I received a letter from a reader who asked me to review 1919 and said that it was their absolute favorite root beer. They mentioned they had friends who disagreed, and wanted to know my opinion. I am honored to have received a message like this. Although it was a touch expensive for a simple review from a humble amateur, I purchased a case of 12 directly from their online store (they claim gifts and apparel, but they also sell the root beer directly there as well.) I should have gotten the “pony cans” but I wanted the real experience. How could I not? Actually, I probably shouldn’t do this too often or my wallet will get a bit too lean!
I’m actually really excited to review this brew, because Reddit has been ablaze with praises with very few, if any, people saying they dislike it. Let’s get started!
Classic American Root Beer
Although 1919 does not come in a bottle, this root beer does have a powerful aesthetic. Unlike similar canned root beers, 1919 comes in a tall can, with bright colors and an attractive design. Overall I am impressed. The font harkens back to a Western feel, and the overall color scheme and art definitely conveys a traditional and classic expression of a root beer experience.
Background
America’s Original Brewery Made Root Beer
1919 is produced and distributed by New Ulm Brewing & Beverage Co. in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. According to their website, the name comes from the year in which prohibition started. They also go on to state that 1919 is made from real ingredients, including sugar and vanilla. On their page dedicated to serving suggestions, they are very clear that 1919 should not be served with ice. They instead prefer a frosted mug. If you’re a fan of root beer floats, they also include a recipe to make the perfect 1919 root beer float. I plan to try that as well, but I probably won’t make a review just on that.
Ingredients
- Carbonated Water
- Sugar
- Caramel Color
- Sodium Benzoate (As a Preservatie)
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
I’m impressed to see that 1919 goes so far as to state the exact number of calories per can (228 on mine.) Nevertheless, I’m disappointed that despite stating on their website they proudly use real ingredients, they aren’t willing to actually list those ingredients. Other root beer manufacturers have done so, and I believe that sets a precedent that should be followed.
Tasting
Although I expected one, there was no discernable hiss when I popped the 1919 can open. Maybe I’m too used to bottles. There was, however, a bit of visual wisp of CO2 that escaped. Cool. The smell is very traditional and strong relative to other root beers. If I had to take a guess off the smell alone, I would say they aren’t understating that vanilla is a primary component. Now it’s time to dig in.
The first taste is almost exactly in line with the smell and is mirrored very well. This root beer is incredibly sweet. I want to make this very clear. The carbonation is light, which I appreciate. It’s present, but not overwhelmingly so. The only time I had difficulty with the carbonation was when I took too big of a gulp, which is much easier with a can of this size. You definitely will not want for root beer with 16 ounces in your grip. Those “pony cans” seem more attractive by the moment!
I find that 1919 does not exhibit a particularly light and airy root beer experience, but that’s not necessarily bad. Some root beers go far and deliver a product that tastes watered down. This absolutely does not. The flavor is not bitter, but it’s strong and succinctly traditional in practically every way. Over time, the mintiness becomes apparent, but so too does the stickiness of the sugar. I felt it necessary to keep water on hand to swish the sweetness away. Honestly, if this didn’t say sugar on the can, I wouldn’t hesitate to guess syrup. The aftertaste is moderate, and sticks around for a bit, but it’s not unpleasant. I think that 1919 might benefit from breathing, but more importantly, I think this root beer is best when it’s absolutely ice cold. They’re right about that. No matter what, it’s creamy from start to finish and easy to drink.
Conclusion
1919 is a fairly excellent and traditional root beer with strong flavors, but it’s just shy of an upper echelon of quality. It took me a long time to decide how to judge 1919, far more than most of the other root beers I’ve reviewed. I went through the whole can, and that’s saying something.
Ultimately, it comes down to mouthfeel. Chowning’s Tavern has slightly less sugar per ounce, and Abita has slightly more, which should put 1919 right in between them; but the experience does not match the cold hard facts. I really think it has to do a lot with the syrupy sugar feel. Despite enjoying sweeter brews, I just don’t like that kind of stickiness.
Despite the potential for being labeled a heretic, serving 1919 packed with ice is a superior experience. The only reason why I tried this was because they explicitly tell you not to. Isn’t it strange that I enjoyed it better?
I even tried diluting this brew with a small amount of ice cold filtered water, and found that was an excellent way to bring it to the next level. Without this hack, it falls to a lower tier for me personally, and I need to judge it that way. Will I get judged for this? I would really like to get my hands on the mini-keg to see if it’s the same. Old Virgil’s wasn’t when I had my chance years ago.
I have an entire case to go through, and I don’t think I will have any trouble doing so, but it won’t be as the brewers intended.
Rating: ♛♛♛♕♕ – 3/5