Bottled Root Beers – Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer Blog

Fuddy Duddy’s Root Beer

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.

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.

Swell Riptide Root Beer

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Jun 042025

Another trade with anthony. This brew comes from San Diego and is made by 6th generation San Diegans, which is what you call people from San Diego. Who knew? I have some of my own family roots from San Diego area, on my mother’s side. They are also surfers like this root beer depicts. Surfer themed root beers are a favorite of mine so I have high hopes. This is also brewed in small batches, if the text on the label is to be believed. I like a double entendre on the title as well. A swell in the waves or a swell root beer. Though a riptide is a pretty dangerous thing so I don’t know about having a riptide being swell. It is a beach thing so I guess that fits, or maybe they’re just going for alliteration.

The Body is sweet and rich with a lot of vanilla and caramel with a tinge of fruity sarsaparilla. It’s pretty good. The Bite is mild on spice with some prickly carbonation. That said, it isn’t the smoothest. The Head is medium tall but fizzes down too fast. The Aftertaste is vanilla. There’s a hint of that sarsaparilla as well. Overall it’s pretty good,

I’d say it’s pretty swell. Not Seal of Approval but swell. This brings an interesting question of how good is swell, is it better than good, slightly worse than excellent? I feel it’s somewhat better than good but not the best. Maybe I’ve been using swell wrong my whole life? Maybe this root beer makes me rethink everything on the word swell, a word I’ve just sort of used without too much thought. Anyways, swell brew. See how it rates against other root beers.

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