I was originally enthralled by the complex spicyness of the root beer until I wondered if it had anything to do with the “red pepper chips” that I ate only moments before. Virgils does claim to be a superb blend of spices and herbs, so I suspect that at least a little bit of the spice was blended by Virgil’s. Anise, licorice, cinnamon, clove, molasses and nutmeg are only about half of the spices that are present in this brew. This gives it a superb kick that nicely contrasts the smooth and rich texture that’s also present.

I have to admit, I taste so many root beers that are all so similar that it’s nice to taste something different like Virgil’s. Virgil’s isn’t really my cup of tea . . . or should I say cup of root beer, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize that this is a high-quality brew. If any of my students brought this in as a “teacher’s day gift,” I would accept this with the utmost gratitude and drink it on a day that afforded the opportunity.

When it comes down to the nitty gritty, this brew is pretty good. But I must admit that these complex flavors don’t really agree with my refined palette.

The Professor’s Grade:  C