# Is Root Beer an American?Canadian Thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [August 29, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459 "2013-08-29T00:52:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/81 "2013-09-01T06:32:31Z")
The “Big Three” American brands of root beer are Barq’s (owned by Coca-Cola), A&W (7Up), and Mug (PepsiCo). I enjoy all three of them, really. A&W is probably my favorite of that bunch. IBC’s really good, too. Faygo is _awesome,_ especially for an el-cheapo brand. Not a fan of Dad’s Root Beer. Blech. Root beer isn’t sold at McDonald’s in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area, but Barq’s is included in the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, which is offered at all Firehouse Subs locations and participating Moe’s Southwest Grill and Burger King restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/82 "2013-09-01T07:05:46Z")
The nerve of some of you Brits and Continentals! America has brought you everything you drink except warm beer, water, and hot tea and you have the gall to tell us our wonderful treats taste like cough syrup?!😃 I’m gonna feed the moldy jar of [del]Palm Oil Frosting[/del] Nutella in my pantry to the dogs in protest… ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/83 "2013-09-01T14:49:49Z")
I don’t see how it’s any weirder tasting then cola. It’s not like cola is a flavor like citrus or grape that might be long familiar to most of the world. Yet it’s weird that cola became so popular around the world but root beer didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/84 "2013-09-01T15:06:51Z")
just be careful of Barq’s, if, like me, you drink root beer because it’s one of the few brown soft drinks without caffeine. Now so many root beers have to prominently display “caffeine free.” And, yes, there’s root beer at the McDonald’s here. I’m surprised most of you only have six or seven flavors on tap. I’d say there are at least ten, and that’s only because they repeat the most popular ones. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/85 "2013-09-02T13:11:01Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Is there a place where people don’t think it tastes like cough syrup? I just assumed it was popular in places where people like the taste of cough syrup. I spent 2 months as an exchange student in Canada in the summer of 1989. One day, I was having dinner with my canadian “family”. There was this big glass of what I thought was Coke in front of me. I took one big gulp and almost puked. I haven’t touched root beer since :D. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/86 "2013-09-02T13:54:33Z")
I choose between three regional root beers available in New York’s Southern Tier: [Stewart’s](http://www.stewartsrestaurantsinc.com/index.html), [Saranac](http://www.saranac.com/soft-drinks/), and [Kutztown/](http://www.kutztownbottlingworks.com/). All three of them produces lines of old-time sodas. Stewart’s might be more widely available now that they are owned by Cadbury-Schweppes. However, the root beer on tap at their restaurants, which are mostly located in Jersey, is better than the bottled stuff. I had a friend who would drive for miles and miles to fill up a gallon jug of the stuff. Saranac is made out of the Matt Brewery in Utica and is a sideline to their beer (Saranac, Utica Club, and others). Kutztown makes Root Beer, Birch Beer, and Sarsparilla. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/87 "2013-09-02T17:49:15Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > just be careful of Barq’s, if, like me, you drink root beer because it’s one of the few brown soft drinks without caffeine. Now so many root beers have to prominently display “caffeine free.”\ Did you mean to say that Barq’s _does_ have caffeine? Because it does. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/88 "2013-09-02T18:20:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Did you mean to say that Barq’s _does_ have caffeine? Because it does. 🙂 He is saying that. It took me a couple reads, but it parses as: “Be careful of Barq’s if you drink root beer because it doesn’t haven’t caffeine.” (In other words, be careful of it because it _does_ have caffeine.) The full-sugared version does, but the diet one does not. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/89 "2013-09-02T19:34:47Z")
I’ve had trouble this summer finding IBC. Thats the only brand that I’ll buy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/90 "2013-09-02T19:57:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > He is saying that. It took me a couple reads, but it parses as: “Be careful of Barq’s if you drink root beer because it doesn’t haven’t caffeine.” (In other words, be careful of it because it _does_ have caffeine.) The full-sugared version does, but the diet one does not. I just realized this explanation is not complete. The “if you drink root beer becaues it doesn’t have caffeine” should be parsed as a single unit. In other words, it’s not “Be careful of Barq’s (if you drink root beer) because it doesn’t have caffeine.” It’s “Be careful of Barq’s (if you drink root beer because it doesn’t have caffeine.)” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/91 "2013-09-02T20:06:10Z")
Kool Aid used to sell a root beer flavor I was addicted to in the '70s. Most people who tried it didn’t like it, because they didn’t realize it was best after having sat for a day or two. I’ve found I can simulate the taste of root beer Kool Aid by buying cheap root beer pop and removing the fizz. Delicious over crushed ice. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/92 "2013-09-03T04:11:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I just realized this explanation is not complete. The “if you drink root beer becaues it doesn’t have caffeine” should be parsed as a single unit. In other words, it’s not “Be careful of Barq’s (if you drink root beer) because it doesn’t have caffeine.” It’s “Be careful of Barq’s (if you drink root beer because it doesn’t have caffeine.)” Ah, gotcha - Barq’s has caffeine, which you might not be expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/93 "2013-09-03T07:15:53Z")
Some bars in the upper Midwest where the Sprecher Brewery has a strong foothold have Sprecher Rootbeer available on tap. It’s quite exceptional. Not sure exactly why the version poured on tap would be so good, but it is truly special. I’m guessing that it’s packaged in a keg just like the Sprecher beer and delivered weekly making it fresher. It also probably is a sugar recipe and is served without ice and very cold, which certainly helps. If you ever see it, order it. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/94 "2013-09-03T08:35:50Z")
There are A&W restaurants all around Malaysia and Singapore - which yes, sell Root Beer. Lots of Asian restaurants sell A&W Root Beer (made in Singapore, according to the can) here in Queensland too, and it’s readily available from pretty much every Asian grocer I’ve been to as well. Sarsparilla is quite popular here, although I can’t remember the last time I saw it “on tap” in a family-style restaurant - it’s usually something you buy in bottles from the supermarket or at cafes etc. I’m rather fond of both root beer and sarsparilla, as it happens. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/95 "2013-09-04T00:27:18Z")
It seems strange to me to hear root beer described as an “acquired taste.” Like another poster said, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t like root beer. Funny thing is, it isn’t actually as popular a drink in the US as you might think. Its almost as if we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that we should be drinking cola. I actually find myself drinking a lot more cola, even though I like root beer just as well. BTW, root beer by itself is great, but poor it over some vanilla ice cream and it becomes just awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/96 "2013-09-04T03:09:20Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > BTW, root beer by itself is great, but poor it over some vanilla ice cream and it becomes just awesome! I had a root-beer float at an A&W here in Bangkok on Sunday, but the wife just had root beer, because she despises vanilla ice cream. If I make a root-beer float for her at home, it has to be with chocolate ice cream. But I think the OP’s question has been answered with a definitive “No!” since it’s beeen demonstrated in this and other threads that root beer is popular in quite a few Asia-Pacific countries. ---
**Author:** ![BigGibraltar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@BigGibraltar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGibraltar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/97 "2013-09-04T16:18:26Z")
A little anecdotal ‘evidence’ here: Our Swedish au-pair (who is leaving us to go home to Sweden this weekend) and our new German au-pair (her replacement who just arrived) both had never heard of root beer before. The Swedish girl loved it and has been drinking it as much as our family does (1-2 bottles a week) The German girl only had to catch a slight whiff of the smell to get the most disgusted look on her face that I had ever seen. I doubt she will be trying it. Our prefered Root Beer is Sioux City but I recently tried Triple XXX and its not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/98 "2013-09-04T16:19:59Z")
> [@BigGibraltar](#): > > The German girl only had to catch a slight whiff of the smell to get the most disgusted look on her face that I had ever seen. I doubt she will be trying it. Hmm. And to think she comes from the land of Jagermeister, whose taste bears a passing resemblance to root beer, I’ve always thought. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/99 "2013-09-07T23:10:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I grew up on Dad’s root beer. I know they still make it, but damned if I can find it anywhere. come to Saskatchewan - it’s available here. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459/100 "2013-09-14T20:39:36Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I just bought some Virgil’s so we’ll see if it is the best in the world. Bumping this to say: Finally got around to trying Virgil’s and it is certainly the best root beer I have ever tasted. Used some in a float with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream and now I am pretty happy. Recommended! And thanks to whoever recommended it in the previous thread! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-root-beer-an-american-canadian-thing/667459.md?page=6)