Root Beer 

Root beer, at its core, is a carbonated soft drink. Traditionally, it was brewed from the root bark of the sassafras tree, along with other botanicals like sarsaparilla, wintergreen, and licorice root. These days, most commercial versions use artificial sassafras flavoring or a blend of other extracts to capture that distinct taste. It’s a sweet, often creamy brew with complex notes of vanilla, a hint of wintergreen, and that earthy, slightly spicy sassafras character. Some brands lean into a more licorice or anise profile, others are all about the vanilla and cream soda vibe. Despite the “beer” in the name, traditional root beer isn’t alcoholic. It’s a soda, plain and simple. While some craft versions might undergo a slight fermentation, the stuff you grab off the shelf is just a soft drink. So, no, a Barq’s isn’t going to give you a buzz. It’s all about the unique flavor, not the ABV.

If you’re out of root beer or just want to switch things up, try these:

• Sarsaparilla: Root beer’s closest cousin, often shares many botanicals and a similar earthy profile.
• Cream Soda: For that smooth, vanilla-heavy sweetness, cream soda is a solid stand-in.
• Dr. Pepper: Brings a dark, spiced, and slightly fruity complexity that can work in a pinch.
• Cola: A standard dark soda mixer, offers caramel notes and a familiar spice profile, though less unique.

There are loads of root beers out there, but these are some you’ll see on the back bar:

• A&W: Your classic, widely available, known for its creamy, vanilla forward taste.
• Barq’s: Famous for its ‘bite,’ a bit more aggressive on the sassafras and less creamy than A&W.
• Mug: A smoother, generally sweeter option, a solid dependable choice.
• Sprecher: A craft option, often brewed with honey, offering a rich, robust spice and vanilla profile.
• IBC: Comes in those old-school glass bottles, a well-balanced, smooth sipper.

Here’s a few pointers from behind the stick for working with root beer:

• Always serve root beer super cold. Warm soda goes flat fast and tastes thin in a drink.
• When mixing, pour root beer gently down the side of the glass. This keeps the fizz alive and the drink vibrant.
• Root beer is already quite sweet, so go easy on any additional syrups or liqueurs you’re adding. Taste as you go.
• It pairs exceptionally well with dark spirits like aged rum, bourbon, or a good spiced whiskey. The vanilla and spice notes complement each other.
• Consider a citrus garnish like an orange peel or a lemon twist. The oils can cut through the sweetness and add a fresh aromatic lift.