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What is the best *real* root beer?
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iM@k
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Jul 9, 2013, 05:38 PM
 
Lately I've been on a rootbeer kick. and I'm looking a a good strong one.

I remember visiting my uncle down in Florida in the mid 90's right before Coca-Cola bought the Barqs brand. I remember that they did have "Bite", the first sip I nearly choked cause it was like nothing I'd tasted before.

I'm looking for a nice strong rootbeer like that. Around here I can find Virgils and Captain Eli's but I want something that really packs a punch.

Any recommendations?
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reader50
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Jul 9, 2013, 05:57 PM
 
By chance, I looked at root beers yesterday. Had planned to buy a bottle, but all the brands I looked at had artificial flavoring. If memory serves, I looked at Barqs, Mug, and A&W. They stayed on the shelf.
     
subego
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Jul 9, 2013, 06:00 PM
 
Gale's root beer is really good, though not super punchy.

I stopped drinking it though because I got a bottle which had, well... I don't know what it was, however I shall describe it as a "loogie".
     
ort888
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Jul 9, 2013, 06:07 PM
 
I don't have any specific recommendations, but if you go to a more upscale deli or supermarket, you can usually find a decent assortment of real root beer and they are all pretty fantastic.

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andi*pandi
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Jul 9, 2013, 06:34 PM
 
I don't recall the brand, but if it's sold in a glass bottle, that's a good start. You can also find a better class of root beers in the "organic" earthy crunch part of the store. At least there will be "real" flavoring.

Stewart's is one of the good ones I think. Dr. Browns, and IBC.
     
subego
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Jul 9, 2013, 06:48 PM
 
I'd say IBC is the best of the non-microbrews. They make a good cream soda too.
     
Shaddim
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Jul 9, 2013, 08:24 PM
 
Virgil’s, but you have that so you're GTG. Otherwise there's IBC and Dr Brown's.
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iMOTOR
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Jul 9, 2013, 09:32 PM
 
I've never tried it, but this stuff looks like it would be good:

Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Root Beer
     
BadKosh
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Jul 10, 2013, 08:06 AM
 
     
shifuimam
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Jul 10, 2013, 07:21 PM
 
Have you tried making your own? It's not very hard at all - just a matter of finding all the right ingredients and a little cash upfront (maybe $50 or so in equipment, particularly a big enough stock pot and a glass or plastic carboy for fermenting).

We do a lot of homebrew these days. It's surprisingly easy.
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olePigeon
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Jul 11, 2013, 06:10 PM
 
Henry Weinhard is my favorite brand of root beer.
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knifecarrier2
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Jul 12, 2013, 03:08 PM
 
Sprecher. Duh.

     
Shaddim
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Jul 12, 2013, 04:17 PM
 
Originally Posted by knifecarrier2 View Post
Sprecher. Duh.

Only if you prefer overly-carbonated A&W, which is what it tastes like.
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SSharon
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Jul 16, 2013, 01:06 AM
 
I like root beer, but I've been underwhelmed by Dr. Brown's products in recent years. Just the residue they leave on my glass turns me off to them. I'll admit this a bigger problem for the black cherry than the root beer though.

I toured the Yuengling beer factory not too long ago and they offered a root beer during the beer tasting at the end for people that weren't over 21. It was fantastic, but I don't know if they make it themselves.
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