Fuddy Duddy’s Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  No Responses »
Sep 032025
 

The final root beer from the batch trade with anthony. Fuddy Duddy’s is a confectionary in Owego, New York. It’s also a Soda Works. Should I call this Fuddy Duddy’s Confectionary Soda Works Root Beer? Seems really long. I’ll stick with just Fuddy Duddy’s. Fun fact, fuddy duddy is actually a slightly derogatory term (if Google is to be believed) but it means old fashioned and fussy. So, I suppose if you’re trying to make an old timey confectionary soda works and are persnickety about the quality, then fuddy duddy could be a good thing? Anyways the shades of green label with far too many fonts does give me an old timey feel.

The Body is sweet with a classic flavor. There’s a nice vanilla flavor as well. It could be a little creamier and a little fuller, but it’s quite nice. The Bite is sharp and spicy that’s almost a little too much. It doesn’t finish very smooth either. The Head, well, here it really falls short, pun intended. The classic 2-second head that I haven’t seen in awhile. What shame. The Aftertaste is a lovely vanilla that lasts the right amount of time.

This brew’s a little bit rough on Bite and quite disappointing on the Head, but still good overall. It’s refreshing and has good flavor so it’ll do in a pinch but not something to seek out. Their website shows lots of old fashioned chocolates and candies so maybe the confectionary is worth the visit, but I don’t know as I am only here for the brew. See how it rates against other root beers.

Three and a half kegs

Ocean City Boardwalk Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  1 Response »
Aug 062025
 

I’ve never been to Jersey Shore. I never watched the show either. I think I know two of the characters. There was, like Snookie and The Situation? and partying and debauchery, I think? Yeah, well what does that have anything to do with this root beer? It’s made by the Jersey Shore Soda Company, which was likely not featured on said show. Ocean City is on the Jersey Shore and that’s where soda company is headquartered so that’s why it isn’t Jersey Shore Root Beer or something. The label has a ton going on, a big amusement park pier thing with every sign a different take on the name. There’s “Jersey & Shore”, “Jersey’s Shore Soda”, “Soda Land Pier”, and more. I have no idea if any of these are real signs/places or if they’re just trying to get the vibe of the Shore but since I’ve never been there I have no clue. Anyways, such places need their own root beer. I got this in a trade from Jersey’s own root beer expert, anthony himself. I assume he’s been there so he could comment if my musings are even remotely correct.

The Body is sweet yet mild. There’s vanilla on an otherwise generic root beer flavor with a fruity hint. The Bite is sharp and spiced with good fizz to it. The Head is medium but fizzes down too quickly. The Aftertaste is a faint, sweet, sassafras.

This brew is, fine. Nothing fancy or special at all but isn’t bad at all so if you’re on the party pier and eating some hot dogs and stuff, it’ll be sufficient to keep your day pleasant. See how it rates against other root beers.

Three kegs

Bubby’s Homemade Root Beer

 Old Fashioned Fountain Root Beers  No Responses »
Jul 022025
 

Last month I went to New York City for the first time ever. Well technically I’ve flown into JFK Airport for stuff in Long Island but I that doesn’t really count, driving through Queens to outside the city limits, but I digress. I was there for, can you guess? Did you guess DERMS? Well you’re wrong, I was taking my teenage daughter to a concert for her favorite JPop artist, LiSA. Aren’t I a great father or something? Since we got there the day before we were able to see some of the iconic Manhattan sites like Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and eat some great food. I also had learned from correspondence with anthony that a place called Bubby’s makes their own root beer. So after dinner we went walking to it and found ourselves walking past the Ghost Buster’s building so that was a cool bonus. Categorizing this was a bit difficult for me, but ultimately they make all of their house sodas Old Fashioned Fountain style, using their homemade syrups to mix to order at the bar. I have that category for such root beers after all.

The Bite is the first thing you notice when you drink this. It’s spicy with clove and some other spices mixed in. The carbonation gives it good fizz for an all around excellent Bite. The Body comes in afterwards, sweet and complex with an aged sarsaparilla flavor and hints of vanilla and wintergreen complementing the spices. The Aftertaste is that sarsaparilla with a bitter finish from the wintergreen, I wish it weren’t quite so bitter. The Head is the biggest drawback, it doesn’t really foam much at all despite their attempts and what is made goes quickly.

This is actually quite good. It’s unique and complex while hitting the right notes. It does end a little too bitter and it’s foaminess is a little too weak, but it’s definitely worth trying if you’re in the area, especially since there are some iconic landmarks nearby. Bubby’s also makes their own ice cream for some of their other desserts and I bet their food would be great too, so this place won’t disappoint.

Three and a half kegs

Bubby’s as seen from one of the streets.

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