People that like Spike

I get mail. I answer most of it too. Here's a few selections:

A guest review from Pin Tail Bozo (I didn't ask, neither should you)

I have just finished a bottle of Jones Soda Co. RootBeer flavour soft drink; and thought you might like to include a 'guest review' column on your site, so I have enclosed the following. I hope it matches the format, sorry I can't provide a picture, but since according to the Jones Soda Co. ' The labels are kinda like our minds - always changing', you will discover that it would be senseless to include a label anyway.

Manufacturer:
Jones Soda Company, Seattle Washington, USA (oddly, the label also has 'Product of Canada' stamped on it)

The Pitch:
Ya gotta make a living somehow; we chose the beverage world. Good old soda with a twist. No hidden meanings, no billion dollar ad campaigns. At Jones we want you to buy a lot of sode and recycles the bottles. The labels are kinda like our minds - always changing. Run with the little guy... create some change. www.jonessodea.com

(Also on the label: 'Natural and Artificial Flavors Sooper Dooper Soda')

The Ingredients:
Carbonated water, High fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, color (caramel), phosphoric acid, preservatives: (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate)

The Box:
N/A

PinTail Says ( Ok, well, you call yourself spike )
If it matters, the label on the bottle I drank was entitled 'Photo #1312: Darren Kemper, Calgary, AB'. This was a relatively boring photo of a metal fan with a brand name of 'Tuscan', for some reason the fan blades look purple, and the photo looks like an artsy double exposure. It's no great work of art, and as root beer bottle labels go, I'd say it's pretty lame. I can tell you that this soft drink is definitely root beer flavour, although why it isn't just called root beer is perhaps a mystery for another day. Anyway, this rootbeer is produced in Canada, where they
clearly can't decide whether they want to spell flavor the American way or the British way (flavour), can you say identity crisis ?

This is a relatively thin brew with very little carbonation, I only get one or two small belches per bottle, and not too much flavor (or is that flavour) It is nice and sweet - total caloric value of this 12 oz. bottle is 156 kCalories. Since there are about 16 kCalories in a teaspoon of refined sugar this is the equivalent of about nine teaspoons. Imagine putting that in your morning coffee. Not a bad root beer, just not a great one. -

Rating: B

No letter here, but pay a visit to http://www.simplyscottish.com for all things Scottish. You're welcome, Andrew.

Important safety tip: Don't ask strangers using pseudonyms health-related questions. (I referred these people to the respective companies)

I was reading your ingredients list from several root beers compare to Virgil.

Question: You say that all brands include phosphoric acid in them. But the labels of Stewart's and A&W don't mention it.

Do you know something I don't know? Please let me know because as a dialysis patient I am not to drink any soda with phosphoric acid.

Another person asks:

um, does henry weinhard's root beer contain caffeine? i can't tell from the bottle, and i'm sort of allergic to caffeine but i love good root beer.

Matt fans the flames with this missive:

I agree that IBC leaves something to be desired. IBC is all fluff and no content. Yeah! the old fashioned bottle looks neat but it's what inside the bottle that counts. IBC isn't creamy, doesn't have much of a head, or bite; its an average rootbeer. The mass produced, but very tasty, A&W is far superior over IBC. Those who believe that IBC is a great rootbeer have never tried a truly great rootbeer such as Henry Weinhard.

Mike weighs in on IBC with an excellent take:

As for IBC, it's the kind of root beer I'd have in the metal tub of ice at the BBQ picnic under a blazing hot sun. So it doesn't have the honey overtones of Thomas Kemper or the wintergreen freshness of Virgil's. The carbonation helps it go toe-to-toe with hot/bbq sauce. if I were to sit in a dark room and contemplate, Weinhard would be better. But a picnic? Gotta go with IBC.

I just found your web page with the root beer reviews. I love it!

I also read the comments about IBC brand. I agree with you about it. It just isn't that great of a root beer.

I don't know how you drink your root beer but I think it makes a different if you drink it from a bottle or a frosted mug. My favorite root beer is Henry Weinhard's Root Beer poured into a heavy frosted mug. There is nothing better than sticking your nose into a mug of Henry's and taking a nice swig.

Finally...someone who agrees with me on IBC. I've never swigged through my nose, but hey, if it's how you enjoy Henry's, go for it!