Caruso’s Legacy Robusto Root Beer
I absolutely love the label on Caruso’s Legacy Robusto Root Beer. It screams legacy, tradition, patriotism . . . root beer that has been passed down generation from generation. And I think that this whole tradition thing is one of the best things going for Root Beer . . . it’s certainly not that fact that root beer and drugs seem to be an easy pair.
I also love to see a root beer that has a comparitevly low level of sugar. Most root beers I’ve seen have around 40 grams of sugar per 12 oz. of tasty brews. Caruso’s only has 30 grams of sugar for 12 oz.! I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty remarkable. If anything, Caruso’s tastes pretty sweet and yet they were able to accomplish this by using only 30 grams of sugar. If I could I would probably keep Caruso’s stocked in my fridge because of this fact alone.
Sadly there is really not much else going for this brew. Granted, it’s a creamy brew with nice hints of vanilla, but that’s about it. It’s really pretty standard overall – simply put it’s another run of the mill root beer. My co-professor also noted that there is a slightly bad after-taste that has started to appear after a few sips.
This brew started off with so much promise . . . awesome label and a low sugar content . . . but the taste falls a little flat.
The Professor’s Grade: B –
Great Value Diet Root Beer
What does a Diet Root Beer have to do with a cornucopia of various vegetables? Absolutely nothing, except for the fact that diet root beer appears to be very healthy. A recent article says that diet soda trims your lifespan . . . I’m assuming that’s a good thing, sort of like trimming your waistline.
Oh well . . . on to the review. I was surprised to see the Great Value Root Beers on the shelves of Walmart recently. Why, you ask? Walmart’s Root Beer Brand used to be Keg Root Beer, but now Great Value seems to be in vogue. I found a straggling case of regular and diet Keg still on the shelf, but it was the last of a dying breed. As far as I can tell it’s exactly the same soda with a different label. But being that I never reviewed the diet version of Walmart’s Root Beer before, the change in label seems to be a moot point.
The Diet Great Value Root Beer is a very smooth brew with a medium to light head. It’s got a heavy licorice . . . or is that anise . . . flavor that bulldozes through my tastebuds though. The diet soda taste still sparkles throughout my mouth, but it’s actually not that bad for a diet brew. I probably won’t drink through the whole 2 liter bottle, as I’m trying to watch my waistline and my lifespan, but at least I’ll enjoy this boot mug full of root beer.
The Professor’s Grade: D +
