This stuff comes from the Stone Cellar Brewpub in Appleton, Wisconsin. Stone Cellar is the state’s oldest brewpub and is housed in a building built over 150 years ago as a brewery. There’s been some change in names over the years and fires and closures, but they are currently stronger than ever before and expanding as well. Their philosophy is on local sustainable and organic offerings to improve the community and the world or something like that. Their root beer bottle is pretty sweet, what with the stone arch and painted letters and whatnot. I always prefer a painted bottle over a label since the former will last longer in my root beer bottle collection.
The Body is extremely light. The only flavors other than sugar are the subtlest hints of ginger and maybe some sarsaparilla. There is also the faintest trace of fruity in the nearly flavorless drink. The Bite has some sharp carbonation burn but nothing else. The Head is tall and frothy and is most excellent. It’s a shining beacon in the otherwise dismal brew. The Aftertaste is merely a shadow of sugar and fruity that’s gone before you even realize it was there.
Huh. It’s not even like those herb tea root beers that are good but not root beer. This stuff is the color of sparkling apple cider and not only does it not taste like root beer; it doesn’t really taste like anything. I wonder who, as a child, grew up drinking something like this and thinking it was root beer. They say on the back of the bottle “Lighter Than The Rest But Still The Best!” They got the first part right for sure. See how it rates against other root beers.
Another brew that I found in Sacramento on the trip there after my mission. My grandmother mentioned that there was a really nice root beer at a cafe down a few blocks away from her house which prompted me to drop everything and take off to see if there was any truth to the rumor. I found that the stories were true and I bought three bottles. Since it was already cold, I was able to start reviewing it as soon as I got back to the house. I for many years mispronounced the name of this. I always though it was a ‘ch’ sound and not a ‘k’ sound so it’s like the German word to talk. Also, I’m not sure what the crow daemon thing is supposed to be but at least it’s not a dog…
I have been trying to get this one for a long time. I’d known of its existence on the opposite side of the country but couldn’t find it sold anywhere that would do online sales. Repeated attempts to contact the company were in vain. I even have a cousin who lives in North Carolina and she never found it on any of her travelings. Finally the great Jon came through on trade. The label, in addition to the name, says “Radzie Wurzelbier” which I think means Radish Root Beer in German, though the online translator programs didn’t translate Radzie. If it really is a radish root beer I can’t imagine that would be good. There is a radish person on the label and he’s weeping, which is what I’d probably do if I drank a radish root beer, but I think that’s more just the whole mascot thing. Maybe, hopefully.