Hank’s Gourmet Root Beer

Aroma: Very effervescent with a lot of spiciness. 

Taste: Sweet, spicy, with a good amount of carbonation. Flavors that seem to predominate are molasses, a little bit of mint and vanilla. Definitely a drink that takes on a homemade feel while giving a lot of the stereotypical flavors that everyone loves.

Recommendation: A great drink that you just want to keep pouring.

Sioux City Sarsaparilla

Aroma: Smells just like a root beer; earthy, herbal, and natural.

Taste: Is very flavorful and you can see how this is the predecessor o f the modern root beer. Has a light spiciness like cinnamon and nutmeg with the full flavor rising afterwards that brings out mint and licorice flavors.

Recommendation: Definitely a great overall drink that I expect from drinking the previous beverages.

Sioux City Ginger Beer

Aroma: As soon as you put your nose to the bottle you get the pure ginger smell just like opening the spice jar.

Taste: Hits your tongue very light and smooth without very much carbonation. Then the ginger taste comes out which is very strong. Then a couple seconds after the sip you get a very strong burn in the back of your mouth as if you took a mouthful ginger and chewed on it.

Recommendation: Some people might like the spiciness that this drink gives, but it is not something I am looking for in a root beer like drink.

Kutztown Root Beer

Aroma: Very earthy, expected scent out of a root beer.

               

Taste: I had high expectations for this drink but it is sadly a dead ringer for a Mug root beer copy. Dry, bitter, but pleasant and has an interesting tang you get on the back and sides of your tongue. Not too sweet and goes down nice.

                

Recommendation: Tastes very good but is very similar to other OTC root beers that you can find almost anywhere. Nothing extra special. 

Sioux City Birch Beer

Aroma: Very aromatic with an essence of cherry.

Taste: This drink definitely surprised me since I had no idea what it would taste like. Very pleasant flavors; earthy, fruity, and spicy. Red tint to the drink makes you think of cherry when you drink it.

               

Recommendation: Love it! If I had more I would be drinking it. 

Faygo Original Root Beer

Aroma: Very aromatic; herbal, spicy, earthy. 

Taste: Exactly what you think when you think of root beer. Very tasty without being extremely sweet. Very similar to other canned root beers like A&W and Mug. Has that “right out of the tap” taste and would be nice in the quintessential frosted mug.

Recommendation: If you are looking for a no-nonsense drink without any unnecessary frills, this is for you. 

I don't know how well this would compare to the plastic bottles and cans found in a lot of other groceries. If I find some I will do a review. 

Jones Soda Root Beer

Aroma: Is very mild in odor; not really aromatic. Any scent is of vanilla.

Taste: Right off the bat you get a strong vanilla tone with a bunch of carbonation. The carbonation tends to mask the flavors of the drink instead of highlighting them.

Recommendation: If you think vanilla is what root beer tastes like and you like carbonation, go for it. Otherwise try something different.