Pop Shoppe!

The first root beer to come to us from America's Hat, The Pop Shoppe is the crown jewel of Canadian soda pop companies. Dating from the 60s, this Burlington, Ontario pop maker has been satisfying thirsty Canucks for half a century. But will it do the same for us Yanks south of the border?

John: Frothy with a silky, smooth texture. Dry, with a subtle "vanilla mint" flavor that tastes a little like the melted leftovers of a bowl of ice cream. Crisp and refreshing like the northern wind through wild peppermint groves, with a pronounced--but not overdone--sweetness. Delicious and superb. *****

FRED: SIMPLE EXCELLENT REFRESHING ROOT BEER. *****

So Duh!

Here we have another modern root beer wrapped up in a gimmicky ad campaign. Proclaiming to be "soda with an attitude," So Duh! features a ditzy blonde on their bottle and the hip label of "Rockin' Root Beer." The ingredients feature cane sugar, natural vanilla, and the star of the show, "alfalfa honey," whatever that may be. But here, we judge on taste, not cuteness, so let's get going.

John: Wow, this is a bold root beer. That alfalfa honey is no joke: the sweet honey taste is prominent and adds a depth to the texture that murders the other honey root beers (e.g. Sprecher's, Point). Rich, creamy, thick in body, deep in flavor, and very sweet, this is a sumptuous, delightful root beer. The vanilla flavor is barely present, and no mints or herbs at all--honeycombs rule the day. The aftertaste is almost sweeter than the liquid, yet not unpleasant. I hate to hand out four star ratings to just anything, but So Duh! is definitely high quality. ****

FRED: A GOOD FLAVORFULL ROOT BEER. SLIGHTLY SWEET AND UNIQUE. ****

Point

I'll get right to the point and review the most recent root beer I've had the pleasure of sampling for this blog: Stevens Point Brewery Point Gourmet Root Beer. The founder and head brewer, Steven Point, can be seen sampling his creation here. It took a long time to create it, but a short time to name it, is how the slogan goes. Was the brew worth the wait?

John: This is a Wisconsin root beer, which--like Sprecher's--boasts a commanding prevelance of honey in the nose and body of the brew. In addition to the honey, Point has a mild caramel sweetness that does little to enhance the overall character. Three stars but I'll likely never drink it again. ***

Killebrew

Batter up! Here's a hall-of-fame root beer named after one of the Minnesota Twins' most beloved ballers! I had occasion to sample it while watching Casey Blake of the Dodgers drop a pop fly and send the Twins on the path to victory, 6-4. Will the Twins' signature root beer be a grand slam, or will I be like another Casey, the one at the bat, waiting for a good drink to slide down my throat?

John: Refreshing and pops in your mouth like the crack of a hickory bat! A dash of peppermint spices things up with a refreshing kick, with a touch of anise only sweet enough to leave you wanting another swig. I'm calling my shot like the Bambino, and predicting this root beer could win the World Series of smooth ballgame brew! ****