Soda Pop Review #2: Judge Wapner Root Beer

The second bottle of soda pop that I opened following my birthday extravaganza was a Judge Wapner Root Beer that was selected by my friend Matthew. As was the case with my first selection, the packaging plays a large role in the appeal of the beverage: an older gentlemen points and proclaims "I Sentence You to Drink my Root Beer!"

In preparation for this review, my research revealed that the actual Judge Joseph Albert Wapner was the original host of the original real courtroom television program "The People's Court." From what I can ascertain, his cousin (or nephew?) borrowed the name for his own root beer; it must be pointed out that this is Judge Wapner Root Beer and not Judge Wapner's Root Beer.

And what we have in this particular entry is a solid root beer, if not particularly distinct. It has all the hallmarks of a good hand-crafted RB, with a foundation of caramelized sweetness, punctuated by the zippy melange of flavors that give RB its typical kick. But in a blind taste test, I think it would be easy to confuse it with any number of other root beers.

I have paired Judge Wapner Root Beer with Neil Diamond's 1969 LP "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show/Sweet Caroline." Just as Judge Wapner poured out his exaggerated televisual judgments onto the citizens in his courtroom, so do some people spew their exaggerated judgments onto the unfairly maligned and under-appreciated Neil Diamond. The mention of his name is less likely to bring up his excellent songwriting and fine showmanship, and more likely to conjure references to "What About Bob?"