Does Root Beer taste like Crest toothpaste to you?

[Chan790]

4. Is it all root beers?

Or is it one type of root beer you tried that tastes bad?

A lot of the store brands and cheaper national brands are artificially-flavored, usually with a melange of other stock flavors to attempt to create the complex flavor profile of naturally-flavored root beers; two of those stock artificial flavors sometimes thrown into the mix are cinnamon and peppermint. I've had some of those...I see how they could taste like toothpaste.

The same problem exists with cola...real cola and Coke/Pepsi are flavored with just a few drops of ridiculously-expensive essential botanical oils. (The blend of oils are closely-guarded secrets specific to each brand as they're what gives those brands their distinctive flavors. In Coke's case, it's cassis oil among other things.) Store-brands and discount brands don't want to spend the money, so they attempt to simulate it with artificial flavors...which is why store brand colas often taste like crap and nothing is refreshing in quite the same way as an ice-cold Coke.

My suggestion is to get one 4 or 6 pack of the real thing (the price will rival good craft beers, be prepared to drop possibly $6-7) or a growler and try that to see if you like it. Alternately, find a restaurant that has it on tap or bottle.