by determining if it made me burp.

I wrote down what I thought the prominent flavor was and whether it lingered. I wrote down its sweeteners, its roots and spices, and whether or not it was caffeinated.

Lastly, I discussed its aftertaste and any additional notes.  I then gave it an overall score between 0-5, with 5 being the best.

NOTE: I tend to favor the mintier side of root beers, than say, the vanilla, sweeter side. So my reviews will probably reflect that.