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101

I finally found the taste of Starfleet Academy! Now which related episode should we watch while trying it? [Update] (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de to c/tenforward@lemmy.world

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For quite a while I thought "root beer" to be a fictitious beverage, like Romulan Ale or Bloodwine.

Until I stumbled upon some comments by Americans mentioning it to be a real thing!

Only problem was that it is basically unknown and very hard to find here in Germany.
After unsuccessfully trying two special US stores as well as a couple of Asia markets (after someone mentioned that it is also a thing in some Asian countries) I basically gave up.

So imagine my excitement when accidentally coming upon this can in my local Edeka market (a type of German higher end grocery store)!

Now I and my kids are ready to try it, but this should naturally be with the right background.

So: Which Star Trek episode that references it should we watch while tasting it?
We are currently watching TNG, so this would be preferred (if it even appears in there?).
I would even be ok with a Wesley centered episode.. ;-)

Update:

First, thanks to you all for the suggestions! In the end we went with DS9's "Little green men", as other episodes would have required too much contextual knowledge (and are also much darker).

Individually perceived tastes of the Root beer varied somewhere between toothpaste and decomposed rubber.

Final verdict has been mixed:
My daughter completely hates it, my wife is not especially fond of it, I kinda like it and my son now has a new favorite soft drink :-)

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[–] AFallingAnvil@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

To give you additional context: root beers can vary pretty strongly by brand. Here in Canada some brands lean into the licorice, others the dryness, and others still play around with levels/type of sweeteners. A&W, Barqs, and Mug would be the three root beer brands I think best show you the spectrum the drink can have.

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

But the Sarsaparilla base aroma is the same for all, I assume?

That was the most interesting part for us, as it is basically unknown here and we had no idea what it tastes like.

Guess kinda like all the woodruff flavored stuff not known outside of Germany - there are differences between individual dishes, but the interesting part for foreigners would be the exotic base taste itself...

[–] ummthatguy@lemmy.world 30 points 5 days ago (8 children)

The joke concerning root beer originated on DS9 s4e1 "The Way of the Warrior"

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 20 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah. But if you drink enough of it, you begin to like it.

[–] radix@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's insidious.

[–] Digit@lemmy.wtf 4 points 4 days ago

Just like The Federation.

[–] SatyrSack@quokk.au 7 points 5 days ago

That was a joke about root beer, but there were also root beer jokes earlier in season 3, "Facets"

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 7 points 5 days ago

As a foreigner, that scene rings true in so many levels.

[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 5 days ago

It's not a joke though.

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[–] Vespair@lemmy.zip 21 points 5 days ago (3 children)

This specific root beer, the Bavarian nutmeg special edition, not the regular, is genuinely one of the most delicious beverages I've ever tasted.

Root beer is strange in that it has an enormous floor to ceiling range. Some of it is genuinely disgusting, but the best of it is amazing.

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

As a Bavarian, I have to say I am slightly flabbergasted to learn of the existence of Bavarian nutmeg root beer... 😆

[–] Vespair@lemmy.zip 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Can't pretend to know anything about it, randomly saw it at a grocery store once and bought it on a whim and it blew my mind. Was truly devastated to learn that when they meant special edition, they meant it. I haven't seen it in over a decade, but I still regularly check for it just in case they ever decided to release a new batch, that's how incredible and memorable it was even more than 10 years later.

[–] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I find the original Virgil's to be really good too

[–] Vespair@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Yeah the original is also very good, a high quality root beer. It just isn't transcendent like that special edition. But OP if you can find regular Virgil's, definitely give that one a try!

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[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 11 points 5 days ago (4 children)

There's also 'birch beer,' little known outside of Pennsylvania

[–] Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works 10 points 5 days ago (5 children)

You have the red birch beer. Connecticut has the white birch beer.

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Here we observe two neighboring hives engaging in a ritualized threat display to assert territorial boundaries and secular pride.

To our senses, the minute and varied differences between these two colonies might not seem distinct enough, but to these groups they are essential to their identities, to their very culture.

Now, let's watch while they dismember each other in the thousands to prove their own group's collective worth.

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[–] hardcoreufo@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I always had A-Treat Birch Beer and the red cream soda when I visited my grandparents in PA.

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Red cream soda??

NYC here. I've had vanilla cream soda, but not this red cream of which you speak.

[–] hardcoreufo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

IDK if you cab get it outside of PA https://www.a-treat.com/flavors/cream-soda-20oz-bottle

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

Cream soda here is vanilla flavored. Looks a little like beer, especially if you get a long neck bottle. What does the red taste like?

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[–] Digit@lemmy.wtf 3 points 4 days ago

A'ha! I suspected there must be an old legit good original root beer, not just the corporate commercial chemical syrup water crap.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 days ago (2 children)

OP I don't want to spoil your good time, but you deserve to know, not all root beer is the same!

I do not know this brand, but the line between "bad" root beer and "good" root beer seems to be clearly split by a single ingredient: "Bad" contains high fructose corn syrup, "good" contains pure cane sugar. You should be able to check the ingredients on the can, and most with pure cane sugar proudly declare it on the front of the label (which makes me worried this one may not) and they typically use glass bottles. They are more expensive but are so worth it.

I say that to say this: If you try it and don't like it, and it does have HFCS, try it one more time but with the pure cane sugar, it really makes all the difference. My brand is IBC Root Beer, idk if you can find it or get it shipped to DE but I really won't drink many other brands tbh, Boylan is good too. Both are on Amazon, but I understand the hesitation there, and idk if they ship to DE.

That said, also, traditionally it was made with Sassafras oil, which was banned by the FDA in the 1960s, so I've never had the real kind either and we never will, pure cane is the best we can do T_T

[–] Doublenut@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm an avid root beed drinker and I wish I could agree the HFCS v cane was the defining difference between good and bad root beer I find there are still some that use cane sugar and are still not great. These are on whole better than any of the HFCS ones but still not created equal. Unfortunately I'm not sure what it is that makes the big difference, but I do find smaller batch companies that do still use other root oils and extracts to be the best. You may also be able to find birch beer in the EU and I find that more akin to OG rootbeer flavors.

Also a note on OP's family experience, I find in America the devide on people who like it and don't also seems to fall along gender lines. I can think of maybe 4 women in my life that can even stand the taste of root beer.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I agree I still have my preferred cane sugar option as well and imo the others are "less good" than it, but I'd still drink them where the HFCS ones aren't even worth my time. Birch beer rules too.

Haven't noticed a gender divide myself, though. Might have to start paying attention to that lol.

[–] Doublenut@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Agreed the HFCS aren't worth it, might as well have a coke.

What is your preferred?

I could definitely be wrong about the gender divide, its just something I've noticed in my own life.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I prefer IBC personally, but will drink any pure cane. The only one I really don't like is frostee (or something like that) but imo it's just too sweet, they just put too much pure cane sugar in lol. Not that it is bad, I'd have loved it as a kid! Which is your preferred?

[–] Doublenut@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Funny I had the exact same thoughts on frostee.

I also prefer IBC (their black cherry soda is pretty tasty too) as the most accessible brand but if I can get my hands on it my favorite is from red hare brewing company. Unfortunately I think they may not exist any more.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago

Never heard of Red Hare, but if they are still open I'll keep my eye out!

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

High fructose corn syrup is thankfully not a thing here in Europe.
So no domestic German soft drinks use it and also almost all of the American soft drinks I have seen so far contain normal sugar (probably not made from sugar canes, though, but doesn't really matter), the root beer in the picture included! :-)
We will try it during our relaxed evening TV session, so I will be able to tell more in about two hours or so...!

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago

Oh good, thank "Bob" lol, HFCS is a scourge upon humanity. Enjoy!

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Episode wise any where they drink Klingon Bloodwine.

If you aren't aware. I've heard from Germans I know that the taste of root beer is similar to your cough syrup, so uh, good luck. It's my favorite soda though

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

I know a Frenchman who says it tastes of iodine.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Be advised that a frozen glass mug is appropriate.

[–] thessnake03@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Even better if you add ice cream!

[–] Digit@lemmy.wtf 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Root Beer... It's got to be DS9.

Since you mentioned Academy, a red squad triple episode could be good: "Homefront", "Paradise Lost" (s4e11&12) & "Valliant" (s6e22).

Perhaps the best root beer moment in all of DS9 is in "The Way of the Warrior" (Season 4, Episode (1&) 2). [And watch the next episode after that for one of the best written and most poignant and unique DS9 episodes: The Visitor (s4e3)].

Also a fun mention when Alexander's trying to be a real Klingon. "Sons and Daughters" (Season 6, Episode 3).

:::: spoiler Spoiler about what root beer tastes like Root Beer's basically Cola. Not much different. Barely different enough to warrant a different name. Kinda like Dr Pepper.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Root Beer's basically Cola.

No it freaking isn't! It's about as far removed from cola as Proxima Centauri is to being a cup of tea!

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[–] Routhinator@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Modern american root beer is just sugar syrup like cola because there is little to no sarsaparilla in it which is what is supposed to add the flavour. Modern american root beer is to true root beer what modern american ginger ale is to Jamaican ginger beer.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You can still get good stuff, just gotta go glass bottle and pure cane sugar, avoid cans and HFCS.

Unfortunately you're correct that there's no longer sassafras, in the 60s the FDA banned sassafras because it contains safrole, a chemical that has been classified as a carcinogen. That said they still get as close as they can to replicating it somehow, and brands like IBC are still good.

Sasparilla however is actually a different drink, never was in root beer, though they do both have sassafras traditionally and are very similar drinks. You can still get it in some Asian countries under the names ...h/o gotta search it.. "Sarsi" or "Sarsae."

[–] PolarKraken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Fun fact (which you probably know), sassafras grows all over the US and is easy to identify, and you very much can simply dig up a root and chew on it :)

Not exactly the same experience as the soda, to be sure, lol. I don't think most folks would enjoy it. But it's fun and a little trippy having grown up finding that flavor in cans and cups, to later go pull it outta some dirt.

[–] MIDItheKID@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I remember when I was a kid we would go on "nature walks" at summer camp (hiking, but with 7 year olds, so more like a leasurly stroll in the woods). Our camp counselor would show us where sassafras root was and we would pull some up, rinse it in the river, and chew on it whole we walked around. I always loved it. I was like "this plant tastes like root beer!" not knowing that it was the other way around.

I'm sure everything I just described is completely banned and possibly illegal in modern summer camps.

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[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 days ago

Sasparilla extract contains high levels of safrole, a potent carcinogen.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Apparently the actual chemical in sarsaparilla was banned in the US but this guy made his own.

https://inv.nadeko.net/SGmPJC0zu2g

[–] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 days ago

Safrole is a precursor for MDMA

[–] AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Try another can over a scoop of vanilla ice cream

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 4 days ago

We will cautiously take some small sips of the base brew contained in the ice cooled specimen in the picture first, before considering moving on to the more advanced concepts... ;-)

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