It started as a simple search. What makes an excellent root beer and how does one become a connoisseur of root beer?
Really, all I wanted to find out was who makes the best root beer.
I remember my dad making root beer in the basement of our house in Peru, New York. Or maybe it was the house in Clintonville. Those New York houses all sort of run together in my mind. I was pretty young and I just remember the snow and being cold in the winter.
We moved a lot as my dad was Air Force. He made root beer in the basement, sauerkraut in the kitchen and pickles on the back porch.
I have been searching ever since for a root beer whose flavor matched my memory.
But, I have found the right pickle. Bubbies Kosher pickles. They taste the same as those big ol’ cukes my dad pickled.
Doing a search for connoisseur root beer led to a blog about root beer flavored jelly beans and then the personality test about which flavor are you and then more personality tests! (Stay with me here. OK?)
What Flavor Jelly Bean Are You?
https://www.blogthings.com/whatflavorjellybeanareyouquiz/
I am a licorice jelly bean. The personality of a licorice jelly bean: “You are an acquired taste. The less people fight your strange ways, the more they like them.”
Wow, this stuff really works. Let’s see what other personality insights I can discover.
Are You an Alpha Female?
https://www.blogthings.com/areyouanalphafemalequiz/
Evidently I am not a total one.
And according to what color I need in my life, it is orange.
What Color Do You Need?
https://www.blogthings.com/whatcolordoyouneedquiz/
“Orange will make you feel open, lively, and artistic. And with a little orange, you will project an aura of friendliness. If you want bolder experiences, you’ve got to get a little orange in your life!
For extra punch: Combine orange with red or yellow
The downside of orange: It’s too powerful and unusual for some people to deal with. The consequences of more orange in your life:
- You will become more creative in almost every aspect of your life.
- You will find humor in the most serious and dismal situations
- You will feel like life is exciting, even when you’re doing ordinary things”
How Rare is Your Personality?
https://www.blogthings.com/howrareisyourpersonalityquiz/
“Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP) Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men. You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.”
Well there is no way this is true, I don’t even recognize this person.
What Should Your Superpower Be?
https://www.blogthings.com/whatshouldyoursuperpowerbequiz/
“Your Superpower Should Be Invisibility
You are stealthy, complex, and creative. You never face problems head on. Instead, you rely on your craftiness to get your way. A mystery to others, you thrive on being a little misunderstood.
You happily work behind the scenes — because there’s nothing better than a sneak attack!
Why you would be a good superhero: You’re so sly, no one would notice… not even your best friends.
Your biggest problem as a superhero: Missing out on all of the glory that visible superheroes get.”
They got that one half right.
What is your Hawaiian name?
https://www.blogthings.com/hawaiiannamegenerator/outcome.php
“Mily Lokelani”
Oooh, that’s rather a pretty name.
The Big Five Personality Test
https://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/
Too serious, I am not in that serious of a mood.
And if you are curious about any personality disorders you may currently have, then check out
https://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv
Another serious one. Please, let’s not get paranoid or beside ourselves about personality quizzes, OK?
BACK TO THE ROOT BEER QUESTION
A completely unscientific way to find the best root beer is to google “best root beer.” Yes indeedy. People are passionate about their root beer. And it seems folks either love the frothy concoction or hate it.
Microbrewed Bulldog, made with real cane sugar and vanilla, is a leader on several root beer reviewing sites.
According to the New York Times, Virgil’s is “one of the few sodas these days to use cane sugar, which imports a clean, crisp sweetness.” Originally brewed in England it now comes from the Original Beverage Corporation in Los Angeles.
Spikes Root Beer Review has a great chart, listing the root beers and their ratings all on one page, so you can see at a glance which ones he liked the best. “A” rated beers were few but they included:
- Bulldog Root Beer
- Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer
- Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer
- Hansen’s Signature Sarsaparilla Soda
Interestingly enough, the New York Times’ favorite, Virgil’s, was rated a “B.”
Another fan favorite, A&W, only received a “C” from Spikes, and Barq’s Famous Olde Tyme Root Beer available from your local Del Taco, rated a “B-.”
https://www.rootbeerreviews.com/brews/brewmain.html
I still think my dad’s tasted the best. But Death Valley Root Beer from the Indian Well Brewery is a close second.
https://www.mojave-red.com/brew.asp
They also brew alcoholic beers with names like “Mojave Gold‘ and ”Lobotomy Bock.” I have no idea what those taste like.
If you are serious about root beer and want to discover your personal choice for best root beer, have your own blind taste test. Line up a few friends, several varieties of root beer, and taste away.
If you want great rootbeer you should check out Abita Root Beer from the Abita Brewery in New Orleans. Fantastic stuff.
>>everyonce in a while a bottle of root beer would pop a cap as you’d have root beer all over.<<
oh yeh, i remember that. luckily it was in the basement.
thanks for the comment!
lara
My mother also made root beer and the best bread abd butter pickles I’ve ever had. She never had problems with the pickles, but everyonce in a while a bottle of root beer would pop a cap as you’d have root beer all over. She had certain comments when that happened, but I won’t repeat them here. My favorite root beer, besides moms of course, is ICB and A&W. Mug root beer is a good brand too.