Original New York Seltzer Root Beer

Original New York Seltzer Root Beer

Website: http://www.newyorkseltzer.com/classic/

Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Bottled at:

Purchase Location: WINCO

Walking around the grocery store some months ago, I recognized a familiar bottle  I had not seen since my youth.  Founded in 1981 in Southern California, Original New York Seltzer quickly became a big deal.  According to the company’s website, part of its rapid 1980s assent was due to its refraining from using artificial colors.  Its Black Cherry, Vanilla Cream, Raspberry, Root Beer, Peach, and Lemon Lime drinks were all clear.  Naturally, its motto became “The Choice is Clear.”

During the 1980s no one could have imagined that Original New York Seltzer would cease to exist early the next decade, but it did.  Original New York Seltzer disappeared, and the company’s young creator became an animal trainer in Hollywood.  Original New York Seltzer brand remained abandoned until 2013 when a fan of the former line of soft drinks purchased Original New York Seltzer’s original bottling plant and reviewed the original recipes.  By May, 2015 he had revived the company and restarted production on Original New York Seltzer’s original six flavors, including root beer.

Like all of its classic flavors, Original New York Seltzer Root Beer comes in clear, short, and stubby 10oz bottles.  Its label, which I remembered so vividly from the 1980s, displays the New York City skyline underneath the large billboard styled name of the soda.  As should be expected, the Original New York Seltzer Root Beer label is brown.

As previously mentioned, the soda itself is not brown, but is clear.  Drinking a clear root beer feels a bit strange.  Not only is the color of this root beer atypical, but so is it’s taste.  Original New York Seltzer Root Beer has root beer flavor, but does not have the depth, herbal feel, or sweetness of other root beers.  It tastes like root beer flavored seltzer water, which, surprise, is exactly what it is.  If you are looking for a light drink with root beer flavor, this might be just the drink for you.  If, however, you are looking for a more traditional root beer, you can take a pass.  I’ll go for traditional.

Overall Score: 4 of 10.