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.