Sep 072022
 
Seal of Approval

This is the second Oktoberfest root beer to come out of the collaboration of Roc City (Fiz) and The Soda Pop Bros, that is a limited addition root beer with chocolate as one of the ingredients. The base formula for both is the same, but mixed in different ratios with different levels of carbonation, which makes two similar yet distinct brews. As I mentioned before, the Fiz has more carbonation and about 20% more of the flavoring and sugar, making stronger, stickier, foamier brew as opposed to the Soda Pop Bros more light and refreshing root beer. Whichever one prefers is up to personal preference but I lean more to enjoy the stronger flavors so I was excited to try this. I also really like the label on this bottle, the yellow and the coat of arms makes it feel very Bavarian.

The Body is rich and sweet with an aged sarsaparilla core wrapped in a chocolately flavor that adds darkness and depth. There’s also a little vanilla to round it out. I like it a lot. The Bite is not strong but there is a bit of spice. I like the feel of it too. The Head is very tall and foamy as it should be. The Aftertaste is a nice chocolaty sarsaparilla.

This is good. This is what I like. A nice and sweet and full of yummy flavored brew. This only the second time I’ve chocolate in a root beer and I’m pleased that it worked so well. I hope they bring this back every October because I’d love to celebrate Okoberfest with a tall mug of this. See how it rates against other root beers.

4 kegs
Jul 202022
 
Seal of Approval

I’m in Denver this week for the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting . Last time I was here it was for EV things, but now I’m doing DERMS things but EVs will be controlled by DERMS so they’re kind of the same. Either way, you probably don’t care why I’m here, you want to know about the root beer. You’ve heard this story before, I go to a place for work, find a brewery and try their root beer. Well this time the brewery in question makes not one, not two, not even three, but four, yes four draft root beers. It’s a good thing I’m here for five days, because you know I gotta catch ’em all. Also I’m not going to tell you the full story of this place today, because I need to fill four posts worth. This first brew is their classic flavor, named after some Canadian favorites. The brew master actually lived in Duluth for awhile and if you remember some of my reviews from Duluth and read the name of their root beer like a Canadian, you’ll notice it’s quite the clever and familiar name.

The Body has a nice and creamy classic flavor with vanilla and a hint of aged sarsaparilla that come together nicely to give the delicious nostalgic flavor I love. The Bite is mild, but present, and it finishes nice and smooth. I’d like a little more spice but this has enough. The Head is medium and foams down medium quick, but once again, is good enough. The Aftertaste is slightly minty with vanilla and last just as long as it should.

Yum! It also has a very familiar flavor to some of its namesakes, but not exactly the same. I also think it’s better (at least than the Duluth stand) and really has nothing bad with it at all. It could use a little more Bite and Head, but still a solid brew I’m pleased to award my Seal of Approval. I can’t wait to try the rest of his brews, but you’ll have to wait some weeks to read about them all.

4 kegs

The Reverence Brewering Company root beer taps (and some others)

Jun 082022
 
Seal of Approval

Last fortnight I was in Dallas for DistruTECH and DERMS in a little trip I like to call, DERMS Does Dallas… anyways, I was there and therefore I was searching for brews. I found several, but sadly, most were closed on the Sunday when I arrived, yet I wouldn’t be stopped since I had other days. So on Wednesday, after the show was over, I took off with a coworker and a customer (see me being a good employee) to Dairy-Ette Drive-In, Root Beer, Hamburgers. This is a third generation family owned drive-in, that originally opened in 1956. You know it’s got to be good if it’s still around. They make their own root beer which they serve from a red root beer keg, that says “Coca-Cola” on it. I don’t know why. I don’t know why it’s called Dairy-Ette either. But it’s a beautiful little place hiding on a corner in North Dallas.

The Body is smooth, amazingly smooth, so smooth I can’t even properly describe the liquid silk that is the Body of this root beer. There’s a classic flavor with lots of vanilla. It’s a simple, yet elegant taste. The Bite is small, a little spice but so so smooth. The Head is beautiful. So frothy and crazy tall if they let it. It lasts nearly forever, and you know how that foam feels in your mouth? Smooooth. The Aftertaste is sweet, smooth vanilla that lasts the perfect amount of time.

Okay, remember how last month I raved about some cream soda being smooth. Well that might as well be sandpaper compared to this. Seriously. I can’t remember a brew so silky smooth. With a wonderful classic flavor too, this is top notch. It could be a little spicier with a little more depth, but this is still one of the best root beers I’ve reviewed in quite awhile. The food there is just as amazing as their root beer. This place is worth its own pilgrimage.

4.5 Kegs

A bacon burger with onion rings and root beer. Truly divine.
The “Red Root Beer Keg” according to them. But the brew comes out of there so I guess.
Dairy-Ette. Basically unchanged since 1956.