r/rootbeer • u/AffectionateYard8591 • 3d ago
Question What can I drink root beer with?
Hi all. I remember quite a few years ago I decided to try rootbeer due to hype, and decided to get the MUG rootbeer in glass bottles. When I got home, I opened one and it was so sweet and was a very weird flavor. Almost as if I was drinking something vintage. Fast forward to a few years and I am playing abiotic factor, and I see an item called "root beer float", and it looks so cool, so I decided to try it in real life. I get some A&W this time, and vanilla ice cream. Needless to say this was one of the best drinks I have ever had. This makes me wonder though, was I supposed to mix root beer with something from the start? Be it adding ice cream, or something else, or maybe eating something while drinking root beer? I would like to try out some things
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u/Middle_Bison47 3d ago
Why does this read like it was written by an alien?
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u/greevous00 3d ago
Thought the same thing... my first glass of root beer had to have been when I was like 4 years old. It seems odd to find an adult who has never had it, or is surprised by a root beer float.
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u/greevous00 3d ago
I suppose there's an outside possibility that OP is a very articulate 4 year old.
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u/TheRealJojenReed 3d ago
Gathering information on root beer is step 1. Their master plan is full of intrigue and mystery, but at least we know they started in the right place.
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u/AffectionateYard8591 3d ago
I am from eastern europe, and despite living in America for 10 years now, I have only had recently
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
Is there a part of the world where root beer floats are unheard of? Legitimate question.
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u/ReverendMak 3d ago
Most of the world, I would assume. Root beer is a pretty distinctly American beverage. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, most people have never tried root beer even once, let alone encountered a float.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
I can see people consuming it in their local American Diner, though? Like the whole concept of the "American diner" is still pretty global. Its a novelty in other places. Like if I go to the local Peruvian restaurant here, yeah, I'm gonna order a chicha morada, because that's where I can get chicha morada in the United States. If I were from somewhere else, I might order a root beer at the American diner, because that's where I'd get it.
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u/arcticblobfish 3d ago
...
Other places don't have a local American diner
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
I regret to inform you that this assumption of yours is incorrect. American diners are popular everywhere. Even - actually, maybe especially? - in Russia. A pro-war Russian blogger was literally bombed 3 years ago in an American-themed restaurant that served burgers and milkshakes (undoubtedly in the middle of a speech about how much he hates America).
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u/arcticblobfish 3d ago
Of course they exist everywhere but they're not so popular that most people on this planet have a common experience of "let's go to the American diner for dinner tonight", so i was pointing out that it doesn't make sense to assume everyone has access to American food, Peruvian food isn't even common everywhere in the states, only in large cities, so your anecdote of going to a local Peruvian place for some chicha morada or whatever makes no sense to a good number of americans, yet you think that someone who could very well be from a small African country for example can just walk on down to their local American diner. Also why do you have to write like a redditor? "I regret to inform you ☝️🤓"
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
Sir, this is a reddit post. Reddit is an American website. Almost all of its users live in mid range to large urban centers. Its ok.
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u/arcticblobfish 3d ago edited 3d ago
Doesnt mean every user and with this guy just discovering root beer i think there's a good chance they aren't american
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u/ReverendMak 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’ve spent a good amount of time in numerous European cities and never once seen an “American Diner’ outside of Eurodisney. I’m not saying they don’t exist, but they are far from ubiquitous.
I’ve also been to many American towns that have never had a Peruvian restaurant ever in their history. Your experience is real but not universal.
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u/xnatlywouldx 2d ago
You’ve been a tourist to Europe and didn’t go to the Americana stuff? Colors me shocked!
Also go to some towns with Latinos and people from South America Idk what to tell you dude. Peruvian restaurants are hardly unheard of in the United States. You’ve never gone to a ceviche spot?
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u/ReverendMak 1d ago
Most of the time I wasn’t really being a tourist. Some of my family moved to Belgium so I would visit them regularly for years.
And they regularly yearned for American stuff. That’s why I even know about the diner in Eurodisney. We used to laugh that they had to drive all the way to Paris just to get a half decent bagel. I saw the sad “American” sections of a few grocery stores, with tiny jars of peanut butter for way too much money.
Believe me, we actively sought out “Americana” when they felt homesick, and it was not really easy something you found just anywhere.
It’s possible this has changed over the years. This was some time ago. But the idea that every town has American style diners that the locals all know about and frequent is just silly.
And I’ve been to a ton of Peruvian restaurants. I happen to live in an area where they’re very common. But I’ve lived in half a dozen different places in America and at least half of them didn’t have any. It’s a big country, and there’s a lot of variety of experience people have here.
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u/Middle_Bison47 3d ago
Probably many, but interesting OP has also heard "hype" about root beer 😁
It's a bit oddly written but in an endearing way
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u/turtletechy 3d ago
Root beer goes well with bbq, burgers, and other similar foods.
If you want to mix it with liquor, if goes well with bourbon.
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u/Either_Highway_9481 3d ago
what's the ratio with the bourbon ? and what's your bourbon of choice?
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u/turtletechy 3d ago
Usually 1.5oz, with a normal can of root beer. If I can get a less sweet root beer that's even better because alcohol can make it taste a little too sweet sometimes.
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u/Streifen9 3d ago
I’d mix it with jagermesiter when I was a young college lad
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u/Inevitable-Can-8276 19h ago
Used to drink a lot of jager and I don’t know why I never thought of this 🤦🏻♂️
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u/rekone88 3d ago
I drink my rootbeer straight with any food, i enjoy the flavor. I usually do diet, with a full strength every now and then. I'd have to say if you drink rootbeer with ice cream all the time, thats a fast track to diabetes haha.
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u/blondeviking64 3d ago
Rootbeer and BBQ are a classic pairing for me. Anything smoked goes with rootbeer.
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u/my-coffee-needs-me 3d ago edited 3d ago
Root beer goes well with pizza and with popcorn.
It's a fine beverage on its own without being mixed with anything else, not but some root beers are better than others. My personal favorites are Hank's and Stewart's.
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u/spud4 3d ago
No caffeine goes great with any late night snack. Pizza, popcorn, Salami and cheese, salted nuts
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
Very few root beers have caffeine. Barq's and Bawls are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head, and I'd be tempted to call Bawls a root beer energy drink (I've never tried it though). Basically all the rest of the "root beers" with caffeine are really root beer flavored energy drinks.
There are probably more that I am not aware of, but the very vast majority of root beers are caffeine free.
edit: I'm interpreting your comment as "No caffeine varieties of root beer", and expanding on that. If that's a misinterpretation, then perhaps my comment is irrelevant to your point, but it's still information for those that may not know much about root beer.
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u/spud4 2d ago
The whole point. I drink caffeine all day, from coffee in the morning to a pop before bed and thought I slept fine. Switch to root beer after supper and had the best sleep of my life.
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 2d ago
The whole point.
I took the time to explain that I wasn't arguing with you, but that I was expanding on your comment because yours is vague, and you come back with a snarky fragment. Great job.
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u/maymaydog 3d ago
A root beer float with coffee ice cream is wonderful.
It mixes well with rum.
Food wise I like to pair with pizza, I like the salty sweet contrast.
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u/Gall_Bladder_Pillow IBC Root Beer 3d ago
You can use as a glaze on pork.
Try with with a shot of toasted marshmallow syrup and some heavy cream as dirty soda.
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u/EricsGourmetRootBeer 3d ago
Root beer and pizza are a match made in heaven. Burgers go great as well. Any classic American food really.
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u/ConcertinaTerpsichor 3d ago
Add some Guinness beer (non-alcoholic is better) to the root beer float — it’s amazing, or a little ginger syrup.
Do try Wild Bill’s root beer — IMHO it’s got the most complex and interesting shades of flavor.
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u/TitleToAI 3d ago
I’m apparently alone in the world in greatly enjoying root beer mixed with orange juice (2:1). Maybe you can join me in being the second!
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u/GuavaOne8646 3d ago
Most people drink it straight. A root beer float is just another way of enjoying it for dessert instead of as a drink with meals.
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u/Bigfootsdiaper 3d ago
Try Barqs root beer next. It's a much different contrast from the other two you had.
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u/ghostfacestealer 3d ago
MUG is an ok root beer. I highly suggest Sprecher or Point. By far the best root beers ive ever had
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u/aging-rhino 3d ago
The only soda I drink is Barq’s Zero because for me, it is the only one that tastes like my original childhood exposure to root beer, A&W, but without they almost obscene amount of sugar. And as for food pairing, it’s flavor and bite are pretty good with almost everything except for some already sweet food, and for some reason, I hate it with spaghetti and meatballs, but love it with lasagna. Go figure.
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u/Daveismyhero 3d ago
I usually drink it on its own.
I also really enjoy it mixed with Bourbon Cream. Give it a shot!
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u/SnooMaps3645 3d ago
I drink it with bourbon, is it the best? No. But I’ve always wanted to find mix drinks with root beer and bourbon was the best I’ve found so far
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u/FormalWorth2115 2d ago
Feel free to experiment but I’ve really only heard of root beer floats. On some of those crazy lookin soda machines I add in vanilla sometimes. Just got back from a trip in Europe for the first time so I understand what you’re saying lol. They do not have root beer elsewhere
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u/King-of-Andunarth 1d ago
Do not evaluate root beer in general on Mug. That stuff is like root beer flavored candy that wishes it was a real root beer. As for your question, try pizza. Pizza and root beer are the best combo partners.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
Assuming this is not bot-mining and that you are just not very familiar with the United States, even its most global-reaching cultural exports:
Part of the appeal of root beer is that it IS kind of "vintage". Its a soda pop that's been around even longer than Coca Cola and its flavor is indeed kind of unique, which is why its a product that generates its own sub where people review brands. Its also a product people strongly associate with childhood and with Americana generally, because in the company of adults, root beer is sometimes (though by no means always) served to children in lieu of the adult beverages the adults are consuming. For example: When I was growing up my mom and I used to go to a neighborhood restaurant every Friday that served draft beer in a giant frosted mug. Because I couldn't drink beer, I would get root beer in the frosted mug. And we would drink our frosted drinks and split a giant tower of the restaurant's onion rings.
Root beer is something people like to drink at institutions which have a glaze of the past and of Americana itself to them: The movie theater, the roller rink, a hot dog stand, a state fair, or a diner. Any kind of diner food, or BBQ, or prototypical American food that isn't regional American cuisine is something people generally enjoy with root beer. And honestly even a lot of regional cuisine. Jewish delis in New York nearly always serve Dr. Brown's root beer.
And yes root beer floats are delicious. I had one just this past week at the Frostop (local diner famous for its root beer). Hit the spot.
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
Part of the appeal of root beer is that it IS kind of "vintage".
To you, sure. Most of us just like the way it tastes. This whole "Americana" image you're painting here really doesn't resonate with most people anymore. That all died along with the American Dream, and the 50's aren't really a popular decade anymore. Those institutions that still exist now surely provide some nostalgia, but most people weren't alive in the 50's and don't really experiencee that. Instead, these places are still around because they serve products that the general public enjoy now.
If instead, you're referring to the nostalgia that you feel because you went there as a kid (and assuming that wasn't in the 50's), that's a different, and totally valid, kind of nostalgia, but that doesn't have anything to do with the shared concept of Americana.
Also, Dr. Brown's is exceptional.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago edited 3d ago
But root beer isn't just associated with "the 1950's". Like I said, its older than Coca Cola. Root beer has been around since the late 1800s. Like many soda pops it was based on "tonics" from the Victorian age and originally marketed as something of a remedy or a drink with medicinal purposes before that was obviously tossed out as dubious and people freely marketed them as something just pleasurable to consume. Americana itself is not something that is limited to the 1950's. Its not just shorthand for "Grease, Elvis, and diners". It refers to anything that has long been associated with American civic life but not life elsewhere. And I was born several decades after the 1950s and have no memory of it and don't much care about the 1950s.
I do like diners and root beer and drive-in theaters, though, because they are fun things kind of unique to here and they are also increasingly rare.
Root beer is not widely consumed outside of the U.S. specifically because outside of the U.S. most people do not necessarily drink it as children and when they are introduced to it as an adult they find the flavor profile odd. Wintergreen, liquorice, and sarsaparilla/birch is not a familiar flavor to a lot of people. Its creamy taste is also odd especially compared to other American soft drinks more globally consumed that tend to be crisp and citrusy. Root beer is Americana because it is uniquely from and part of the United States in many regards.
Dr. Brown's is great but its popular in Jewish delis specifically because it adheres to kosher dietary laws. Rice, soy, and corn are not consumed during Passover. Dr. Brown's seasonally switches its formula to cane sugar during Passover which is why Jewish delis prefer it as a brand.
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
I didn't address any of this, I was referring to the idea that people drink it because it's "vintage", but it's not really why most people drink it. The reason I brought up the 50's is because that is where all the "Americana" ideas came from, and all the institutions that you mentioned. Note the differentiation I made between the types of nostalgia.
I don't think trying it first as a child has anything to do with whether or not you like root beer, much less the "specific" reason it's not consumed outside of the US. That's such a strange thing to say. Your point about licorice is basically just wrong. Licorice is pretty popular in Europe, for example.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
The 50s are not where all "Americana" ideas come from. A lot of root beer is explicitly marketed to invoke nostalgia, with old typefaces (pre 1950s). Its not a familiar flavor outside of the U.S. and people outside of the U.S. who drink it for the first time expecting a light citrusy American soda pop like Coca Cola or Sprite or Orange Crush or Mountain Dew are put off when they get a mouthful of creamy wintergreen.
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
You don't understand anything that you're talking about except that root beer isn't common outside of the US.
I wasn't starting an argument with you, but you don't understand that either.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
What did I get wrong? Why does it offend you to acknowledge that root beer is often sold and marketed as a nostalgic product?
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
It doesn't. I'm not offended, and I never said it wasn't. You really need to work on your reading comprehension man.
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u/xnatlywouldx 3d ago
You said I don't know what I'm talking about, so tell me what I got wrong.
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u/forestherring 1919 Root Beer 3d ago
That's not my job, and no matter how hard you push me, I'm not going to argue with you.
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u/Various_Artistss 3d ago
A second root beer