I just got back from seeing a double feature of Bergman's Through a Glass Darkly and Winter Light and boydog am I depressed. Of course I've seen them before, but that doesn't mean they're any less impactful. And by "impactful" I reiterate that I mean "depressing." I need a root beer. Or three.

III Dachshunds Root Beer
III Dachshunds Beer Co., Cudahy, Wisconsin
Stone Cellar Brewery, Appleton, Wisconsin
3dachshundsbeer.com
And also somehow WIT Beverage Company
Probably named for 3 literal dogs, but there's only one on the label so who knows, III Dachshunds makes beer inspired by wiener dogs. And a root beer that tastes more like a brown birch beer. As a root beer it's not that great! But as a birch beer, it's pretty dang good! A little cola-y but smooth wintergreen and a hint of vanilla. Delicious!
Rating: 4/5

Iron Horse Root Beer
Iron Horse Rootbeer, Minneapolis, Minnesota
DrinkIronHorse.com
The history of Iron Horse Root Beer, according to their website, is...well nothing. The "Our History" section mostly just talks about the transcontinental railroad. There's really not much info on the company. The root beer though is a fairly light. Birch on the nose. Anise and birch in the taste, but along with being lighter in color it is also lighter in flavor.
Rating: 2.5/5

Saranac Root Beer
FX Matt Brewery, Utica, New York
Saranac.com
The Matt family has been making beer since the 19th century, even making an IPA in 1914. Like a lot of old breweries they pivoted to soda during Prohibition. It's dark in color and smells like a draft root beer with caramel and vanilla. But it tastes more like anise and cough syrup than vanilla.
Rating: 3.5/5