This past weekend was my Birthday! To celebrate I wanted to go get root beer and since it was my Birthday, I could pick that for my party. So I piled the family in the car and we drove up to Taylor Falls to visit The Drive-In. It’s an old root beer stand that got its humble beginnings as a Frostop stand. While no longer affiliated with Frostop and with their own house recipe, they didn’t repaint the big Frostop mug eternally spinning in their sign. I think it’s kind of funny. But anyhow, they got car service and carhops in poodle skirts and serve that classic root beer drive-in fare with their brew served in nice frosty mugs. They also have a mini-golf course and they are a short walk from a beautiful state park with glacial potholes. But I was there first and foremost for root beer.
The Body is very sweet, and rich and creamy with some nice vanilla. It’s got that classic drive-in flavor which I love. The Bite has good spice and carbonation. The Head is very short and doesn’t last very long, sadly, which is its biggest flaw. The Aftertaste is a strong vanilla with a little sassafras.
Yum, yum. The classic creamy root beer stand brew. I love it. Though this doesn’t really stray from that classic formula in any way, the execution is near flawless so it’s a real treat. The biggest flaw is that tiny Head, which almost kept it from a Seal until I asked them to specifically make it foamy on my second mug, which they were able to. The food is great too. Locally sourced and fresh made. Their signature Drive-In Burger is much like their root beer. Classic, traditional, and very delicious. This place is well worth the visit and was a great birthday present.
The Drive-In. A wonderful 1960’s style root beer stand.
The Drive-In Burger. Two 1/3 lb patties with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. Best crinkle cut fries I can remember.
After my trip to the flow stone filled Mystery Cave, we had to drive back through Rochester, so I figured we should get another root beer. I wasn’t actually looking for two root beers but when I was searching for the name LTS Brewing Company before we left, Kinney Creek Brewery showed up in the top hits and then I knew there were two (at least) breweries in Rochester with their own root beer so I couldn’t resist trying both. Kinney Creek was started in 2012 and was the first brewery in Rochester since prohibition. Evidently the city still clung to very restrictive alcohol laws which kept breweries out. But the owners wanted to make beer, and they also acknowledged that not everyone wants beer so they made a root beer. And then the brewer visited Hawaii and found that breweries there don’t make root beer for the most part, but do kombucha, so he added that too. Their taproom is full of games and rustic wooden furniture and is quite the fun spot to hang out while you sip your brew. I don’t know why it’s called Rah Rah Root Beer. I didn’t ask. I should have asked.
