# Root Beer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2000, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171 "2000-01-06T10:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/1 "2000-01-06T10:46:00Z")
In the last issue of ‘Fundamentalist Today’ they started a six-part series titled ‘Root Beer - The Heavenly Brew’. //aside see we can have fun too. I thought I might start a thread here to discuss this very important issue, and, perhaps, come to some sort of conclusion on what the best brand of root beer might be. Since I started this OP, no fair bringing other, less inspired, libations into the discussions. //aside - go start your own OP In the end, if we can whittle the list down to four candidates, I’ve got some really cool colored beads we can use to vote for the best brand. /\* aside - isn’t voting with colored beads the most theological way of coming to a scientific consensus??? \*/ Here is my first take on the top four. Red bead - IBC Red top Pink bead - A&W Gray bead - Dad’s Black bead - Barq’s /\* final aside - There is just something warm and cozy about the thought of a cold frosty root beer, and a slice of pepperoni pizza \*/ Peace. * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/2 "2000-01-06T11:25:00Z")
I’d go with IBC and Stewart’s. ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/3 "2000-01-06T11:28:00Z")
Heathens! Hires Root Beer. All others are mere pretenders. * * * Stop telling God what to do. ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/4 "2000-01-06T11:32:00Z")
Never tried Stewarts… is that an East Coast thing?? Hires… I fergit about that… Dad’s comes off… Hires goes on… Peace. * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/5 "2000-01-06T14:19:00Z")
For the “major” brands, it’s IBC, hands down. I have had occasion, though, to find a particular “microbrew” that is all natural. It is a clear rootbeer, no coloring added, and it is expensive. Absolutely the best I have ever had. I have only found it at one little country store in the North Georgia mountains. I can’t remember the name, but it’s certainly worth the drive. If you’re ever in Helen, GA, stop by Betty’s Store and pick up a few. * * * The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/6 "2000-01-06T16:33:00Z")
Nah, Stewart’s is brewed in Denver. I’m not sure what their distribution is like, but it’s easily available all over the NYC area. Damned good stuff. No offense meant. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/7 "2000-01-06T16:38:00Z")
none taken… I used to live in Rhode Island, and think I may recall Stewart’s actually. Is it a clear bottle, and they also have flavors like orange and cherry and stuff. ‘Stewart’s’ is in a handwriting type a logo?? * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Lauralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lauralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lauralee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/8 "2000-01-06T16:45:00Z")
Barq’s, thank you very much!! ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/9 "2000-01-06T16:46:00Z")
IBC, but Dr. Brown’s is also drinkable. Barq’s is an abomination unto the Lord. * * * \\| |/ === '\> ---
**Author:** ![JoeyBlades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/10 "2000-01-06T16:51:00Z")
Being somewhat of a Root Beer aficionado, I would have to rank the various name brands accordingly (just my top five): ``` 1. Sioux City Sarsaparilla 2. Stewart's 3. Canfield's 4. Barq's 5. IBC ``` Note: I’ve had some home brews that blow all of these away!!! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/11 "2000-01-06T16:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Barq’s is an abomination unto the Lord. You Suthun types are **so** judgmental!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/12 "2000-01-06T17:07:00Z")
Well, I really like beer, but I don’t know that I actively root for it. Whiskey is nice, too, and I try not to play favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/13 "2000-01-06T17:11:00Z")
Yer all heathens! Birch Beer, if you please… * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/14 "2000-01-06T17:11:00Z")
Sarsparilla is not Root Beer… though the argument can be made that it evolved from root beer… and them other libations… well. STAY ON TOPIC!!! 🙂 Peace. * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/15 "2000-01-06T17:12:00Z")
Birch Beer… bleeechh… abdomination fer sure… but go figure the source… Oh and BTW… not ROOT Beer… * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Lauralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lauralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lauralee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/16 "2000-01-06T17:15:00Z")
Hey!!! I’s suthern, and I LIKE Barq’s!! But in San Antonio at the old Lone Star brewery they make their own root beer, and THAT is some GOOOOOOOOOOOD stuff!! ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/17 "2000-01-06T17:20:00Z")
oooo… good point… In DFW there is a place called humperdink’s (not sure if has anything to do with Englebert) that makes their own Root Beer… yummy as well… * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/18 "2000-01-06T17:24:00Z")
Lauralee…Fretful is a grad. student about 30 miles from me; we’re both immigrants to the area, me from NY and her from VA. So I tend to joke with her on and off, sometimes on local stuff. I work in the same town as our resident Prince of Darkness, too. ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/19 "2000-01-06T17:56:00Z")
Thomas Kemper & Stewarts get my $bestColor bead. \Gator: You aren’t the only one who can geek out.\ Anyone else think this belongs in MPSIMS? ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171/20 "2000-01-07T06:30:00Z")
Forget Root Beer (yuck) - Diet Coke is the ONLY thing to drink. Yes this does belong in MPSIMS. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer/17171.md?page=2)