Root Beer

[RPM 26,318]

Unless search f'd me we don't have a root beer thread. Going way back in the day (1960's) my favorites were Dad's or Frostie. One of those with a cheeseburger... nirvana.

I've tried the new "spiked" root beers and they are shit.

There was a place in Denton that made their own root beer, Sandy's. It was awesome. Had a few A&W locations scattered about North Texas, but quality was an issue.

[luke duke 6,412]

Unless search f'd me we don't have a root beer thread. Going way back in the day (1960's) my favorites were Dad's or Frostie. One of those with a cheeseburger... nirvana.
I've tried the new "spiked" root beers and they are shit.
There was a place in Denton that made their own root beer, Sandy's. It was awesome. Had a few A&W locations scattered about North Texas, but quality was an issue.

Is this a rant or did I miss the question?

[Enchubben 5,510]

IBC and Stewart’s are probably my favorite, but nothing wrong with A&W. Barq’s is by far my least favorite.

[Underdog 28,611]

Love root beer, sarsaparilla's is my favorite of the two. 

[bluto 4,916]

Abita is the best I’ve found, central market carries it. Saint Arnold good as well but not quite the bite. Frostie is good too.

[Prepuce of Doom 21,065]

Yeah, Abita is good shit.

I like Sprecher, too.

[Patricio Swayze 17,058]

Is birch beer part of this conversation? Regardless, Hank’s had pretty good ones.

[ztejas 43,418]

Barq's hits. Fuck out of here with that Barq's hate. It's crisp and satisfying - like an ice cold coca cola. 

[GreenspointTexas 9,600]

Figured this thread would be about the “McDonalds/Light Beer” root beers. I am not disappointed

 

Ill kick off the good suggestions:

Barrel Brothers

[South Austin 52,463]

I've never been a big fan of root beer.  Was more of a Coke and Dr. Pepper guy growing up.  But my daughter likes root beer and she got a St. Arnold's at Alamo Drafthouse a few years ago that I thought was pretty good.

[NIUHuskies 504]

Grew up on this stuff. 

[Beantown Express 2.0 6,559]

When pronounced I hope you all take the Hanson Brothers way of saying it correctly, “that stinkin Rutbeer”.

I kind of like good old A&W.

[Nueces River Rat 5,538]

Had one of these this weekend.    Not a huge RB drinker, but this tasted pretty good in glass bottle straight from the cooler

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

Stewarts on draft is the gold standard.  From the can, Barq's delivers (w caffeine).

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

Love an ice cold root beer, and I loved root beer floats as a kid, but haven't had one in a while.......root beer floats that is.

They're all pretty good. The craft ones can be hit or miss.

I remember kool aid offered root beer kool aid. Tasted like flat Kool aid, no Bueno.

[BonzoMontreaux 1,038]

Getting an A&W at an A&W with the glass mug when I was a kid was nirvana for me.

Liked Frosty's growing up.  IBC is what I am likely to buy these days.  I might have to give Maine Root Beer shot though.

BJ's has a dang good root beer offering IMO.  It has a nice little cream soda after taste.  They offer a Cream soda as well.

[Underdog 28,611]

Polar Beverages has good RB, not sure if it's available down in Texas.  Their Cream Soda, Grape and Birch Beer I like as well. 

[Jack Straw 2,954]

this begins and ends with ice cold Barq's in a log neck bottle.  don't see that much around Austin, but it seems to be everywhere in New Orleans.

[ouflak 60]

Don't know if this is available stateside. But this is what we keep stocked now as it's the best American style one available:

They have an Australian one here:

That stuff is undrinkable to me and my heavily influenced young'uns. But it seems to be selling I guess or else they wouldn't keep it on the shelves.

There is another American style:

It's fine, but just doesn't quite have the proper kick that an A&W/Barqs/Dad's root beer has.

(Hard to get here)

Edited April 12, 2021 by ouflak

[WhatTheBuck 28,776]

Frostie was the bomb. We used to go to A&W drive-ins where you’d park, place your order, then they brought your food out on a tray that hung on your partially lowered window. Never been to one where the waitresses were on roller skates. That would’ve been awesome. 

[Patricio Swayze 17,058]

Hahaha that Bundaberg stuff is fucking garbage. Disgusting.

About 20 years ago I ordered a root beer sampler from a place online. Maybe Pop the Soda Shop? Anyways, there was a bottle of bundaberg and I couldn’t even make it 5 sips.

I haven’t had a Boylans in awhile, but I recall it being pretty good.

[NWBuck 8,552]

During the pandemic, we discovered this place here in the Seattle Area: https://www.chugsrootbeer.com/ 

They have weekend tastings and such as well... lots of other options as well (ginger beer, cream sodas, flavored beverages like Nehi or Ale8One)

[Prepuce of Doom 21,065]

Bundaberg is ass. Best thing about it is that the bottles are a satisfying shape for throwing, like a Mickey's Wide Mouth. 

I am not crazy about the Maine Root. 

[WhatTheBuck 28,776]

18 hours ago, Prepuce of Doom said:

I am not crazy about the Maine Root. 

Your mom is crazy about my main root.

[pch 1,259]

On 4/11/2021 at 2:49 PM, RPM said:

 

There was a place in Denton that made their own root beer, Sandy's. It was awesome. Had a few A&W locations scattered about North Texas, but quality was an issue.

While attending NTSU in the 70's, it was a regular stop on University Drive. The root beer was excellent.

[Prepuce of Doom 21,065]

1 hour ago, WhatTheBuck said:

Your mom is crazy about my main root.

She told me that it's shriveled, tapered, and covered in dirt. 

[Guest]

On 4/11/2021 at 2:49 PM, RPM said:

Unless search f'd me we don't have a root beer thread. Going way back in the day (1960's) my favorites were Dad's or Frostie. One of those with a cheeseburger... nirvana.

I've tried the new "spiked" root beers and they are shit.

There was a place in Denton that made their own root beer, Sandy's. It was awesome. Had a few A&W locations scattered about North Texas, but quality was an issue.

Agreed on not enjoying the alcoholic rootbeers and cream sodas.

I like Saint Arnold's, Dad's, and since I mostly drink diet soda, the A&W Diet Root beer is freaking awesome within that realm of offerings.

[Guest]

On 4/12/2021 at 3:58 PM, BonzoMontreaux said:

Getting an A&W at an A&W with the glass mug when I was a kid was nirvana for me.

Liked Frosty's growing up.  IBC is what I am likely to buy these days.  I might have to give Maine Root Beer shot though.

BJ's has a dang good root beer offering IMO.  It has a nice little cream soda after taste.  They offer a Cream soda as well.

Yep.  My boys figured that out very quickly and it has since been their go-to. they make a cream soda and cherry cola, but the root beer is best.

[cactusflinthead 27,598]

On 4/11/2021 at 11:48 PM, Prepuce of Doom said:

Yeah, Abita is good shit.

I like Sprecher, too.

I got a Sprecher a couple of weeks ago. Not bad at all.

IBC was the first indy root beer I had as a kid when my dad took us on vacation. You couldn't find it in Texas. A&W, Hires, Dad's, and Barq's were widely available and paled in comparison. 

St. Arnold's is good stuff too.

[bluto 4,916]

Had virgils tonight, not horrible but very meatyokur, tasted like a cough syrup somewhat. Got an abita waiting on me next to cleanse the palate tomorrow. Big thing for me on RB is most are caffeine free too, stuff effs my sleep.

[Seger78 258]

Saint Arnold's is good, but Thomas Kemper is my favorite

 

[Trey3216 15,346]

[bborange 10,048]

 

I used to go with my family to the one in Taylor.   We would get an empty milk gallon jug full of root beer. 

 

 

[bluto 4,916]

Barq’s in a bottle, meh
Saranac pretty good

[pyrohornIII 4,814]

My frugal german grandmother always had a bottle of root beer concentrate.  She'd mix with water and pour over ice.  It wasn't very good, but on a hot summer day it wasn't turned down either.  She never had sodas of any type in the house, that was as close as she'd get.  It was considered a treat.   

What was the name of that Happy Days type diner chain in San Antonio in the 90s that had their own RB?  Rudy's Root Beer?   That stuff rivaled A&W with the cold frosty mug.

[Mac8111 2,107]

IBC and Stewart’s are probably my favorite, but nothing wrong with A&W. Barq’s is by far my least favorite.

When my son was a little younger he kept telling me he wanted a Bangs. Finally figured out he couldn’t read the cursive label of Bargs and it looked like an N to him. We still call it Bangs as an inside joke now.

[CoachTex 2,623]

There use to be a burger joint in San Antone call Rooty's. Great Root Beer! Tried to expand to 2 locations and went belly up. I miss Rooty's.

[Mac8111 2,107]

 
I used to go with my family to the one in Taylor.   We would get an empty milk gallon jug full of root beer. 
 
 

Just stopped in the one in Cuero.

[RPM 26,318]

There used to be one in Bowie a long time ago.

[BlueGreySky 1,004]

If you’ve never been to Del’s in old downtown Richardson you’re missing out on some fantastic burgers and my dad’s favorite root beer. They make it in house and serve it in a frosty cold mug.

[RPM 26,318]

4 hours ago, BlueGreySky said:

They make it in house

That's what you're looking for. Anybody can get canisters of syrup delivered.

[tx 3 putt 76,905]

On 4/16/2021 at 8:23 PM, bborange said:

 

I used to go with my family to the one in Taylor.   We would get an empty milk gallon jug full of root beer. 

 

 

 

the one cuero still pumps out GREAT food !

[JSB 677]

Where can you get a wider selection in the Dallas area? I've tried everything I can find at my local Kroger, but really enjoy trying new stuff.

[tx 3 putt 76,905]

On 4/16/2021 at 8:23 PM, bborange said:

 

I used to go with my family to the one in Taylor.   We would get an empty milk gallon jug full of root beer. 

 

 

 

damn only 4 left in the us

[bluto 4,916]

Where can you get a wider selection in the Dallas area? I've tried everything I can find at my local Kroger, but really enjoy trying new stuff.

Central market has a few dif varieties.

[bluto 4,916]

Where can you get a wider selection in the Dallas area? I've tried everything I can find at my local Kroger, but really enjoy trying new stuff.

Central market has a few dif varieties.

[Mac8111 2,107]

I grabbed some from Central Market recently.


The Australian one was way different. Tons of layers of flavors but didn’t have that root beer finish. The finish was fairly bitter. My son gave it a 4 out of 10. I didn’t care for it either.


The Dublin one was classic root beer that we all love. Pretty sweet finish. He gave it 8/10.

[Patricio Swayze 17,058]

Check out the gift pack section:

https://www.therootbeerstoreonline.com/mobile/default.aspx

[ouflak 60]

On 5/13/2021 at 3:48 PM, Patricio Swayze said:

Check out the gift pack section:

https://www.therootbeerstoreonline.com/mobile/default.aspx

I've had both Boylan's:

And Virgil's:

here in the UK.

Both excellent and I grab a four pack when I can get them.

Edited May 18, 2021 by ouflak

[MoJames 8,244]

Kid's dig the local group. 

But I think Carver's in town makes the best.