Jones Soda Co. Root Beer

 Bottled Root Beers  No Responses »
Sep 092015
 

Bottle of Jones Soda Co. Root BeerSeal of ApprovalOne of the first 10 root beers that I ever had. I found this at a gas station somewhere in southern Washington State. We were returning from the family trip to California where I found the Mendocino Taubold’s Private Reserve Root Beer. Jones is actually based in Seattle and I’ve walked past their headquarters near Safeco Field many times on the way to Mariners games. Jones is unique in that they always are changing the picture on their label. The pictures that they use are submitted by people and voted on. Sadly, no picture of mine has made it to the label, though they let you order custom labels as a consolation prize.

A sweet, pleasant Body though a little on the light side but not too weak. The flavor is what root beer should taste like. It has a strong carbonation Bite leaning a little on the harsh side but not too harsh. The Head is tall though a it dissipates faster than I would like but the liquid stays fizzy and therefore still desirable. The Aftertaste is good and of the original flavor and fades away gradually.

All in all, there is nothing really wrong with this and a lot right. I really enjoy it. At one point in 2005 or so, I reviewed it again to see if I really liked it as much as I had when I found it in the 1998. I did. I like it. It’s good. I’ll “Run with the little guy”. See how it rates against other root beers.

4 kegs




Root Beer Bowl 2015 – Eric’s Gourmet Root Beer Super Bowl XLIX Prediction

 Random Root Beer-ness  No Responses »
Jan 302015
 

Root Beer Bowl XLIX
It’s that time of year when the Super Bowl comes upon us. The biggest TV event in the US and massive celebrations shall ensue. Being from the Seattle area, this is especially exciting to see the Seahawks return as defending champions. There are many wacky ways that have been used to predict the winner, from rabbits, puppys, porcupines, search engines, and video game simulations. These are of course all rubbish. The most accurate predictor is one that I’ve known for years but only now make public. It is the Root Beer Bowl Predictor. Look at the three best bottled root beers from the respective teams’ larger home zone, Seattle area for the Seahawks, all of Massachusetts for the Patriots, and see the combined ratings. The keg difference in the rating multiplied by touchdowns gives the spread. The best root beer will win. Every time. Without question. Seriously.

So let’s get on to the teams. The team “captain” in this case is the highest rated brew from the city proper. For Seattle this is the Seal of Approval rated Jones Root Beer coming in at the lowest 4 kegs. The rest of the Seahawks’ root beer team comes from a 20 minute drive to the north in Mukilteo, WA, where Orca beverages makes the near peerless Bulldog Root Beer and the solid Brownie Caramel Cream Root Beer. This gives a team rating of 12.5 with nothing but Seal of Approval brews.

For the Patriots the captain is Emack & Bolio’s Rock It Root Beer. Very delicious but a poor Head relegates it to a mere 3.5. The rest Patriots’ Root Beer team line up comes from from Worcester, MA. The first is Polar Classics Root Beer with a respectable 3.5. Their final member is a sleeper, Ginseng UP, but not the Ginseng UP name brand root beer (which I haven’t reviewed yet), but their default private label recipe that they supply to the world’s private labelers. A Seal of Approval brew at 4 kegs. Then the Patriots’ final lineup gives them 11.

Prediction: Though the Patriots have a strong root beer lineup, it isn’t enough to overcome Seattle’s all-star lineup. I see the Seahawks winning this by 10 points. GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Root Beer Bowl Team Lineups:
Seattle: Jones – 4; Bulldog – 4.5; Brownie Caramel Cream – 4 = 12.5
Boston: Rockit – 3.5; Ginseng UP – 4, Polar – 3.5 = 11