Bundaberg Australian Root Beer
Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 2:34PM ;)
Our world spanning travels to seek out the best root beer brings us this week to Australia. Actually I'm still at home in my pajamas, but with this cool bottle of Bundaberg Root Beer in my hand, it's like I'm there. I also have a "'Crocodile' Dundee" marathon on. That's not true, actually I said that just so I could use the double quotes around "Crocodile."
Speaking of "'Crocodile' Dundee" (see I did it again) do you remember the scene where Michael J. "Mick" "Crocodile" Dundee (portrayed by Paul Hogan) has a knife pulled out on him and he says "that's not a knife...this is a knife" and pulls out a giant Australian-sized knife? Well, the flavor of this root beer is that big knife to the small knives of other root beers.
Actually I don't know if that's true either, I just wanted to use the analogy, and it gave me a chance to use the double quotes again. Flavor, though, is the, well, interesting point of this beverage. As you may have seen or heard us debate on Popcast Episode 4, Bundaberg has a flavor unlike anything else. It's not bad, in fact it's good. Just pinpointing everything that is in it and describing the final results that hit your tongue is difficult.
It contains sarsaparilla root and flavor, vanilla bean, licorice and molasses. The sarsaparilla root and flavor is what provides the traditional root beer taste here, which is almost a cameo rather than the featured player. The vanilla bean, licorice and molasses sort of combine to a smooth, almost bitey sweetness that I've never tasted before in a beverage. This is the same part that we both agree almost tastes like there is the slightest hint of lemon. Again, there is no lemon, but there is no other way to describe it.
This is easily the most difficult beverage I've had to review. Easy to drink, difficult to describe. Wow that's a good line. Don't you dare take that my line, Bundaberg! I suppose it's too late. I suppose I'd be honored. Or honoured. One more Australian thing for you: Yahoo Serious. That is all.
Verdict: Buy a pack!
-Mike
Reader Comments (5)
In a word, I'd say this root beer is "bland". Or "boring". Or "disappointing". Take your pick. I wasn't impressed with it.
I think the reasons Americans don't like Bundaberg root beer is because it's formulated with a non-American palate in mind. Root beer isn't popular outside of North America (and The Philippines due to US influences) and it's one of those tastes you have to grow up with to enjoy. I look upon it sort of like the US equiv of Vegemite.
As an Australian living in the US I -hate- root beer and every other Australian I know who has tried it feels the same. To us it tastes like cough syrup. This isn't a criticism of people who drink it, it's just something you have to grow up with.
I suspect Bundaberg with their root beer has attempted to create something acceptable to the Aussie palate. My (American) wife got a four pack of Bundaberg Root Beer from Cost Plus International Market just to see what it is like. She thinks it's "good, but different". I had a sip and while it's still not my style, I was able to drink it without wanting to run and wash my mouth out with some Coca-Cola to get rid of the taste - something I do whenever I'm accidentally given my wife's root beer at a restaurant. This would seem to confirm BB's root beer is geared toward a different taste preference.
Just as a quick addendum to Mike's comment; it probably underscores root beer's lack of popularity amongst we Australians to note that last year (2009) Bundaberg re-branded their Root Beer for domestic distribution as Sarsaparilla.
To Mike... Who says Americans don't like Bundaberg? I sure do... It might be a matter of the "standard" American palate, but it might also just be that it hasn't been here long enough or hasn't been marketed well enough to be heard of by most americans... I certainly hadn't heard of it before yesterday...
Now for the important question, where do I find it around here?!?
I had my first Bundaberg Root Beer two days ago...and loved it, even with my "American palate" (really? ...there is such a thing? I don't think so). In fact, it moved right up to the top of my "root beer style" list.
The initial taste was mild and root beer-ish, but then the lingering aftertaste hooked me and reeled me right in: mellow licorice and molasses. Just great! (and I don't even like licorice, but it melded perfectly with the molasses). I have to admit, I had to keep "root beer" out of my mind, but when I did and just let it be Bundaberg...Wow!.
I was disheartened when my one bottle was empty ...I'll have to order some more right away!