If you pick up a bottle that says “Hard Root Beer” or “Alcoholic Soda”, read the fine print. The ABV is usually printed on the front or side label. Brands like Small Town Brewery (the folks behind Not Your Father’s) and Kentucky Ale do a booming trade in this stuff. They taste like liquid root beer candy, but they hit like a freight train.
does root beer have alcohol? - Test Food Kitchen
One sip of a 9% ABV hard root beer and you’ll think, “Hey, this is delicious!” Three sips later, you’re explaining to your Uber driver why you’re crying about a commercial for laundry detergent. It’s treacherous because the sweetness masks the alcohol. You don’t get that burn or bitterness of beer, just a warm, fuzzy ambush.
The Most Disappointing Discovery
Now for the heartbreak. Remember those fancy “gourmet” root beers from the health food store? The ones brewed with real sassafras, maple syrup, and love? They often have a higher alcohol content than the cheap stuff. Because they’re naturally fermented, not carbonated with gas. A bottle of Virgil’s Special Edition Bavarian Nutmeg Root Beer might clock in at 0.4% ABV—just shy of the legal limit. That’s still non-intoxicating, but it means you could technically fail a breathalyzer if you chug four liters before driving. (Don’t. Seriously. Just don’t.)
Want a mind-bender? In the 1800s, “root beer” was often just beer made from roots. People brewed it with ginger, hops, and a tiny bit of alcohol for preservation. It was a working-class drink, not a kid’s treat. That’s right—your great-great-grandpa might have gotten sloshed on “soda” after a long day of plowing.
Mug Root Beer Alcohol Content - Home Kitchenex
