River City Root Beer

Few root beers brag as much on their label about the quality of their brew as does River City--and they play the nostalgia card big time: "River City Root Beer brings back memories of a time gone by. When the sky was bluer and the clouds whiter and the breeze off the river kept you cooler." etc. etc. Since this stuff is made in Sacramento, their pitch sounds like pure P.R. The test is in the taste.

John: A sweet, rooty flavor, with an extra infusion of wintermint to add some bite and crispness. It stops way short of being remarkable, but falls squarely into the "good" category. It could exist, or not exist, and the world would go on turning. ***

FRED: GOOD ROOT BEER. ROOTY AND A HINT OF MINT. ***