# Why no root beer drink mix? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [April 24, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423 "2015-04-24T06:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/21 "2015-04-24T19:59:17Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Yes. Root beer is my favorite drink, by far. I can finish off any other soda once it goes flat, but the place for flat cola, including root beer, is down the drain. It needs carbonation to fulfill its potential. Root beer is not a cola. What made you think it was, out of curiosity? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/22 "2015-04-24T20:20:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > wiki: _In 1960, safrole, the aromatic oil found in sassafras roots and bark that gave traditional root beer its distinctive flavour was banned for commercially mass-produced foods and drugs by the FDA in 1960.[8] Laboratory animals that were given oral doses of sassafras tea or sassafras oil that contained large doses of safrole developed permanent liver damage or various types of cancer.[8] While sassafras is no longer used in commercially-produced root beer and is sometimes substituted with artificial flavors, natural extracts with the safrole distilled and removed are available.[9][10]_ > > I have seen alcoholic Root beer in a bottle just once, but alcoholic Ginger Beer is now at BevMo in two brands. I doubt this is the answer to my question. Root beer drink mix was still available in the 80’s. You need to hit the liquor stores more often. There are tons of root beer schnaps, brandies, whiskeys, and beers available. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/23 "2015-04-24T20:22:22Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I doubt this is the answer to my question. Root beer drink mix was still available in the 80’s. > > You need to hit the liquor stores more often. There are tons of root beer schnaps, brandies, whiskeys, and beers available. Yes, root beer flavored _liqueurs_. I have only seen a Alcoholic Root Beer once. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/24 "2015-04-24T21:17:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have only seen a Alcoholic Root Beer once. ?😕? There has to be a base. Are you suggesting taking already made root beer and adding yeast and fermenting it?:eek: Mad man!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/25 "2015-04-24T21:59:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > ?😕? There has to be a base. > > Are you suggesting taking already made root beer and adding yeast and fermenting it?:eek: > > Mad man!! 😛 True- I _am_ mad. 😛 Two ways we coudl do this- add grain alcohol to a good brewed root beer. Or, make a beer that has various RB flavorings so that it would be a beer with a lot of RB "notes’ and flavors. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/26 "2015-04-24T22:08:49Z")
I remember root beer Fizzies from when I was a kid. Do they even make Fizzies anymore? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/27 "2015-04-24T23:32:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I remember root beer Fizzies from when I was a kid. Do they even make Fizzies anymore? 😕 Yes. Although I’ve seen features on the web “things your kids will never do” that included trying Fizzies, they are simply incorrect. I saw Fizzies for sale at the Woodmans this past Tuesday. They had root beer, orange, and Blue Raspberry. When we had them they never dissolved right and were really disappointing. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Or, make a beer that has various RB flavorings so that it would be a beer with a lot of RB "notes’ and flavors. Like [this?](https://www.sprecherbrewery.com/hrb.php) I like Sprecher root beer. I like Sprecher beer. But I didn’t care for their hard root beer all that much. Had it on tap at the Sprecher Brewery last week. [http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/beername/327027/](http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/beername/327027/) ---
**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:** [April 25, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/28 "2015-04-25T00:58:27Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Yes. Although I’ve seen features on the web “things your kids will never do” that included trying Fizzies, they are simply incorrect. I saw Fizzies for sale at the Woodmans this past Tuesday. They had root beer, orange, and Blue Raspberry. > When we had them they never dissolved right and were really disappointing. > > Like [this?](https://www.sprecherbrewery.com/hrb.php) > > I like Sprecher root beer. > I like Sprecher beer. > But I didn’t care for their hard root beer all that much. > Had it on tap at the Sprecher Brewery last week. > > [http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/beername/327027/](http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/beername/327027/) Yeah, [there’s one making the rounds in Chicago now too, by Small Town Brewery.](http://host.madison.com/entertainment/dining/beer/beer-baron-not-your-father-s-root-beer-arrives-in/article_9a8581b8-e46a-5c33-a2a7-b515f6d85970.html) Bottled, it’s available at 5.9% and 10%. I have to say, it’s pretty damned good for what it is. If you want a decent root beer (or I guess more a traditional beer brewed with root beer botanicals) with an alcoholic punch, this is definitely worth trying. (That said, it’s not really a drink for me, as I like my alcoholic drinks on the non-sweet side.) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/29 "2015-04-25T01:16:06Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell;18315354there’s one making the rounds in Chicago now too, by Small Town Brewery. Bottled, it’s available at 5.9% and 10%. [/QUOTE] It’s [10.7%](http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-10-7/) to be exact. That’s a pretty good kick. They have one that’s [19.5%](http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-19-5/) That’s crazy strong for a malt beverage. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/30 "2015-04-25T01:20:44Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > It’s [10.7%](http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-10-7/) to be exact. That’s a pretty good kick. > > They have one that’s [19.5%](http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-19-5/) That’s crazy strong for a malt beverage. Yeah, I heard there was a 20% one (or close enough), but I thought it was only available on draft. Yeah, a 22 oz bomber of that would have me feeling pretty good for a little while. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/31 "2015-04-25T02:08:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I heard there was a 20% one (or close enough), but I thought it was only available on draft. Yeah, a 22 oz bomber of that would have me feeling pretty good for a little while. Beer math: The average regular beer is 4.7-5% @ 12 ounces per serving. This is about 4 times that at just under 24 ounces or two regular beers. So drinking one is (approximately) like consuming about 7 regular beers give or take. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/32 "2015-04-25T04:05:33Z")
Amazon carries a variety of different root beer concentrates and flavorings. Soda stream (do it yourself soda machines) has become popular, so I checked, and there was at least a page (and it wasn’t all soda stream either). Worth a look. Upscale groceries might have similar items. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/33 "2015-04-25T05:22:28Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Amazon carries a variety of different root beer concentrates and flavorings. Soda stream (do it yourself soda machines) has become popular, so I checked, and there was at least a page (and it wasn’t all soda stream either). > > Worth a look. Yeah, but it seems like an awful lot of time and expense just to get something I used to be able to buy at any store for 6 cents. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2015, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/34 "2015-04-25T09:31:17Z")
If you’re not afraid of sugar, this creation attributed to the late Victor Mature: equal parts regular root beer and regular coca cola. True to the claim, it has the taste of RB and the zippiness if CC. Really good. ---
**Author:** ![DennyHayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9f8e36/32.png) [@DennyHayes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DennyHayes)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/35 "2016-05-23T01:35:07Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I consume a lot of drink mix, mostly sugar free. > > When I was a kid a lot of companies made a [root beer](http://theimaginaryworld.com/pac58.jpg) flavor. They weren’t sugar free but they were good. > > Today you can get any flavor you want, sugar or sugar free, but not root beer. Why not? All of these comments about root beer not being popular or needing carbonation are nonsense. They make many kinds of root beer candy, like the root beer barrels, root beer ices, and they even sell root beer popsicles, in almost every grocery. You can also buy sassafras tea and sassafras root from the sassafras tree, which is where the flavor came from. Years ago it was probably the first soda drink, way before coke, called Sarsaparilla. The same situation exits with many flavors, such as banana flavored mixes. There must be some other reason, and my guess is that it has something to do with money, like maybe it cost more to produce or store, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/36 "2016-05-23T02:03:09Z")
> [@DennyHayes](#): > > All of these comments about root beer not being popular or needing carbonation are nonsense. They make many kinds of root beer candy, like the root beer barrels, root beer ices, and they even sell root beer popsicles, in almost every grocery. You can also buy sassafras tea and sassafras root from the sassafras tree, which is where the flavor came from. Years ago it was probably the first soda drink, way before coke, called Sarsaparilla. The same situation exits with many flavors, such as banana flavored mixes. There must be some other reason, and my guess is that it has something to do with money, like maybe it cost more to produce or store, etc. The root beer barrel candies are tasty, but taste nothing like root beer. I’ve had the root beer flavored Fizzies and Wyler’s, etc. when they were available. They didn’t taste like root beer either. They tasted more like year-old zombie. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/37 "2016-05-23T15:22:38Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > That’s one of the odd things about cola flavor: it just doesn’t taste that good in any context that doesn’t have carbonation. > > I am sure there’s someone out there who loves flat cola, but in general, even cold, fresh but flat cokes just taste… sickly sweet and “off.” Flat root beer is at least tolerable. I used to love Marino’s cola flavored italian ices from the neighborhood ice cream truck when I was a kid. I do like flat cola too, though. And coke bottle gummies. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/38 "2016-05-24T13:45:17Z")
[Not Your Father’s Root Beer](http://time.com/3967987/alcoholic-root-beer-not-your-fathers-root-beer/) My daughter brought some home and there are a few in the fridge right now. She said they tasted just like root beer, but with a kick. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/39 "2016-05-24T15:16:22Z")
In the Boy Scouts, we made root beer while camping (car camping, not backpacking) and it tasted great on a hot day. 1 bottle Root Beer extract 5 gallons water 5 pounds sugar 5 pounds dry ice 30 minutes standing time Use a 10-gallon container. The mixture will EXPAND. Make a syrup out of 1 gallon warm water and sugar. Add 4 more gallons of water. Stir. Add root beer extract. Stir. Add dry ice and leave uncovered for 30 minutes. The dry ice will add carbonation and make it all fizzy. Great treat after a day hike, gives everyone a sugar high. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423/40 "2016-05-26T15:01:42Z")
I realize this thread is from last year, but we get Zatarain’s root beer concentrate every so often. It’s about as hard as making Koolaid. I like to mix it with diet ginger ale or tonic water! And there are a bazillion “hard” root beers out there. They really took off in the last year or so. I’ve tried a few. The best do taste like root beer with a slight kick. The first one I tried, I didn’t even realize was alcoholic at first–my husband had picked some up along with some “gourmet” cream soda–and I shared it with one of the kids.:o Others taste like Budweiser mixed with store-brand root beer…no, thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-root-beer-drink-mix/718423.md?page=3)