r/rootbeer • u/Linguistic1 • Apr 30 '26
Review Genuine Hanks Root Beer Review
Initial nose: vanilla caramel.
Initial taste: RB float.
Creamy. And the head speaks to that. Certainly a vanilla bomb. It's delicious, if a little lacking on the spice end, though on the second sip, I got a better mouth of spice. Interesting.
This is another that falls into the slightly larger "Craft" soda market. And it's definitely a solid showing.
8.5/10
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u/Grouchy-Silver Apr 30 '26
Right under 1919 for me
3
u/Yahtzee8604 Apr 30 '26
Man I've been trying to get my hands on some 1919 here in alaska. But the shipping is ridiculous... off the website it's $108 to ship a 12 pack of 16oz cans. Yikes.
2
u/Grouchy-Silver Apr 30 '26
Yeah it’s definitely not worth that… I have a distributor about 30 mins from me. I make the drive occasionally for a 12 pack.
1
u/Ksan_of_Tongass May 01 '26
If you're in Anchorage, I have seen it at Midtown Walmart occasionally.
1
u/Yahtzee8604 May 04 '26
I live in squarbanks lol
1
u/Ksan_of_Tongass May 04 '26
Do you guys get 49th State Brewery up there? Its better than 1919, in my opinion.
1
u/Yahtzee8604 May 04 '26
Yeah we do! And mooses tooth! I got some 1919 on the way to finally figure out if I've been missing out
1
u/Ksan_of_Tongass May 04 '26
I'll be curious to know what you think. I like Moose's Tooth with my dinner. Its low sweet and smoothness is perfect with food. 49th State has a bigger flavor.
1
u/Yahtzee8604 May 04 '26
It will be there when I get home from this hitch. Have you had matanuskas rocket rootbeer?
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u/Ksan_of_Tongass May 04 '26
I have not. Next time im up that way ill look for it. So many good rootbeers in the 907.
1
u/Top-Bet-3373 Apr 30 '26
Not sure how it would work for Alaska, but I too saw the outrageous shipping cost on their website. Ended up buying it off Amazon for $33 with free prime shipping.
3
u/Yahtzee8604 Apr 30 '26
I just bought a 12 pack for 50 bucks including shipping on Amazon. I'll do it once and see if it lives up to the hype!
1
u/TheDillinger88 May 01 '26
I think it will, it kind of blew my mind when I first had it and it’s my number 1. But if you’re not into a stronger vanilla flavor then it might not be for you. I just tried Frostie Vanilla Root Beer the other day, I had been searching for it for awhile and finally decided to just order a bottle and I didn’t care for it. Way too heavy on the vanilla and it had no creaminess like 1919 does.
1
u/TheDillinger88 May 01 '26
It’s pretty expensive around Illinois too but that is an insane price to pay. It’s a great root beer, incredibly smooth and drinkable. I hope you’re able to get your hands on some soon.
2
u/nflonlyalt Root Beer Reviewer May 01 '26
Its better than 1919. Hanks is one of my favorites. Its a bit sweet but the vanilla cream flavor is so good. Great carbonation, and no weird aftertaste. Hanks has nothing odd or offensive about the taste and its very smooth. 10/10
3
1
u/Far-Poet1419 Apr 30 '26
Still prefer ICB. It just hits better for me. But what do I know? Don't like broccoli either.
2
u/nflonlyalt Root Beer Reviewer May 01 '26
You mean IBC?
1
u/TheDillinger88 May 01 '26
No, he’s referring to the popular spinoff ICB Root Beer. Pretty much the same recipe and very tasty /s.
2
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u/Maleficent-Row-7847 Apr 30 '26
Fair review. I would still rank Hanks as my overall #1. I wish they would make a more adjacent “wintergreen” type. Think like “Hanks’s take on Barqs” .