This is a timely question for me as I just returned from Florida (back to good ol' oz). I've always had the impression that root beer is what we call ginger beer (both being non-alcoholic and ginger being a root and all). But this is NOT the case!!!

I have sampled a mouthful of root beer and that was all I could stomach of the stuff. Let me put things into perspective for you all. I've got a sweet tooth and tend have an affliction for all things sugary. But this root beer is something else. Let me TRY to describe it for all those interested.

Its like getting pure toffee and hard boiled candy and melting in down. Then tripple the ammount of sugar. Then use concentrated artificial sweetner to try to increase the sweetness of the solution. Finally, somehow find a way to give it the consistancy and fizz of lemonade. Put that in a bottle and you have root beer.

Ever had beer with a dash of sars (or root beer)?

Sounds weird, but it's actually very tasty.

as far as i know root beer is artificial sarsparilla carbonated drink. i think they must call it root beer because it no longer contains any sarsparilla.

bentaxlebob? holy ...

dattodude, all of your usa trips end up as hazy except for the beer

Hey its a good warm day drink and has plenty of foam and kicks arse on ice cream in my book.

Can't be that good, it's non alcoholic!

So can someone give me a description of of what this root beer is like, and are we missing out on something good?

you guys have forgotten about the other kind of beer. "horehound"

One mention of Beer..and Ol' BentAxelBob comes out of the woodwork...

When I go to the US, I have the best root beer I can get my hands on with almost every meal

Normally means drinking 'Sars' branded stuff.

So there you go!

Beer and rooting has been known to cause the hungover/who the f... are you effect.

In some severe cases it can lead to blind love and even worse, marriage. I can attest to this.

When i lived in melbourne and hung around some of the italian cafe we use to drink chinnoto which comes in small bottles, and is very strong in taste, takes some getting use too. the turkish have also got there own version made from coffee beans alot of the cab drivers i know drink it to stay awake ..