Root beer

Americana Root Beer

Orca Beverage Soda Works · Vintage-style cane sugar root beer

Mukilteo, Washington, USA

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A vintage-styled cane sugar root beer from Washington's Orca Beverage, built on a soft, honey-rich sweetness rather than a bark-forward bite. The pour leans creamy and modern: vanilla and honey lead, a muted licorice thread runs underneath, and an unexpected fruity tang flickers across the opening sips before caramel notes settle in. Carbonation is mellow with an odd late nip, and the honey can tip syrupy and a touch wearying as the bottle warms. A pleasant, dessert-leaning interpretation best served hard-chilled or poured over ice cream.

Taste profile
Flavor fingerprint for Americana Root BeerSweetness 4 of 5, Carbonation 2 of 5, Body 4 of 5, Creaminess 4 of 5, Bitterness 1 of 5, Spice-heat 1 of 5, Aroma intensity 3 of 5, Finish 3 of 5SweetnessCarbonationBodyCreaminessBitternessSpice-heatAromaFinish

Objective sensory intensities (how it tastes) — not a liking score.

Flavor wheel
Flavor wheel for Americana Root BeerHighlighted: Root & sassafras, Anise & licorice, Vanilla & cream, Caramel & molasses, Fruity (cherry, citrus), Off-notes (artificial, metallic, flat, soapy).RootWintergreenAniseSpiceVanillaCaramelWoodyHerbalFruityOff-notes

Our editorial notes.

Scores

Our score
33/50
What drinkers think
6/9
early estimate
Critics vs. the crowd
+4
A critics’ pick

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The maker

Americana Root Beer is a traditional cane-sugar root beer produced by Orca Beverage Soda Works in Mukilteo, Washington, the long-running Pacific Northwest bottler behind dozens of heritage and craft soda labels. It is built around vanilla, licorice, and sassafras notes with creamy licorice undertones, and bottled caffeine- and gluten-free in long-neck glass bottles.

Ingredients & nutrition

Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Extracts of Vanilla, Licorice, Sassafras Root Bark, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Acacia Extract, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness).