Old Fashioned Fountain Root Beers – Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer Blog

Spinning J’s Root Beer

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Nov 052025

Back in September I was in Chicago for work. I say Chicago but really I was in Oak Brook Terrace which is a western suburb of Chicago. You’d think what’s the difference and the main difference is if you find a place like Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain being actually in Chicago, there’s a bit more planning that goes into visiting due to Chicago’s horrendous traffic. Not helping in my quest to visit it was the fact that it’s open from 9 am to 3 pm only, which is too late for breakfast before work and too early for dinner after. Nevertheless, I was committed, since they have are an old fashioned soda fountain with a jerk and house made syrups made with spices, botanicals, and essential oils. Fortunately for me, on Friday we finished our work about 1 pm and my flight didn’t board till 5 so I had some time to drive down and give their root beer a try.

The Body is dark and complex with a solid sassafras root beer flavor accentuated with many herbs and spices such as ginger, clove, allspice, cinnamon to name a few. The licorice flavor is very light and there isn’t much wintergreen so it isn’t as dark of a flavor as you’d expect. It’s quite a unique mix yet a very familiar root beer flavor under it all. The flavors are intense and feel very fresh. The Bite is amazing. All of those fresh spices really make for one of the spiciest, boldest Bite I’ve ever had. Carbonation is on the light side, though, sadly. The Head is quite short, the biggest flaw in this soda, but it’s there when they’re making it, it just fizzes away. Much more than the old 2-Second Head, but still less that what I’d prefer. The aftertaste is an herbal clove flavor that is quite pleasant that finishes with a warm ginger burn that stays with you awhile.

Wow! That has got to be the most amazing and intense root beer Bite I’ve ever had. I love the freshness of the flavors too. I was raving about it with every drink, pointing out the ingredients I could taste. When I finished they asked if I wanted another, because I seemed to enjoy it so much, an offer I couldn’t help but take them up on. As I thought of where to rate it, the head was a little lighter then I wanted, but that warm ginger burn, several minutes after I’d finished, really Sealed the deal. If you’re ever in Chicago, this root beer is a must.

**Look at this beautiful, old-fashioned, soda fountain.**

Bubby’s Homemade Root Beer

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Jul 022025

Last month I went to New York City for the first time ever. Well technically I’ve flown into JFK Airport for stuff in Long Island but I that doesn’t really count, driving through Queens to outside the city limits, but I digress. I was there for, can you guess? Did you guess DERMS? Well you’re wrong, I was taking my teenage daughter to a concert for her favorite JPop artist, LiSA. Aren’t I a great father or something? Since we got there the day before we were able to see some of the iconic Manhattan sites like Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and eat some great food. I also had learned from correspondence with anthony that a place called Bubby’s makes their own root beer. So after dinner we went walking to it and found ourselves walking past the Ghost Buster’s building so that was a cool bonus. Categorizing this was a bit difficult for me, but ultimately they make all of their house sodas Old Fashioned Fountain style, using their homemade syrups to mix to order at the bar. I have that category for such root beers after all.

The Bite is the first thing you notice when you drink this. It’s spicy with clove and some other spices mixed in. The carbonation gives it good fizz for an all around excellent Bite. The Body comes in afterwards, sweet and complex with an aged sarsaparilla flavor and hints of vanilla and wintergreen complementing the spices. The Aftertaste is that sarsaparilla with a bitter finish from the wintergreen, I wish it weren’t quite so bitter. The Head is the biggest drawback, it doesn’t really foam much at all despite their attempts and what is made goes quickly.

This is actually quite good. It’s unique and complex while hitting the right notes. It does end a little too bitter and it’s foaminess is a little too weak, but it’s definitely worth trying if you’re in the area, especially since there are some iconic landmarks nearby. Bubby’s also makes their own ice cream for some of their other desserts and I bet their food would be great too, so this place won’t disappoint.

*Bubby’s as seen from one of the streets.*

Burly Beverages Real Deal Root Beer

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Dec 112019

A cup of Burly Beverages Real Deal Root Beer This past week I was back in Sacramento doing DERMS things cause that’s what I do, but I was also looking for some root beer cause that’s the other thing I do. My sites were set on Burly Beverages. They make craft from scratch sodas and mixers and only really sell syrups. However, they also have a tasting room with an old fashioned soda fountain where you can come in and get a cup or a growler fill. They close at 6 so I usually would miss them, but not this time! I called ahead, as they request, since sometimes they close early, but the owner, Gabriel was there and told me to come on down. He has a fine establishment and a great mission, to create quality sodas as they used to be, pre-prohibition, when they were more tonics with health benefits. He got his start making a smooth ginger beer and then added more flavors afterwards. After I explained my mission, he got into soda jerk mode and got me a nice cup of the Real Deal Root Beer to try while we talked about various root beer ingredients. In addition to the more traditional sarsaparilla, sassafras, vanilla, cinnamon, he also uses orange peel. I’ve only seen that before in Lockdown Brewing Company Rainbow Root Beer, which is also from the same area. Maybe it’s a Sacramento thing? But I digress. He gave me cup of brew, as well as the sarsaparilla, and a few other flavors to try.

The Body is mild and isn’t overly sweet, yet is very complex with flavors of birch, sassafras, vanilla, sarsaparilla and others mingling together to give a tangy, herbal drink that’s clean and refreshing. It isn’t your typical root beer flavor profile, though. The Bite is rather mild too, though there is some spices in there, they don’t feature prominently. The Head is rather small, which is typical for a soda fountain root beer. The Aftertaste is mild, herbal, sarsaparilla.

This I would classify as one of those carbonated herb tea type root beers. It’s one of the better ones and is a crisp, clean, refreshing drink. I’m sure it gives rosy cheeks even. However, it’s a little too far outside of the standard root beer flavor for me to rate any higher than a 2.5, sadly. The sarsaparilla, on the other hand, which has more molasses, sassafras, and some other spices, nails root beer rather well. It’s got a fuller body and a spicier bite, and tastes more like what you’d expect. If I’d done a blind taste test, I’d probably have said that the sarsaparilla was the root beer and vice versa. I’d probably give the sarsaparilla a 3.5 if it were marketed as a root beer, I still like sweeter brews but that’s me. Maybe Burly should just switch the labeling? Either way, they make some quality products and they’re some cool people. Especially if you like the more herbal, less sweet brews. And if you live in the Sacramento area, dropping by is a must as you need to experience true, raw craft sodas.

2.5/5 Root Beer Kegs

The Burly Beverages Soda Fountain.

Some of the Burly Beverages store. I love the old school apothecary vibe.

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