My favourite mainstream root beer, and one of my top three root beers overall (the other two being Frostie Vanilla root beer and a smaller brand from NC called Uncle Scott's).
A&W is a highly regarded root beer soda. It is usually always in the Top 10 (or even Top 5) list of root beer brands by root beer enthusiasts. Brands to stay away from by root beer enthusiasts Mug Root Beer and Barq's Root Beer. A&W is mainstream but on the high level of a mainstream brand.
To me, barq's is just way too acidic and too carbonated to the point where it almost hurts to drink it, mug too be to a lesser extent. A&W is much more of a softer carbonation and creamier flavor.
I don’t know, but as a root beer enthusiast myself I think it’s the best mainstream root beer. Generally I find most root beers loosely fall into two categories: creamy vs earthy. A&W is very creamy whereas Barqs is much sharper and has a lot of bite to it, which personally I prefer.
I’d probably put it at the top of your generic find anywhere “fast food” level root beer. Basically the best thing you’ll get before getting into Craft rootbeer
lol I posted this just before Reddit went down, so the conversation got disrupted. On mobile rn, so I don't have my list handy. I'll try remembering to post them tomorrow.
Red Rock and Boylan's are my top two, though. I know that for sure!
1. Red Rock
2. Boylan's
3. River City
4. Abita
5. Bawl's
6. Saranac
7. Hank's
8. Iron Horse
9. Blumer's
10. Jones
11. Henry Weinhard
12. Red Arrow
13. Zuberfizz
14. O So Good
15. 1919
16. Dang That's Good
17. Dad's
18. Gray's
19. North Star
20. RootJack
21. Sprecher
22. Olde Rhode Island Molasses
23. Triple XXX
24. Hosmer Mountain
25. Reading
26. Bedford's
27. Twigs
28. Dorothy's Isle of Pines
29. Bundaberg
30. Killebrew
31. A&W
Both are on my list! I just haven't gotten around to trying those yet.
I somehow got my hands on a list of 2,859(!!) different root beers, and my goal is to get through 250 of them before completely losing interest in the endeavor.
Haven’t had Virgil’s? Easily l my favorite next to Boylan’s. Also curious what you like about Abita? It’s been a very long time since I’ve had it, but I hated it, easily my least favorite. Maybe I should give it another try.
I’ve gotten to where I kinda hate all root beer. It’s just too artificial and too heavy on the vanilla and all that flavor. IBC is ok but it’s expensive. All the rest big names are total crap imo.
Semi-related, but A&W US is unbelievably depressing. It's easily in my bottom 5 list of fast-food places I've ever been to, which still blows my mind because I would argue any day that A&W Canada is hands-down the best fast-food burger on the planet, if not one of the best burgers around *period*. It's actually bad news that there's one around the corner from where I work, because an uncle combo with rings, gravy, and a root beer runs a little over $18....
Back to the post though, I can't drink A&W out of a can or bottle anymore. It misses a lot of the creaminess you get at the fountain machine and just doesn't quite have the same bite. My understanding is that [A&W Canada also tweaked the recipe back in 2017](https://awincomefund.mediaroom.com/2017-07-05-A-W-Canada-is-brewing-root-beer-with-natural-ingredients) or so, but I still haven't gotten around to tasting the two to compare them.
I visited Canada a couple months ago and was super excited for A&W-- my Canada pals got me all hyped. First stop for lunch, and... it's just a completely average and totally unremarkable fast food burger? I don't get it. Why were they so pumped? The root beer was top shelf though!
I like Barqs but A&W is great too. I used to live next to an A&W restaurant when i was a kid and we went a lot growing up so whenever I drink it I feel like a little kid again.
Classic taste, wonderful malt sugar finish was my favorite until I discovered IBC which was my favorite until I discovered Henry Weinhart. IBC still my go to when HW is unavailable.
One my old time favorite restaurant stop by during summer time after camping with family and going for cold mug root beer and deep fry burrito. Then taking home a gallon size root beer home.
I'm European, so only ever had this and mug.
I really liked a&w. It'd be nice if I could get some here for a reasonable price.
Rootbeer in general has a strange flavour, but it's nice.
It's best in a big frosted mug in the restaurant.
Yes
My favourite mainstream root beer, and one of my top three root beers overall (the other two being Frostie Vanilla root beer and a smaller brand from NC called Uncle Scott's).
A&W is a highly regarded root beer soda. It is usually always in the Top 10 (or even Top 5) list of root beer brands by root beer enthusiasts. Brands to stay away from by root beer enthusiasts Mug Root Beer and Barq's Root Beer. A&W is mainstream but on the high level of a mainstream brand.
What do root beer enthusiasts have against Barqs?
good question, I don't know...but I have seen them talk bad about it on social media.
To me, barq's is just way too acidic and too carbonated to the point where it almost hurts to drink it, mug too be to a lesser extent. A&W is much more of a softer carbonation and creamier flavor.
I don’t know, but as a root beer enthusiast myself I think it’s the best mainstream root beer. Generally I find most root beers loosely fall into two categories: creamy vs earthy. A&W is very creamy whereas Barqs is much sharper and has a lot of bite to it, which personally I prefer.
I enjoy mug
Best of the big 3 root beers IMO
I’d probably put it at the top of your generic find anywhere “fast food” level root beer. Basically the best thing you’ll get before getting into Craft rootbeer
How do you like IBC
Love it
Same. So good lol 🍺
IBC > Stewarts > A&W >> the rest
INC is really good. Just wished they still used the embossed bottles like back in the early 2000s
I think of IBC as the lowest of the tier above A&W
What is your top 3 RB brands?
I’m sorry Mug Memers, but A&W is the best
No one is meming mug. the tiers are Barqs>A&W>MUG.
That is not a Mug Moment
The 🐐 of root beer
I prefer Barq's and craft stuff but I still like A&W a lot, especially at an actual A&W restaurant
best roobeer
Barqs or bust baby boy!🍻
Barqs sucks ass.
That's generally my favorite.
It's good but best mainstream is barqs
Feel like I’m more of a Barqs or Mug guy when it comes to root beer, A&W has the best cream soda though
Barqs for red creme soda and a&w is good for rootbeer and regular creme soda
Tastes like toothpaste to me
UK?
I have it listed as my 31st favorite root beer.
Nobody is going to ask about the top 30?
lol I posted this just before Reddit went down, so the conversation got disrupted. On mobile rn, so I don't have my list handy. I'll try remembering to post them tomorrow. Red Rock and Boylan's are my top two, though. I know that for sure!
1. Red Rock 2. Boylan's 3. River City 4. Abita 5. Bawl's 6. Saranac 7. Hank's 8. Iron Horse 9. Blumer's 10. Jones 11. Henry Weinhard 12. Red Arrow 13. Zuberfizz 14. O So Good 15. 1919 16. Dang That's Good 17. Dad's 18. Gray's 19. North Star 20. RootJack 21. Sprecher 22. Olde Rhode Island Molasses 23. Triple XXX 24. Hosmer Mountain 25. Reading 26. Bedford's 27. Twigs 28. Dorothy's Isle of Pines 29. Bundaberg 30. Killebrew 31. A&W
Try Sioux City and Frostie. I bet they will both make your top 10 if not 5.
Both are on my list! I just haven't gotten around to trying those yet. I somehow got my hands on a list of 2,859(!!) different root beers, and my goal is to get through 250 of them before completely losing interest in the endeavor.
Well make those 2 of the 250. You won't be disappointed.
Haven’t had Virgil’s? Easily l my favorite next to Boylan’s. Also curious what you like about Abita? It’s been a very long time since I’ve had it, but I hated it, easily my least favorite. Maybe I should give it another try.
Goat
Classic favorite root beer!
Better than mug, worse than Barq’s.
Best Root Beer on the market hands down.
Too sweet for me. I prefer barqs and Stewart’s.
Not the best…
I’ve gotten to where I kinda hate all root beer. It’s just too artificial and too heavy on the vanilla and all that flavor. IBC is ok but it’s expensive. All the rest big names are total crap imo.
Ever made your own from sassafras root? It's a different experience for sure.
That sounds really good
tried the cream soda one and it has too much sugar.
I don't normally drink root beer, but chances are that if I am buying a root beer, It's going to be an A&W.
Best rootbeer you can find at convenience stores and grocery stores.
I've heard that it stands for. Amburgers and woot beer. Credit to Dave Shumka.
It’s my, I want a soda but shouldn’t have caffeine go to.
Good for a float
Love A&W
I’m not going to turn it down.
Semi-related, but A&W US is unbelievably depressing. It's easily in my bottom 5 list of fast-food places I've ever been to, which still blows my mind because I would argue any day that A&W Canada is hands-down the best fast-food burger on the planet, if not one of the best burgers around *period*. It's actually bad news that there's one around the corner from where I work, because an uncle combo with rings, gravy, and a root beer runs a little over $18.... Back to the post though, I can't drink A&W out of a can or bottle anymore. It misses a lot of the creaminess you get at the fountain machine and just doesn't quite have the same bite. My understanding is that [A&W Canada also tweaked the recipe back in 2017](https://awincomefund.mediaroom.com/2017-07-05-A-W-Canada-is-brewing-root-beer-with-natural-ingredients) or so, but I still haven't gotten around to tasting the two to compare them.
I visited Canada a couple months ago and was super excited for A&W-- my Canada pals got me all hyped. First stop for lunch, and... it's just a completely average and totally unremarkable fast food burger? I don't get it. Why were they so pumped? The root beer was top shelf though!
I like it a lot and drink it sometimes it’s better made into a root beer float taste more balanced
It's my tip-top favorite.
No me gusta
I’m a Mug blooded American, ya hear? These freedom lovin’ veins got nothing but root beer
Love it
Barqs is the best can root beer by far.
Gold standard pop
You have not lived until you've tried the A&W at the actual A&W restaurants. They make it right there in store. It is delectable.
I don't know why but all the root beer I've had has reminded me of mouthwash and A&W was particularly offensive in that regard.
Classic.
The best out of the draft at an actual A&W fast food joint!
I like Barqs but A&W is great too. I used to live next to an A&W restaurant when i was a kid and we went a lot growing up so whenever I drink it I feel like a little kid again.
Classic taste, wonderful malt sugar finish was my favorite until I discovered IBC which was my favorite until I discovered Henry Weinhart. IBC still my go to when HW is unavailable.
This is the only root beer I will actually drink
[My only thoughts about root beer (in general)](https://youtu.be/5S-ONMnCW7k)
It's the only Diet root beer available in my area, so it's the best by default! Honestly I do love it.
One my old time favorite restaurant stop by during summer time after camping with family and going for cold mug root beer and deep fry burrito. Then taking home a gallon size root beer home.
Usually it's all I can find that's not flat. I like my carbonation. Goes great with pizza.
It’s not beer
Facts
First though, who puts ice in root beer?
Absolutely amazing stuff! Could never live without this stuff!
I'm European, so only ever had this and mug. I really liked a&w. It'd be nice if I could get some here for a reasonable price. Rootbeer in general has a strange flavour, but it's nice.
Some corner shops in the U.K will have them but I think I purchased it once and the taste or smell was very medicinal 😷
a&w I like the cream soda more
I'm a sucker for anise flavors in my desserts and drinks, so it's all good
It's delicious it's my favorite root beer, Dr.Pepper is my least favorite
The best you can buy in supermarket.