National Rootbeer Day: A Frothy Celebration!

Every June 17th, root beer lovers unite, clink their mugs, and celebrate the fizzy wonder that is root beer — thanks to National Root Beer Day  . It’s not just a soda; it’s a sweet, creamy ticket to nostalgia-town.

 

🥤 The Bubbly Backstory

 

• Root beer began life in the 1830s–40s as a sassafras-based tonic and medicinal drink .
• Charles E. Hires popularized it in 1876 by branding it a “temperance drink”—a booze-free alternative  .
• While original root beer used sassafras (later banned for health reasons), modern recipes rely on artificial safrole-free flavoring, vanilla, caramel, wintergreen, licorice, molasses, and more. 

🎈 Why June 17th?

It’s not a random date—many cite it as National Stewart’s Root Beer Day, honoring Stewart’s brand’s birthday. Stewart’s was founded by Frank Stewart in the 1920s when soda fountains reigned supreme  .

 

🧊 How to Celebrate the Day

1. Crack open a classic – Grab a Stewart’s or Sprecher’s chilled in a frosty mug for maximum foam power .
2. Host a taste-off – Gather friends, blindfold them, and let them rank A&W, Barq’s, IBC, Sprecher, Dad’s… debate forever. Stewart’s gazes stoically from the sideline  .
3. Float time upgrade – Turn it into a root beer float! While Float Day is August 6, June 17 is totally floatable. Ice cream + root beer = instant joy. Heck, A&W offers free floats on August 6 for your planning pleasure  .
4. Explore history – If you’re near Wisconsin Dells, visit the Museum of Root Beer to nerd out on memorabilia from 2,000+ brands  .

 

 

 

🤔 Fun Facts to Toss Around

• Barq’s contains a touch of caffeine—unique among top brands  .
• Sprecher brews theirs with pure honey and fire-brewed caramelization, making it ultra-rich and memorable  .
• Some root beer floats can weigh over 3 lbs—so heavy that A&W’s “Float Flex” asks you to flex your muscles to earn a free one!  .

 

 

 

😋 Quick Float Recipe

• Pour cold root beer into a glass until just below the rim.
• Gently nestle one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
• Watch the creamy foam rise and settle.
• Garnish with a straw and sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon.
• Sip slowly to savor the fizzy, creamy bliss!

 

 

 

Summary

 

National Root Beer Day is your excuse to slow down, sip something sweet, and maybe get into mild debate over which brand is the best. Whether you go classic, floaty, or craft-brewed, make it fizzy, make it creamy—with zero sugarcoating.

 

So here’s to root beer—nostalgia in a glass. Cheers! 

 

Until next time,