Root Beer Review: AJ Stephans

Almost no scent (should I be saying head?  Isn't that what they call it at wine tastings) so I expected a cardboard flavor, but was happily surprised by a rich root beer taste with a hint of some spice in the aftertaste (almost a nutmeg - it's not listed in the ingredients - but there is an ingredient just called "Flavor" - is that even legal?).  The carbonation is very mild, but pleasant.  The label on the bottle says it's New England's Best Tonic.  Was root beer ever used medically?   Ingredients:  Pure Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Flavor, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate as a preservative. Grade:  B.

Happy Birthday Mom!

The sweetest "grrr" face I've ever seen!

Chill-axing

She makes the greatest faces sometimes.

Finally!  I'm warm!

Mother daughter love

Lasik Surgery Today!

Scary excited!

Root Beer Review: Jack Black's Dead Red Root Beer

Hmm...you would think the liquid would be red - I didn't even notice that it was supposed to be red until the very end.  Considered a "scary soda."  I'm fascinated by this brand.  The root beer was pretty good as well.  Very light carbonation, a slight licorice undertone.  Flavor gets stronger the more you drink.  Much stronger at the bottom.  Only drawback is there is a hint of mouthwash flavor at times.  Ingredients:Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Caffeine, Brazilian Guarana, Sodium Benzoate (to preserve freshness), Citric Acid, Nautal and Artificial Flavors, Red #40.  Grade: B

Root Beer Review: Iron Horse

By the way, I didn't drink all these root beers in one day - just catching up on my reviews.
Iron Horse was very smooth - the flavor is exactly what I think of when I think of root beer.  Again, similar to A&W, but smoother.  The carbonation just flows over tongue.  If it had a little more "bite" it would be perfect.
Ingredients:  Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (as a preservative) and Natural and Artificial Flavor.  Grade:  A-.

Name Origin story from the bottle:  In 1869, Central Pacific's steam engine, the Jupiter, nicknamed IRON HORSE, met Union Pacific's #119 at Promontory Peak Utah, uniting Atlantic coast with the Pacific.  Today, IRON HORSE Root Beer reaches the summit of refreshment.  It unites the highest in cool taste and rich flavor.  Get on board.  Ride IRON HORSE to the top.

Root Beer Review: Berghoff

Founded 1898 - this root beer sounds familiar, but I may be thinking of Bergdorfs (which I think is the fake department store from Mad Men.  Berghoff's has a flavor very similar to A&W, though not as creamy.  It is more sweet.  My theory about cardboard flavoring going with no scent goes down the drain with this one.  Plus, there is no aftertaste to this.  Refreshing.  Ingredients:  Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavoring, Yucca Extract, Gum Arabic, Ethyl Alcohol (?!), Propylne Glycol Alginate, and Triethyl Citrate, Preserved with Citric Acid and Sodium Benzoate.  What an odd assortment of ingredients.  If I followed the "Don't Eat Anything with Ingredients You Can't Pronounce" diet.  Grade:  B+

Root Beer Review: Goose Island

Who knew there was a Chicago Style Root Beer?  Another one with a cardboard flavoring.  Luckily, the taste was overall mild.  I think the hint to upcoming cardboard taste is the lack of scent.  Also had a nice fizz of carbonation (same as Cool Mountain).  However, you could taste the sugar more in this one.  Ingredients:  Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (as Preservatives) and Citric Acid.  Grade:  D+