welcome to anthony's root beer barrel! here anthony reviews root beers, birch beers & sarsaparillas, randomly rambles about the topic and probably some more stuff. so check it all out, feel free to comment on reviews or rate brews yourself.

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Thorpe’s Root Beer

August 20, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 4:32 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle
Available: WA Obtained in: Vancouver, Canada
Head: Sweetener: sugar, fructose, other
Caffeine: No

a taste that is not so much off the root beer path, but definitely different and definitely good. quite sweet though, but i like that myself. and a kinda strange tangy thing happening in there. i’d like to try this again sometime definitely. a fine brew.
Anthony’s Rating: 86
Your Rating: 62
# of ratings:17

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Thomas Kemper Pure Draft Root Beer

August 20, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 4:30 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: On Tap
Available: AK, AZ, CA, ID, IL, MT, NE, NV, NC, OH, OK, OR, TX, WA, online Obtained in: Seattle, WA
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, honey, maltodextrin
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.tksoda.com/

the honey sweetening gives this a different flavor than the rest. whether that is bad or good is up to the drinker i suppose, the first time i had it, i didn’t like it mch, but on the second try i grew to think it pretty yummy in a weird way. if they put a bit less honey i may like it even more i think. no real bite at all, it goes down smooth.
Anthony’s Rating: 77
Your Rating: 77
# of ratings:360

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Pirate’s Keg Root Beer

August 15, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 2:33 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle, 20 oz plastic bottle
Available: discontinued Obtained in: Seattle, WA
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, fructose
Caffeine: No

a bit too generic with no real special kick of its own. made by the people who make Jolt, so of course it has caffeine, which is kinda weird. anyhow, i just can’t find anything too distinguishing about this. i think it’s be better with real sugar instead of corn syrup since it is a bit too syrupy, but not insanely. not a bad drink at all, it almost defines what people imagine root beer to be like.
Anthony’s Rating: 70
Your Rating: 63
# of ratings:211

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Dad’s Root Beer

August 11, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 3:03 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle, 12 oz can, 2L plastic bottle
Available: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, online, Canada, everywhere Obtained in: Montreal, Canada
Head: Medium Sweetener: sugar, fructose
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.dadsrootbeer.com/

quite a tasty blend. a bit weak but it has a hint of licorice and perhaps cinnamon that keeps it distinct if you pay enough attention. not exactly my first choice, but definitely a solid contender among the big brands. many claim it is too medicine-like but i’d have to dis-agree on that one. i have been having a harder and harder time finding this stuff though. it was semi-plentiful in cans at Costco and a couple other big box stores but it has slowly gone away. and in bottles? very little chance of that, much like most brands i suppose.
Anthony’s Rating: 67
Your Rating: 70
# of ratings:843

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Chug’s Choice Gourmet Root Beer

August 10, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 9:41 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle
Available: discontinued Obtained in: Seattle, WA
Head: Sweetener: brown sugar
Caffeine: No

the molasses in this really gives it a different flavor. i am not sure how i feel about it though. it doesn’t make it taste like virgil’s or something but it is not a huge improvement. maybe i’d love it in time. perhaps i will find out some day. yeh. this is the only root beer i’ve ever had that didn’t have a twist-off top, but needed a bottle opener instead. rather annoying i think, not very nice.
Anthony’s Rating: 66
Your Rating: 62
# of ratings:32

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Boylan’s Creamy Red Birch Beer

August 10, 1996
Filed under: birch beers reviews — anthony @ 8:59 pm
Type: Red Birch Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle, fountain
Available: AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, VA, WA, WI, online Obtained in: Pathmark, Stirling, NJ
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, sugar
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.boylanbottling.com/

probably my favorite bottled birch beer. creamier than half and half, smoother than a baby’s tummy and tasty as anything you’ve ever had. the vanilla makes it just go down SO easy. incredible to make floats with as you may have guessed. and it is from the finest state in the US of A, New Jersey! aw yeh, what more could you ask? ok, fine it is RED! how rad is that?! answer me! plus it is on fountain at the 7-11 right by my house, aw yeh! 64 oz for $1.34, gotta love that!
Anthony’s Rating: 96
Your Rating: 81
# of ratings:304

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Boylan’s Original Birch Beer

August 10, 1996
Filed under: birch beers reviews — anthony @ 7:47 pm
Type: Brown Birch Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle, fountain
Available: AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, IL, IN, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, VA, WA, WI, online Obtained in: Foodtown, Warren, NJ
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, sugar
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.boylanbottling.com/

i love this stuff too. it has a flavor that is very similiar to their Creamy Red variety, but this one has a little mint tinge to it, making it more of an authetic birch beer. still pretty creamy and great for making a float. this may be the finest birch beer ever made. from the big NJ of course.
Anthony’s Rating: 95
Your Rating: 76
# of ratings:181

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Henry Weinhard Premium Draught Style Head Root Beer

August 9, 1996
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 5:41 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle
Available: AZ, CA, MT, OK, OR, WA, online Obtained in: Butte, MT
Head: Large Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, honey
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.henryweinhards.com/

I dunno what the heck “draught style head” really means, but it did has a good amount of head on it. if that is draught style, i am not sure. this to me is what thomas kemper should be more like, a honey taste, but not overwhelmingly so, just a hint. i think it is also the vanilla in here that makes it quite a fine drink. definitely get it if you can.
Anthony’s Rating: 88
Your Rating: 88
# of ratings:1027

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