Fentimans Ginger Beer

Fentimens Ginger Beer

UK, Imported through Canada

Purchased at Cost Plus World Market, Columbus Ohio

Great classic bottle, labeling, and history (see http://www.wix.com/fentimans/test). There are visible chunks of ginger and a cloudy sediment in the bottle. That sounds like a bad thing but most Ginger Beers have this to some extent. Here goes! Has a slight fruity and heavy ginger smell, good taste, strong ging.., WHOAW WHAT THE HELL IS THAT… this thing bites back. I’m talkin’ about something going on with my tongue right now. On the roof of my mouth and with every exhale there is like some kind of … some…. what do I call it…. not spicy hot … not hot … but kind of a sight sting. I respect that! A ginger that bites back. Uhm.  That could get interesting.  Back to the beverage though. It’s not like a regular ginger ale or any such the thing. This will be drunk with purpose. I would not advise that you consume this beverage in the middle of a public address. You’ll need to catch your breath after each swig. And I did let out an expletive after the first taste or two. HooHa! Just hold on tight for your first taste and take a deep breath. This would also make for a great mixer for drinks. I would highly recommend keeping this behind the bar if that is your thing.

According to a letter on the Fentimans web site this Ginger Beer has amazing anti nausea properties. To the extent that it alleviates/cures the nauseating effects of chemotherapy. I fortunately cannot attest to that but if you know someone in that boat you might let them know.

What's in it?

I give this one a 4 for the overall experience and taste. 

Rat Bastard Root Beer

Rat Bastard Root beer

Real soda in real bottles 310-327-1700 (California)

Purchased at Jungle Jim’s, Fairfield, OH.

This is quite the original tasting concoction. The label not only says “Rat Bastard Root Beer” but adds things such as “spread your lips and ingest” & “makes you feel like something you’re not”. The caps are also interesting. One says “Whatever we tell you to believe is most likely the truth” and another “We could be kosher for Passover if a rabbi would bless us!” 

It’s called a root beer so I will treat it as such. There is A LOT of stuff in this compared to the usual root beer. They Package a bunch of crazy herbs into an “herbal blend”. This makes it very herby of course but the strongest that surface are clove and a bit of ginseng. There very well may be others that can be tasted but I have no clue what they taste like. All this on top of the root beer taste.

I hate to admit it but I find the name Rat Bastard endearing. I certainly wouldn’t drink this all the time (who knows if it would preserve me or kill me) but I would keep a few in the fridge.

I give it a 3 pack (or Rat Pack) rating.

What's in it?

Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Australia

Purchased at Jungle Jim’s, Fairfield, OH.

As we know, there’s nothing boring or “normal” about those Aussies. This one is no exception. It’s an eye catching stubby brown bottle with a pull-tab I thought disappeared decades ago. Label and logo also look good. It might sound a bit shallow but already it’s a good experience, well, except for the price. Did I mention it’s about $2.50 a bottle?

Now for the taste. Very Nice! It’s a great change of pace and very refreshing. Like a ginger ale but with a heavier ginger taste. This brew is cloudy with ginger (and maybe a little yeast) but you won’t be picking it out of your teeth. There seems to be a fruity side to it, which is nice. A few ginger brews I’ve had had a bit of a pine-sol after taste. Not Bundys! This is absolutely the best Ginger Brew I have ever tasted. I hope their Root Beer is this good.

 

Great bottle. Great label. Great cap. Great taste.

Even though a 4 pack costs around $10, I am giving Bundaberg’s Ginger Beer a 4-pack rating! Sip it on occasion and hope for a sale.

Here's what's inside.

Goose Island Root Beer

Goose Island Root Beer

WIT Beverage Co. California (Goose Island Brewery, Chicago, IL.)

Purchased at Jungle Jim’s, Fairfield, OH.

It’s Wednesday and somehow that was enough reason to choose Goose Island Root Beer to review. When I first heard Goose Island made a root beer I was pretty excited. Oh my God, I was excited about root beer. What a freak. Some time ago I lived in Chicago long enough to get robbed, stabbed in the back by a couple employers, unfortunately own a cat, and have the opportunity to go to the Goose Island Brewery.

The brewery was a really cool experience. It was back in the day before micro brewery restaurants were common place hang outs for the cool kids who are now turning adult but don’t want to let go of their coolness. I don’t even know why I was there. I couldn’t afford micro brews or dinner for that matter. Must’ve been on the business account. Back to the beer. It was a really good beer and there were some nice varieties to choose from. Beyond that, the design of the pub was very classic and comfortable and then there’s the name, I love a good name and logo and they had both.

At the time there was no mention of sodas anywhere and it wasn’t until a couple weeks ago that a friend mentioned that Goose Island makes root beer.  To my surprise, on my last venture to a local market called Jungle Jim’s (no relation) I saw some and grabbed a four pack at a very reasonable cost. Like I said before, they have a good name and this time a different logo but very nice. The logo is simple and reminds me of old road signs and something else nice like that.

Anyway, I’ve gone on way too long about this. It’s a good root beer. By no means is it a great one. They claim it is “Chicago Style”. That sounds cool but doesn’t make it taste any better. If it were a great root beer I would look up what “Chicago Style” means (maybe it means you get the feeling you’ve been robbed, screwed by your boss, and own a cat). It’s a sweet, not too bubbly root beer, and doesn’t really have a strong finish. I would buy it again just for my connection with the Goose but if not for that I would leave it on the Island.

I give the Goose a 2 pack rating.

Here's what's inside.

The Rating System

The 4 pack rating system.

Good bottled Root Beer commonly comes in a four pack

0 -     Nope. 

         I would not buy it again.

1 -     OK. 

         I might keep some around for the kids' friends.

2 -     Good 

         Good to have around for a go-to brew.

3 -     Great stuff. 

         Now we’re talking. How about a good occasion

         to bring this one out.

4 -     Awesome! 

         So good it makes you feel good. Only share  

         this one if you mean it.

Thank you Darin for the 4 pack idea.

Hank's

Hank’s Gourmet Birch Beer.

Hank’s Beverage Company, Trevose, PA.

Purchased at Jungle Jim’s, Fairfield, OH.

 “Hank’s”. Well you already have my attention and for some reason I can already hear Johnny Cash in the background. Oh, that’s Pandora. Anyway.

The bottle itself is a well-crafted and fitting vessel for such a fine beverage. Nothing distracting, nothing fancy, just classic molded glass with just enough attention to detail and a good looking label, remnant of a casket/barrel. I bought this one in a four pack so I am enjoying another as I write this. My kids like this one too. 

Many birch beers are red, this one is too but it’s a nice dark almost brown red. Which is good ‘cus I wouldn’t feel right with a fruity looking soda being called Hank. Hank’s has a nice full flavor without crossing over to the dark side. And as a good birch should, he leaves you with a refreshing almost wintergreen/spearmint bite. 

What’s that? Oh, no. Thank YOU Hank. 

I'm going with a 3 pack rating for Hank's. Very nice and I would love to share. 

Until next time. Pop, waft, enjoy!

 Here's what's inside.

My First Review. Virgil's

Virgil's Root Beer

By Reeds , L.A. California

Purchased @ Whole Foods

As I stood pondering which root beer I would take home that day Virgil’s caught my eye. The golden gilding around the neck and framing the label against the dark brown almost black of the bottle, the fancy font, the angelic sky, and oh wait... is that Jack Black wearing an apron and serving up large mugs of frothy beverages from a platter to two sharply dressed children? YES it is (well maybe it’s Virgil but I’m sticking with Jack) and that is awesome!

I am a bit confused why there are little children on the label though because this brew is not for the innocent or tame at heart. It’s a dark heavy and non-effervescent elixir. With a spiced herbal taste that is heavy on the licorice, vanilla, and molasses this root beer is an occasional sipper, not one for daily consumption. It’s a pleasing heavy beverage with a bite.

Virg is getting a 3 pack rating. The only thing keeping it from a 4 is that it's heavy on the herbal/medicinal side.

Here's what's inside.

Here's what Virgil has to say.

It started in the small town of Archbald PA.

As a kid my family would visit Archbald PA to spend time with relatives. I have many fond memories of that small town and the wonderful people there. One of those memories is of a little soda bottle and it's contents. Birch beer. Now there was also a red cream soda and one other flavor but it was the Birch Beer that got me. I plan on sampling and reviewing as many different Root, Birch, Sarsaparilla, and Ginger Beers as I can find locally. If you would like to throw in your own two cents, please do. Pop, waft, enjoy!