Sioux City Root Beer with pure cane sugar

I had high hopes for the Sioux City brand, makers of the preferred sarsaparilla of Sam Elliott's cowboy character in the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski (one of my favorite films). The bottle I sampled had "pure cane sugar" stamped on the label, though it is apparently also available in a high fructose corn syrup variety.

There was an unsettling silence when I first twisted off the cap. Had I done something wrong? I don't usually expect to feel guilt when I'm about to enjoy a beverage. At any rate, I did expect--and got--a flimsy head with a dissapointingly meager bite. What was most unsatisfying about it, however, was the almost watered-down body. The essential flavors are there, but nothing extra, nothing surprising or even memorable. In fact, had this drink been built a bit more robustly, I think it would've made a good root beer as it is not too sweet and has a pleasant aftertaste. I would still try it again in case I just had a bad bottle, but I was nonetheless a little let down after all these years of hearing Sam Elliott drawl, 'Say, friend, got any more of that good sarsaparilla?' I'd still try it, though. The sarsaparilla, that is.

Grade: 3

160 calories per 12-oz bottle (13.3 calories/oz).

http://whiterockbeverages.com/SiouxCity.cfm

Thanks to Badger for sending me this root beer along with several others that I will be reviewing as I try them one by one.