| Did you know that root beer is one of the first | | | | any of the original roots and herbs used in the 1800s |
| sodas in the United States? True, in fact it even | | | | brew. Most of the root beer available these days use |
| pre-dated colas. It was during the Colonial times that | | | | artificial flavors instead of natural ingredients, they |
| the very first root beer came out and it was initially | | | | also substituted molasses, honey or sugar with the |
| called small beers. Made from a combination of herbs, | | | | cheaper and easier to find syrups. However, some of |
| roots and barks the small beer had none or only had | | | | the basic ingredients like wintergreen, sarsaparilla, |
| a very small amount of alcohol, that's where it got | | | | pipsissewa, ginger root,dandelion root, allspice, |
| the name small beer. | | | | burdock root, spikenard, wild cherry bark, spice |
| The First Commercial Root Beer | | | | wood, and birch bark have been retained to give the |
| Charles Hires, a Philadelphia, PA pharmacist, is credited | | | | root beer its basic flavor. The manufacturer then |
| with making the first root beer to be sold | | | | introduces their own special ingredient to give the |
| commercially in America. Unfortunately, the way it all | | | | root beer the taste that's specific to their brand. |
| came to be is largely lost to history. One of the most | | | | Today, depending on the Root Beer you choose, you |
| popular stories though is that one day, on his | | | | may find that these herbs aren't used much and that |
| honeymoon; Mr. Hires developed a tea using over | | | | the root beer taste of your beverage comes from |
| twenty-five different herbs, berries and roots. | | | | artificial flavors and syrups. However, thanks to the |
| It was also said that the dry form of this new brew | | | | micro-brewery movement, small batch Root Beers |
| became available in his Pharmaceutical Shop when he | | | | are coming back into style, and many areas of the |
| and his new wife returned to his hometown in | | | | country have their own locally made root beers once |
| Philadelphia. Not long after, he started to work on | | | | more. These often do rely on the unique flavors |
| using flavored carbonated soda water to come up | | | | imparted by these herbs and roots and either honey |
| with the liquid version of the tea. | | | | or sugar, as opposed to artificial flavorings and |
| The people that Mr. Hires gave his drink to loved the | | | | sweeteners. |
| taste so much that he decided to introduce it | | | | Root beer has become so popular that you see |
| commercially at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial | | | | them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people |
| Exhibition, where it was very well received. Finally in | | | | of all ages. More and more brands of this popular |
| 1893 the Hires Family sold and distributed the first | | | | drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. |
| bottled root beer. | | | | Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich |
| Whats In Root Beer? | | | | historical background that can be a source of pride |
| There is no hard-fast rule in brewing root beer, in | | | | for all Americans. |
| fact most of the modern manufacturers don't use | | | | |
