Popular brands of regular root beer
Industry reports name A&W, Barq's, Dad's, IBC, Sprecher, Virgil's, Frostie, Mug and Hires as key root beer brands; we found no reliable market share figures, so we rank none. USDA lists regular root beer at 41 kcal and 10.6 g carbohydrate per 100 g, so a 12 fl oz can has about 152 kcal and 39 g, and no caffeine.
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In this article
The short answer: we found no reliable market-share data for root beer, so we do not rank brands. Market reports name A&W, Barq’s, Dad’s, IBC, Sprecher, Virgil’s, Frostie, Mug and Hires. What we can give you is what a can contains.
Contents
Brands named
A market-research summary lists A&W, Barq’s, Dad’s, IBC, Sprecher, Virgil’s, Frostie, Mug and Hires among the key companies and brands in root beer. It gives no share figures, and we found no reliable ones elsewhere, so the order here is not a ranking.
What is in a can
USDA FoodData Central lists regular root beer at 41 kcal, 10.6 g carbohydrate and no caffeine per 100 g. A 12 fl oz can (370 g) therefore has:
Per 100 g: 41 kcal
x 3.7 (370 g can) = 152 kcal
10.6 g carbohydrate x 3.7
= 39 g carbohydrate per can
The NHS advises adults to keep free sugars to 30 g a day, so one regular can goes past that. Diet and craft versions differ; check the label.
How to choose
These steps are our advice, not an agency rule.
- Read the label for sugar, caffeine and sweetener.
- Try an old-fashioned craft brand and a mass-market one side by side.
Compare with other sodas in our calories and sugar tool.
Conclusion
No reliable data ranks root beer brands, so we name the ones industry reports list and give the numbers for a regular can. One can is about 39 g of carbohydrate, more than the NHS daily limit for free sugars.
General information, not medical advice. If you have a medical condition or are choosing food for a child, ask your doctor or dietitian.
What flavors are in root beer?
We found no official source (USDA, FDA) that lists the flavors in root beer, so we do not list them. The USDA entry for root beer gives nutrients only, not ingredients. Check the ingredient list on the label of the brand you buy.
Is sassafras allowed in root beer?
The FDA rule 21 CFR 189.180 says safrole is a natural constituent of the sassafras plant and that oil of sassafras is about 80 percent safrole. Food containing any added safrole or oil of sassafras is deemed adulterated, under an FDA order published in the Federal Register on December 3, 1960. The same applies to sassafras bark intended mainly as a vehicle for these substances, for example sassafras tea. The rule does not name root beer or any brand.
Types of root beer, birch beer and the oldest brands
We found no official source that defines types or kinds of root beer, compares birch beer with root beer, names the oldest, biggest or most famous brands, or says who makes root beer or where it is most popular. We make no claims on those points. Alcoholic (hard) root beer is also not covered here, because we found no official data on it.
People also ask
What is the most popular root beer?
We found no reliable share data, so we cannot rank. A&W, Barq's, Dad's, IBC and Sprecher are among the brands named in market reports.
How many calories are in root beer?
USDA lists regular root beer at 41 kcal per 100 g, about 152 kcal in a 12 oz can. Diet versions differ.
Does root beer have caffeine?
USDA lists 0 mg for regular root beer. Some brands differ, so check the label.
How much sugar is too much?
The NHS limit for free sugars is 30 g a day for adults. A 12 oz can has about 39 g of carbohydrate, mostly sugar.
Is sassafras allowed in food in the US?
The FDA says food containing added safrole or oil of sassafras is deemed adulterated (21 CFR 189.180, based on a 1960 order). Sassafras bark sold mainly to flavor another food, such as sassafras tea, is covered too.
What is the difference between root beer and birch beer?
We found no official source that compares the two, so we do not state a difference. Read the ingredient list on each label.
Sources
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