What does root beer taste like?

[Trevor]

And is it nice?

This beverage is becoming available in SA for the first time and I'd like to try it. Someone told me it tastes like the horrible beer that Quentin Tarantino drank in "Desperado" but I dunno.

[Jack]

It tastes sort of like like Pepsi Cola except quite a bit sweeter. It doesn't have alcohol in it.  At least not the stuff I've always known as root beer.

[lester1/2jr]

lol it's a soft drink. I love it


It's amazing with vanilla ice cream

[Sleepyskull]

It tastes like foamy joy with a dash of beauty.

[lester1/2jr]

what is this "love" of which you humans speak

[The Burgomaster]

My wife used to say it tasted like medicine . . . but now she likes it.  I have always liked it.

[Flick James]

I recently learned that sasaparilla is the same thing as root beer. I had no idea. I was visiting the famous Tombstone, Arizona, and picked up a bottle of Souix City Sasaparilla because I remember Sam Elliot's cowboy character in The Big Lebowski ordering one in the film. Quite possibly the best soft drink I've ever consumed.

[indianasmith]

Give it a try . . . it's cold, brown, and fizzy, very sweet, but doesn't have the Coca-Cola "burn".  IBC Root Beer is the best commercial brand I've tried, with A&W a close second.


However, neither are in the same league with that nectar of the gods, the elixir of life known as Dr. Pepper.

[Raffine]

The main flavoring in real root beer is sassafras. Like Flick mentioned, its known as Sarsaparilla in most non-U.S.A. countries.

I was curious if there was a comparable soft drink in South Africa and discovered there is actually a Facebook page titled 'Bring Root Beer to South Africa', with an impressive 8 members to date. 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4709942319

[Leah]

HEAVEN! I agree with Sleepyskull, put some Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla and you, Trevor, will have a very good desert, you might actually forget about your underpants being hazardous! 

[Rev. Powell]

Very sweet but with a faint licorice/fennel sort of tang to it.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Sweet pepsi cola with more spiciness about covers it.  You can get good quality stuff, or the stuff Pepsi or Coke makes.  I actually prefer the cheaper root beer.

[Trevor]

The brand sold here is called "Frosties" ~ I'll buy a bottle and let you know what I thought.

Dr Pepper was marketed here about six years ago along with Cherry Coke but not enough people liked it so it went off the market. 

[3mnkids]

IBC Root Beer is the best commercial brand I've tried, with A&W a close second.

I agree. Its soooo good. 

[Starsky]

The brand sold here is called "Frosties" ~ I'll buy a bottle and let you know what I thought.

Dr Pepper was marketed here about six years ago along with Cherry Coke but not enough people liked it so it went off the market. 

Where exactly do you live?