Thoughts on Root Beer

[aurak_merc]

Hello all. I find more and more that I like root beer. Almost every kind I have tried has been great, with a couple of standout exceptions that are just foul. Tonight I was wandering the grocery store and came upon a brand I had not seen before, Bundaberg. It is quite different from most root beer I have tried, with a very distinct taste. I am not sure that I like it at this point, but it is not on the black-list yet. I will try another bottle or two and see.

What caught my attention is that this brand, Bundaberg, is from Australia (or so it says on the bottle, which has a rather fun cap by the way). Now, I have heard from many people who are far more worldly than I, that root beer is a rather distinct U.S. soda. As in, other folks from various lands find that it tastes like medicine and therefore is gross. I work with several people from eastern Africa and central and South America, and they report that it is not a popular drink at all, and they find it repulsive. So is Australia different? Do Aussies like root beer?

If any Australian or other international traders would like to post their regional reaction root beer, I would genuinely be interested in knowing.

[oaflord]

Canadians love it, at least I do. I could see Aussies liking it, as they are a Commonwealth country as well. Not sure though. Fanta Root Beer does not exist here any more, which is a shame as their flavour was very distinctive (very sasparilla) but the closest we have to that now would be Dad's Root Beer (made in Pittsburgh, IIRC). Nice strong taste, no real after taste.

For a good laugh, youtube old "Barq's has bite" commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4DBZ2TBp-w

oAF

[astrosmash]

Ever try Saranac rootbeer? If you ever make it to Utica NY you can do the Saranac brewery tour and have all the rootbeer you can drink after the tour.

[ssapper]

BARQs Root Beer its the one with Bite, ah its my favorite soda, but so rare to see in my travels.

[porkuslime]

I am a big fan of OBC root beer.. although the best I have had in recent years has been a local guy/bottler who makes Root Beer, Cranberry Soda, and Orange Pop in his basement.. and sells it at local festivals and fairs.

[wookieegunner]

You must try Virgil's Root Beer if you can find it.

[THEFAN]

Root Beer is awsome. Easy to make too. Check out the kits at your local health food stores.
We have a great brand made with real suger named Cpt'n Eli's root beer.

[aurak_merc]

I had a chance to try a Virgil's Rootbeer this week and it was pretty good.

Ages ago, when I was in Boy Scouts, we made rootbeer every so often and it was usually tasty as well.

There are two A&W restaurants nearby so I can get their's pretty regularly, as it is my favorite mainstream brand.

[kwiker]

Boylan Bottling Company (from NJ) makes Root Beer, which isn't bad; they also make Birch Beer - which is very similar to root beer and is pretty good.

[peacemystic]

Being an Aussie that lives in Kentucky i'll weigh in.....I would LOVE to be able to get Bundaberg Sarsparilla, as we call it, at the local supermarket, as is I have to order it via mail from Ohio. I still remember the first time I ever drank Saraparilla, as a little kid my father took me to the pub ordered himself a beer and me a sarsparilla, it came in the same sort of glass as my dad's beer and I thought it was pretty great being a 4 or 5 years old having a drink with my dad.
SARS is the big Sarsaparilla back home, and as with Bunderburg its made with real sarparilla root, which gives it a better taste with more bite than US root beer which is made with artificial flavors.....(In My opinion)
I spent 15 years literally trying every root beer I came across, hoping to find the real deal....even asian grocery stores which have Sarsparilla but it is too sweet.
My quest ended this year infact in glorious VICTORY as I found an Australian shop that stocks Australian food just 75 miles away in Cincinnati, still cheaper to get it by mail than drive however....I still remember that day.....as the mailman came up the steps to our apartment they were angels singing and a light from heaven shone apon his head...i looked into the sky and saw a single star shining down, as He placed the box in my hand I gently removed the swaddling bubble wrap and gazed apon the Sarsparilla.....and, oh yea, it was GOOD