Root Beer: Which Brand is Best?

Root beer. Unless you're a true connoisseur, root beer probably is not something you spend long stretches of time pondering. Does the flavor have strong notes of sassafras? Does the flavor have sufficient bite with each swallow? Would this root beer pair well with Edy's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream? Would I buy another liter? A trip to the grocery store can prove challenging, however, if you do stop to consider the array of options within the category of root beer. A&W, Mug, Barq's, Generic. Are there differences among the options? Yes, yes there are. Whether it's the artificial sassafras flavoring at the core of the beverage's flavor, the fizz, or the bite, there are characteristics which distinguish one root beer from another.

(The following root beer assessments are based on samples of Diet root beers, not full strength.)

In my opinion, Mug - the cans with the surly bull dog - offers one of the smoothest root beers available. The Pepsi empire has concocted a very drinkable root beer, and one likely to mesh with more sensitive palates at your next picnic. That being said, there are moments when I want a bit more nuance from my root beer. That's when I grab a case of Barq's.

A number of years ago, Barq's ran an ad campaign featuring the slogan, "Barq's has bite!" Although I have not seen a television ad from the company since that campaign, it would appear that the first run was sufficient enough to drill the catchy phrase into this consumer's head. And it's true - Barq's does have the most bite of any mainstream brand of root beer. Consider Barq's the Vernor's of root beer, if you will. This beverage is meant for sipping while you read a book or watch a vacuous melodrama. Bite has its drawbacks, however. I would be less likely to reach for Barq's on a hot, humid summer day when an instant thirst quenching is in order. I'd grab a case of A&W for just such an occasion.

A&W is perhaps the best known of the root beer brands, in part because the franchise also introduced its own line of fast food restaurants, too. A&W is a solid choice - not the extreme bite of Barq's, but not as smooth as Mug. Consider it the Compromise Root Beer, if you will.

But what about those generic, store-brand root beers that sell at a considerable discount? Meijer, the Midwestern grocery/all-purpose behemoth, stocks its own root beer, but I find it bland, watery, and ultimately not worth the financial savings. Big K, the Kroger store brand, offers a much better product with a flavor in synch with that of A&W.

My philosophy? Buy what's on sale. While no two root beers are identical, it's difficult to find one that won't taste good in a frosty mug (preferably with a scoop of ice cream, too).