Baron’s Natural Sassparilla
I found this at the brand new Rocket Fizz that just opened in my local area. I have 3-4 different speciality shops, which all sell unique root beers in my local area. In a sense, I live in a mecca of sorts for root beer lovers like myself. It’s important for me to take advantage of it while I can, since I’m moving to a place . . . that as far as I know . . . have no root beers available whatsoever. But be that as it may . . .
Surprisingly, Baron’s is the absolute first sarsaparilla I’ve reviewed on this web-site, and it’s spelled “sassparilla” on the bottle . . . exactly like it sounds. It also is devoid of the famous “boothill” that used to be on the front of every bottle. The bottle also has “The Natural Way” written on the front and has pure cane sugar as one of the ingredients. This leads me to believe that this is an entirely different brew than the “high-fructose” corn syrup stuff that is reviewed on other root beer blogs. If anyone has information on whether their are two separate Baron’s brews, or if they changed their receipe, please let me know.
Saraparilla’s (similar to birch beers), tend to have a simpler flavor profile than the average root beer, and Baron’s is no different. The wintergreen/medicinal quality flavor gives a little punch, and that’s about it. But interestingly enough, it really works in this sarsaparilla.
The light carbonation, creaminess and punch or wintergreen makes this a sarsaparilla worth a cowboy riding a few miles to get a hold of.
The Professor’s Grade: B +
Hammond’s All Natural Root Beer Candy Cane
I unwrapped this thick candy cane at Christmas, but only recently realized that it was a root beer flavored candy . . . boy, my family really knows me!
I didn’t expect anything great from this sweet treat, but upon closer inspection I found that it is gluten-free and all-natural. Even the ever-so-light root beer coloring is all-natural with ingredients like Reed Beet, Red Cabbage, Paprika and Tumeric Powder. In laymen terms . . . that’s pretty dang cool.
This is also made by a local Denver, Colorado company – Hammonds (http://www.hammondscandies.com/candy-types/all-natural-candies/all-natural-rootbeer-candy-cane) . Note to self – they offer free factory tours – this might be a good field-trip to take my students during “Rootbeer Products 101” this summer.
Needless to say, my three little professors thought this was amazing, but to be honest it is almost not deserving of a letter grade. It’s not gross, bad or repulsive . . . it is just not that flavorful. This is a neat thing to put in someone’s Christmas stocking and if there is someone who likes candy, but is health conscious . . . it is a great gift. But without much root beer flavor, I can’t give this above a C.
The Professor’s Grade: C
Flavorful, good, creamy . . . oh not creamy. Tastes like root beer.
