Barq's definately my favorite. A&W isn't a bad 2nd option.

Stewarts is the best!

IBC is my favorite. Plus, Michael Mina uses it in his legendary root beer floats, so I suppose it can't be wrong. Barq's is probably a close second.

I always have some Hey Song in my fridge. It's fun walking around Taipei and running into Hey Song vending machines. I'm actually a fan of their new "clear" soda as well, which tastes like more-refreshing 7UP with a little less lime. Still, I personally wouldn't put sarsaparilla in the root beer category. :)

Sorry for the (very long) bump, wanted to see if there was already a thread about root beer instead of starting a new one and getting it merged or whatnot.

Anyway, whenever I go home, I make it a point to get the root beer from Appalachian Brewing Co.--so smooth, so drinkable, love the fact they brew it with a touch of honey that you can taste. It really puts every other root beer I've had to shame. (Though next time I am home I might have to try some of their more adult brews, see if their brewcraft is as good with them.)

Though, if I'm /not/ home, and I have to choose, I prefer MUG or Stewart's. Barg's is fine but I can never seem to find it.

Goose Island root beer is my favorite, though I would like it more if they put a bit more carbonation in it. Otherwise, if you can find Sioux City root beer, it's pretty good. Barq's is probably my favorite mass brand.

Sioux City sarsaparilla = amazing, btw.

We have Sprecher here at HEB in TX, it is good, but it is VERY VERY sweet. It is wood fired as well, or something like that, I remember seeing it on the bottle.

I have to say that my favorite is 1919. Although not many places have it.

http://www.1919rootbeer.com/

Delta747

has anyone ever tried the homemade root beer made by the Amish in Lancaster, PA??? it's.....interesting! not too sweet, sometimes scary depending on which farm stand!!! :p but worth the try!!!

Saranac Root Beer in a glass bottle. I used to always drink it when I went to Cooperstown as a kid. Haven't had it in years but I can still taste it in my mind!

I'm happy with an ice cold IBC root beer in a bottle.. mm brings me back to childhood.

virgils microbrewed is the best i've had. it took until the last post on the first page for someone to mention it. seems like some people like the regular canned (whole foods 365 which was on the nyt top 10 list) while others are from smaller companies like virgils or regional.

I have had virgils in a bottle, and didn't like it as much as virgils from the keg, that was pretty foamy and perfection, the bottle not so much 'pop' to the flavor.

My favorite rootbear..

A&W rootbeer in a ice cold mug.. mmm

Oh btw if any people put ice in their root beer they are officially unfit to drink our glorious beverage. Three cheers for frosty mug root beers!

:D

Problem when driving thru.. there is no mug..

A&W doesn't give ice on takeout root beer.. so must down the rootbeer really quick for best experience..^

I like most mainstream rootbeers, but this thread will likely make me go looking for some of the less common options.

Currently, my favorite is Diet Stewarts, but only because it makes a great Big Daddy (a cocktail of rootbeer and Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine).

haha I tried some 'big daddy' rootbeer once, it was pretty terrible! I didn't know there was a drink with the same 'name'

St. Arnold's Root Beer is pretty good, provided you can find it.

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For me it will always be my Dad's homemade root beer made with Hire's extract. Us kids would scour the new houses under construction for empty coke bottles - the small ones. We would make the root beer using yeast and sugar. We had a bottle capper and kept the filled bottles in a red radio flyer wagon. for the first several days we had to bring them out of the basement to set in the sun. I think we had root beer with good foam after about 10 days. So it was the anticipation that built up the flavor.

I remember Dad's and Hire's.. It was very good..

Used to get them in the 2 litre bottles.

Sprecher Root Beer is absolutely delightful. It's made with vanilla and a touch of honey. Yum!

We got a Fresh Market a couple months ago. After waiting for the crowds to die off, we shopped there last Saturday. I purchased a four pack of Bundaberg root beer. The label said all the right words but I just finished the 3rd bottle and I must say I'm not impressed. It lacked flavor, although the final swig left an impression of church incense in my throat. Took me back to my days as an altar boy. Not what I'm looking for in a root beer though.

If a restaurant has Boylan's Root Beer I'll order it, it pairs especially well with pizza.

Not Your Father's Root Beer has found a home in my fridge! I guess that ought to be in the "What's in Your Beer Fridge" thread, though.

I bought a four pack and my complaint is the same as with Bundeberg - not enough flavor. I have no idea where to find it on tap. Is it a local thing?

I bought a six pack and still have four left. I would give them to you if we lived anywhere near each other. I think it was just too strange having an alcohol flavor in my root beer. I think I would have enjoyed the near-beer version if there was such a thing.

Yeah, I can have about half of one of those before I start feeling a little queasy.

Goose Island Root Beer (made by the Goose Island regular-beer brewery) is my favorite. Perfect balance of rooty flavor and sweetness.