CATEGORY
Premium Root Beer
2009 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER
Stewart's
What Makes a Good Root Beer?
Considering the broad selection of colas available, root beer is a refreshing and nostalgic change. Whether for the porch swing, the picnic table or in front of the football game, root beer’s natural sassafras edge makes it a nice alternative to standard sodas. Keep a six-pack handy for those lazy summer afternoons and, of course, root beer floats.
Our chefs define high-quality premium carbonated root beer as having a clear, brown color without any particulates. When poured, the root beer should form a foamy head, and the visual effervescence should consist of small, evenly distributed bubbles. The foam should last for about a minute and a half before breaking down, releasing a bold aroma with a complex character. In keeping with the origins of the beverage, notes of herbs and barks (such as sarsaparilla, sassafras, wintergreen or ginger) should add to the aroma’s complexity. The sugary sweetness should have a caramelized character that is not syrupy or simple, and no aroma off notes should come from packaging, processing or poor ingredients.
Root beer is in taste balance when sweetness is the leading basic taste. A low bitterness will follow, and sourness, if present, should be minimal.
In the flavor profile, pronounced root beer flavor should lead. The complex flavor character should reflect the aroma’s herb and bark notes. In addition, these flavors should have a bright character that has a rounded effect on the palate. As with the aroma, there should be no flavor off notes detracting from the overall flavor.
Premium root beer should have a moderate mouth weight. The mouthfeel of the carbonation should also be moderate with medium-sized bubbles breaking on the palate—one of the many reasons that root beer is so fun to drink.
Product Category Definition
The category judged was defined as premium carbonated root beer for the consumer market, not including everyday favorite root beer, cream soda and other carbonated soft drinks.
Other Leading Brands:
I.B.C., Henry Weinhard’s
ONE-STEP IDEAS
For hard root beer, add a 2 ounce jigger of spiced rum to 12 ounces of root beer for a grown-up refresher.
Add root beer to your favorite barbecue sauce for a unique flavor.
Pour over vanilla ice cream in a tall glass for a root beer float.
TOOLS
Email This
Share This
TASTING
TERMINOLOGY
PRODUCT
FUN FACTS
- Sassafras root bark was originally the main ingredient for root beer.
- Root beer is sold around the world in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.
- A root beer float is sometimes called a “brown cow.”
The ChefsBest Award for Best Taste is awarded to the brand rated highest overall among leading brands by independent professional chefs.
