Old Red Eye Root Beer

There she is... Old Red Eye. I'll bet that's what the ranchers who owned the bull this root beer is named after used to say when they saw her (technically a him seeing as it's a bull, but for the sake of the story let's just pretend for a little bit). Old Red Eye Root Beer has a very brief history on the label which seems more fable than fact. The legends says this old bull would only leave his pen to go to farm work if someone poured some of this root beer into his tin drinking bowl. Sounds like someone made it up to slap on a root beer without an origin. This is bottled by the Orca Beverage company out of Mukilteo, WA. They are a distributor that puts out several other sodas and root beers, including several i have already reviewed on this blog. That being said, i don't know much else about the story/history behind this root beer, including how long it's been around. And i don't care to take the time to try and find out because winter is coming.

 

This is a typical 12 oz. brown glass bottle. It looks quite normal and ordinary. The label is nice. Only three colors, stark in contrast. I like it quite a bit. Very simple but bold. It stands out with the big bull's head drawing and Old West style font. No fuss, no filler. Just straight up label.

 

And guess what... i actually liked the taste of this one quite a bit too. It's almost offensively root beer flavored and sweetened with pure cane sugar. Very strong flavor with a big kick of something i can't quite put my finger on. All i can really say is that it's spicy (not a perfect descriptor, but i really don't know how else to put it). You know how they say Barq's has bite? (or at least they did back in the 90's) Well this stuff has some bite to it. I like it. I was pleasantly surprised. I really didn't expect much from this but i gotta say, i enjoyed it. I even made a root beer float with it and was not let down.

 

My official review is that Old Red Eye Root Beer gets 7 (seven) IBCs. I like it. It's a no nonsense root beer. Probably why they gave it an Old West motif. Grab one if you have a chance. It's worth it.

 

Dang! (that's good) Butterscotch Root Beer

As promised, here is the sister root beer of Dang!, which carries the same name. Dang! (that's good) Butterscotch Root Beer is made and bottled by the same company that does original Dang!, Imperial Flavors out of Milwaukee, WI. I don't really feel like going into the very briefly covered history of the company, so look up the last review if you're interested in learning more. I know it's been nearly two months since i reviewed the last root beer, but i want to keep this brief. I'm a busy man and have things to do.

This root beer comes in a 12 oz. brown glass bottle, a little different from your typical shape though. It's a little more broad shouldered, if that makes any sense. I like it. Not the first time i've seen it, but i will still give them props. The other Dang! i reviewed was also in a cool bottle, but not the same one. This label is just a different color scheme than the original. It has a beige/cream color to go along with the butterscotch theme. The one thing different about this label is that it doesn't have the little month/year scale thing on the side like orignal Dang! had. Not that i miss it though. I really don't care either way.

I was impressed with original Dang!, but i'll be honest... i don't love this stuff. It just tasted like those butterscotch disks, not root beer. It also leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Carbonation is ok, but ultimately, i don't really like this that much. It's quite a let down based on how much i enjoyed original Dang!. I'm pretty bummed out about it. I had high hopes/expectations. My feelings were hurt. I feel betrayed. The life is slipping away from me. I wish i hadn't tried it at all. I'll never love again. I've lost my faith. How many other ways can i say it wasn't good?

My official review is that Dang! (that's good) Butterscotch Root Beer get 3 (three) IBCs. Just did not care for it. And i don't think it really is as bad as a 3, but it deserves it for being so disappointing. If you like butterscotch sodas, maybe. But in my opinion, don't bother with this one. Go for an original Dang!. Much more satisfying.