There are hundreds of flavors of root beer out there, each with their own unique characteristics that attract different segments of the market. I was curious how Boylan was going to differentiate their take on root beer, especially to justify the premium pricing of their version and the fact that this flavor seems to be noted as the flagship of their Bottleworks lineup.

They set the context with a description from their website:

Although root beer dates back to the 1860s, it was not until recently that there has been a dramatic sales increase in this flavor category. This new popularity is due partly to the super-creamy style of root beer that is now being bottled. Even though these vanilla-laden root beers are tasty and have instant appeal, we believe that customers will tire of them quickly. It is for this reason that Boylan had chosen to develop an authentic, traditional tasting root beer. Boylan Bottleworks Root Beer has a rich and spicy sassafras flavor with only a subtle creamy note.

Once again, the quality of the packaging came forth. Boylan Bottleworks Root Beer comes in a dark brown glass bottle (vs. the green one used for Ginger Ale and the white one used for Black Cherry.) Of note from the ingredient list is the inclusion of "natural yucca extract". A little research concluded that the use of yucca in root beer is to increase the frothiness of the drink, thus supporting Boylan's claim for "BEST HEAD".

The core flavor in root beer comes from the root a sassafras plant. However, apparently sassafras is considered carcinogenic, thus lots of different natural and artificial flavorings have appeared to make up the difference… thus the wide diversity in root beer flavors.

Upon opening the bottle, the scent was very much root beer. That probably is a no brainier, but you never know sometimes. Flavor was solid, nothing odd to note. In fact, that pretty much described the experience. This wasn't a "bells and whistles" root beer… it was just plain ole root beer! The flavor was simple, clean, and smooth. Very little bitterness that you tend to find with some root beer flavors. Good combination of tastes involved. I actually envisioned that this incarnation would make a great root beer float!

Another solid flavor in the Boylan Bottleworks line. Recommended!

Next on the list was Boylan Bottleworks Ginger Ale!

Since I'm a light sleeper, I try to cutoff my caffeine consumption pretty early in the day, meaning that if I do have a soft drink after that point, it's a caffeine free flavor such as a lemon lime or ginger ale. In fact, my favorite ginger ale is the flavored Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale, which unfortunately is only available in 2 liter bottles around here. Thus, any new caffeine free option that isn't Sprite or Sierra Mist is a welcome addition to the beverage landscape. (Thus why I so enjoyed the limited edition Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash last year.)

The Bottleworks line of drinks from Boylan pays tribute to the classic flavors that used to be found at soda fountains, featuring more of a purely mixed taste vs. the abundance of artificial flavors we get today. Here's how they describe the line on their website:

Although you are not old enough to remember, what are known today as "gourmet sodas" are actually replicas of old fashioned traditional beverages. At the turn of the century, these carbonated beverages first became popular at soda fountains where flavored syrups were mixed with seltzer water to product a refreshing treat.

However, their rise in popularity did not occur until the advent of modern bottling equipment. Throughout the 1940s and 50s it was not uncommon for a family to drive down to the local bottler and fill their crates with the different varieties of sodas. Unfortunately, this tradition was replaced by the 2-liter plastic bottle.

In keeping with our company's heritage, we at the Boylan Bottling Co. are proud to make available again the authentic, full flavored, high-quality beverages of yesteryear in traditional glass bottles.

The glass bottling is very sharp, as we mentioned in our first review. Boylan actually paints on the graphics to the bottles… no stickers or labels used. Very nice. Whereas the Black Cherry we first tested came in a clear bottle, the Ginger Ale flavor is housed in a green glass bottle. It obviously relays the idea of "ginger ale", but also in some ways hides the fact that this drink is rather clear in actual color. Carrying on the common feature found in the Bottleworks line, there are two "keywords" printed on the front of the bottle (near the main logo) that describe the taste of the drink. For Boylan Bottleworks Ginger Ale, those words are "PALE" and "DRY". I wholeheartedly agree with that description!

I was recently involved in a forum discussion on a beverage-related website that questioned whether that site's reviews should factor in the marketing and packaging of a drink vs. just focusing on the flavor. I tended to lean towards the former side of the coin, as marketing/packaging go a long way in establishing one's perception of a drink. Think about the classic battle between those who love Coke vs. those who love Pepsi. Now, you can't tell me that these 2 options are the best drinks on the planet, but because of the way they are marketed, that has gone a far way in shaping customers' views of the product… whether one drink is superior to the other or not.

Unfortunately, we don't all live in a world where "The Pepsi Challenge" is a reality and we can sample drinks in blind taste tests. Thus, that's why I choose to also include the promotional angle in my beverage reviews. And in the case of Boylan, they do a really nice job of playing up the "retro" aspect of their drinks. The wonderful feeling of drinking 12 oz. out of a glass bottle almost makes you forget that you paid a ton more for the privilege vs. a can of Coke. Instead, you get the perception that this is something special and worth the added expense.

As a limited-release drink, Boylan has done the smart thing and invested in a very decent website that allows them to sell to the customer through very solid copywriting. For example, here's how they pitch their Ginger Ale flavor:

Although the consumption of ginger ale has been in decline over the past 10 years, it is still a very popular flavor in New York City. Its mature characteristics – crisp, dry, and refreshing – are what makes it so popular. Unlike "ginger beers", it is not hot and spicy but rather pale and clean. We consider Boylan Bottleworks Ginger Ale to be the most drinkable product in our entire line of sodas.

So after reading all this fluff about the drink, you are probably wondering what the heck it actually tastes like. Well, I can answer that for you.

It's good!

As proclaimed on the bottle, the drink is both "pale" and "dry". The experience was very crisp and clean. That's one advantage of using real sugar as the sweetener. You can definitely tell a difference if you drank it side-by-side a HFCS-sweetened ginger ale. Because of this clean taste, the beverage is an excellent compliment to food… though it also does a great job of standing on its own. It's truly a refreshing experience.

I'm looking forward to my next Boylan experience already!

My wife bought a 4-Pack of this drink during a recent visit to Trader Joe's. Surprisingly, I had never heard of Boylan. Here is how the company talks about itself on the packaging:

The Boylan Bottling Co., founded in 1891, is honored to share very similar beginnings with the carbonated beverages of the same era that are now world-famous. Bit it is our differences of today of which we are most proud. For more than a century, Boylan has formulated and produced, regardless of cost, only "authentic soda-pop", unlike most bottlers in the country who have over the years compromised their original recipes and cut costs by switching to corn syrup and plastic bottles.

It's the real stuff!

Boylan still uses pure cane sugar which enhances the true flavor rather than leave a syrupy aftertaste and thick glass bottles to ensure freshness and proper levels of carbonation. Our in-house flavor formulations use the most expensive extracts and essences — and plenty of them. So whether you're drinking a Boylan because you appreciate what is good and made right or just trying one for the first time, we thank you for supporting one of the oldest bottling companies and its authentic beverages of a bygone era.

The company is based out of Haledon, NJ, and is still family owned and operated. From what I can tell, they handle their own distribution, thus resulting in the products being somewhat hard to find nationally. They actually have several product lines. The flagship is their Birch Beer, which they've been making the longest. They also have a unique line called Seltzer, which are no calorie and no carb, but also don't use artificial sweeteners. They have a line called "The Natural Kind" that is marketed to organic/natural supermarkets. And finally, their multiflavor Bottleworks line, which is what our Black Cherry Soda calls home.

When Amy and I first tried this drink, our reaction was… and I quote, "Wow! Yummy! Ahhh!" Interestingly, it actually tasted somewhat like Dr Pepper, also a personal favorite. The carbonation was not overwhelming, unlike most drinks from the Big 3 today (that's Coke, Pepsi, and Cadbury Schweppes in case you were wondering). The bubbles added just enough "umph" to bring out the flavor. And that flavor was excellent. A little sweet, good body, rich and bold. Here's how this flavor is described on the 4-Pack packaging:

At first we had developed a California-type black cherry; fruity with berryish notes. It was good but not exceptional. So our focus turned toward a traditional black cherry soda, one that would be hearty and flavorful, and could be enjoyed with lunch and not "get lost". Boylan Bottleworks Black Cherry's deep flavor comes from a blend of different cherries along with other proprietary ingredients. Older customers tell us that it is reminiscent of what Dr. Brown's Black Cherry tasted like 40 years ago.

I took note of the mention that this drink "could be enjoyed with lunch and not 'get lost'." This is the exact issue I noted when I reviewed Dr. Pepper's now-discontinued Red Fusion (and in some ways, Pepsi Blue… also gone from the market).

Overall, this drink is very enjoyable. And it's Kosher (who needs to wait for Kosher for Passover Coke each year?) It's admirable that real cane sugar is used in this beverage. It really does make a difference. You can taste it. When the mainstream companies are claiming that some of their new offerings are "natural" (such as the relaunched 7Up — which really isn't natural at all), it's nice to see a small firm actually pulling it off with success.

Way to go Boylan!