# Rootbeer: America vs. the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863 "2007-05-12T19:45:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/21 "2007-05-12T22:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] I suspect that the reason is that Europeans have less sweets as a kid, but take regular sweet medicine of some sort. Americans grow up eating lots of sweets, and don’t generally take a lot of medicines growing up, and probably those aren’t flavored like rootbeer. They also don’t have pumpkin pie, for probably much the same reason. [/QUOTE] What sweet medicines would European kids be taking? I mean, for what disorders, not brand names. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/22 "2007-05-12T22:43:36Z")
[QUOTE=The Cocky Watchman] In the same vein, ever met a Scotsman who didn’t like irn bru? [/QUOTE] Irn bru? 😕😕😕 \ 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/23 "2007-05-12T22:45:55Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] Draft A&W, from a genuine A&W rootbeer restaurant. After the first two exchange students turned their noses up, we learned to only only them a kiddie’s mug to start. [/QUOTE] Heheh, I know you \*\*said \*\*a kiddy’s mug, but somehow I still got an image of someone gently trying to introduce these people to root beer via a little hamster-drinking bottle or some such thing. 😃 Re. root beer, I really don’t know if I have ever met it. If I had, my guess is that I didn’t like it much, otherwise I would no doubt have repeated the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/24 "2007-05-12T22:58:19Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] What sweet medicines would European kids be taking? [/QUOTE] Ennui-pills. With occasional treatments of dissatisfactionex. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/25 "2007-05-12T23:00:06Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] It’s so bubbly and cloying and happy, but if you drink it enough times, you start to like it. [/QUOTE] It’s _insidious_! ---
**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:** [May 12, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/26 "2007-05-12T23:01:32Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Irn bru? 😕😕😕 \ 😕😕😕 [/QUOTE] Also known as “Scotland’s Other National Drink” Wiki article on [Irn-Bru](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru) > [@](#): > > The formula for Irn-Bru is a closely guarded trade secret, known only by two of Barr’s board members, with a written copy held in a Swiss bank-vault.[1] As of 1999 it contained 0.002% of ammonium ferric citrate, sugar, 32 flavouring agents (including caffeine and quinine) and colouring (E110, E124). It is advertised as having a slight citrus flavour, but many have differing opinions of the exact taste of Irn-Bru. One of the key ingredients is said to be barley while **another rumour holds that seaweed is a major contributor to the taste.** :eek: It’s an acquired taste if you’re not exposed to it young. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/27 "2007-05-12T23:13:32Z")
I love Root Beer, like **Silenus** , I keep 2-3 bottles of Diet Root Beer or Diet Cream in the Fridge most times. I also love a good Birch Beer. By the way, anyone else know and love Stewart’s Root Beer and Cream Soda? Jim ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/28 "2007-05-12T23:18:44Z")
When we were in Malta, they suggested we try some Kinny, which is evidently some sort of soft drink the Maltese can’t get enough of. I still think it’s a joke they play on tourists. Talk about nasty! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/29 "2007-05-12T23:19:06Z")
I’ve never liked root beer. I might or might not learn to like it if I tried, but I’ve never seen any reason to try. Then again, I’ve never liked cola either, so I really am un-American. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/30 "2007-05-12T23:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] Also known as “Scotland’s Other National Drink” Wiki article on [Irn-Bru](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru) :eek: It’s an acquired taste if you’re not exposed to it young. [/QUOTE] Given that it’s **banned** in the US (apparently because it contains enough carcinogenic food coloring to make it as wholesome as Thalidomide, or so says the link), I’d say I won’t be trying it soon. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/31 "2007-05-12T23:30:24Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] What sweet medicines would European kids be taking? I mean, for what disorders, not brand names. [/QUOTE] I don’t know. In HS French class we were taught that the French take more medications than Americans and that they prefer rectal over oral administration. Is any of that actually true? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/32 "2007-05-12T23:39:13Z")
Cream soda…oh, that’s my all time favorite-even more so than root beer. And of course, raspberry, grape, and mint ginger ale. I need to join Pop-Lover’s Anonymous. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/33 "2007-05-12T23:41:42Z")
I had root beer for the first time in 2004 in an A&W in Canada - and like most other Europeans thought it tasted a lot like medicine. But I nce one! I liked it, and got it as a drink whenever we ate there (which was way too often as it was across from the dorm and we never ever cooked!). Havent had it since though and I wouldnt mind trying it again… As for the medicine taste, I thought it tasted a little bit like Calpol, or else that pink medicine we used to get as kids at the dentist. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/34 "2007-05-13T00:15:56Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Ennui-pills. With occasional treatments of dissatisfactionex. [/QUOTE] Maybe that’s what makes them “insolent” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/35 "2007-05-13T00:35:24Z")
Bear in mind that root beer in America was idiosyncratic forty years ago,since it was made to family recipes with local ingredients.There is a large Anabaptist settlement near here where that is still true,samples at different farms are not the same.Just guessing,but birch is an ingredient as well as sassafras,and I have noted birch trees cut at this time of year (well,a bit earlier) will “bleed” profusely,so they may have been tapped like maples. Mom made it with brown sugar.It was the best. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/36 "2007-05-13T00:41:52Z")
Root beer when you’re in the mood for it = liquid deliciousness. The Wendy’s out here just started selling root beer floats (root beer + their vanilla frosty) and my wife has become seriously hooked on them. Oddly though root beer’s evil cousin Birch Beer is as nasty as a potable can come. Then one notch below that is the vile Cream Soda. I thought they stopped making this disreputable batch due to inevitable demise of old coots from a past generation whose taste buds never fully evolved. That there exist still a few humanoids who actually like this stuff leaves me decidedly puzzled. Very strange. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/37 "2007-05-13T00:54:33Z")
Moxie anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/38 "2007-05-13T00:54:34Z")
Best root beers? IBC and Stewarts. Best diet rootbeer? Barq’s. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/39 "2007-05-13T01:06:56Z")
I taught ESL to a man in Germany who then went to the USA to work for three months. One night, at his hotel, he was tired and didn’t want to go to the hotel bar, so he got a few beers and went to his room. Imagine his shock when he cracked open that can and took a big (first time) gulp of ROOT BEER. Yeah, strangely it is an acquired taste, and maybe a taste only kids can enjoy and later (as adults) still like to drink occasionally. But you could say the same for peanut butter (very few non-Americans like it very much) or for the Europeans love of Nutella (very few Americans like it very much) and of course, there is that godawful poison in the UK and Australia known as Vegemite that would cause most Americans to vomit. So I guess the point I am trying to make is that what you try (and love) as a kid (i.e. Root Beer) might not be all that simple to acquire a taste for later in life. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863/40 "2007-05-13T01:24:36Z")
Do they even _make_ Hire’s anymore? I haven’t seen it in years around here. I miss it… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rootbeer-america-vs-the-world/403863.md?page=3)