This one comes from Strongsville, Ohio, from a place called The Brew Kettle. They got their start in 1995 as Ringneck Brewing Co and somewhere in their expansion from a three barrel brewery to the “massive” 20 odd barrel brewery they are today they decided to change their name. They have a taproom and smokehouse and the option to brew your own custom beers, like Vinepark or Brew Bakers. But all of that is secondary to me, as I care only about the root beer, which sadly, isn’t even mentioned on their website. I had to send them an inquiry to see if they actually made a root beer and they were kind enough to send me some to try. The label is very simple and doesn’t really give me a whole lot to write about, other than mentioning that this was the straightest label of the three bottles I got. They are all sort of crooked and cockeyed … which adds character? If you’ve got OCD about everything being straight and lined up like Poirot, you may not be able to handle it. But I care more about what’s inside.
The Body is full with a hint of fruit that detracts from an otherwise pleasing, yet standard, creamy root beer flavor. The Bite is present, both in carbonation and in spice, though there is nothing remarkable about it. The Head is nice and tall and starts very frothy then forms large bubbles as it fizzes down. The Aftertaste is some fruity vanilla.
This is pretty good, but I don’t like the fruity. I never like the fruity. If you like a slightly fruity creamy root beer, you’ll probably love this. See how it rates against other root beers.
I’m generally a person who spurns vulgarity in all forms and wish the rest of the world would follow suit. I have no misconceptions however that I am, in fact, in the minority in this respect. However, I do feel that there are some, extenuating circumstances when such words may be acceptable. This is one of those times. However, to avoid being too crass, I’ll stick with the expletives printed on the bottle. Oh Rat Bastard, who conceived of you and why? Was it to make sure that one root beer could fail my easiest of metrics, coming in a pretty bottle? Perhaps. And honestly, that is the reason I sought it out. I had reviewed many root beers by that time, the summer after my mission, but I’d never given a zero. Even the 
Finally I have a root beer from Alaska. I’d often wondered if I’d had one from all 50 states but always knew without even checking that I’d never had one from Alaska. But now I have. This brew comes from Sitka on Baranof Island. There’s only one retail location in the lower 48 states that sells it and thankfully they happen to be in Seattle. The ingredients have to be ferried on to the island and the root beer than takes another ferry off. Needless to say that it was pretty expensive. Interestingly, there are no ingredients listed on the bottle, so I haven’t a clue what’s in it. The only thing it does say is that it’s “Great for kids, teetotalers, and those on antibiotics” … I had never heard of a teetotaler before but it’s someone who completely abstains from alcohol, so yeah, this would be good for them. People on antibiotics? Yes, absolutely. The essences in root beer double the power of your prescription without any ill side effects. So drink up all you with staph, you can trust me, I am a doctor after all. This is the third root beer that I’ve had with Ben in the name. I wonder what it is with guys named Ben and the desire to put their name on a root beer bottle. 
