Monday, June 6, 2016

Dublin Texas Root Beer

I don't really know what to call this one. Is it Texas Root Beer? Or Dublin Texas Root Beer? At first glance i would think just Texas, but when i looked on the website it was listed as Dublin Texas. A little confusing right off the bat, i gotta say. If you haven't guessed yet, this is brewed and bottled in Dublin, TX by the Dublin Bottling Works Corporation, a purveyor of several lines of gourmet sodas and beverages. They've apparently been around a while. Since 1891 from all indications. Now... I've heard of Paris, Texas but i never knew there was a Dublin, Texas. I also know there is a London, Ontario, Canada. And of course, there is Ontario, California as well as Rome, Georgia. Then you've got Berlin, Georgia and Berlin, New Jersey and Berlin, Maryland, so that can get confusing. But to top it off, you've got Bagdad, Arizona (slightly different spelling, but basically the same landscape). So i guess what i'm trying to get at is... why isn't there another Tokyo other than in Japan? Right? Come on people, we are a progressive society. Why can't we get this thing going?

Dublin Bottling Works specializes in bottled sodas, so it's no surprise this comes in a 12 oz glass bottle with a colorful label and matching cap. The confusion on the name is apparent from the label. Texas is proudly and boldly displayed in large font, while the "Dublin" part kinda lingers near the top of the label. There is also a Bart Simpson kinda looking dude pictured as part of the Dublin Bottling Works logo. Other than that, it's a pretty straight forward package. I don't disapprove of it.

This root beer is well carbonated, which i like, and flavored with pure cane sugar. It has a nice aroma when you crack the cap. Nothing on the ingredients list gives and indication as to what it might taste like, which is why i am having a bit of a hard time putting it into words. It's just basic root beer i guess. No frills to it, but it also doesn't wow me. I've got no squabble with it. I mean, i'm not lookin to mess with Texas. But for as big and bold as it declares itself to be, i just wish it had a little more to back itself up. My wife doesn't think it even tastes like root beer, but that's cuz she just hates Texas and everyone who lives there. In fact, if you live in Texas, my wife wants to fight you. Or if you're dead and buried in Texas, she wants to spit on your grave. And if you are thinking of moving to Texas from any other state, she wants to find your moving truck and cut the brake lines and slide a couple unpinned grenades behind the driver's seat. And if you brew and bottle a root beer and brand it with Texas anywhere in the name and distribute it nationwide for thirsty patrons to seek out for refreshment in times of necessity, well... she's gonna say it doesn't taste like root beer. Might be a bit of an unmeasured response, but i can't control how this crazy broad is gonna react.

My official review is that Dublin Texas Root Beer gets 5 (five) IBCs. It's just gotta get a 5. Nothin bad about it but also nothin great about it. I wouldn't be able to distinguish this in a line up, something i've said of several other 5's in the root beer world. But i could easily pound a few of these and be satisfied. Give it a shot if you're in Dublin, TX. But if you find yourself in Moscow, Idaho you're just gonna have to figure something out.

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