Does Root Beer Have Caffeine? [A&W, Barq’s, IBC]

Root beer is a creamy and beloved soft drink consumed all over the US and worldwide.

Root beer is a popular drink made from the sassafras tree’s sassafras root (natural ingredient) for its earthy tones, sweet flavor, and full-bodied texture.

And despite being so popular, many people don’t know much about popular root beer. 

And I get questions on my blog regularly. 

For example,

We thought you might be interested in this selection of Root Beer here

People who may still have many questions about root beer don’t know the history of root beer, so we put together this comprehensive guide on this favored drink or Soda drink.

We will cover topics on how root beer is made, which brands of root beer continent caffeine, and whether or not root beer contains alcohol.

Is Root Beer Caffeine Free?

Root beer was created to be a grain beer and is brewed using similar methods. However, root beer typically does not contain hops, which makes beer alcoholic.

Most modern root beer is now made with artificial sassafras flavors. Some varieties are made with sassafras root that has chemically removed the safrole.

In general, no. Most varieties of root beer do not contain caffeine.

The original formula for root beer from back in the 1870s did not contain caffeine content.

In contrast, most colas, such as Coca-Cola, explicitly included caffeine as a therapeutic agent.

Also, unlike colas, Burdock root beer was not originally marketed as a medicinal product, whereas Coca-Cola and Pepsi were.

Here is a list of some popular brands and artificial flavors of root beer  that do not contain caffeine:

• BarQs Root Beer
• Diet A&W Root Beer
• Mug Root Beer
• Dad’s Root Beer
• Diet Barq’s Root Beer

These are some favorite root beer brands.

Most popular brands in the US are caffeine-free, although some brands have caffeinated versions of their famous drinks.

Does Barq’s Root Beer Have Caffeine?

Some varieties of root beer contain caffeine, such as Barq’s root beer.

Although Diet Barq’s Root Beer does not contain caffeine, the regular array does. Barqs root beer caffeine is not much higher.

A regular Barq’s root beer contains approximately 22 milligrams of caffeine per 12 oz. can.

In contrast, a typical can of regular Coke contains about 34 mg. A 12 oz. can of Pepsi contains 38 mg of caffeine. So, Barq’s root beer caffeine is less than that of regular coke.

So even if a brand of root beer contains caffeine, it is often less than cola brands. Root beer also has less caffeine than regular green or black tea, containing between 28-48 mg per cup.

For foods that naturally contain caffeine, such as chocolate, tea, and coffee, manufacturers are not required to list caffeine on the ingredients list.

However, products that do not naturally contain caffeine must list caffeine on the ingredient list.

Since root beer does not naturally contain caffeine, it will list it on the ingredients label if a root beer brand does have caffeine.

However, the FDA does not usually require brands to list the exact amount of caffeine on the label.

So if you are curious about how much caffeine your root beer might contain, you can check the official brand website for details.

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In contrast, the Diet version of Root beer does not contain this corrosive chemical and is usually considered easier on the teeth and gums.

However, root beer does contain high quantities of sugar. For example, a 12 oz. can of A&W Root Beer includes 46 grams of sugar.

In contrast, a 12 oz. Can Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain 39 and 41 grams of sugar, respectively?

So root beer contains more sugar than most other brands of cola.
However, root beer contains many ingredients that do not make it a healthy drink. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS): It is high in sugar.

Sugar is root beer’s main “unhealthy” ingredient, as it can cause obesity, insulin sensitivity, and cavities. 

As such, while root beer might be considered healthier than cola in some respects, it is not more beneficial than cola in many other respects.

Either way, soda, in general, is not healthy and should be a rare treat rather than a daily drink.

Generally, no, root beer is not alcoholic.

Although brewing root beer is similar to beer, root beer does not usually contain hops, the main alcoholic ingredient in regular beer.

So root beer, in general, is a non-alcoholic beverage.

Even though root beer is not made with alcohol, many people use root beer as a mixer for alcoholic drinks.

Root beer typically goes well with rum and whiskey as it brings out each kind of liquor’s sweet vanilla ice cream flavor.

Cans of Root beer are one of the country’s most popular kinds of soda, and for a good reason and give a flavorful taste.

Famous Root beer, as traditionally brewed, does not usually contain caffeine, but some brands add caffeine to give it some extra pep.

A root beer containing caffeine should be on the ingredient label. So it would be best if you never got a root beer soft drink with caffeine, but that does not make a note of it.

We thought you might be interested in this selection of Root Beer here.