Firemans Brews Root Beer

I caught this root beer in the microwave of all places, but I’m thinking it was just inspecting all of the household’s electrical equipment . . . safety first!

Let me say that Saranac Root Beer has nothing on Fireman’s as it relates to head.  This is large, long-lasting and not particularly satisfying in any way.  But, I know that some connoisseurs consider this aspect to be important in a brew . . . so it’s at least worth a mention.

I like the distinctive flavor in this root beer – it’s different than the others.  Let me digress for a minute by saying, I never understood companies that took the effort to create a brand new root beer that ended up tasting like all the other average root beers on the market.  This is not that root beer.  This brew has a cool bottle design, cool story and is without a doubt a quality root beer.

And yet in saying that, it does taste strangely like another brew I’ve had in the past . . . Sparky’s.  I remember how excited I was to try Sparky’s when it first came out, and yet how disappointed I was in the flavor.  I think I’ve grown a little bit since then, because I’m not disappointed in Fireman’s, although it still seems like a one-note wintergreen flavor like Sparky’s was.  Now . . . I’m convinced there are other awesome flavors at work in this brew, but it’s hard to taste them, because the wintergreen flavor is so strong.  Because it’s been so long since I’ve had Sparky’s I should really do a “Battle of the Brews” between Sparky’s and Firemans just to see if I’m right in my analysis.

This is made with natural artesian spring water and pure cane sugar which is awesome.  The creaminess and carbonation is just right.  It’s just that wintergreen is not necessarily my favorite flavor to have showcased in a root beer.

The Professor’s Grade:  B