Ever been curious as to where was root beer invented? I’m sure that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?
Well, let’s get right to it.
Beer have been enjoyed for many hundreds of years, and Shakespeare referred to ‘small beers’ many times in his famous plays, in the opinion of Anchor Brewing.
But, what exactly is root beer, how is it different from sarsaparilla, and other similar drinks, and does it contain alcohol?
Read on, to discover the answers to these questions and more.
What Is The Oldest Root Beer Brand?
So let us talk about who invented root beer. Root beers were made under small brands by hobbyists and entrepreneurs throughout history.
But, the first commercially made root beer brand is the Hires brand, started in 1876 by Charles Hires in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Therefore, the oldest root beer brand is roughly 150 years old.
Root beer gets its name because it was commonly made with the root of the sassafras tree, according to Bundaberg.
Which gave it a spicy and flavorful taste.
It was also made with a combination of ginger root, carbonated water, sarsaparilla root, licorice root, root tea, and cinnamon.
Who made root beer is an amazing question to think.Interestingly, Bundaberg claims that sarsaparilla inspired the invention of root beer.
And explain that root beer is a sarsaparilla soda, that’s made with added acacia, nutmeg, and clove.
Both root beer and sarsaparilla have similar appearance and taste.
Owing to licorice root, which overwhelms the other herbs and spices in its flavor profile.
Sarsaparilla root can still be bought today, but sassafras has been banned in the USA, by the FDA, after it was found to be toxic in large doses.
Nowadays root beers are made using flavors that mimic sassafras.
But, contain all the other ingredients that still make it delicious to this day.
However, I found root beer to be an acquired taste, and I have read anecdotally on the internet that people have had a similar experience.
And either loves it or hate it.
Is Root Beer Only Popular In The US?
So where did root beer come from? Root beer is popular in the US, and was the first known country to produce it commercially. Root beer origin is from America. It’s famous in American culture.
Australian soda manufacturer Bundaberg also makes root beer with black cherry(a version of root beer).
And root beer is sold and consumed in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK as well.
Data provided by Statista.com suggests that the market share for root beer is biggest in the Americas have 41%, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Africa have 32%, and the Asia pacific account for 26% of the global sales of root beer.
A drink that’s similar to root beer in the UK is Dandelion and Burdock, which is made by Fentimans. It has a similar taste and color to root beer and sarsaparilla.
Does Root Beer Make You Drunk?
Root beer (burdock root) is sold as non-alcoholic and enjoyed as a soda, but is also sold with alcohol.
Some well-known alcoholic root beer manufacturers are Not Your Fathers, Victory, and Sprecher.
Most have about 5% to 6% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Non-alcoholic root beer will not make you drunk, but alcoholic root beer will.
Non-alcoholic root beer is similar to Coca-Cola, or Pepsi.
Whereas alcoholic root beer is similar to a standard beer that you can buy at a bar or liquor store.
Modern root beer is one of the lowest alcohol-content drinks.
Comparatively, wine has about 10% alcohol, and spirits such as Vodka, and Whiskey are normally around 40% alcohol.
Where does Root Beer come from?
Ever wondered where is root beer from? Root beer is a sweet, carbonated beverage that has its origins in the United States, dating back to the late 19th century. Although the exact origins of root beer are somewhat shrouded in mystery, it is believed to have been developed as a non-alcoholic alternative to beer, made from a mixture of roots, barks, herbs, and other natural ingredients. The name “root beer” comes from the use of roots as a flavor and sweetening ingredient in the original recipes.
In the early days of root beer, the beverage was typically made at home, with recipes varying widely from household to household. However, as the popularity of root beer grew, commercial production of the beverage began, and by the early 20th century, root beer was widely available in bottles and cans, as well as on draft in restaurants and bars. Thats when was root beer made. Today, root beer is one of the most popular soft drinks in the United States, and is enjoyed by millions of people of all ages.
There are many different varieties of root beer available, each with its own unique flavor and ingredients. Some popular brands of root beer are made with natural ingredients, while others are made with artificial flavors and sweeteners. Regardless of the ingredients, root beer remains a beloved drink, enjoyed for its sweet, carbonated taste and nostalgic appeal. Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of a root beer float, root beer is an American classic that continues to be enjoyed by generations of people.
Can kids Drink Root Beer?
Kids can drink root beer.
But, root beer is sold in two varieties – non-alcoholic and alcoholic.
According to Poison.org, alcohol is not suitable for children.
Alcoholic root beer is commonly called hard root beer.
Non-alcoholic root beer is a type of soda similar to Coca-Cola.
Soda’s generally thought to be bad for your health.
And one study found that one soda a day can lead to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.
So, they shouldn’t be consumed by kids regularly.
I recently wrote about this in an article titled: Is 1 Soda a Day Bad for You?
You can read the full details of the study, and related questions, by clicking that link.
Does Root Beer Contain Ginger?
Traditional and homemade root beers were made with ginger, however, nowadays each manufacturer uses a unique recipe.
Some of the most well-known root beer manufacturers A&W, and Barq’s do not use ginger in their root beer.
Here is a list of the ingredients of A&W Root beer, Barq’s Root beer, and a homemade recipe:
| A&W Root beer ingredients | Barq’s Root beer ingredients | Home-made recipe ingredients |
| Carbonated water | Carbonated water | Water |
| High fructose corn syrup | High fructose corn syrup | Sarsaparilla root |
| Caramel color | Caramel color | Ginger root |
| Sodium benzoate | Sodium benzoate | Licorice root |
| Natural and artificial flavors | Citric acid | Dandelion root |
| Quillaia extract | Caffeine | Birch bark |
| Artificial and natural flavors | Star anise | |
| Acacia | Sugar |
The ingredients for the homemade recipe is provided by Nourished Kitchen.
Ingredients for A&W and Barq’s from their official websites here and here.
In the ingredients A&W and Barq’s list natural and artificial flavors, and that could include ginger and liquorice root.
However, they aren’t giving away any secrets at this stage.
Where Was Barq’s Root Beer Invented?
Barq’s root beer was first invented in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1898 by Edward Barq Snr, according to the official Barq’s website.
They make both a root beer, a diet root beer, and a creaming soda.
Barq’s was acquired by Coca-Cola, and its headquarters is now located in Atlanta.
The official Coca-Cola website says that they bought Barq’s in the 19th century (1995), and was the first carbonated drink company that Coca-Cola bought.
Barq’s is well known in the southernmost states of the USA, in the region known as the Gulf Coast.
Which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
What Brand Is The Original Root Beer?
Keurig Dr. Pepper was originally part of the Cadbury Schweppes group.
And later on they separated out the soft drink part of its company into Keurig Dr. Pepper.
Conclusion
This article talks about root beer and when did root beer come out. Root beer and ginger beer have been made and consumed for hundreds of years, and their exact origin is unknown.
The first commercial root beer was produced by Charles Hires, under his brand Hires Root Beer in Philadelphia, in 1872.
A traditional root beer recipe is made using a range of root powders, such as sassafras, ginger, licorice root, and dandelion root.
Modern recipes are kept a closely guarded secret, however, sassafras root is no longer used because it’s banned by the FDA for health reasons.
Root beer was originally derived for sarsaparilla.
Which is a drink made from sarsaparilla root and other plant extracts.
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