Northwoods Brewing Corp. "Rustic Root Beer"

I was expecting something a bit rougher, thicker and hardier considering the locale. This is not to say I was disappointed, in fact I was pleasantly surprised. When pouring, I found essentially no foam and subsequently was rather flat. My first reaction was that it was the “better A&W”. By this I mean it has flavor and sweetness, but balances it much better so it doesn’t taste like the liquid version of root beer barrel candies. I find Northwoods interesting because it has the distinction of being able to stand well on its own, but will likely make a dandy float. Of course the flavoring is not disclosed, but it is sweetened by sugar and honey. The bottle is not unique, but the label appears to be put on by hand and the lid requires a bottle opener.

FINAL SCORE: 8.5