This is where I rate all of the Gourmet root beer that I have tried. I classify gourmet as anything in a glass bottle. I can not drink root beer from a can or plastic bottle because I don't like the taste of aluminum or plastic in my root beers. My tastes on root beer may be different than yours but this is my rating page.
Body: The body is the flavor. Flavor is very important. I look for a sweet strong sassafras taste with vanilla and honey surfacing after the initial contact.
Head: The head is very important. Everyone imagines a tall frosty mug with a huge frothy head when they think of root beer. That is exactly what a root beer needs, a tall frothy head that lasts. The foam that constitutes the head should taste good and not be harsh, but smooth and frothy.
Bite: The bite is a combination of the spices (if you don't think that spices bite, just drink a ginger beer) and what carbonation is left in the root beer after the head has been formed. The stuff that literally 'bites.' I like a mild spicy, fizzy bite in my root beer. Not too strong and not a harsh carbonation bite, but not absent from the root beer.
After Taste: A very important aspect indeed. I enjoy an after taste of vanilla and honey, I don't really enjoy a fruity after taste or one of licorice or anything too strong. The after taste should be enjoyable but not linger too long or too brief.
I Rate my root beer with a 5 keg system. Before I rate a root beer I first chill the root beer in the refrigerator and I chill my glass mug. Then I don't eat for a while. I don't wait until I get hungry or thirsty, I just get that neutral sort of feeling. Then, I take a bite of a saltine cracker, chew it, and rinse my mouth out with clean water. Then I am ready to begin. After that I open the root beer, take a whiff, and pour it into the mug to observe the head. I then drink the root beer, all the while making little notes that about it that I use on the reviews. If results are inconclusive, I get another bottle and try again.
My policy is that if a company feels that for some reason I have received a bad batch of their root beer that I will re-rate it if they will send me a few more complimentary bottles, this however does not necessarily mean that they will receive a better rating, but rather, a second chance. Also, if I have given a good rating to a root beer and I find that subsequent batches that I purchase for purely satisfactory purposes prove to be less pleasurable than the original sample, I will purchase a few more bottles and re-rate the brew. So, if you are a brewer of fine root beer and feel that you have been unjustly rated, send me some more and I will see. If you already have a good rating, don't mess with your recipe!
There is also another feature I offer. For any root beers that I rate to be four kegs or above are entitled to Eric's Seal of Approval. This is a prestigious medalion that can actually be placed on root beer bottles.
