Another brew from Rocket Fizz. Those makers of strangely themed craft sodas are at it again, this time, rather than go all celebrity themed, they decided to go hunting themed. Finally, a root beer that embraces the most glorious sport and pastime that is hunting. But you can tell that they are true hunters, for they’ve named it Dad-Gum-It! in a clear reference to a frustrated bird hunter. Who’s name is Ryan if the hat is to be believed. I’ve been there Ryan, more times than I care to admit, after burning through all three shots at a single pheasant flying straight away from me. How could I have missed? When just yesterday I was able to shoot quail. QUAIL! They’re like a quarter of the size and move faster. How could I have missed something so much bigger and slower?!? Dad-Gum-It! … well anyways, root beer. And butterscotch root beer. I do like me some butterscotch. Will this be the Seal of Approval brew to console my crushed ego after future bird hunting failures?
The Body is dark and spicy with licorice featuring prominently and some wintergreen as well. I also taste a distinct lack of butterscotch. The Bite is solid and strong from spices and ample carbonation, a little too strong. The Head is excellent! It’s there as long as you drink it (within reason). The Aftertaste is a little wintergreen and licorice. Also, no butterscotch.
Dad-gum-it! They tricked me. I was promised butterscotch. Maybe that’s the whole message of this brew. That what you really want will escape you. Ryan, for all his prowess, was unable to get his birds just like Rocket Fizz, despite their vast collection of soda ingredients, was unable to actually put butterscotch into the root beer. In the end all you’re left with is bitter dissappointment, much like a failed hunting trip. I don’t recommend either. See how it rates against other root beers.
This was a find by my good friend and avid root beer collector Vince. He found it on a road trip somewhere in the south. I’d never even heard about it before. It’s made by Diamond Bear Brewing Company from Little Rock Arkansans. So this brew is the Big Rock of Little Rock? I approve of that joke. There’s also an image of a big rock on the label, though I have no idea if that’s a real place. It probably is. Maybe. I like the color scheme of the rest of the label too, all blue and white and whatnot. The brewery itself is pretty new, only coming on the scene in 2000. This root beer is kept pretty hush-hush as the only reference to it is the root beer float dessert on the alehouse menu. And yet they bottle it so I’m not sure what their marketing plan is with this. Maybe it’s to make the most amazing root beer in the world and have only the coolest people know about it. We’ll see. 
Awhile back I learned of this brand. They were established in 1908 by the Vanasse Bottling Works in Northampton, Massachusetts. Their 