Spike's Root Beer Links
1. Where can I buy your root beer?
I don't have a root beer. I sell nothing.
2. I live in (city). Where can I buy (product)?
I generally cannot answer this question. Hansen's Signature Sarsaparilla Soda can be found in most big grocery stores (Safeway seems to stock it). Henry Weinhard's, see below.
3. Where can I buy Henry Weinhard's?
Straight from Miller Brewing Company (maker of Henry Weinhard's):
Henry's is truly a regional product and is brewed only in the Northwest. At this time, we have no plans to expand its distribution. Below is a listing of states where Henry's Products are available:
Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming and New Mexico.
JC in UT adds that Henry's is available there as well.
Noah in IN tells me that Cub Foods in MN carries Henry's.
4. I don't live in the United States. Where can I buy root beer?
Good luck. See the links section for some starting points.
5. Where can I get root beer online?
See the links section.
6. How long will bottled root beer last unopened?
From my good friends (because they sent me good root beer and cream sodas for free) at Harpoon Brewery:
6-12 months with preservatives.
I don't know about cans.
Many recipes can be found on the Internet. Search at google.com or ask at your local homebrew supply store. Grant Street Root Beer seems to have a nice kit but I haven't tried it. Based on personal experience I'd avoid anything involving root beer extract.
8. IBC is great! I'm going to kill you if you don't change your rating for it.
That's not a question. It does come up frequently, however.
9. What's the difference between root beer and birch beer?
Ingredients. From epicurious.com, root beer is made from "various roots, herbs, and barks". Birch beer is made with birch bark extract.
10. Why don't you review crummy store brands?
Doesn't that question just answer itself? Because they're crummy store brands. I attempt to limit myself to root beer that at least has the potential of being decent.
11. I work for brewery X and we made root beer. Can I send you some to review?
Yes, but be forewarned that I will review it honestly. If I don't like it I will say so. Your product will be treated like any of the other brands on here. This admonition has kept more than one brewery from offering a sample and never sending it (*cough* *cough* millstream *cough*). Write me for my address.
12. Does real brewed root beer contain alcohol?
Yes, as a byproduct of the fermentation. The important questions are "how much" and "why not more". How much - I've read from 0.5-1.0% weight by volume. As to why isn't there more alcohol, I don't know. Two possibilities I've heard: 1) there isn't enough stuff to ferment in root beer, and 2) because root beer is fermented in a closed container the yeast dies from lack of oxygen (the yeast consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide).
Still need to know something?