Root Beer

American drinks · history · flavors

Sassafras roots matter. Root beer gets its name and original flavor from the bark of sassafras trees and sarsaparilla vines. Early makers would boil these roots to create the drink's signature taste.

Started as real beer. Long ago, root beer was actually a type of small beer that people brewed at home, kind of like how you might make lemonade. It had alcohol in it back then, but modern root beer is completely alcohol-free.

Thick foamy head. One of the coolest things about root beer is the big, bubbly foam that sits on top when you pour it. This foam makes it feel fancy and fun to drink.

No caffeine kick. Unlike cola drinks, root beer usually has zero caffeine, so you can enjoy it without getting the jittery feeling from caffeine. It's all about the sweet, spicy flavor instead.