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Though the roots of root beer run deep through history, it has undoubtedly become an American classic. Originally made up of a variety of spices, like cinnamon, clover, honey, allspice, hops and sarsaparilla, it is a traditional beverage that was also used for medicinal purposes, such as curing coughs and mouth sores. Sasparilla, a root beer-like beverage was also the drink of choice for many saloon patrons, and used sarsaparilla as its main flavoring.
The first commercially prepared root beer was created by Charles Hires, a Philadelphia pharmacist, who discovered the recipe for an herbal tea while on his honeymoon. After selling a dry version of the tea, he began to work on a liquid version. A mixture of over twenty-five herbs, berries and roots added to carbonated soda water, his version was first brought to public attention at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibtion. Soon, his family manufactured and distributed the bottled beverage and started a popular crazy that was a forebearer to colas and other soft drinks we've come to know and love today.
Now, there are thousands of unique brands of root beer, some alcoholic, others the more common non-alcoholic soft drink most people drink today. Some of the more memorable brands have been A&W, Barq's, Dads, the midwestern classic "Dogs N' Suds" and of course, Hires. One of the more popular uses of root beer today is the frothy Root Beer Float. Often made by scooping ice cream (usually vanilla) into a tall cup, then pouring root beer over it, creating a creamy dessert enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Root beer also has a firm place in pop culture. Often used as a "substitute" for beer for family audiences, video games, such as Tapper, the popular 1983 arcade game where the bartender (the player) must pour and serve beer to customers in several bars. After some initial controversy, the game was redesigned as Root Beer Tapper. It is also the beverage of choice for legendary cartoon characters Snoopy, from Peanuts, and Dennis the Menace. Even the Beach Boys sang about the suds in their song “Chug-A-Lug” from their 1962 debut album, Surfin’ Safari.
Though the bubbly beverage only pulls in 3% of soft drink sales a year, it holds a place in the hearts and minds of many as the first of many American greats.
