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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Natural Brew Draft Root Beer

January 25, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 7:39 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass 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, everywhere Obtained in: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Head: Medium Sweetener: cane sugar
Caffeine: No

pretty much what Virgil’s wants to be, a root beer with a bunch of different, kind of strange flavours that still tastes like a root beer and tastes GOOD. this taste takes a couple swallows to get used to, but you come to appreciate the subtle cinnamon, licorice, clove and wintergreen along with a high level of vanilla. not my favorite, but nice for a change.
Anthony’s Rating: 68
Your Rating: 66
# of ratings:169

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Smart & Final Iris Root Beer

January 25, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 4:12 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12 oz can
Available: NV Obtained in: Las Vegas, NV
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.smartandfinal.com

another generic root beer, not bad, not good. just average. normal. kinda boring at this point. can’t expect too much more though i suppose. oh well, sometimes i am surprised though. not this time.
Anthony’s Rating: 39
Your Rating: 46
# of ratings:21

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Safeway Select Root Beer

January 25, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 3:29 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12 oz can
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, Canada, everywhere Obtained in: williams, AZ
Head: Small Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.safeway.com

i believe there are many different supermarkets you sell this, just putting their name on it, cuz i could swear i have seen it elsewhere and my girlfriend said i already had it. but in any case… this has this weird cinnimon zing to it that makes it taste pretty good. a little too much carbonation though, you get that whole crazy burping thing happening.
Anthony’s Rating: 65
Your Rating: 48
# of ratings:136

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Naturale 90 Root Beer Soda

January 21, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 7:42 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 28oz glass bottle
Available: NJ, NY Obtained in: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Head: Small Sweetener: corn sweetener
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.naturale90.com/

i am also rather disappointed with this drink. it looks much better than it tastes. there is too little flavor on the whole and what is there usually tastes like it has gone bad or just a bit rancid. i have had some good bottles of this though, so there seems to be some inconsistancy in bottling or whatever.
Anthony’s Rating: 32
Your Rating: 56
# of ratings:27

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Journey Beverage Co Shenandoah Sassfras Root Beer

January 21, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 6:45 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass 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, everywhere Obtained in: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Head: Tiny Sweetener: cane sugar, honey, rice syrup
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.journeyfood.com/

probably the 2nd worst beverage i have ever had. this is a bit better, but just tastes like crud. way too overpowered by the cane sugar used in it and all of the random other things like sassafras and anise thrown in for some odd reason. it bears exceedingly little resemblance to actual root beer in my book and should not be claimed as such.
Anthony’s Rating: 12
Your Rating: 50
# of ratings:69

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Journey Beverage Co Borealis Birch Beer

January 20, 1997
Filed under: birch beers reviews — anthony @ 6:23 pm
Type: Brown Birch Beer Comes In: 12oz glass 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: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Head: Tiny Sweetener: cane sugar, rice syrup, birch syrup
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.journeyfood.com/

this is probably the worst beverage i have ever drank and i have drank some nasty stuff in my time. tastes like a jar of potporri was accidently spilled into an ok birch beer and they decided to leave it there. i can find nothing good to say about this other than that the label is pretty nice looking. do not fall for the deception though! inside lurks something bad.
Anthony’s Rating: 8
Your Rating: 55
# of ratings:89

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Grand Premium Draft Style Root Beer

January 20, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 5:17 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12 oz can, 2L plastic bottle, 3L plastic bottle
Available: CT, MA, NJ, NY, RI Obtained in: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Head: Small Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup
Caffeine: No

quite fizzy but no foam, kinda weird. otherwise this is not a bad root beer. i guess a bit generic in a few ways, but at 5 for a dollar, you can’t go wrong with this. a nice taste, good bite to it and just plain, straight out root beer.
Anthony’s Rating: 58
Your Rating: 48
# of ratings:14

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Western Family Root Beer

January 16, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 6:39 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12 oz can
Available: NV Obtained in: Las Vegas, NV
Head: Small Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.westernfamily.com

overall this is an average root beer. but it has this carmel taste to it that is more overwhelming than normal. although i kind of like that. yet, it still is pretty average.
Anthony’s Rating: 64
Your Rating: 48
# of ratings:77

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Way 2 Cool Natural Root Beer

January 16, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 6:14 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle
Available: AZ, NM Obtained in: Williams, Arizona
Head: Medium Sweetener: fructose
Caffeine: No

no, it is not alcoholic, but it is kind of thicker than a usual root beer. all natural and junk, and one of the better all natural brews i have had i suppose. it has a kind of bitter taste to it that i don’t enjoy too much, but it does not linger too much so the aftertaste is much better and actually kind of good. on the whole though, i would not recommend it. plus it is a non twist off cap.
Anthony’s Rating: 52
Your Rating: 74
# of ratings:20

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Lost Trail Root Beer

January 12, 1997
Filed under: root beer reviews — anthony @ 7:06 pm
Type: Root Beer Comes In: 12oz glass bottle
Available: KS, NV, online Obtained in: Las Vegas, NV
Head: Medium Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup, sugar
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/losttrail.html

this is a darn fine brew. SO creamy and rich you almost feel sick after drinking a bottle. which is wacky, but kind of fun. it is stinky that this beverage is not available anywhere near where i am though, very lame indeed. perhaps i will import it. if you can get it, do and be happy. i will just have to mail order some more i suppose. alas, woe is me.
Anthony’s Rating: 92
Your Rating: 84
# of ratings:110

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