Iron Horse Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  No Responses »
Jun 082016
 

Bottle of Iron Horse Root BeerSeal of Approval I got this in late 1999 or early 2000. It was one of my first mail orders, and I had to order 12 of them since variety packs were not an option in those days. I picked it because it looks awesome with that train and metallic shine (which is really hard to capture in a picture with the flash on a white background). When I first tried it I was blown away like never before, I was standing when I took my first drink and I had to sit down. It was that good. I got on the phone and called a friend and told him I’d found the best root beer EVER, and I awarded my first 5 kegs. In the next year or so I had multiple cases and then I went on my mission to Madagascar, a great dry spell for me as it were. When I got back my parents had a case waiting, but as I drank it against Hank’s and Henry’s, it didn’t seem to taste as good as it once did. I figured I’d had a bad batch and over the years had it again and again, each time disappointed (and by that I mean not the greatest thing ever made). Finally I had the The Ultimate Root Beer Showdown and realized I needed to re-rate this.

This has a very sweet medium Body and a very nice Bite. There’s some cinnamon and other spices that really grab the tongue. There is also a lovely caramelized corn syrup flavor that is very unique. The Head is ok and medium frothy. The Aftertaste is of vanilla and spices.

It is still a really good root beer, but doesn’t hold up against the others like it used to. Maybe they changed the recipe, the ingredients and nutritional info are the same but who knows what could be different with the whole “natural and artificial flavor”. Maybe it’s me. Maybe all the cholera I had in Madagascar changed my tastes such that what had made this and only this amazing no longer does. I don’t know. What I do know is that it is still a fine brew to be had whenever possible, but not the greatest root beer in the world. Sorry and congrats at the same time I guess? See how it rates against other root beers.

4 kegs




Jumpin Johnny’s Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  No Responses »
Apr 272016
 

Jumpin Johnny's Root Beer Bottle This was the first root beer I reviewed after returning from my mission in Madagascar and South Africa. I was gone for two years and the only root beer I had was my mission recipe from some extract my parents sent me. When I returned home there was a case of this, a case of Henry’s, a case of Hank’s, and a case of Iron Horse waiting for me. I waited about two weeks before trying this, drinking the others to make sure I fully remembered what good root beer tasted like. The name of this annoys me. It should be Jumpin’ or Jumping. I don’t know who Johnny is, but he clearly has some mad skills. He’s jumping over a root beer keg on speed skates while holding a foamy mug of root beer. I know I couldn’t even jump over the barrel with a mug of brew if it were on grass, let alone speed skates. The reward for this feat was of course getting his own root beer named after him.

This root beer has an exceptionally sweet and delicious Body but although it is delicious at first, it proves rather hollow. There is not much Bite and it has very little Head on it. The Aftertaste is nothing special and even turns slightly fruity after awhile which counters the sweet flavor at the beginning.

They put real sugar and clover honey making this one of the sweetest brews I’ve ever encountered. Because of the sweet delicious flavor, it does go very well with food and therefore is drinkable and actually very desirable in that a food like pizza is greatly complimented by the sweet flavor, and the pizza flavor will fill the hollowness and mask the unpleasantness of the Aftertaste. See how it rates against other root beers.

Three kegs




Reading Draft Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  No Responses »
Jun 202012
 

A picture of a train … could it be, the Reading Railroad? That’s right, this is the root beer sports the railroad of Monopoly fame, and therefore, I dub it the Official Unofficial Monopoly Root Beer! Though, this root beer predates Monopoly by about 14 years. Either way, the title stands. The label itself is pretty cool and classy, and reminds me of another root beer favorite of mine, Iron Horse. Maybe I should start categorization of root beers by their label graphic. I mean, who wouldn’t want to know what the best tasting railway themed root beer is, right? Perhaps another day. Anyhow, on to the Monopoly Root Beer!

The Body is crisp and full with the standard root beer flavors plus a little vanilla. Then there’s an out of place fruity type flavor that really detracts from it. The Bite is sharp and sour. The Head is medium to high height with medium froth. It’s good no doubt, but not exceptional. The Aftertaste is vanilla with that out of place fruity flavor again.

So, kind of disappointing. Of the two bottles I tried, the first was definitely better with the out of place flavor less noticeable, but still there. With the second bottle that fruity type flavor was pretty strong. I’m going to give these guys the benefit of the doubt and assume that the majority of their bottles of root beer are not like the bad one I got, but more like the first one. So this will go good with the snacks you’ll inevitably eat while you play Monopoly but I wouldn’t sit down to a game with only this to tide me over. See how it rates against other root beers.




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