i believe this one was another soda i discovered from my “root beer” google alert which lets me know of any new pages that mention root beer each day. or maybe not, i don’t know anymore. either way, it is here, in my hand and going down my gullet soon enough. although i was quite worried about it getting to this spot. see i ordered a couple flavors/bottles of their soda and shortly after i received a package with one bottle. in a padded envelope. intact amazingly. mind you, this soda is traveling from England across the pond i like to call an ocean to me in lovely New Jersey. i let Spyder know that i had gotten one of the bottles and was waiting on the rest. 3 weeks later i emailed again that i had not gotten them. a week after that the other 3 came. also in a padded envelope. intact. glass bottles remember. i have sent pretty well packed boxes which broke going two states away and here were 3 bottles in one padded envelope traveling much much further, across the borders of nations. phew! i am glad they made it. the first thing i am struck by here is the waxed bottle. the label and the whole area below the bulge of the bottle is covered in wax. probably dipped in it really. that is different and fun. probably more work than glue but more fun for sure. i would think you might even have to glue the label on a bit before you dip it in hot wax anyway, just to hold it in place. the label itself continues the theme of “olde school” beverages, in which “olde school” refers to the 1800s or so, not 1972. the whole thing is very wild west-like to me, basic fonts, weathered yellowing paper, black ink. plus it is vegan and gluten free! very good. it also says “50’s AMERICAN DINER” in bold type for some reason. that does not seem to go with the rest of the presentation feel. besides that part confusing me, i like the design choices. it is natural fermented and carbonated that way, something that i have never enjoyed in a drink, but i am hopeful, ever hopeful. this means it is slightly alcoholic, but not more than 0.5% which is insanely nothing.
i think this is the first fermented soda i have quite enjoyed! wow, light and refreshing and just nice. the ginger root is there but subtle and calm. it is not really like any other root beers i have had, and that is saying something after 200+ of them! the other tastes i cannot place, but they are earth and herbal. it reminds me of a really good iced herbal tea in a way. sweetness is not too high, just enough to not have it be bitter. the UK has taken this american beverage and made it their own! nice work Spyder and crew! very light carbonation. it is a couple days past the best by date so i will have to get on the other sodas soon, check their dates out!
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| Type: | Root Beer | Comes In: | 330ml glass bottle |
| Available: | online, UK | Obtained in: | mail order |
| Head: | Tiny | Sweetener: | sugar |
| Caffeine: | No | ||
| Website: | http://www.spyder.org.uk | ||
Ingredients: lightly carbonated water, sugar, ginger root, flavours, antioxidents (vitamin c), preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate)
No yeast?
So the color on yours is much darker than the color I had on mine. Different batches perhaps.
no yeast Karen, correct.
Eric – yeah, in the photo it looks pretty dark but i don’t think it was really that dark. we ordered around the same time i believe so i would think we had the same batch, but who knows. i could check my batch number on the bottle.
[…] do with this distinctly American drink? again, the packaging is pretty much the same as that on the root beer and dandelion and burdock. that is, a waxed bottle/label, old west/olde tyme fonts and paper and […]