Root Beer Reviews – Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer Blog

Bishop’s Beer Root Beer

Sep 042024

The second brew on my roadtrip from Idaho back to Minnesota. This one come from the Bacon & Bleu Family Restaurant in Idaho Falls. I’d found out about it on the way there but didn’t have time to visit it till the way back. The root beer itself is named after the founder’s grandfather, Daune Bishop, who would make homemade root beer. In true old homemade fashion, the Bishop’s Beer is yeast carbonated, something that both intrigues and scares me whenever I hear it. Despite already having tried a root beer that day, I was determined to try another, because it seemed too unique to pass up. They also sell country fried bacon but more on that.

The Body is sweet with a homemade sarsaparilla and sassafras flavor that’s yeasty but not overpowering. Other than the yeast, the rest of the flavors are more of just a core root beer flavor, without a lot of garnishes but it works well. The Bite is mild, there’s not a lot of carbonation nor spice, but it’s nice and smooth. The Head is medium height if you ask for it like that. It fizzes down pretty quickly though. The Aftertaste is sweet, sort of a sarsaparilla with yeast that’s suprisingly refreshing.

This is quite good. Surprisingly so for yeast carbonated. Dare I say, it’s the best yeast brew I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing (most were anything but a pleasure). Not quite Seal of Approval, but still good. I love the fact that the restaurant has a dedicated root beer tap and kegerator just on its own where they get the root beer orders. Not even remotely close to any other drink filling. Just really highlights that brew. We ordered that country fried bacon and fried pickle chips as chasers and wow! I didn’t know I needed deep fried bacon and country gravy in my life, until I had. It may be the new perfect pairing with a frosty mug of brew. If a good yeast root beer isn’t enough to get you to Bacon & Bleu, add some delicous country fried bacon and you realize that this is a must vist.

**Country fried bacon and fried pickle chips. Great to share with the family over a frosty mug of brew.**

**Bacon** **and Bleu Restaurant. Note the root beer signage.**

Magic Valley Brewing Rockhound Root Beer

Draft and Keg Root Beers No Responses »

Aug 072024

Last month I took my yearly road trip from Minneapolis to Idaho. I always make a point of stopping on someplace new along the way in order to spice it up. There’s also some friends that we like to visit along the way. Some of those live in the small town of Buhl. This time, out of curiosity, I checked to see if there were any breweries in this town of a little under 5,000. As luck would have it, there was exactly one, Magic Valley Brewing. I called them and they had root beer! So after lunch with our friends we dropped by to try their Rockhound Root Beer. The brewery has been there for only eight years. There’s a small brewpub that serves food as well. They try to source local and use fresh honey, ginger, and herbs in their different pops, ginger ale, cream soda, and root beer. They must not use any coloring because this root beer is blonde, something that usually gives me pause in a brewery root beer.

The Body is full and flavorful with that old fashioned profile that’s rich in wintergreen and licorice, but not too much licorice. There’s a little vanilla but not quite enough. It could be a little sweeter too, but it is quite complex and generally good. The Bite is all manner of spicy! I love that spice. The Head is abysmal, sadly. The Aftertaste is wintergreen and finishes a little bitter.

Interesting, a blonde brewery root beer that doesn’t taste all weird and herb tea-ish. It’s got good flavor for the most part, but it’s a little too bitter and has a terrible head. I didn’t try any of the food here, but this brew is good enough to drink with your meal. Plus the novelty of very small town root beer should not be ignored.

**The Magic Valley Brewing in downtown Buhl**

**The Magic Valley Brewing Taps. The pops are the far right.**

Hannaford Bros Root Beer

Bottled Root Beers No Responses »

Jul 102024

Back in February I found myself in Vermont for the first time in my life. If you want to know why, it was DERMS, DERMS of course it was DERMS. We actually flew into Albany and then drove to Rutland. I searched feverishly along the way to find some brewery making some maple syrup root beer to no avail. The second night there, I went to a grocery store to buy some snacks and found this local store brand. Hannaford is a grocery store chain up in those parts which I had never encountered before. They’re headquartered in Massachusetts so I think they’re a New England thing. They make a root beer using natural extracts and spices in small batches, if their marketing is to be believed. They also don’t use any preservatives. They also offer a double money back gaurantee so if I hate this I can make money. I do like the sound of that. More brands should pay me if I’m dissatisfied with their brews.

The Body is sweet and a little creamy. It’s also a bit weak. There’s a nice spicy Bite, with clove featuring prominently. The Head is decent. It’s medium tall and fizzes down slowly so there’s always some foam. The Aftertaste is slightly spicy clove with the smallest hint of wintergreen.

This is decidedly mid. I mean, that’s to be expected from a store brand. I’ll give that it isn’t generic, but it’s still mid. Better mid than none I say, when I comes to gourmet root beer, however. And I think as Drinkable, I don’t need my money back, so there’s that. See how it rates against other root beers.

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