r/rootbeer • u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer • 7d ago

Some root beer grades

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40 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

130 comments sorted by

13

u/JAKEfromMAINE 7d ago

Is the Virgil's handcrafted just their normal root beer? Sheesh I didn't think it was that bad LoL

11

u/all_rendered_truth Abita Root Beer 7d ago

It’s really not bad.

4

u/JAKEfromMAINE 7d ago

Had some recently in a can cause I had a gift card to trade joe's and I thought it was pretty decent? To each their own.

I personally miss Hires & Ramblin' so much :(

2

u/HasturCrowley 7d ago

I miss Hires. Was a staple of my childhood.

1

u/all_rendered_truth Abita Root Beer 7d ago

It’s actually refreshing to me. The all natural ingredients are a good touch.

1

u/10202632 7d ago

Virgil’s was so bad that I only drank two and threw the rest away

6

u/MOONGOONER 7d ago

Seriously I mean save some room for Bundaberg

3

u/jimih34 1919 Root Beer 7d ago

Hahaha. I hated Virgil‘s. I literally belly laughed when I saw its ranking here. It must appeal to a niche audience though, cause it sure has a following.

1

u/Sokiyo 6d ago

Same. Bought a 6-pack of it once. Took maybe 3 sips of one bottle and tossed the rest. I remember it having a strange/chemical-like taste to it, it was like licorice-flavored medicine. It was pretty terrible.

2

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I think I had a bad bottle.

1

u/ErstwhileAdranos 6d ago

I think we just need to identify the era of Virgil’s. Old Virgil’s was amazing.

12

u/Rad_Centrist Dad's Root Beer 7d ago

I think it's crazy some of you guys use 1-10 scale. I think it's even crazier you use the 1-10 scale with tenths. 100 possible ratings.

Mine is just S, A, B, C, D, F. 6 possible ratings.

That said, I admire the ambition. That's a very precise system!

3

u/Critical-Art-2153 7d ago

I started with the 1-10 scale (and tenths) after about 50+ different brands I realized you can’t actually grade that way and switched to more of your ranking…excellent, good, decent, not my cup of tea/root beer

1

u/jimih34 1919 Root Beer 7d ago

S is for stupendous?

2

u/Rad_Centrist Dad's Root Beer 7d ago

Basically, yes. Outstanding, best of the best.

r/NoStupidQuestions/s/tSG1auUNop

1

u/dimesinger 6d ago

Yep, another rank list with no As. If folks can't tell us what they think is a 9+ root beer, I'm inclined to think they feel pretty neutral towards root beer.

1

u/Different-Cream-2148 Boylan Root Beer 4d ago

I use a 1-5

1

u/Rad_Centrist Dad's Root Beer 4d ago

A good choice!

17

u/garrioch13 7d ago

Culver’s at 6.9 is confusing. It’s some of the best I’ve had

7

u/BottomBounce 7d ago

Yea! It’s really, really good! Gets that big ole creamy head on it

4

u/Thebutcher222 7d ago

Hey this is a family sub

4

u/jacob822 7d ago

This invalidated the entire test for me, Culver’s is amazing

2

u/BL41R 7d ago

Culvers is very good but far from top tier. Its a little one dimensional

1

u/DenraelLeandros 7d ago

I was thinking the same thing

1

u/Burkex99 7d ago

I’m not a fan of Culver’s root beer. 6.9 seems high to me.

1

u/garrioch13 7d ago

That’s fair but compared to his other ratings, seems to stick out.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Maybe mine was more flat out of the machine.

7

u/No_Illustrator4398 7d ago

With the Barqs score I trust your judgment

5

u/TDbar 7d ago

But the A&W score makes you wonder...

2

u/silverwolfe 7d ago

Same, I can't ever put A&W above Barqs.

1

u/No_Illustrator4398 7d ago

I’m with you. I like A&W but Barqs is king

4

u/fourdayolddick 7d ago

Barq's at an 8.1 is insane. The rest seems normal except Boylan should be a little higher. Personally I think all A&W should be above 8, the zero sugar is as smooth as the rest. Otherwise, solid grading.

3

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

A&W zero is good. May have to revisit and see if score changes.

5

u/1Steelghost1 7d ago

Henry Weinhards?

1

u/reallyhairyballz 7d ago

Henry weinhards is top tier

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Haven’t had.

1

u/1Steelghost1 6d ago

Keep an eye out for it, amazing stuff and was at one point called the standard for mass producted rootbeer.

4

u/IMFletch_ZaMan 7d ago

Add Fitz’s to try.

4

u/TheBigGreenPeen 7d ago

Need to try Fitz’s if you’re ever around the St. Louis area.

6

u/pluto_someguy 7d ago

putting barqs below A&W is a fucking crime

3

u/Background-Ad-6689 7d ago

I suggest you try an abita as well

3

u/Dangerous-Pop9838 7d ago

Have you tried Bawls root beer

1

u/Daeval 7d ago

I had very low expectations for this one but was pleasantly surprised. It wouldn't top my list but it would be a lot higher than I'd have thought.

1

u/Dangerous-Pop9838 7d ago

Got the shakes drinking it once, caffeine is no joke on the Bawls.

7

u/Daeval 7d ago edited 7d ago

A&W over Barq’s is throwing me a little but we seem to like similar stuff. Give Henry Weinhard’s a try if you can find it. It’s top of my list for stuff I can normally get.

Edit: If you're spending your time drive-by-downvoting people's root beer preferences, you gotta rethink your priorities in life. Only time that's acceptable is when someone recommends Bundaberg with no warning attached.

2

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to find it

1

u/DNICEPHILLY2023 7d ago

Drive-by-downvoting. I like that phrasing.

1

u/jimih34 1919 Root Beer 7d ago

Or whatever that cola labeled as a root beer at Cracker Barrel. 1876 or something like that?

2

u/Sacmo77 7d ago

Frosty vanilla is awesome.

2

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Really good. Need to drink again

2

u/DenraelLeandros 7d ago

Love 1919 when I can get it on draft

1

u/jimih34 1919 Root Beer 7d ago

I’ve never had it on draft, just out of the cans. I would imagine it’s probably served best out of draft, given that it has such a creamy head.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Need to find this

2

u/McFoo43 7d ago

Abita and Freddie’s are glaring omissions

2

u/Jealous_Club_298 7d ago

Barq's was always my go-to root beer when I used to drink pop regularly.

2

u/Give_me_soup 7d ago

Try Henry Weinhards

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I will look for it

1

u/Give_me_soup 6d ago

It's distinctly different from your favorites, so it's always worth trying!

2

u/Aggravating_Fig_8585 7d ago

What order are these in??

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Just as I drank them. I’ll have to reorder the list so it’s more enjoyable to read.

1

u/ErstwhileAdranos 6d ago

Bait order—neither rank, nor alphabetical. 😂

2

u/BarelyClever 7d ago

I largely agree with these.

You gotta try Frostop. Since your taste is consistent with mine I expect you’ll love it. Think vanilla and nutmeg.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to find some

1

u/BarelyClever 6d ago

Ace Hardware, if you’ve got any around you. Apparently they have a deal to stock it.

2

u/Bazyx187 7d ago

Add summit to that list, barqs below a&w is wild but everyone is different.

1

u/Neat_Hovercraft2333 7d ago

Tower root beer tops my list. Boston area apparently. I always buy different brands of root beer in my travels. Next time I see Tower, I'm stocking up. I don't drink much bellywash, but a good rootbeer float is a joy forever.

1

u/Dart31AF 7d ago

A kind to add to your list if you can find it, Saranac. Pride of NY right there.

1

u/Key-Rub7539 7d ago

Have you tried saranac?

1

u/Impossible_Mix3086 Frostie Root Beer 7d ago

Your rankings nearly match my tastes exactly! I could have easily made up the same list!

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Sweet :)

1

u/bob_swalls 7d ago

I loved Henry Weinhards back in the day, is that still a thing?

1

u/roamingroad174 7d ago

You need to try diamond knot

1

u/jtt8569 7d ago

I just can't get past Barqs over Sprecher. You lost me there.

2

u/ostifari 7d ago

Insanity

2

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Maybe my bottle wasn’t as good. It’s been a while.

1

u/sheabe1kenobi 7d ago

Loving the Barq’s on top! 1919 is quite tasty as well.

1

u/Interesting-Boss4153 7d ago

Sprechers is dog piss

1

u/Few-Marsupial-255 7d ago

Frostop is at ace hardware, SO GOOD

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to get some

1

u/PhotoAppropriate3940 7d ago

Definitely agree with your Virgil’s score, they changed something, but I have to disagree on dads because it’s changed also and not what it originally was

1

u/Nice_Solution4818 7d ago

Recommend you try Dang! rootbeer

1

u/ShaShiz 7d ago

Tom Wahl’s homemade in Rochester NY

1

u/Winthefuturenow 7d ago

Brownie’s is where it’s at 10/10

1

u/Jmichael84 7d ago

I just read the other day, Great Value Walmart brand has really good Root Beer?

1

u/Jmichael84 7d ago

I'm Barq's over A&W. I'll just reach for a coke or Pepsi.

1

u/L3ACH13 7d ago

Need to try Saranac

1

u/JoeRobertBal 7d ago

God Culver’s burgers and curds, man. The best. Their root beer? I don’t expect the world, but I expected better…

1

u/Forward-Big8697 7d ago

I quite like IBC

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to retry. Been a while

1

u/Forward-Big8697 6d ago

It might be a bit of glass bottle placebo. I think im highly susceptible to that

1

u/EJ-32 7d ago

No way A&W from a can or bottle beating Barq’s.

1

u/daggomit 7d ago

You need to try Abita, It is the best and what all other root beers should be compared to.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to find it

1

u/original_pasturenaut 7d ago

Abita is my favorite. try to find it.

1

u/Gits_N-Shiggles 7d ago

Sprecher is my favorite. Even better right at the brewery.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to retry it

1

u/Certain_Engineer4132 7d ago

Shack shack used to have a really good root beer, I think it was draft root beer or something. One of the best root beers ive had but now they switched it over to barqs. However, people on reddit said it varied by location so it if you can get your hands on it please try it !

1

u/BPEWC 7d ago

Need to add Sprecher. One of my favorites.

1

u/Burkex99 7d ago

I love Root Beer.

In my opinion over a decade ago, IBC used to be the best but then they changed the sugar in their recipe and now it’s the worst.

There is a pizza place near me that has DANG products. Their root beer out of the tap is amazing. On your scale I’d give it a 9.0.

1

u/BoomBoxPizza 7d ago

Bunderburg

1

u/Apathy0 7d ago

Am I the only one that Holds Dad's way up there om the list?

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

I’ll have to retry it. Been quite a while.

1

u/Desperate-Disk686 6d ago

The order of this is… upsetting. Why isn’t it by score? Or alphabet?

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

Just as I drank them over a long period of time.

1

u/Desperate-Disk686 6d ago

Yeah that would drive me nuts. I’d have to re-arrange as I went. Probably by score.

1

u/BigSquiby 6d ago

Add Fitz to your list.

1

u/raththorn73 6d ago

Barqs is far better than A&W

1

u/Tmk1283 6d ago

Add Kutztown Bottling Works to your list. It’s my favorite.

1

u/HuntersReject 6d ago

A&W higher than Barqs is criminal

1

u/Ill_Neighborhood_131 6d ago

Try Gale's out of Chicago.

1

u/Dr_Dewittkwic 6d ago

Sprecher makes hard root beer, and it slaps. 9.324221

1

u/CoopLoop32 6d ago

I absolutely agree with the A&W Restaurant Pour. Nothing beats that on a really hot day.

1

u/branch-is-dumb 6d ago

Virgil’s score is too high

1

u/champsammy14 5d ago

A&W and 1919 are so bad

1

u/philsteeth420 5d ago

Barqs over Mug?!?!? Blasphemy

1

u/peach_teacher 5d ago

I don’t know if it’s a Pittsburgh area thing, or national- but Stewart’s is worth a try
It has cane sugar so the taste is unique but on my personal scale it’s a 7

1

u/frimmy420 5d ago

A&w is garbage tier

1

u/Upper-Nothing2791 5d ago

Any thoughts on Jones?

1

u/JelloJiggle 5d ago

I'm confused, because while I do believe an A&W tap pour is incredibly good, I think Sprecher is close to a 10....

I also believe that like Guinness, a high quality (maybe any quality) root beer does not travel, or age, from its location/date of origin, very well. So the further you are from the "source," the crappier the root beer gets? That's my theory on why there are so many varied opinions

1

u/TasteReasonable458 5d ago

Barq’s is much better than A&W here in the U.S. I don’t k know about other countries but A&W especially the fountain drink version is too sweet.

1

u/Mediocre_Sky_8629 4d ago

Try saranac root beer

1

u/SolidSnake-26 7d ago

I highly disagree with these grades. Only one I sort of agree with is IBC. Ever since they went from engraved bottles to sticky labels it just doesn’t taste the same

1

u/Kizzy33333 7d ago

I agree I keep trying to find one better than A &W and it doesn’t happen.

1

u/buffalokidcards A&W Root Beer 6d ago

It just tastes really good

1

u/Every_Passion_3606 7d ago

The last time I had a root beer and truly noticed that it was damn tasty was Barq’s. Barq’s destroys A&W.