The root beer that we know now happens to be the very first soda drink ever introduced in America. It was during the 1800s or what we know as the Colonial times that the first root beer was born, at that time the root beer was more popularly known as small beer. Small beer was aptly named because this beverage contained only a very small amount of alcohol or maybe even none, it's mainly made of roots, barks and herbs.
Root Beer's Debut Into Commercial Production
Unfortunately, the details of how this all-American drink came to be got lost in history. However some people were able to pass on a few stories about how a Philadelphia pharmacist named Charles Hires created the first commercially produced root beer. One of the stories mentioned that this new brew of more than two dozens of roots, berries and herbs was born on Charles' honeymoon night, probably being inspired from all the excitement of a new love.
After the new couple returned to their Philadelphia home Charles started selling this new tea-like root beer in his pharmaceutical shop. Not long after that he also began to work on a different kind of root beer, he had decided to add carbonated soda water to make a ready to drink version of his invention.
In 1876 Charles decided to include the root beer in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, he made this decision after learning that almost all of the people who had tasted this new concoction had loved the distinct flavor of the root beer. But it was only after thirteen years from the exhibition did the Hires Family finally produced the very first bottled root beer.
What's Goes Into the Root Beer Brew
There is no one formula that has been used over the years to make root beer. Some of the most common ingredients that make up most recipes include wintergreen, sarsaparilla, birch bark, ginger root, allspice, burdock root, dandelion root, pipsissewa, spice wood, wild cherry bark, and spikenard. Each brewer would then put their own spin on these basic ingredients using differing amounts, as well as adding additional herbs, roots, and/or berries, and often using a sweetener like sugar, molasses, or honey.
With the onset of modernization and the availability of artificial flavorings you will find that most of the bottled root beers you now find in stores no longer contain any of the original herbs found in the root beer of the 1800s. Lately though some areas of the country have started to make locally brewed root beer. Micro- brewery movement have made small batch root beers available once more. These small batch root beers are flavored using the original herbs and roots and sweetened by natural sugar or honey.
Root beer has become so popular that you see them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people of all ages. More and more brands of this popular drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich historical background that can be a source of pride for all Americans.
Root Beer's Debut Into Commercial Production
Unfortunately, the details of how this all-American drink came to be got lost in history. However some people were able to pass on a few stories about how a Philadelphia pharmacist named Charles Hires created the first commercially produced root beer. One of the stories mentioned that this new brew of more than two dozens of roots, berries and herbs was born on Charles' honeymoon night, probably being inspired from all the excitement of a new love.
After the new couple returned to their Philadelphia home Charles started selling this new tea-like root beer in his pharmaceutical shop. Not long after that he also began to work on a different kind of root beer, he had decided to add carbonated soda water to make a ready to drink version of his invention.
In 1876 Charles decided to include the root beer in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, he made this decision after learning that almost all of the people who had tasted this new concoction had loved the distinct flavor of the root beer. But it was only after thirteen years from the exhibition did the Hires Family finally produced the very first bottled root beer.
What's Goes Into the Root Beer Brew
There is no one formula that has been used over the years to make root beer. Some of the most common ingredients that make up most recipes include wintergreen, sarsaparilla, birch bark, ginger root, allspice, burdock root, dandelion root, pipsissewa, spice wood, wild cherry bark, and spikenard. Each brewer would then put their own spin on these basic ingredients using differing amounts, as well as adding additional herbs, roots, and/or berries, and often using a sweetener like sugar, molasses, or honey.
With the onset of modernization and the availability of artificial flavorings you will find that most of the bottled root beers you now find in stores no longer contain any of the original herbs found in the root beer of the 1800s. Lately though some areas of the country have started to make locally brewed root beer. Micro- brewery movement have made small batch root beers available once more. These small batch root beers are flavored using the original herbs and roots and sweetened by natural sugar or honey.
Root beer has become so popular that you see them almost everywhere being enjoyed by people of all ages. More and more brands of this popular drink are now available in virtually any grocery store. Its quite a pleasant surprise to know it has a rich historical background that can be a source of pride for all Americans.
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