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September 10, 2007
MONDAY'S BIG INTERVIEW (#1) -- 10 QUESTIONS FOR THE ROOT BEER GUY
Welcome to Monday's Big Interview (MBI), the first of what I hope will be many interviews exclusive to the BeliBlog. Here, I intend to leverage my curiosity and expand on my passion for the Q&A format by interviewing normal everyday people--and maybe a few well-known people too--who have compelling and extraordinary stories, experiences, and knowledge that demand to be shared.
This week, the inaugural MBI features Scott, "The Root Beer Guy" (sorry, but Scott preferred that I not use his last name). Scott and I met last Wednesday evening at the Timpanogos Table Tennis Club's open play event at the Pleasant Grove Community Center in Pleasant Grove, Utah. After chatting for a few minutes while waiting our turn for a table, Scott and I arrived at that point in the conversation where one (that'd be me) naturally says to the other, "So, do you have a blog?" -- to which Scott replied that he did but, that on account it focuses on the mundane, he didn't feel comfortable sharing it. When pressed to reveal the focus of his blog, Scott offered up that among other things, he blogs about his passion and knowledge for all things related to Root Beer.
Bingo!
Here then is the first MBI... Scott LastNameWithheld answering a few random questions from yours truly about Root Beer. Drink up!
- Let's start at beginning. What led to your fascination with Root Beer?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: 'Fascination' is such a harmless word. I'd prefer something a bit more accurate, like 'psychotic obsession.' I think it was my grandfather who got me started. I want to believe that he was a bootlegger during the Prohibition era, but sadly, he came from average Utah pioneer farming stock. Anyway, he always had root beer at his house. Maybe he slipped a little root-hooch into my bottles when I was an infant. He died several years ago and I have no way of confirming or denying his involvement during the Prohibition.
- What ingredients are generally found in Root Beer, and are any of them necessarily bad for us?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: Root beer used to be made with actual sassafras root, but that was found to cause cancer in rats (like everything else--I think all rats probably get cancer when given anything out of their ordinary diet of garbage). Today, root beers are flavored with some of the same things I listed above (vanilla, honey, wintergreen, anise). I've seen some with a bit of clove and other botanicals. It's a wide-open field for beverage makers, which is great for us drinkers--lots of variety. Some makers are putting sassafras back into their list of ingredients again, which I think is a good sign.
- Count 'em down for us, 1 through 10... who makes the best Root Beer in the land?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: Now we get to the part where my opinion reigns supreme! I have an extremely high opinion of my root beer preferences, if I may say so. However, in the interest of interest, I'm going to give you my top 6 and bottom 4:
Top 6 (first the best):
1. Americana
2. Sprecher
3. Bulldog
4. Howie's (made locally)
5. Ruby River (brewed in-house)
6. IBC
Bottom 4 (first the worst):
1. Barrel Brothers (made locally)
2. Briars
3. Henry Weinhards
4. A&W
Now I got some 'splainin to do:
While I consider myself a connoisseur of root beers, I don't have nearly the breadth of exposure as people like Luke (there are many others like Luke out there who: A. Have an unlimited amount of money with which to buy root beer; and B. Have an unlimited amount of time to write about the root beers they try).
I do try to make my comparisons fairly objectively (as objective as one's tastes can be). When trying a new root beer, I'll have a bottle of one that I know fairly well and compare the two sip by sip. This at least gives me the opportunity to say "A is better than B" and list a few reasons why.
The top 6 are just great all-around root beers. Bulldog is a beautifully flavored root beer. It has good honey and its nose feels flowery and warm, and the aftertaste is calming. Howie's is the only local brew in there--it is very sweet and mellow. IBC has a very interesting "peppery" component to it. I like it because it's unique among national brands.
The bottom 4 are likely to be a bit touchy for people. I list them partly because they truly are at the bottom of my list (i.e., I never buy these unless I have no other choices) and partly because they are so prevalent that listing them would make people take notice. People, hear me! There are better root beers out there than the stores are supplying you with--rise up! Fill out the suggestion cards at the front of the store and demand better root beers! (It actually works; several Macey's in Utah Valley are now carrying Sprecher--my "everyday" root beer--after months of suggestion cards by me and other of my ilk.)
Barrel Brothers is made by the same folks who make the fantastic Apple Beer. I don't know how they can make one great drink like Apple Beer, and then one of the worst root beers on the planet. The label is cute and all, but the brew is bad bad bad. Briars tastes like sugar water and wintergreen--no subtlety at all. Very nearly a birch beer, more than a root beer. Henry Weinhards? Let me put it like this: Bulldog is what Henry Weinhards wants to be when it grows up (and gets rid of its urine-like aftertaste--yuck!). A&W can be summarized thus: yet another bland national brand root beer.
If you take any of the bottom 4 and drink them head-to-head with any of the top 6, you'll see what I'm talking about. Really.
- Do you ever make your own Root Beer? If so, what do you call it?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: I sometimes make my own root beer. I've never made it the same way twice, though. I think my best batch was two years ago on the 4th of July. I'd added a little vanilla extract (the real stuff), a little anise, a little honey, a little salicylic acid maybe (that's the wintergreen flavor, for you non-chemists). Maybe not. Anyway, it turned out great, but subsequent attempts haven't all been as good. For example, once I tried a new recipe that used yeast to carbonate. Well, let's just say I put the "beer" in root beer. It was horrible and I've stuck to dry-ice carbonation methods ever since. I'm not a hard-core brewer as I'd like to be.
- Regardless of taste, whose root beer is branded better than anyone else's (please don't say "Rootie Tootie Root Beer")?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: Without question, A&W. Everyone knows it and nobody has ever lost their job for buying it. It's the Microsoft of root beers. If A&W is made fresh (and it's been a long time since I've had it fresh), it's a pretty good root beer. However, the stuff you get at the grocery store in plastic bottles is bland and lacks personality. That said, my Dad prefers it to any of my favorites. I can't explain this discrepancy without causing hurt feelings.
- Wine experts all agree: Roasted chicken goes really well with a good cru Beaujolais, like the CÙte de Brouilly from Ch‚teau Thivin. Does the same apply for Root Beer, and if so, what are some of the more remarkable Root Beer and food pairings?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: Actually, yes. Americana, for example, has a fruity nose (a sharp and sweet hit right when enters your palate). It has a stronger taste that goes well with chicken dishes. However, its stronger taste doesn't work well when eating, say, a beef Szechwan or a curry dish. For those, I like Sprecher, which is mellower and has a soothing effect. It really complements the dish. As a rule, you don't want a root beer to compete with the food, so if you're having a flavorful dish, choose a milder root beer. If you're having something like chicken or pork, go ahead and get a root beer that will take control of the meal.
- I'm going to assume that since you live in the Salt Lake City area, you know where to go to get the best frosty mug of Root Beer. Do tell!
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: If I have the craving bad, I go to Ruby River. The food there is unfortunately going the direction of all food chains (all supplied by Sysco or other large food suppliers), but their root beer is fresh and wonderful. Lots of anise (my tastes are changing as I age--I didn't used to like anise that much). Children probably wouldn't like their root beer much because of its stronger flavor.
If you're down in Moab, go to the Moab Brewery and get a half-gallon (just walk to the back of the bar on the left side, where the tap is, and ask for a "growler" of their root beer). The root beer is a bit above average, but you can't beat the freshness and sincerity of it.
- Assuming vanilla is the first, what is the second best flavor of ice cream for a Root Beer Float?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: I'm not a big float person. Sorry! I'll drink them, but that's a ton of sweetness floating in a ton of sweetness--too sweet for me usually.
- When I was a kid, someone brought a slice of Root Beer Cake to school. Aside from cake, what else can be made using Root Beer as a primary or secondary ingredient?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: Boy, you've stumped me again! I'm sure there are some "fascinating" things out there, but I stick strictly to the beverages. Want to talk about ginger ales?
- Final Question: How much money would it take for you agree to bathe in a tub of Root Beer?
Scott, The Root Beer Guy: I assume you meant to ask, "How much money would you pay to bathe in a tub of root beer?" I think I'd pay $10 for the experience. I'd even bring my own towel.
Please feel free to comment on today's MBI by clicking on the "Comments" button below. While he may not reveal the name or address of his Blog, I'm sure Scott would be willing to answer your follow up questions. Additionally, the "Comment" feature below allows me to track what you think about the MBI. Feel free to leave suggestions for who should be interviewed next and why.
Posted by Mikal at September 10, 2007 10:24 AM
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Barq's has bite!
I love Barqs. Hate A&W. I'll have to try the top 6 and see how it goes.
Great post. Love your blog. ;)
I'm curious where Dad's root beer would fall on your list... I loved it as a kid, but not as much these days, would that maybe have to do with some of those ingridients you mentioned (and which ones?)
Mikal - Cool new feature. Very fun and interesting to read.
Scott - So what's the difference between Root Beer and Sasparilla?
Also, how do you feel about Ironport?
I agree that Ruby River makes a great brew. It's definitely on my list of favorites. I'm gonna have to try some of your other reccommendations that I haven't had. I'm worried though because I quite like a good Weinhards.
Wow! That's some wild stuff I never knew about the Root Beer!
This is going to sound blasphemous, but I dislike Root Beer quite a bit. I can barely stand the stuff. My wife loves it though, and thinks there's something wrong with me.
As for a future MBI, I'd like to see an interview with a fast food connoisseur. Being a fast food junkie myself, I'm always looking for a better burger/taco/chicken sandwich and french fries. Yeah... that's how sophisticated my palette is.
Nice new feature. But I find it slightly suspect that a root beer expert doesn't like root beer floats. And I would have to agree with Clark that Weinhards makes a great root beer and it is in the bottom 4. I also recommend Thomas Kemper.
I feel so educated about root beer now...wow. I'm interested to try some of the top 6's. I agree A&W is not great from the grocery store, but I've found that at the A&W restaraunt from the tap it tastes much better.
Greg-
The Dad's recipe has varied over the years. It nearly died, and was then revived by a brewery in the northwest somewhere. Today's Dad's isn't as bad as it was some years ago, but the canned stuff in the stores is closer to the bottom of my list than the top. :/
Clark-
I don't know the technical differences between the two, but you can try them both for yourself (Sioux City is a brand that has both and is readily available in many grocery stores).
Taste-wise, the sarsaparilla (spelling varies also) is more herbal tasting to me--less sweet than root beer. I'm sure a good googler could find more information than I'm giving you here, but these are the differences based on my own experience.
Mikal, Zirker-
Regarding Weinhard's root beer, grab a Bulldog (available from Cost Plus World Markets or online) and drink it next to a Weinhard's. You'll see a world of difference on the same theme.
I've found that any root beer drunk all by itself will taste ok (until you develop a palate for it). By comparing two or more, you'll discover subtle (or sometimes glaring) differences that will make you appreciate one over another.
Sorry fans, but Thomas Kempner is toward the bottom of my list also. It's the kind you might get at Costco in bulk. Try it with one of the quality root beers listed sometime.
A word about subjectivity.
Some people may dismiss a different opinion than theirs (myself included), claiming "it's all subjective, this is just a matter of taste". The only issue I have with this is the word "just", as if taste were something as varying and inherent as your height or eye color.
I don't think there will ever be consensus on what constitutes a good root beer, any more than there would be on wine or a piece of art. But I do believe that there are some that are better than others, and that people with good taste can tell the difference. (I also think taste can be acquired with study and practice, not just with root beer, but in any field, such as art and music).
I definitely won't go into the mechanics of that here, but these two links from Paul Graham describe the domain as succinctly and convincingly as I've seen it done.
Enjoy!
www.paulgraham.com/taste.html
www.paulgraham.com/goodart.html
That was a great first MBI! Looking forward to more.
Hansen's? Anyway, great new feature. Root beer is the only thing my wife detests. Do you like the root beer suckie thingies? It goes to show that the bigger things in life can be revealed through the simple everyday pleasures. Cheers.
I love the new feature.
And root beer. Hope I can find some of these in Indy.
Glad to see another Paul Graham fan!
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