Judge Wapner Root Beer

Judge Wapner Root Beer

Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Bottled at: Camarillo, California

Purchase Location: Rocket Fizz

Before there was Judge Judy, before there was Judge Joe Brown, there was Judge Wapner on The People’s Court. Judge Wapner was the original The People’s Court judge and the original reality courtroom show judge. From 1981 to 1993 Judge Wapner presided over 2, 340 half-hour segments. In my youth, I watched more than a few of those segments. If anyone deserves a root beer, it is Judge Wapner who, at the time of this review, is 96 years old. But how did he get a root beer? The unconfirmed rumor on the internet is that one of the Rocket Fizz big wigs is Judge Wapner’s nephew.

A root beer bearing Judge Wapner’s name should also bear his likeness. Judge Wapner Root Beer does just that. The label shows the Judge pointing at all potential root beer drinkers and declaring “I Sentence You to Drink my Root Beer!” I get that Judge Wapner wants to use legal lingo, but maybe the Judge could have used different wording. Rarely, if ever, is being sentenced to do something a good thing. If he has to use his judicial authority to sentence people to drink his root beer, how good can it be?

As it turns out, I would drink Judge Wapner Root Beer even if I hadn’t been sentenced to do so. Judge Wapner must love frothy, becasue his soda has a substantial head. The root beer is heavy on the molasses, piloncillo/panela/brown sugar loaf taste. From that, a nice creaminess briefly manifests itself. Then the taste turns slightly bitter. In the end, Judge Wapner Root Beer is worth a try, but I’m glad I haven’t been sentenced to drink it exclusively.

Overall Score: 5 of 10.