Maine Root Beer

The only root beer we've encountered so far to be labeled "Fair Trade Certified," and with a bare bones handcrafted ingredient list that reads: carbonated pure water, Fair Trade Certified organic cane juice, and spices, let's hope this hippie tonic strikes us as more than just "Fair."

John: A nice frothy head and robust nose leads to a spicy root beer with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. These Christmas-like spice cake flavors give way to a slightly medicinal sweetness and lingering aftertaste that taints the finish and knocks it from four stars down to three. ***

FRED: GOOD FROTHY ROOT BEER. SLIGHT MEDICINAL FLAVOR AND AFTERTASTE ***

Kutztown

Holy Moly! Founded in 1851 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this eponymously named soda company promises to deliver antebellum-era root beer taste in a 21st century bottle! Can't wait to try this stuff.

John: Dark on the pour and rich on the nose. This is not a sweet root beer, but one whose strengths lie in its spicy, minty, rooty characteristics. And there are many shades to this hue: one detects vibrant, fresh wintergreen, earthy sassafras root, bitter black licorice, and sweetly mild after-dinner mints. A surprisingly complex blend of these pointed flavors balances out into a complex taste profile--sharp on the attack, yet mellow and subtle on the tongue, leaving one the enjoyment of unwrapping its mysteries. Until I drink more, I just cannot reward this singular beverage with anything less than ****.

FRED: DARK RICH AND COMPLEX. NOT TOO PLEASANT AFTERTASTE. NOT TOO REFRESHING. ***