Sassafras contains safrole, which can cause cancer in sufficient quantity. That ingredient has been banned by the FDA, and I imagine most manufacturers decided chemistry was a better solution than removing safrole from natural ingredients.
Hires was big when I was a kid. I still see it at specialty beverage stores. A&W is excellent though. What's weird is it's better out of a 2-liter bottle than fresh from one of their stores---it's always super-syrupy when they serve it fresh.
If you want a unique experience in root beer, get some Bundaberg...they use real sarsaparilla root (made safe with processing), and add fresh vanilla and ginger to it. It's very weird and first, then when you get used to it you end up craving it. Great with rum drinks!
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If you want a unique experience in root beer, get some Bundaberg...they use real sarsaparilla root (made safe with processing), and add fresh vanilla and ginger to it. It's very weird and first, then when you get used to it you end up craving it. Great with rum drinks!
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Their Gingerbeer makes the best Moscow Mules as well.
I like their ginger beer, but it's hard to find. I know one store that used to have the ginger. I should make a trip, and see if they have root beer also.Hires was big when I was a kid. I still see it at specialty beverage stores. A&W is excellent though. What's weird is it's better out of a 2-liter bottle than fresh from one of their stores---it's always super-syrupy when they serve it fresh.
If you want a unique experience in root beer, get some Bundaberg...they use real sarsaparilla root (made safe with processing), and add fresh vanilla and ginger to it. It's very weird and first, then when you get used to it you end up craving it. Great with rum drinks!
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Aha, it appears that it's the first commercially successful brand of root beer. It is not, however, the original root beer.It's the original root beer going back to the 19th century, though of course it's changed. It used to be a very big seller, the dominant brand of root beer as I understand.
It's not clear how much that matters. In most taste tests I've heard of, people are pretty evenly split.
I like their ginger beer, but it's hard to find. I know one store that used to have the ginger. I should make a trip, and see if they have root beer also.
Hires Wiki page:Sassafras contains safrole, which can cause cancer in sufficient quantity. That ingredient has been banned by the FDA, and I imagine most manufacturers decided chemistry was a better solution than removing safrole from natural ingredients.
However, a process was later discovered by which the harmful chemical could be removed from sassafras oil while preserving the flavor.
The Hires brand is now offered by Canada Dry Motts as an alcoholic drink, Hires Root Beer and Vodka.
They're going more mainstream. Might be able to find it in the specialty section of grocery stores now. It's sometimes around the drink mixers or beer.I like their ginger beer, but it's hard to find. I know one store that used to have the ginger. I should make a trip, and see if they have root beer also.
I don't know. I had some a couple years ago, but it tasted about as I remembered.You try the new Reed's yet?
i'm not big on bundaberg root beer, it's just... weird. too gingery i think.
Virgil's Bavarian Nutmeg root beer is where it's at:
Virgil's Soda, Bavarian Nutmeg Rootbeer, 16 Fl Oz - Walmart.com
Buy Virgil's Soda, Bavarian Nutmeg Rootbeer, 16 Fl Oz at Walmart.comwww.walmart.com
I think it's been discontinued. But man. That stuff was amazing!
Ya, it's one of my least favorite. Other bad ones include Dad's and Dogs 'n Suds.