I’ve reviewed Virgil’s regular brew, and their zero sugar offering with wildly different ratings. Nevertheless, Virgil’s is known for their past award winning brew, and is widely thought of being one of the best overall root beers around. When I saw this bottle at Whole Foods, I couldn’t let it go. It wasn’t cheap either. If I’m recalling correctly, one bottle of this was equal to an entire pack of Virgil’s. I hope it’s worth it.
I’m not entirely sure if the Bavarian nutmeg special edition is any different than the original micro-brew. That would be an interesting and disappointing situation, if it were just most of the original at a premium. I’m hoping it’s a unique flavor, even if I don’t like it.
16.9 Fluid Ounces of Virgil’s Special Blend
The bottle is huge, and instead of a traditional cap, this root beer is covered by a sealed Italian soda or water cap. I’m not entirely sure what it’s called, but if you know, comment below. In any case, this bottle is pretty unique, and seriously awesome. This definitely looks like what a European root beer might be.
Background
Check out the review about Virgil’s here to learn more about Reed’s, Inc.
Ingredients
- Purified Carbonated Water
- Cane Sugar
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Herbs
- Spices
The natural flavors, herbs, and spices, are described as:
- Anise
- Licorice
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Wintergreen
- Sweet Birch
- Molasses
- Nutmeg
- Pimento Berry Oil
- Balsam Oil
- Cassia Oil
First Taste
I’ll admit, popping the top off this brew was intimidating, as was the impressive carbonated crack. I can immediately tell on first taste that this version of Virgil’s is much different than the original. Not only is the flavor smoother, but it’s creamier. It’s fruity, too, possibly due to the deep molasses flavor that is very noticeable. The licorice flavor is much less prominent, which was one of my biggest complaints in the original. The only thing that I don’t like here is the lack of that traditional root beer flavor. I’m not sure what that would be like, with all of these different flavors present, but that fruitiness is overwhelming.
After Time
It’s hard not to just dive into this brew and drink it all quickly. It really is a smooth drink. Nevertheless, I stuck with the plan, and over time, I am pleased to say it doesn’t lose its flavor. It does lose some of its carbonation, however. It becomes very noticeable that this version sticks to my mouth, which is disappointing. I think that might be caused by the molasses. You can definitely detect the mint flavoring, especially in the after taste, which is somewhat prominent. I would say that this brew is much better drunk quickly, rather than waiting for it to breathe.
Conclusion
I really like Virgil’s Bavarian nutmeg special edition. I would even go so far to say that it easily ties the original in quality. Losing the licorice, and embracing the remaining flavors, including the added fruitiness is welcome. The fruitiness is a little overwhelming, and some of that root beer essence is lost in the mix. But, despite that, it’s a very smooth brew. The carbonation could be a bit better, the stickiness is too much, and the after taste stays a bit too long. Usually that would be a huge loss, but here it’s a minor trade off for something so good. Right now, I would say in the more gourmet market, the Bavarian nutmeg special edition is a unique experience, like the original, and tied with Polar from the traditional market. If you see this one around, get it.
Rating: ♛♛♛♛♕ – 4/5