Sep 122012
 

Way back in the fall of 2003, I had just arrived at BYU to restart my undergrad career. I’d been off of my mission for a mere six months but I’d jumped back into root beer reviewing with a tenacity after two years of being completely dry (there was no gourmet root beer in Madagascar nor South Africa that I could find). On one of my first days in Provo, I went with my sister to the BYU creamery to get some of their amazing “squeaky cheese”, which is just a high quality cheddar cheese curd but it squeaks when you eat it so everyone calls it squeaky cheese. While I was there I of course checked for root beer and found a six-pack of Barrel Brothers. Excellent, more root beer for me. The label is interesting to be sure, two guys without necks wearing barrels with mugs of root beer. It’s like they’re depression era homeless people who found some root beer or something. And they also don’t have necks. That really bothers me. The other interesting tidbit on the label is that it is “brewed with both vitamin C & calcium” I’m not sure if they were setting out to make a root beer that sub for your morning glass of OJ or if their formula just happened to call for those ingredients and the marketing department (the thinner of the neck-less brothers perhaps?) decided they could pitch that as a benefit or something.

The Body was good at first but then a strange herbal flavor surfaced that was not the tastiest one to have in my mouth. It was creamy though. The tingly herbal Bite attacks you with the first drink. The Head is excellent and frothy, just as the bottle boasts and the Aftertaste is that herbal flavor and some vanilla.

So yeah, it starts out good enough and has a great Head to boot, but that strange herbal flavor really ruins it. Maybe they put too much yucca in it or maybe it’s the attempt at making a healthy orange juice substitute root beer but whatever it is they failed. Probably the reason that they have to wear barrels as the brew won’t sell enough for them to afford clothes. See how it rates against other root beers.




  2 Responses to “Barrel Brothers Root Beer”

  1. where can I purchase Barrel Brothers Vanilla Creme Root Beer? I’ve tried several brands for a Root Beer Cake and Barrels is the very best. Lee’s Market in Logan used to carry it, but I no longer see it there. Is there a store in the Logan area where I can purchase this great drink?

    thanks in advance.

    Suzan

    • I’m not sure where you buy Barrel Brothers Creamy Vanilla Root Beer near Logan. This review was for their original root beer, which has been replaced with the vanilla version. I got this at BYU Creamery in Provo so you can probably find it there (I know it’s a ways). I’d check different gas stations and grocery stores in the area. I’m sure you’ll find some. If not, you can order it online.

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