Please Note: This review was performed in 2016, when a possible older recipe of Virgil’s Micro Brewed Root Beer was being sold by Reed’s Inc. If you come across a label that differs from the one in this review, you may not be experiencing the same root beer that this review describes.
I have to admit that I’m excited for Virgil’s. It’s been a little while, but if I’m remembering correctly, this is one of those brands that has set the standard for the industry. I have to admit, after my last three experiences, I feel I’m due for something nice, don’t you?
This particular brew claims to be a globalized blend, stating that the brand imports all sorts of ingredients from all over the world. Despite this apparent modern method for acquiring components, Virgil’s Micro Brewed Root Beer has that essential look of a traditional root beer.
Classic, Traditional, Delicious?
Virgil’s Micro Brewed Root Beer is presented in a very dark bottle, adorned with gold, white, and red tones. Prominently displayed on the label is a very large bearded fellow holding pitchers of what appears to be the perfect visual representation of root beer. I feel like I’m in for a treat. Furthermore, the label boasts proudly that this particular brand is the winner of the NASFT (this is an old acronym for the Specialty Food Association) award for outstanding beverage. You’ve got my attention.
Background
Virgil’s is a brand that was acquired by Reed’s, most notable for its westernized Ginger Beers. Their tag line is “The Best Soda’s in the World, Naturally.” For my sake, I hope so. Actually, it might be easier to describe Reed’s by letting them do it for me:
Ingredients
- Purified Carbonated Water
- Unbleached Cane Sugar
- Carmelized Unrefined Cane Sugar
- Herbs
- Spices
- Citric Acid
By now, if you’ve been reading my articles, you know of my disdain for natural and artificial flavor. Well… to be quite honest, I expected I would have to complain about these terrible “ingredients” in every article throughout this blog, but the truth is, I can’t. Not here at least. My grumpy demeanor must be quieted, because it appears that Virgil’s Root Beer is actually going to explain what their “herbs and spices” are made of:
- Anise
- Licorice
- Vanilla (Bourbon)
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Wintergreen
- Sweet Birch
- Molasses
- Nutmeg
- Pimento Berry Oil
- Balsam Oil
- Oil of Cassia
I’m totally shocked, and super impressed. Way to go, Virgil’s.
First Taste
After popping the top off this brew, the first thing that hits is the scent, which is pleasant and refreshing. However, it’s immediately apparent that there’s more to this than just your traditional root beer essence. I can’t really pinpoint what it is, but it’s nice and fragrant. Upon diving in and getting that first taste, the traditional root beer element is the first thing I experience. Nevertheless, there is an initial overpowering licorice flavor, which I’m not entirely a fan of. There’s very little bitterness, which is good, and the sweetness is well balanced.
Virgil’s is carbonated well, but it’s not too bubbly and there’s no saltiness associated. I’d say that, if anything, it reminds me of a cream or a foam. This feeling is what I expected from Zuberfizz. Besides the vanilla (which is pleasant) and licorice (which is unpleasant,) I’m not capable of discerning any of the other flavors listed by Virgil’s. However, I’d say, overall the combination of these herbs and spices is actually quite good.
After Time
After almost forty minutes, there’s definitely a loss in carbonation, but not to the point where it’s unsatisfying to drink. In fact, at this point, it’s a lot easier to appreciate the flavor. I like having the opportunity to drink something over time, and so far I have to say the root beers I’ve experienced on the whole have been good at that. Unfortunately, for Virgil’s, that means having to taste more licorice. On the plus side, though, I can taste the wintergreen now. The rest, however, still escape my amateur palate. Like those who preceded this article, given the cane sugar, there’s no syrupy texture or flavor and a drink of water is sufficient to swish away Virgil’s. So far, so good.
Conclusion
If it were not for my strong aversion to licorice, Virgil’s would be darn close to my perfect brew. I will note that the root beer flavor that I expect from something traditional isn’t as prominent, but the sheer fact that there’s so many levels of flavor that mesh so well makes up for that to a degree. Furthermore, Virgil’s Micro Brewed Root Beer actually tells me what I’m drinking, and that is worth quite a bit. This is the first time that I would strongly recommend others pick up one of these brews. I’m not going to swear that it was made in heaven, but it’s damn good.
Rating: ♛♛♛♛♕ – 4/5
It seems odd to me that you host a blog on reviewing gourmet root beers when you have a “strong aversion to licorice” when licorice and anise are too of the common ingredients. It strikes me as reviewing pizza when you have a strong aversion to pepperoni.
I don’t get very many comments on this blog. I appreciate all of them, even the unconstructive ones like yours.
I found it odd reading your comment, too. It seems strange that anyone would comment something unconstructive on someone else’s blog. It makes me wonder, why bother commenting at all?
I can’t change what I like or dislike, but I’m not going to hide that fact when I review root beers. I’m not a professional. I don’t make my own. I just speak my opinion into the void.
It’s okay if my reviews aren’t for you. Like everything on the web, you’re free to ignore it and move on if it doesn’t fit your need.
Your analogy is cute. The most famous pizza vlogger in the world prefers his pizzas with cheese only, and has often docked restaurants that provide him a pepperoni pie. Interesting how that works out. Also, did you know that pepperoni is a truly Italian-American derivative from 1919, and it referenced sausage? Interestingly enough, modern pizza evolved in the late 19th, early 20th centuries, and didn’t use any meat products. In fact, in the 1911 print, it was tomatoes, mozzarella, anchovies, and mushrooms. Pepperoni pizzas are kind of like the Taco Bell of Mexican cuisine. I think the analogy would fit better if I only reviewed corn-syrup infused root beers exclusively produced in plastic bottles.
That mushroom and anchovy pizza does sound good though. Since I too dislike pepperoni on my pizza, maybe I should start reviewing pizzas with the root beer. Thanks for the idea! Keep an eye out for The Pizza Person!
So happy so run across your blog! I love rootbeer. A local Homeland grocery has started carrying singles of different brands of rootbeer, sold cold, making it easy to try new ones. I recently tried Virgil’s and after reading your description, it’s like we drank completely different products. My notes for Virgil’s (shared on a different site) said it was like drinking a suicide mixture of coke, A&W with a splash of Dr Pepper and left to go almost flat. It was so awful, after 2 sips I poured it down the drain. Now I’m wondering if I had a spoiled bottle. I may try it again one of these days, but not soon! 🙂
Hi Lizabeth,
Thank you so much for the comment. It looks like the newest version of Virgil’s is actually a different recipe than the original. I read online that one is micro-brewed, and no longer available, and one is macro-brewed, which is what you probably tried. I think that might be the cause of your dislike. I plan to review the new one some time in the future.
Hello Root Beer Person,
I looked for a name to address you in the about section, but could not find one, hence the greeting. I’m wondering what your rating on the new recipe of Virgil’s would be. Will you be doing an updated review soon? I feel we have similar taste preferences, as Virgil’s was a standard from which I would judge other root beers. Now it serves as the tragic example of what happens when big corporations take over and change what was great about the original product it acquired. It seems they favor sub par ingredients that are cheaper while keeping the same price, presumably to increase profits.
Hi DK,
I have noticed a change in the Virgil’s labeling and recipe. I really don’t know what the difference is, but I feel like you’re probably on the right track. It happens with so many other businesses, I wouldn’t be surprised here. I have heard through rumor and speculation that it was a combination of big corporation opportunism mixed with a move toward macrobrewing. What the true reason is, I don’t think anyone really knows. Virgil’s was famously microbrewed, but they have been owned by Reed’s Inc. since 1999. That means they’ve been in control for decades. Maybe Reed’s Inc. will publicly describe why they made the change? Was it demand? Profit? Loss of a supplier? I’m as curious as everyone else is. I do think that demand was skyrocketing with the old recipe, because I started noticing Virgil’s popping up all over the place, and at a more affordable price right before the change.
I plan to do an updated review, and I have stopped drinking it in the mean time to prepare for that. It could take some time to get to though, I have quite a few other new (to me) root beers lined up.
Thank you for your comment!
The new recipe is horrible. Can’t believe they did this. They obviously don’t care about or know their customers. Typical corporate greed. Just sad
Hi Kasara,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you. It’s truly depressing, especially considering root beer isn’t particularly good for you in the first place. Virgil’s is supposed to be a premium treat, and companies should provide a high quality item when they are selling them at a premium.
hi. great review…
like you mentioned, reeds has changed the formula a bit after acquiring virgils from the crowleys. i remember drinking this back in the late 1990s and man it was truly heavenly…i had never tasted a root beer with such a delicate taste profile that just blew me away. not sure why reed’s has “tweaked” the formula but it is definitley different taste profile then what i remember from the original- it’s still good but not great…and i don’t buy it hardly ever…where as back in the day i used by cases of the original.
Hi Proheart. Thank you for your comment.
I think it comes down to big corporation greed. They can change the formula, get it mass produced, and live off of the old reputation that Reed’s built. Unfortunately for us, this happens to a lot of our favorite products.
Hello!
I found your review when I was searching for information about Virgil’s carbonation. Root beer is the only carbonated bev that I have allowed myself , well other than beer and prosecco.
I now have stomach cancer, and my nutritionist said root beer is a digestive, but to let the bottle remain open for a while to lessen the carbonation.
I have always liked Virgil’s. And to my surprise I discovered that it seems less carbonated. You have confirmed that! Thank you
Hi Zoé,
Thank you for your comment. I am glad that my experience was helpful to you. I am so sorry to hear that you have stomach cancer. May you find healing.
I am not a huge fan of carbonation, so I will sometimes let a pop breathe by letting it remain open for a little while. I find that sometimes, it enhances the flavor.
Wow! A lot of information here and so glad that somebody else brought up the change in formulation of Virgil’s. Virgil’s Root Beer is the first one I fell in love with back in 2016. I didn’t drink a whole lot of soda most of my life, but a friend of mine at work always carried the nasty Barqs or other things that were in cans and I happen to go to Fresh Thyme and noticed that they carried a four pack, but one for him and one for me for his birthday. Needless to say I fell in love with it, the store had a hard time keeping it in stock and then something changed after Covid. No it wasn’t my taste buds.
First thing I noticed was one iteration had clear bottles instead of dark brown bottles. That blew me away because I know what clear bottles can do with alcoholic beer, I was skeptical especially since I found it at a chain grocery store. Next thing I noticed was the label across the top. Was just a little sticker not the full wraparound on the neck. And then finally the taste
When I first had Virgil’s and I introduced it to my family and my girlfriend, I loved it and was so happy everybody loved it! It kinda made you puff your chest out and justified the $6.99 back at the time, but now I can’t put my finger on it but it is different. It’s a mixture of so many nasty things I can’t even figure it out. Which is what has now brought me to my new search to find as close to the feeling I had with “Virgil” as I can and so far even though I live in the city of Fitz’s which is very good by the way, it still isn’t that same feeling I got taking the bottle of a Virgil’s.
I disagree with a lot of your reviews, which is what so fun about food and drink as we are all drawn to different things. But, I am happy to see that not only on your blog but on others like Eric’s, there is something sadly wrong about this delicious root beer that has gone so sour (pun intended).
Sorry but I appreciate all of your work I am only on 25 varieties of root beer and it’s hard to find my favorite. For $3.99 for a four pack of hometown Fitz is may be my go to although I’m always on the lookout for another bottled gourmet craft.
PS – has anybody tried the Nutmeg version which I hear is really good? I’m just hoping it’s not one of those that was good and has also been changed because it’s a super large bottle in about nine dollars. Thanks to all of those that have appreciated the love of this tasty beverage, out of the bottle, of a mug, over ice cream, shared with parents and kids, I love the fact that there is no caffeine and I definitely want to lean always towards pure cane sugar. Sorry even though I found a really good one it has high fructose corn syrup and just can’t do it.
Peace and root beer!
Hi Kyle,
Peace and root beer to you as well! Thank you for your comment.
First, even though we do not agree on our flavor profiles I completely agree with you that this is what is so much fun about food and drink. I am glad we all have a unique perspective.
Second, I did indeed review the Bavarian Nutmeg version, which was even better than the original Virgil’s when I had it. You can read it here. I will note that I have not reviewed it since Virgil’s changed hands, therefore, you would be going in blind. Good luck if you find it (and it’s still around!)
I have not had Fitz’s yet. Maybe soon!
You have nothing to apologize to me for.
Peace and root beer!