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Hello and welcome to the oldest, largest and frankly the best root beer reviewing site in the world! over 625 brands reviewed so far! i also throw in birch beer and sarsaparilla reviews occasionally while i am at it since to me, they are the same genre. once in a while i even detour into other branches of the root beer tree, such as spruce beer, dandelion & burdock and the like. a new review publishes every week on Monday with the random post or review of root beer related stuff every once in a while. feel free to submit your own ratings, check out the rankings from me and other visitors, see what sodas are available near you and more. make a float, tap a keg or mix some extract up and enjoy!

anthony (me) started reviewing root beer related drinks in '96 but has always loved the delicious joy of root beer and birch beer and just kept it going ever since. if you have any suggestions of features you'd like to see or sodas you want reviewed, let me know!

Studio Brew Big-e’ze Root Beer

this brew was obtained from the Tony! he is another fellow with an excellent knack for finding new root beers. the label on this is a little hard to figure out, as the "ze" part of the "e'ze" is much smaller, so i thought it was "Big-e Root Beer" for a while there. otherwise it is a fine label, nothing crazy or exciting but you know what is in there. i have been to Virginia a couple times myself so I am little surprised I was unaware of this beverage, but I can't be on top of them all and I suppose i have not done an extensive search for new stuff there in a bit now.
popping the top is satisfying, it is a non-twist off and luckily i have a couple bottle openers, a little surprising as I am moving, or at least trying to move, currently and most everything is packed up. luckily my bicycle multi tool has a bottle opener as well! which seems to be a little bit of a waste of space and weight when both such things are at a premier.
in any case, this soda is super licorice tasting! woo! i am not complaining though. it is rather smooth otherwise with a very good carbonation level and mix. there are some other spices that jump in after the licorice fades out, some nice sassafras and a little birch action i think. although it is not too crazy unusual, it does what it does very well and is distinct enough to set it apart from most of the crowd. i would get this more if i could.
Ingredients:carbonated water, caramel color, pure cane sugar, blue agave nectar, quillaia extract, natural & artificial flavors, citric acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate (to protect freshness), sparkling foam

Anthony's Rating: 93
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Phantom Ales Root Beer

I do not know how some people find so many new root beers. I mean, I think I am pretty dedicated and always on the hunt at least somewhat. but some people out there, such as the root beer tracker himself, Sagi. i had no idea this existed until it showed up on my doorstep direct from the man himself.
i am a fan of this place already, bottling in these smaller size bottles instead of a giant growler or even half growler is the best thing i have seen in years. kudos to you for that Phantom Ale people. in addition to the giant kudos for making a root beer at all.
i am enjoying this soda as well. it is different. and by that i mean it tastes almost like molasses soda. and i like that. yeah, it still has root beer flavors along with the molasses but it is very much dominated by the molasses. the carbonation is reasonably low but there and actually pleasant, adding to the experience, not taking away by being harsh or distracting. they have done a very fine job on this one. it is exactly what i would hope every brewery would so when offering a root beer, make something distinct and not just a root beer extract mixed up and carbonated, offered in a great package.

Anthony's Rating: 91
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Lift Bridge Brewery Root Beer

so this might be the best valentine's day gift ever. it is definitely up there in the rankings, i will tell you that. yes, my awesome girlfriend got me a case of this brew for valentine's day! be jealous, be very jealous! i was super duper excited to find out that they started canning this and even more exciting when i was presented with it in present form. i am curious why they decided to go for cans over bottles, but either way, i do not care too much. the heft and feel of glass is nice, but a can is better than nothing. and a 16 oz can is unusual indeed. i think i have only seen one other root beer in such a package, but for the life of me i cannot recall what it was.
they are very much going for the 50s/60s drive in style feel in the art. i approve, it is different and fun, well done as well. i especially like the areas where the silver of the can shines through. plus you get three different kinds of acid in the ingredients! how exciting is that?!
the real thing that matters though is if the soda is any good. this is. i mean, it really really really tastes just like root beer barrel candies with a sharp carbonation. it is kind of licorice tasting but very much a pretty standard root beer flavor going on here. it is sharp, not really too smooth, so depending on your preference, that may not strike your fancy right.
Ingredients:carbonated water, pure cane sugar, caramel color, natural & artificial flavors, honey, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citric acid, and ascorbic acid

Anthony's Rating: 81
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Hansen’s Natural Creamy Root Beer

hhhmmm, the ingredients are the same as those of their soda of the same name that i reviewed 17 years ago. yet the nutritional info is different so it kind of has to be a different drink. i am thinking they re-formulated but liked the old stuff, just in different proportions. well, i think it is different, hence this new review. in any case, i have not had any of the old one since i initially reviewed it so i am coming at this pretty new anyhow.
huh, this actually isn't terrible. for a natural root beer it is in fact rather tasty. for a soda in general it is even alright. huh indeed. the wintergreen is noticeable as are the birch and sassafras. the vanilla is in the back but you know it is there if you pay attention. the anise though i don't really detect. there is a strong sharp ending / after taste which sort of morphs from a harsh carbonation issue to a lingering tongue tingle. i will admit i like that end result although the initial sharpness is not the best thing. so yeah, if you want a natural soda, this could be the one for you. i wish it did not have caramel color personally but can't win em all i suppose.
Ingredients:pure triple filtered carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, natural spices of wintergreen, birch, anise, sassafras, Tahitian vanilla extract, citric acid

Anthony's Rating: 72
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