101

First we had Route 66 Beer. Now it's Highway 101 root beer. Both fit in nicely with the name of this website. So will this 101 root beer keep us on track, or will we merge onto Highway 46 and meet James Dean's end?

John: Amazingly, we continue to find root beers with their own distinct quality. You'd think after 45 root beers they'd all start to taste the same. 101's scent assaults your nostrils like candy gasoline fumes, letting you know you're in for one sweet ride! This one tastes like cake frosting, and is very creamy. A little vanilla too. If you like birthday cake, this is your root beer. ****

FRED: GOOD ROOT BEER. SMOOTH AND CREAMY. SLIGHT VANILLA. ****

Teddy's

Well, this is our first review that features root beer out of a plastic bottle! It had to happen sometime, so today we look at Teddy's and see if it can live up to our high standards.

John: Teddy's came like a meteor out of BevMo and exceeded the low expectations I had for it. A distinct flavor profile with with cinnamon, clove, and wintergreen, it's a refreshing root beer and not too sweet. ****

FRED: A SIMPLE ROOT BEER. REFRESHING. NOT TOO SWEET. LITTLE AFTERTASTE. ****

Bulldog

Who let the dogs out? Another root beer brewed with honey and real vanilla, let's see if we can run with the dogs, or call the dog catcher to take this brew back to the kennel!

John: This is a sweet and tasty root beer. Unlike some inferior brews, the sweetness is pleasing and not overbearing, on account of a distinctive and complex flavor profile. The honey and vanilla aspects are apparent, but the hallmark of this root beer is the distinctive licorice flavor, which tastes like those candy-coated fennel seed treats you find at Indian restaurants. All this combines to make a really delicious treat. Very enjoyable. No question that it earned its four stars. ****

FRED: GOOD ROOT BEER. BIT TOO SWEET AND LINGERING AFTERTASTE. ***

Cool Mountain

John: Uninspired, and uninspiring. Not terribly objectionable, but thoroughly mediocre. If you don't have the energy or interest to drink a real root beer, this generic soda will do fine. I'm putting about as much effort into this review as they do into their root beer. **

FRED: BELOW AVERAGE WITH LITTLE TASTE AND A BIT SWEET. **

Virgil's

HAPPY NEW YEAR! To ring in the new year, we've decided to sample one of the most talked about root beers on the market! Unfortunately, most of the talking is done on the root beer's own label, but that's okay. Virgil's gets five stars for self promotion: with rambling stories about collecting various spices from all over the world, ancient root beer recipies (that pre-date the beverage's invention), and an endless quest for perfection in brewing, they talk up such a good game that you're destined to either love or hate the actual contents of the bottle before you even take a sip. And let's face it, you've got to have some serious hubris if your label features a picture of a Lumberjack Jesus serving you root beer in heaven. That's why we're here to cut through the P.R. hoopla, and set the record straight.

John: Yes, you actually can taste all the spices and extracts they brag about: vanilla, nutmeg, clove, wintergreen--they're all here plus more. The mint seems to assert itself slightly more prominently than the other spices, but the richness of the blend is what makes an impression. That, and the fact that the aftertaste is a little too sugary sweet. They describe their brew as "creamy," but I wouldn't use that word--the texture is not exceptional. Very good, but narrowly misses Greatness. ****

Jo: Definitely a **** for me too.  I was really impressed. 

FRED: AN EXCELLENT EXOTIC ROOT BEER. MANY FLAVORS AND NOT OVEWHELMING. ****1/2