Seal of Approval – Eric's Gourmet Root Beer Blog

Bull & Bush Brewery Root Beer

Sep 022026

Last weekend I was in Denver for decidedly not DERMS. I took a weekend getaway with the wife to just relax and have fun. I can travel not for work afterall, it’s just a lot rarer. So anyways, since it’d been awhile since I’ve been there went a searching and found the Bull & Bush Brewery. The Bull & Bush Brewery was started in 1971 by two identical twin brothers in Glendale, a suburb of Denver. It’s modeled after an old English Pub, also called the Bull & Bush, which was started in the 1600s. They even went to the English country side to get artifacts and design ideas. And truly, as one who’s traveled through a bit of Europe, I definitely felt those old pub vibes. They still have some items that have been on their menu for 55 years. I don’t think the root beer has been there since the beginning but it is now so that’s all that matters.

The Body is rich and creamy with a robust classic sassafras flavor mixed with a lot of sweet vanilla and spices. There’s a solid Bite that’s prickly and spicy but silky smooth on the finish. The Head is short, but frothy. The Aftertaste is that smooth, sweet, spiced vanilla that lasts the perfect amount of time.

Now this is my type of root beer. I really loved it. They give you one free refill per order and my wife felt one pint was enough for her, and it was too good to let a 3 glass just not be drunk by me. I just wish it could build a bigger Head. The waiter even tried with my 2nd refill, I told him just half a glass and the rest foam, but a centimeter was about all it could manage. I would have given it an extra half a keg could it have given me at least an inch. That food was amazing too, and the portion size was vast, so bring a hearty appetite and thirst, because this place has it all.

***Bull & Bush Brewery looking right out of 17th Century Europe***

**The Colorado Style – Mashed Potatoes. Has a green chili and pork gravy. So delicious and also huge.**

***I got their Legendary Fish & Chips and my wife got their Creekside Salad. Both were amazing!***

Mug-n-Bun Root Beer

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Mar 042026

My crazy fall travel continued and I found myself back in Indianapolis. Less than a week after returning from the Netherlands. This was only the second week of November and I’d been there on my birthday late September. My searching this time led me to Mug-n-Bun, the oldest drive-in in Indy, supposedly. I really can’t say, honestly, so I believe them. They have 3 different ways to eat there, in the car, a picnic area, and even an indoor seating area across the parking lot. I love that they’re accommodating. Despite it being November, it was in the 50s so I opted for picnic area and ordered some mugs and way too much food (my sense of self restraint is greatly lacking when I can expense the meal).

The Body is sweet and rich and smooth and creamy. It’s got that classic root beer stand flavor with lots of vanilla and caramely sassafras. The Bite is quite prickly from the carbonation with a fair amount of spice. There’s a smoothness to its finish but the prickly texture endures in a good way. The Head is medium short with an okay staying power. You have to ask for it but they’ll bring out the heady root beer if you want. The Aftertaste is sweet, smooth vanilla with a bit of spice and caramel notes.

Oh yum! This is a delicious, fine brew. Just what you’d expect from a drive-in like this. The vibe of the place is great and so is the food, they had a special on hot dogs so I got 2, and a “small” order of onion rings, and a pork tenderloin sandwich … yeah, I really overdid it. But it was so good. I do hope to return there. This place is definitely a must visit if you can.

***My dinner. Yes, I ate it all, also yes, I probably shouldn’t have.***

Gene’s Root Beer

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Dec 032025

Back in September, on my birthday, I was in Indianapolis DERMSing again. I was largely on my own with my own rental car so I knew exactly where I was going to properly celebrate: Gene’s Root Beer and Hot Dogs. A classic drive-in a little to the North East of Indianapolis. I’d known about this place for awhile but every time I was in Indy, I was always there for only a day and had a bunch of coworkers so an evening root beer run was never in the cards. But this time I finally could. They are home to the “Spanish Hot Dog” which is kind of like a chilidog. They call it Spanish seasonings, but it’s more Mexican. Their mascot picture is even wearing a sombrero. They only offer carhop service, though there are picnic tables if the weather is nice. There are many types of hot dogs and some burgers and stuff. I ordered a frosty mug of brew and a Spanish Dog with cheese and a breaded cheese burger and got to work on the important stuff, reviewing!

The Body is sweet and creamy with a classic, well balanced flavor profile. There’s a spiced Bite which is just about right. The carbonation is also good. The Head is short, by design on how they pour it, but it is frothy so they can build it if you ask and get the right server. The Aftertaste is rich vanilla goodness.

This is just what I’d expect from a place like this. Delicious, classic, creamy root beer that washes down those burgers and dogs like nothing else. I’ve had plenty that are better, but this is stuff I’d come back for again and again. I’m proud to give them my Seal of Approval. Their Spanish Hot Dog was really good too, and the breaded cheese burger? Mind blown! They bread and deepfry the patty and then put it on the bun with the rest of the fixin’s. Why have I never seen that before and why didn’t I ever think of such a thing? It’s amazing and I’m inspired. I must try that at home sometimes. All in all, this is the type of classic root beer stand that you need to try if you’re in the area.

*A Spanish Hot Dog, a breaded cheese burger, and onion rings. Super delicious. All of it.*

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