Well received by my 300 person taste test...as was all the flavors tested.
I did a massive taste test with some 300 people at a neighborhood party for dry ice root beer. The Zatarains was one of the favorites. I had a couple point out that the Zatarains reminded them of the barrel candies. The only real concern I had is that this extract includes alcohol (like many other extract favorings), but ironically, out of the several root beer extracts used, this was the only that had the alcohol.
My recipe: Makes 4 gallons
4 gallons slightly chilled water (too cold may not dissolve all the sugar)
2 cups white & 2 cups brown sugars. Mix with drill & paint stir tool
One bottle of Zatarains (SHAKE bottle. FYI-most extracts are 1 oz per gallon)
4-5 lbs of dry ice partially broken up (add slowely and as needed to keep the mix from "boiling over")
I have several tricks (like the paint stir tool) that you will have to figure out on your own to serve the root beer to 300 people in a short period of time...)
You ask? "What was the best received flavor from my taste test? Honestly, the brand did not matter. The extracts all have distinct flavors (okay, I tried, in NO specific order: Hires, Zatarains, Cook, Gnome, Rochester (hard to find), Watkins & McCormick.) Some flavors are "drier" (more flavor/less sweet) while others are sweeter (Zatarains was on the sweet side and seemed to have a little more "bite" or sharpness in the flavor--which was liked by most.) People just wanted cold, fizzy, and sweet with a taste different from commercial bottled root beer (they want a "homemade" flavor and experience...with the mists coming out of the serving containers!) Yes, I have my favorite and I could tell the differences, but honestly, the less expensive $1/oz was as well received/enjoyed as the $4/oz extracts. No one turned down any of the flavors
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