root beers

Black Bear Root Beer

i want to like this. the brewery seems so awesome and such a throw back and just generally the kind of place i feel there should be more of. i was very happy to finally get my hands on some. the graphic design leaves something to be desired of course, a very crude black bear drawing with “Gotta love the bear!” in a weird font above it in a swirly brown background. one pet peeve of mine, or perhaps it is a rule i am testing, is calling something “root beer soda.” now, it is very possible they are going for the reading as “Black Bear Soda Root Beer” since the “Black Bear” and “Soda” fonts are the same color and “Root Beer” is another but the arrangement from top to bottom is “Black Bear Root Beer Soda.” if you have to clarify that the liquid product in the soda sized bottle (i mean, have you seen anything but drinks in a bottle of this shape and size?) is anything but a soda then you may have to rethink your business. ok, in this day and age, it could be root beer iced tea or root beer thirst quencher or root beer energy water or something. nonetheless the default assumption should be that it is soda, those others are the weird things that should be qualified on the label as to their contents. it makes me think that the product is made for markets where root beer is not something normal and it needs explaining. “OH! root beer is a SODA!” it feels like something huge faceless multinational corporations do to enable their product to be sold across the glove in identical packaging. i don’t think this company is that.
sadly though this is merely ok. which adds to my feeling about “root beer soda:” it is never that great. it tastes a little worse than a generic mass produced root beer. carbonation level is too low, flavor is bland and indistinct. it is more watery than smooth and creamy. alas. perhaps their premium brand is better, if i ever get my hands on that. stay tuned…

Anthony’s Rating: 62
User’s Rating: 54
# of ratings:3

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Type: Root Beer Comes In: 20 oz plastic bottle, 1L plastic bottle, 2L plastic bottle
Available: IL, IA, ND, SD, WI

Obtained in: sent in mail
Head: Small Sweetener: high fructose corn syrup
Calories: 180 Sodium: 90mg
Carbs: 45g Sugar: 45g
Caffeine: No
Website: http://www.blackbearbottling.com/assets/blackbearsoda.html

Ingredients: filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, sodium benzoate as a preservative

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2 Comments

  1. Byron says:

    Aldi Grocery Stores in the Charlotte, NC area had their premium brand for sale in Mid-October. It came in long neck brown glass 12oz bottles. They sold out in two days. Have not seen it since. Delicious!!! Full of flavor and strong. Best root beer I have ever tasted. Hope they carry it again! Pure cane sugar sweetened, no high fructose sugar.

    Name: Caruso’s Legacy Robusto Root Beer Gourmet Soda

    Ingredients: Filtered carbonated water, pure cane sugar, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, maltodextrin, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative),

    carbs (sugar) 30mg
    sodium 25mg

  2. […] am not sure if this is the same as the other Black Bear Root Beer, which may or may not still exist, I will go with “no” as the ingredients are […]

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