My 400th Root Beer! I wanted it to be special, and 1919 was the most widely distributed, iconic root beer left that I hadn’t tried. They don’t distribute to the West Coast, but it’s found all across the northern Mid West. Once I found myself in Minnesota, not only was it all over, but the Schell’s Brewery that makes it was only an hour and a half away. Schell’s is the 2nd oldest family run brewery in America. It’s in New Ulm, Minnesota, a town founded by German Immigrants. The brewery offers guided tours of their historic operations (pics below). They also have a large garden with peacocks wandering about and a deer pen. It’s a perfect place for a day trip with the family. The 1919 root beer was their response to prohibition, which put many a brewery under. They’ve been making 1919 continuously ever since. The only way to get it on glass is to buy one of their commemorative mugs, which I did after the tour.
This has a rich, full Body with hints of vanilla and caramel and awash with a complex blend of spices. It’s slightly dark, yet perfectly proportioned to be utterly delicious. The Bite is strong and full from all of those spices yet it isn’t overpowering. As I like my Bites to be. The Head is a good height and lingers. The Aftertaste is a faint, spiced wintergreen and vanilla that leaves you begging for more.
Oh dang! Now that is a root beer! I can see why it’s been such a hit, and why the brewery survived prohibition. Not only is it amazing, but it’s also unique, which after trying 400 root beers, is saying a lot. This is hand’s down, one of the top root beers I’ve ever tried. I’m so glad I can find it all over where I live now.
The Schell’s Brewery
The Schell’s Bottling Line
A brewery machine that was patented by one of the Schell’s Brewery presidents
A machine in the historic brewery
Tanks of some sort
The historic copper kettle. Used from the 1800’s till the late 1990’s
The 1919 taps in the tasting room
The Schell’s Brewery Tasting Room at the end of the tour.
Some of the 1919 brew vats.
The bar in the Schell’s tasting room.
