while I was in Florida recently I attempted to go to a few places that supposedly had their own root beers. one just had bottles of Abita, which is tasty and I was happy to grab, although they seemed very intrigued by the idea of having their own root beer when I asked about it. another place had a couple of other microbrews, but nothing unique. this place was my final shot and they did not let me down. the bartender even was excited about my shirt (an ‘Against Smee, reinventing Captain Hook’ play on the ‘Against Me, Reinventing Axl Rose’ design which I find super funny but I don’t think anyone else has agreed with). I asked if he had root beer to go, a growler or some such, as my family was waiting in the car for me. but he poured me a glass while he filled a crowler. we chatted a couple moments while I drank the glass and took a couple photos. it turned out that was a good thing as I forgot to drink the crowler and left it in my mom’s fridge when we returned to the north. alas.
turns out this was one of the better sodas I have had in a while. it is a very licorice / anise heavy root beer. good thing I like that sort of thing! i detected some cinnamon in the mix as well. this is more a sipping soda, to be enjoyed and savored slowly I think although I myself had to down it pretty quickly. I would classify it as more of a hearty, very rooty and strong soda with not quite enough sweetness. it does work pretty well anyway but if I had no druthers I would up the sugar just a tad. otherwise this is a unique root beer that stands up well against the vast majority of sodas that settle for being similar.
