In celebration of the Art of Manliness’ love for the finely crafted, independently made soda, today we begin a series of soda reviews . We’ll help you on your way to becoming a soda connoisseur by placing all of your favorite flavors in head to head competitions to see which soda rises to the top. Let the best fizzy beverage win.
All the sodas we will review are made with pure cane sugar or another natural sweetener, since as you know, sodas made with high fructose corn syrup constitute soda sacrilege and aren’t worth the flimsy can they come in. Most of the sodas will also be from independent bottlers.
Today we are having a showdown between various varieties of our favorite brew, root beer.
The history of root beer goes all the way back to colonial times. America’s early settlers would create brews from various herbs, roots, and barks including wintergreen, birch bark, vanilla beans, and ginger. The boiling and fermentation of these concoctions helped kill any floaters in the water that might have made the colonists sick and imbued these “beers” with a 2-10% alcohol content. But it was Charles Hires who brought the deliciousness of root beer to the masses. Mixing up an irresistible concoction of various herbs, roots, berries, and spices, Hires introduced root beer to the public at the 1876 Centennial Convention. Calling it the “The Temperance Drink,” he touted it as “the greatest health giving beverage in the world.” Despite these claims, the temperance advocates were suspicious of a beverage named “root beer.” Hires had to perform a laboratory test to prove his new drink had no more alcohol than a loaf of bread. Root beer then really caught on during Prohibition as an alternative to imbibing booze.
While root beer has forever been the red-headed stepchild to big brother cola, it’s always been at the top of my list. There’s nothing like a hot pizza and a cold root beer in a frosty mug.
Berghoff
Made in: Chicago
The bottle says: “Famous Root Beer” and “Draft Style”
OG? Since 1891
Our review: Our least favorite brew. Rather bland and limp in flavor. A little too sweet, a little too fizzy. Blah.
The AoM Verdict:
(out of four bottle caps)
Mason’s
Made in: Atlanta, GA
The bottle says: “Keg Brewed Flavor”
OG? Nope
Our review: Mason’s had a nice fizz level. But the root beer flavor was too mild and not distinct. A little too sweet. An interesting nutmeg-y accent. Goes down pretty smooth.
The AoM verdict:
Journey’s John Barleycorn
Made in: Putney, VT
The bottle says: “A diverse collection of root bark tea and root brew recipes is the source for Journey’s Historic Brews. Native Americans shared intense aromatic root tea with conquistadores in the 1500’s. Since then, the Anglos, Germans, Scandinavians and Americans have blended and brewed an estimated 60 root beer types over the last five centuries. John Barleycorn brings back Scottish and Irish American root beer traditions. Heady malted barley creates a smooth taste and sweet aroma.”
OG? Started in the 1970s.
Our review: Journey’s John Barleycorn soda bills itself as “Nutty Malty Foamy,” and it is certainly all three. Unfortunately, although the bottle and concept are quite interesting, and though we were prepared to love anything coming from the state of Vermont, the flavor just didn’t deliver. The brew is very dark and the flavor is unique, but it’s simply not very root beery or pleasant. Strange herbal accents doomed this brew.
The AoM verdict:
Capt’n Eli’s
Made in: Portland, ME
The bottle says: Nada
OG? Nope
Our review: Just the right sweetness and a really smooth flavor. Strong wintergreen flavor, almost medicinal really, but not to the point of being unpleasant.
The AoM verdict:
Boylan’s
Made in: Moonachie, NJ
The bottle says: Nada
OG? Since 1891
Our review: A fruity tasting brew with strong hints of sassafras. Not too sweet. Has a very pleasant aftertaste.
The AoM verdict:
Americana Microcrafted Root Beer
Made in: Redmond Washington
OG? Nope.
The bottle says:
“The era of soda poppery began in the early 1900s. Early soft drinks, or tonics as they were called, were available in a wide variety of flavors. Sassafras root bark created the classic American flavor we have come to know as Root Beer. Americana Cream Style is produced in true micro fashion, only 600 gallons at a time. Our extracts are carefully blended with pure cane sugar to produce a rich creamy flavor made in the tradition of those old times sodas.”
Our review:
Our hands down favorite and not just because of the vintagey-looking label. Americana has the traditional root beer taste you’re looking for in a brew. The flavor is full and robust. It labels itself as “cream style” and there’s definitely a cream soda undertone. Wintergreen flavor invigorates the tongue; hints of sassafras and licorice are subtle and add to a nice, complex flavor.
The AoM Verdict:
Got a beef with our ratings? Did we forget a root beer that you think deserves being reviewed? Drop a line in the comment box.
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You omitted the best biylans, The CREAMY RED, has hints of avnilla, really nice. If you gave 3 bottle tops to the regular, the red if worth 4 or more.
This is a great topic for manliness! however, I really think the manliness of root beer is trumped by the machismo of birch beer, and the king daddy of them all sarsaparilla!
I’m not particularly interested in manliness (being quite comfortable in my femininity), but I love root beer. I did a bit of research to see if the root beers might be available online. I claim nothing for these websites except that they came up as a Google search for each of the root beers.
Berghoff Root Beer http://www.beveragesdirect.com/products/berghoff/
Mason’s Root Beer http://www.popsoda.com/masonsrootbeer.html
Journey’s John Barleycorn Root Beer
http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=622
Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer http://www.sodaking.com/product_info.php/products_id/937
Boylan’s Root Beer http://www.amazon.com/Boylan-Bottleworks-Root-Beer-12pack/dp/B0001BVFN4
Americana Microcrafted Root Beer
http://www.amazon.com/Americana-Root-Beer-12-Pack/dp/B000NVZHF4
And for those of us who want to conduct our own taste test, this site offers “sampler packs” of regional root beers (I don’t think they’re fussy about HFCS vs sugar though):
http://www.straubs.com/category.html?id=30&gclid=CNnb0YWZ4ZUCFRIMDQodK0itXQ
VIRGIL’S ROOT BEER – This is the best damn root beer I’ve ever tasted. It has an amazing, natural root beer flavor complemented with exotic spices and licorice. Mmmmm so tasty.
It won the “Outstanding Beverage” Award at the International Fancy Food and Confection Show in 1994, 1996, and 1997.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil’s_Root_Beer
@Chris:
Actually there is nothing more manly than an awesome burger (which fast food burger is the best, may be another topic for AoM) onion rings, topped offed with an iced cold. not to sweet, refreshing, delicious root beer, like IBC (my root of choice). Furthermore women may enjoy the occasional root beer… but in this day and age when Metro-sexuals and Women alike are extremely health conscious to the point they won’t part take in one of life’s best drinks, it is definitely worth mentioning!
Americans should forget about root beer and Dr Pepper. Australians should forget about root beer. The best soda is Coca-Cola, Creaming Soda and Lemonade
I found Americana at Pops in Arcadia, OK last night. It was great! Thanks for the recommendation.
You forgot to rate Bulldog Rootbeer. I think it is the best.
Berghoff is my recent favorite. I love how it’s flavorful without being too intense, too sweet, or too fizzy.
I tried the barleycorn recently and it had a VERY different and distinct flavor. Not exactly root beer, but very good as a unique drink.
I think Eli’s is so-so and Bolyan soda is all garbage across the board.
Virgil’s root beer is very good.
YOU FORGOT FAYGO ROOT BEER! the second best ever! my previous favorite before berghoff! it’s great because it’s not as sugary, nor as carbonated as most soda anywhere.
Sprecher soda made some of the worst “ginger beer” I’ve ever had and I blew off the whole brand because of it.
Abita is mediocre at best.
Virgil’s is pretty good, but I liked the “barleycorn” one better.
I do enjoy Henry Weinhard’s a lot, even if it does have high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. I hate when people call it HFC like you’re stupid for not knowing their lingo.
Anyway.
You should do one of these on ginger beer! YAYUH!
I have never had anything as good as Iggie’s fiery ginger beer in steel cans from the UK but I haven’t had it for years as it was only available to me one time at a highland games.
Eli’s is one of the best I’ve had since then, as well as bundaberg’s from australia. I really like the Reeds extra ginger brew, but it’s still not fiery enough for me.
Correction – Idris fiery ginger beer.
My favorite Root Beer has always been Stewart’s Root Beer. It is the best one I have tasted.
Stewart’s did win the 2006 World Cup of Root Beer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart%27s_Fountain_Classics
“are you kidding me? what about ” BULLDOG” ROOTBEER .. only the winner of several reviews already, just google and see for yourself…. its only made with pure cane sugar with a touch of vanilla and honey. and HAS nothing remotely artificaL IN IT….
@Rocco Stanzione – Virgil’s is a good soda, but it is just barely a root beer at all. Very low sasparilla flavor, not much licorice(what gives root beer its bite) and not particularly sweet(depending on the connoisseur this is more or less important) Buckin’ Root Beer is my current favorite though I am always on the hunt. I’ve seen some good suggestions here but Virgil’s is low on the totem.
Interesting blog here. Gotta tell ya, if you want really good root beer, you’ve gotta come to my neck of the woods. I live in Amish country (Lancaster county, PA). The Amish around here make and sell homemade root beer. A lot of times it’s just a couple of glass gallon jugs sitting beside the road with a cash box. Everything is sold on the honor system. Want a jug, put your dollar in the box. Wanna steal it? I guess your judgment day will come.
Anyway, it’s like the mini-microbrew of the root beer world. I always grab a jug from different places when I’m out. The interesting thing is, the taste can vary from one batch to the other, all being made by the same guy. If I pick up a really good jug, I’ll go back and buy the rest of that batch.
Plus, the glass jugs make great piggy-banks to collect your quarters for poker.
If you find yourself in this area, make sure to get some of the local stuff, you won’t regret it. But please, don’t drive like a tourist!
Wow! You guys are forgetting the best Root Beer Available. Haven’t you considered A&W. I mean, the tone in this drink is priceless. I give this drink to all my children as soon as they can use a sippy cup. With the high fructose corn syrup and amazing advertising, it is second to none. Plus, you can pretty much purchase this gem in any grocery store. Don’t forget to add a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. Heaven comes to mind with this coctail of delight.
Hey, great blog and a lot of personally valuable input for this budding Root beer connoisseur. I have always loved Root beer but my early exposure to hard-to-find brands definitely showed me that there is what I’d call “Real Root Beer” and what I’d call “Not-so-real.” For me, and this is just little ‘ole me, brands like Mug, Barq’s and many others – including A&W (sorry if you’re a fan) – fall into the latter category.
You mentioned Hires Root beer – but it was not on your list. Maybe you’ve had no more luck finding it anywhere than I have!?
Finally – if you are ever in the Taylors Falls area of Minnesota – right on the borders of S. Central MN. and Wi. – you MUST go to “The Drive-Inn Restaurant” there on the more northern end of town. There is a putt-putt golf course right behind it. Anyway – some guy in there makes his own home-made rootbeer in the back of the little building. It was THEE best Root-beer I have ever had.
Check it out.
http://www.taylorsfalls.com/drivein.html
I would recommend “Dorothy’s Root Beer”. It is made in Ely MN, and has a very interesting history behind it.
Please can someone clarify for a poor Englishman… Is root beer the same as ginger beer? Or is ginger beer a type of root beer, ginger being a root? I guess the best one that’s available this side of the Atlantic is Fentiman’s traditional ginger beer, which has a nice kick to it, but please let me know if anyone knows of an American ‘root’ beer available in the U.K….
Henry Weinhard’s and Gale’s. try these two and you will come to Jesus.
The best, hands down is:
…..Virgil’s Root Beer……
The right combination of spices, sugar, and carbonation make it a delight to drink. Feels like velvet on your tongue!!!!! —
Buy it at ‘Trader Joe’s
Ok, I see all these root beers and nobody mentioned Sprechers Soda.
Its fire brewed like the old time stuff and is out of this world. sweetend with red honey from wisconson.
We sell it in our store.
Its great!
First of all I have never tried any of the Root beers on the list. But I sure would like too.
I recently moved to Philadelphia and found what has to be one of the best Root Beers ever. Now I know there are many of you here that enjoy Virgil’s. I to enjoy it, but it’s far from the best. The best is known as ABC (Appalachian Brewing Company) http://www.abcbrew.com
As for Ginger Beers hands down the best ever is Bunderburg Ginger Beer out of Australia. You can get it at World Market. If you see it, you have to try it.
Love the post.
I read “Root Beer” and thought of Weinhard’s. This, yet I haven’t had a bottle in over 10 years. I moved to the East Coast about that time and have never found Weinhard’s out here.
But the fact that there is this one brand of root beer out there that I know Ilove, and haven’t had in a decade, but remember… well, it says a lot.
And someone said Safeway carries it, and there’s now a Safeway nearby…
Guess where I’m headed tomorrow after church!
If anybody is ever in Kentucky, grab an Ale-8-One. I guarantee you’ve never had a soda, or “pop” where I’m from, like it. I’m pretty sure, however, that they have also switched to high fructose corn syrup like the rest of the larger bottling companies.
Let me take you back to the good old days of Barq’s, when it was made and sold only locally in Biloxi, MS.
I used to drink it room temperature because it was so full-bodied. Pouring it over ice diluted it too much. But it was also good straight out of the fridge.
When Coca-Cola bought them out, they ruined it. Even if they say they use the same syrup recipe, they don’t. They put too much fizz in it and it also isn’t bottled with good old Biloxi spring water…or sewer water…whichever
I’ve tried a lot of the ones mentioned here but even if some do have HFCS, sorry, high fructose corn syrup, I do recommend Weinhard’s. Another one I like alot is Iron Horse. But it wouldn’t be included here, again because of HFCS.
Interesting that none of these are, or claim, 1919 as the year they started. Apparently Prohibition produced a lot of mass produced root beer and that was about it.
I have been conducting my own taste tests, on the root beers I can find here in So. UT. As far as Smoothness, Flavor and Carbonation goes, her’s my list in descending order:
Hires
Sprecher
Henry Weinhards
Mug
Thomas Kemper
Virgils
Teddy’s
IBC
Jones
Stewart’s
A&W
Barqs
Dads
Walgreens
Factor in price, and you get:
Hires
Mug
Thomas Kemper
Teddy’s
Sprecher
Henry Weinhards
Virgils
IBC
Jones
A&W
Stewart’s
Dads
Barqs
Walgreens
I still need to try Deerfield (Walgreen’s cane sugar sweetened brand) and Sam’s Choice to round out the comparison. Enjoy!
Yeah, I’ve tried all the so called “top” ones and Virgil’s wins hands down.
It’s also the only one I know of that doesnt have Sodium Benzoate, which I suspect is a bigtime carcinogen.
Sprecher’s Baby!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/dining/25root.html
I’m a Fitz’s fan through and through. I have 3 24 packs under my bed and one in the fridge right now.
Soda is not manly. I love soda and sweet beverages, especially root beer, but it just ain’t manly, that’s not what it’s about. Also not manly – this sentence:
“Wintergreen flavor invigorates the tongue; hints of sassafras and licorice are subtle and add to a nice, complex flavor.”
Go to a wine tasting with that talk (not manly either). What’s next, grandma, iced tea reviews?
I have tried over 60 different root beer’s and to me the absolute best is Hank’s Gourmet Root Beer. It’s from Philadelphia but you can get it at Bev Mo, Galco’s soda pop stop. Pure cane sugar, creamy, not to sweet, nice vanilla aroma and the perfect blend of spices. Give it a try. I live in Oregon and I have it shipped to me from Philly… that’s how good it is.
Try Abita Root Beer. From a Brewery in Louisiana. Outstanding Drink.
Can usually be found at Publix grocery stores if you have one of those available.
http://www.abita.com
you didnt get sprecher from wi
In my own recent casual taste test I have found Thomas Kemper to beat out Mug, Barf’s, A&W, IBC, Powerhouse (local brew), and the bottom off the list H. Weenhard’s. The last was an impotent piece of mouthwash, so bad I spent a half-hour with customer service asking how they could be so brash to produce nothing but fizz-in-a-bottle. Tastelessly made with high fructose corn syrup so much so you had to struggle to dial in your taste buds to get a hint of flavor.
try bulldog and frostie they are bolth close to americana.
i’m doing a school project on homade root beer
1919 Root Beer is perhaps the greatest roobeer ever made. Its rare, as unlike nearly every other rootbeer (including the ones reviewed) it is non-pasturized, which means it cannot be bottled, only served from a keg. they do make “personal kegs” for you home refrigerator that holds about a gallon. Brewed in New Ulm Minnesota at the Schells Brewery. If you are ever in the area, spend the 3 bucks, take a great tour and sample the beers, and of course, dont forget to get a glass of 1919.
What about Triple X Root Beer? This is hands down the best root beer i’ve ever had
What about Triple X Root Beer? This is hands down the best root beer i’ve ever had.
It’s not quite root beer, but in the same family of beverages, Moxie is now and forever #1 in my book. I am looking forward to trying Americana, however.
It’s a shame that Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer wasn’t included. It is by far my favorite and I make an extra effort to bring some home with me whenever I travel far enough west.
Sprecher root beer from Wisconsin.
Try it. You’ll like it.
Fitz’s Root beer out of St. Louis is absolutely to die for. I call for a run off with the new candidates.
Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer is the best I’ve ever had. It’s main ingredients are Sassafras, Honey, and Vanilla.
As far as boutique root beers go, I was very disappointed with Virgil’s. Too much licorice flavor.
My current favorite root beer comes from Harrisburg Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Brewing Company. They are an independent brewery that happens to make a fantastic rootbeer with a strong honey flavor to it and uses appalachian spring water.
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