This poll is open for another 8 hours so I wanted to post it here for the 12:30pm.
Once upon a time at Barstool I did like 3,000 words on every root beer in the market.
Today I’ve simplified it to just 3 classics. The big 3 heavy hitters. The nastiest and most formative root beers to ever walk this planet. It’s the 1927 Yankees of soft drink selections and I wanted to share a quick word on the 3.
I have a favorite and I’ll get to that.
But first I think there’s a moment for all 3 where they dominate the landscape. They all have their different purposes.
- A&W – draft
- Mug- 2 liter with a pizza
- Barq’s – from a can with lunch
I think those 3 spots cannot be argued.
There’s no better draft than A&W because it’s the smoothest, richest and creamiest. Fountain A&W has special properties that interact with the air for enhanced flavor.
Same thing goes with Mug on room temperature plastic from a 2-liter. Then pouring it over ice with a hot thin crust? That’s an elite experience with Mug Root Beer. And I know a huge underdog but the right Mug can fight with any root beer on any list.
And then of course, Barq’s has the sharpest bite and most exotic flavor profile. It takes you for a ride and I think they use the same canning technology as Coors Light that lets it get extra cold where the condensation actually changes the color scheme on the can. Barq’s has that same kinda bold approach to temperature and I think it makes a huge difference in the can.
Ultimately though if I could only pick one for the rest of my life, I’m taking the can and not thinking twice.
A lot of you knew that about me going back a long time. But it bears/bares repeating in this case that Barq’s can is my #1 root beer.
Most of you guys agree.
But it’s close and that’s because A&W is such a strong contender.
My only problem is that I hate a 20 ounce A&W so much in that weird brown plastic bottle that prevents you from knowing how much A&W is left. It’s the only soft drink bottling that leaves you in the dark on how big you can sip down the stretch. And there’s always less than you anticipate and it always makes me mad.
I don’t recommend Barq’s in a bottle but if you go down that path, they never make you guess. You’ll know exactly how much you can enjoy, stress free.
Really though it’s a matter of recipe long before we talk circumstance. Sure the thin crust with a mug is nice. And yes I like a hot dog with my A&W. But if we’re strictly talking recipes at room temperature, then it’s still Barq’s with maximum separation. Of all the big sodas out there, I think Barq’s recipe is in the top tier with Dr. Pepper and Coke and I mean that shit. It’s so good. So unique.
And that’s why it’s my #1 root beer, even in the Big 3.
Mug is trash