|
What a long review this is. I can't believe they wrote
all that stuff all over the box. Someone obviously gets paid by the word.
What to do with all this fine empty space below? I know. Study the picture
below and meet me underneath the can:
Don't ever drink that stuff above. Even if you are a paid
subject in a medical research project - it's not worth the money. I didn't
mention this in my review, but after drinking a can my leg fell off. Really!
I had to have it surgically re-attached (is there any other way?) except
they put it on a little crooked so now I often walk in circles.
This has been a public service announcement from Spike.
|
- Manufacturer:
- The Crowley Beverage Corporation, 30 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA
01778
-
The Pitch:
- (From face of carton): Using Natural Ingredients, We Brew A Root Beer
So Pure, So Rich and Creamy, You'll Swear It's Made In Heaven.
(From side of carton): Virgil's is a brewed root beer, made from
natural herbs and spices. Unlike other root beers, it is a pure product
with absolutely no preservatives. Unlike other root beers that are
cold processed, Virgil's is heat pasteurized. All-natural herbs and
spices are blended with unbleached cane sugar (other root beers use
high fructose corn syrup) and crystalline water. After the root beer
is bottled, it is then heat pasteurized. This pasteurization process
gives Virgil's a long self life without using artificial preservatives.
Bon Appetit
(From other side of carton): Virgil's Root Beer is the 1994 and 1996
"Outstanding Beverage" winner at the International Fancy
Food and Confection Show. Held at New York's Javits Center; the show
attracts 30,000 visitors and 1000 exhibitors from 30 different countries.
Over 8430 gourmet products compete in the prestigious Fancy Food competiton.
Retailers throughout the country judge the contestants and then trophies
are awarded for the finest products in each category. Virgil's Root
Beer is proud to be the recipient of the International Fancy Foods
Show's "Outstanding Beverage" award.
(From bottom of the carton): Why is it said, "Virgil's is so
pure you swear it was made in heaven."
-
Please compare
| Brand |
Ingredients |
Sweetner |
Bottling Process |
Preseravtives |
Flavor Enhancer |
| Virgil's |
All-natural |
unbleached cane sugar |
micro-brewed |
none |
natural citric |
| A & W |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
| Mug |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
| Barq' |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
| Hire's |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
| IBC |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
| Stewarts |
Artificial |
high fructose corn syrup |
cold-packed |
benzoate of soda |
phosphoric acid |
-
- The Ingredients:
- Virgil's contains these key natural ingredients: carbonated water;
unbleached cane sugar; carmelized unrefined cane sugar.
And these herbs and spices:
| anise |
Spain |
| licorice |
France |
| vanilla |
Madagascar |
| cinnamon |
Ceylon |
| clove, nutmeg |
Indonesia |
| wintergreen |
China |
| cassia oil |
China |
| sweet birch |
US |
| molasses |
US |
| pimiento berry oil |
Jamaica |
| balsam oil |
Peru |
- The box:
- 62kb jpg
-
Spike says:
- Medium dark in color, very light carbonation,
no head to speak of. A very complex-flavored rootbeer (as evidenced
by the cornucopia of ingredients). This is definitely a challenging
draft to describe. Smooth with a slightly acidic, fruity taste which
is surprising - acidity is not a taste I expect from "Heaven".
A somewhat sharp aftertaste - which tastes like it came from the acidity
- that lingers. It reminds me a bit of the aftertaste I sometimes encounter
with Coke. Despite that, this brew is evidence that a multitude of natural
ingredients can result in a fine drink (see Tommyknocker
1859 for the contrary case). If you like
root beer, you should try this drink because of its distinctive and
unique flavor. I don't know if I'd call it a "pure" flavor,
but that's just marketing hyperbole anyway. And "crystalline water"?
That would be ice. Even if you love this brew, it probably won't end
up a staple in your rootbeer cellar - it's the most expensive rootbeer
I've purchased to date ($6.00 for a 4-pack). In my rating, I won't consider
price or all the writing on the box I had to type onto this page (the
carton copy spends an inordinate amount of time bashing the competition,
giving it a snobbish air. Yes, not only do I review root beer but I'm
a box critic as well). A very good drink, unique, marred mostly by the
aftertaste and a bit by the lack of head. I give it a solid B.
|
