Thread: Rootbeer, revisited

Autumn is here again (well, for those of us in the northern hemisphere), and it's once again the season for my FAVORITE drink, EVER. Homebrew Rootbeer
So, it's about time we got another rootbeer thread going...
Talk about whatever you want (rootbeer-related), but specifically,
What's your favorite brand? We had this discussion last time, but I'm interested at what the new people have to say. Personally, over the past year I've become more and more partial to Barq's. A&W gets a bit nauseating if you drink too much, but Barq's keeps tasting good every time...

Anyway, I was also wondering how many of you are reminded of autumn when you drink rootbeer? It's always been the symbol of the season to me.

Well, drink up!

Barq is pretty good, unfortunately, it's got no caffiene!

IBC is pretty good as well. Rootbeer is all I used to drink wen growing up. I can remember when it was on tap at the Burger King.

ITB is pretty good as well.[/b]

Do you mean IBC? That's the best for my money. They make an awesome cream soda too.

Originally posted by TygrHawk

ITB is pretty good as well.

Do you mean IBC? That's the best for my money. They make an awesome cream soda too.[/b]

I agree...and the glass bottles are pretty nifty. I also think Root Beer is good anytime of the year and goes best with extra greasy pizza.

Yeah, IBC's pretty good stuff. It's only 75 cents for a huge bottle of it here, too! Definitely good stuff. For some reason though, I never like rootbeer with my pizza. I'm more a pizza-cola person than a pizza-rootbeer person...
Everything else goes with rootbeer though. Especially on Halloween....candy....rootbeer.....it was just meant to be.

By root beer do you mean ginger beer or what? If no, then what the hell is it made from?

I love real beer in summer... I remember sucking back longnecks of Cooper's Sparkling Ale during summer in boarding school, was awesome. Don't know if you americans get many aussie beers, but if you get Cooper's then definatley try it.

Don't know if you americans get many aussie beers, but if you get Cooper's then definatley try it.[/b]

They have Coopers at my local watering hole. I haven't had the Sparkling Ale, but the Pale Ale is very good!

Root beer is made from extract from Cherry Bark (I think) but I'd have to check.
Anyway, it's not a real beer, just a soft drink that tastes particularly good. Never heard of Ginger Beer, though...


EDIT: Okay, just Googled it, and I can't find what the extract is made of, but turns out homemade Root Beer IS slightly alcoholic usually, since it's carbonated with yeast. There are other ways to make it without yeast, though. Either way, I doubt anybody could get wasted on it...

Obviously, every rootbeer recipie is different, but traditionally, the key ingredient was Sarsaparilla root. It's kinda bitter, so other things are also combined, like: vanilla, cherry tree bark, licorice root, sassafras root bark, nutmeg, anise, and molasses.

When I was in Australia, you had a drink called "Sars" (before the pandemic. Yikes!) - very similar as it was based on the Sarsparilla root.

Alright, thanks for the info, Kim!

Yeah, sometimes it's just called "Sarsaparilla" rather than Root Beer.

Ohh ok fair enough... na I haven't had your root beer. Why is it called root beer lol does it make people wanna root each other or what?

Originally posted by InTheMoment
The have Coopers at my local watering hole. I haven't had the Sparkling Ale, but the Pale Ale is very good!

Oh wow that's the spirit... I love palies, they're off-tap.

It's called Root Beer because it's made from extracts derived from roots, including those listed above. The Beer part was probably because of the yeast used in the old stuff to carbonate it.

"Roller" Someone should send you some, It's sooooo good. Also good with some vanilla bean ice cream. Yeah and you could send some diff. type of Beer. But I wont put ice cream in it

Yeah lol I'll send ya some aussie beer, nothing better for drinking on a hot day.