Boylan still uses pure cane sugar which enhances the true flavor rather than leave a syrupy aftertaste and thick glass bottles to ensure freshness and proper levels of carbonation. Boylan's in-house flavor formulations use the most expensive extracts and essences – and plenty of them. So whether you’re drinking a Boylan because you appreciate what is good and made right or just trying one for the first time, we thank you for supporting one of the oldest bottling companies and its authentic beverages of a bygone era.
It’s quite a shock to compare a bottle of Boylan’s—whatever flavor you like—to a mass-marketed brand of the same flavor. Most taste buds are not accustomed to clear, complex natural flavors and pure cane sugar shining through the lower level of carbonation of an artisanal soda. Big brands are largely artificial flavors and lots of chemicals—not to mention high fructose corn syrup—with a high level of carbonation to cover the inferior flavors. Get ready to enjoy new soda sensations as you experience the tastes of childhood—your great-grandparents’ childhood. Be prepared for sodas with layers of flavor. Like a wine connoisseur, see how many nuances you can detect as you sip the Natural Birch Beer (is that mint undertone wintergreen or spearmint?), the Black Cherry (lush layers of ripe cherry fruit—as if it was plucked from the fruit bowl). We will carry:
- Black Cherry. According to Boylan, this is the flavor most people clamor for. It’s easy to see why: it is the best tasting soda we've ever tasted.
- Orange Cream Soda. A marriage of Orange and Creme = Creamsicle. We love it.
- Creme Soda. Boylan's tested 283 variations before settling on this one. It is not to be missed.
- Root Beer. Not the creamy, one-note vanilla style of today’s root bears; but a spicy, sassafras root beer.
- Creamy Red Birch Beer. We weren’t around to taste the original birch beers, but from what we read, this tastes authentic: complex, sharp, minty, exciting. For people who want the creamy vanilla taste of yesteryear’s root beers.
- Grape. Boylan's Grape is an authentically crafted from the same way as grape sodas from the 1800's.
What is the difference between Birch Beer and Root Beer?
They’re close, but made from different barks. Birch beer is made from birch bark extract (and can vary in color depending on the species of birch tree the sap is extracted from). Root beer is made from non-specific roots and barks (often sassafras and/or sarsaparilla plus herbs like wild cherry, wintergreen and ginger. The original root beer, created in the mid-1800s by Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Hires, was actually a beer—a very low alcohol, naturally effervescent beverage made by fermenting sugar and yeast with the aforementioned ingredients. Today’s products have no alcohol content.