Ben’s Brew Root Beer

Finally I have a root beer from Alaska. I’d often wondered if I’d had one from all 50 states but always knew without even checking that I’d never had one from Alaska. But now I have. This brew comes from Sitka on Baranof Island. There’s only one retail location in the lower 48 states that sells it and thankfully they happen to be in Seattle. The ingredients have to be ferried on to the island and the root beer than takes another ferry off. Needless to say that it was pretty expensive. Interestingly, there are no ingredients listed on the bottle, so I haven’t a clue what’s in it. The only thing it does say is that it’s “Great for kids, teetotalers, and those on antibiotics” … I had never heard of a teetotaler before but it’s someone who completely abstains from alcohol, so yeah, this would be good for them. People on antibiotics? Yes, absolutely. The essences in root beer double the power of your prescription without any ill side effects. So drink up all you with staph, you can trust me, I am a doctor after all. This is the third root beer that I’ve had with Ben in the name. I wonder what it is with guys named Ben and the desire to put their name on a root beer bottle.

The Body is creamy and spicy with a very traditional flavor. There are hints of licorice and caramel in there as well. It’s pretty good. The Bite is sharp and sassy. The Head was short and very frothy with the first bottle, and tall but fizzed away with the second. Either way it is pretty good. The Aftertaste is a light licorice with hints of wintergreen.

Not bad, not bad at all. This tastes like a mix between the dark spicy type and the rich creamy type of root beers. I wish the Bite weren’t so sharp but that’s just me. See how it rates against other root beers.