Sep 132017
 

Pint of Rockets Root BeerDay 2 (er 3 kind of) of my road trip saw us leaving Butte with a need for lunch in the future. Billings was the next logical stop and was a necessary one. As you may recall, back in May I was in Billings, and though I got one root beer, my dinner plans that day fell short, and I missed another draft brew by an hour. Rockets Gourmet Wraps and Sodas, on the same block as Montana Brewing Company, closes at 4 everyday. I’d sworn then that if I ever returned to Billings, I’d not miss it. And there I was, driving straight into Billings. The place is really classy with large selection of gourmet wraps. They also make six flavors of soda including their root beer and a huckleberry cream. They kept trying to give me a small sample but I demanded they wait until I was good and ready to review, and get mine and my families food ordered.

The Body has a strong wintergreen and vanilla flavor which completely dominates the drinking experience. It’s not a bad flavor though. The Bite is strong as well from all of that wintergreen, kind of sharp on the tongue. The Head is short, but present, though it doesn’t last long. The Aftertaste is bitter from all of the wintergreen.

So, lots of wintergreen and vanilla. Kind of like that Wooley Bugger Root Beer which is brewed also in the same town. Not really my thing but not bad. It goes with those tasty wraps they have. I got a Bayou wrap which was delicious and spicy. I also had to try their huckleberry cream soda and that was great too. So this place is worth a visit if you’re in town, or driving through it.

Three kegs




My Cajun wrap. Basically red beans and rice in a wrap. Spicy and yummy!

My Bayou wrap. Basically red beans and rice in a wrap. Spicy and yummy!

Sep 062017
 

Tamarack Brewing Company Training Wheels Root Beer PintLast week all of my preparations were complete for the big move, so my family and I hit the road on our epic road trip to Minnesota. In addition to the many road side attractions like Little Bighorn Battlefield and Mount Rushmore, I was determined to find some new brews. The first stop was Radio Brewing Company in Idaho, who, according to their online menu, had a house root beer and huckleberry soda. But it was all lies when we showed up. They stopped making their own root beer awhile ago. That’s what I get for not calling. So I determined to find another root beer, knowing that I’d passed at least one in Spokane. I found the Tamarack Brewing Company in Missoula which was just about when we’d need to eat dinner. They call their root beer Training Wheels because I assume they think it’s working up to something harder, rather than the best reason to visit the place. Across the street from the brewery is the carousel, which my children demanded to go on. I managed to get the brass ring and get a free ride! Then it was off to dinner and my work, root beer!

The Body is rich and creamy with standard flavor and some nice vanilla. There’s a slight fruity tinge that detracts but not much. The Bite is very mild and smooth, I wish it had more spice. The Head is very short but it is there and it doesn’t fizz away instantly. The Aftertaste is a creamy vanilla.

This stuff is pretty good, but just not quite there in several categories. It’s fine enough with their delicious food, and with outdoor seating, a fun place to kick back for a cold one after the carousel on a summer’s evening. The first day of my trip turned out well.

Three and a half kegs




My dinner of some delicious barbecue pulled pork and brisket sandwich with  coleslaw on it. Yum!

My dinner of some delicious barbecue pulled pork and brisket sandwich with coleslaw on it. Yum!

A look back to the kegs they tap into for the bar.

A look back to the kegs they tap into for the bar.


Aug 302017
 

Glacier Brewing Company Root Beer Bottle I know nothing about this brewery. Their website is completely devoid of any information about their history, philosophy, or anything other than what they make and where they are and merch and stuff. The one thing that I do know is that the brewery is in Polson, Montana. Polson is on the Flathead Lake, which is also the origin (the bottom anyways) of the only other root beer I’ve had from Montana. I wonder if there’s some connection between them, other than the lake. I also wonder what the background design on the label is supposed to be. Is that a glacier, the lake, the shape of the city limits? I’ve no clue at all. Perhaps it’s nothing and I’m looking for meaning where there is none, like that Ithaca label. I had to mail order this one by calling the brewery direct. Thankfully they actually shipped it with no delays.

The Body is sour with a light sarsaparilla and vanilla flavor. It’s also soapy with bitter notes. The Bite is sharp and sour, almost a fermented sour. The Head is too much, I never thought I’d say it, but it is. Pouring in 10% of the bottle fills my 20 ounce mug with foam. It also never seems to go away. And it tastes nasty. The Aftertaste is sour and bitter without much flavor.

I can’t believe that I am actually saying there’s too much Head, I usually give more points the taller and longer lasting it is, but there was always some hypothetical limit before, and now I know what it’s like when that limit is crossed. The bottle is kind of pretty though, but not really. What is it with the Flathead Lake and bad root beer? See how it rates against other root beers.

Half a root beer keg.