i like Thomas Kemper. they were one of the first root beers i ever reviewed which started me on this crazy journey. somehow they snuck this new line of “purely natural” sodas out into the world without notifying me. which is understandable and forgivable i suppose. i do support the effort here, the plan to be natural and all of that. i find it interesting that they did not just modify their regular root beer and instead did a whole new line. i suppose Boylans did the same and their natural line is even better than the regular.
i saw the Thirtsy Dudes reviewed this one and immediately got in touch as i seemed unable to get it here on the East Coast. they very generously agreed to a trade so i was a happy anthony indeed!
the design work is cool. the clear label is a change from the paper of their regular line. it makes it feel more natural and honest i suppose. transparency and all of that. so that aspect is well done and communicates the expected feeling of the soda right off.
the flavor is just ok though, somewhat sadly. the honey is much more of an aftertaste, a lingering thing that develops and hits you as it mellows away. that is a good thing. but the initial flavor is a little too bitter and harsh for me. regular Kemper is much more even and smooth in my mind. not that i have had it too often. perhaps i set my sights too high here, expecting even better but i think i was just let down in general as this does not stack up. sadly that seems to often be the case, the more “natural” version is not quite as yum-tacular as the the chemically version. such is the world these days, humans make stuff better than nature sometimes. although nature doesn’t make any root beer.
so since i originally wrote this, Thomas Kemper has discontinued this whole line. if you want to try it, go find some now while there is still a bit of stock out there. that is a shame, even if it was not super tasty.
Anthony’s Rating: 74
User’s Rating: 93
# of ratings:2
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| Type: | Root Beer | Comes In: | 12oz glass bottle |
| Available: | discontinued | Obtained in: | trade with Thirsty Dudes |
| Head: | Small | Sweetener: | cane sugar, honey, maltodextrin |
| Calories: | 190 | Sodium: | 45mg |
| Carbs: | 46g | Sugar: | 41g |
| Caffeine: | No | ||
| Website: | http://tksoda.com | ||
Ingredients: carbonated water, cane sugar, maltodextrin, honey, caramel color, natural flavor, phosphoric acid, pectin, sodium citrate and salt
Product has long been discontnued. Big Reg bought them out. Only 3 0f 15 sodas remain available. Big Red blows.
I just picked some of this root beer at the store yesterday, so if it was discontinued, then they must have started making it again.