this is not to be confused with the Vine Park River City Root Beer i reviewed some time back. this one is made by Blue Dog Beverages and is totally different. i actually thought they were the same for a bit and always skipped over it when i would do mail order. but then i checked it out and they are quite separate, just with the same name.
overall i like the packaging and graphic design here. there is an old tyme drawing of a scene with a river boat and a house and some kids rolling a hoop with a stick on the riverbank, or maybe that is a rope from the boat and my sense of perspective is off… i like the hoop rolling possibility better myself. they also have some messages about how the sky used to be bluer and clouds whiter and the river breeze kept you cooler, which could be statement about global warming i suppose. probably though they are trying to evoke a feeling of nostalgia and when junk was better and innocence was not lost and all of that. people eat that nonsense up. or, in this case, hopefully drink it up.
this soda pop is quite good i will say. it has a solid sweetness, not too much, just hits it right. the carbonation is also excellently balanced. the taste is very good too, but a little too normal if i can have a slight complaint. it is creamy and quite smooth and tastes as you envision as good root beer as tasting like. it satisfies that craving in me. i could have this with some pizza or whatever and be very happy but it is not one i would sit and savor and sip. everything has a place and this is a solid, yummy soda for drinking for sure.
Anthony’s Rating: 91
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User’s Rating: 84
# of ratings:13
| Type: | Root Beer | Comes In: | 12oz glass bottle |
| Available: | CA, online | Obtained in: | mailorder from popsoda |
| Head: | Sweetener: | cane sugar | |
| Calories: | 180 | Sodium: | 15mg |
| Carbs: | 47g | Sugar: | 46g |
| Caffeine: | No | ||
| Website: | http://bluedogbeverage.com | ||
Ingredients: carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, natural flavor, quillaia extract, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate
I remember trying this one about 2 years ago. It was very “blah”. I’m quite surprised it got a 91. Maybe this is just an inspiration for me to give it another shot. All I remember is that it had a flavor that tasted flat, bitter, and just plain not good. From what I remember, I’d probably would have givin it a 55.
Actually, trying this root beer again it is a little better than the first time I tried it. It is still not superb, yet better than your average A&W crap. The head on this root beer is amazing!!! The flavor is just kind of blah and not really too much going on. It has a decent root beer flavor with a little bit of anise and wintergreen notes. Other than that I’d give it a 75. Not bad at all.
When I opened the bottle and smelled the soda, It smelled great, but then I tasted it. I sadly gave this a 40, it tasted slightly sour and really lacking in rootbeer flavor.
This is one of my favorite root beers. It has a beautiful head, but what I like about it is its deviation from standard root beer flavor. To me, the wintergreen and anise is quite strong, but that’s what I like. It gives the beer a nice bite. I put it up there with Frostie or Sparky’s root beer. Perhaps they could have gone stronger on the vanilla or honey notes, but I think too much honey can kill an otherwise good root beer.