First Root Beer Brand

Let’s settle a delicious debate. Who had the nerve to make the first root beer? The answer is a bubbly surprise.

It wasn’t some big soda company. It was a pharmacist in Philadelphia. His name? Charles Elmer Hires.

Hires wasn’t looking for a party drink. He was looking for a health tonic. In 1875, he mixed up a blend of sassafras, sarsaparilla, and other mysterious herbs.

He called it “Hires Root Tea.” Tea? That’s right—he thought it was too medicinal for the name “beer.” Talk about a buzzkill.

But his wife had a better idea. She told him to drop the “tea” and lean into the fun. And boom—Hires Root Beer was born.

The first batch was a syrup. You mixed it with water and yeast at home. Yes, early root beer was homemade booze.

It fermented in your kitchen. That meant it had a slight alcohol kick. Not enough to get wild, but enough to make Grandpa grin.

Here’s a quirky fact: Hires was a teetotaler. He hated alcohol. So he tweaked the recipe to make it non-alcoholic.

He also added a secret ingredient: burdock root. It tasted earthy and weird. But people loved it.

Cards | 1919 Root Beer

By 1884, Hires Root Beer was a hit at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Everyone wanted a frosty mug. It was the “it” drink of the 1800s.

The marketing was genius. Hires sold it as a “temperance beverage.” That meant you could drink it at church picnics. No shame, no sin.

But here’s the hilarious twist. Early root beer had sassafras in it. Sassafras contains safrole, a compound that the FDA later banned.

Why? Too much safrole gave rats cancer. So modern root beer uses artificial flavor. You’re drinking chemistry, not history.

Don’t worry—it’s still delicious. But imagine sipping the original: earthy, spicy, and a little dangerous.

And the name “root beer” stuck. Even though it’s not beer. It’s just soda with a rebellious nickname.

The Unknown History of Root Beer

So next time you pop a cold one, thank a pharmacist. And his wife. And a little bit of yeast that didn’t wreck your day.

Root beer is the underdog of sodas. It’s not as flashy as cola. But it has more history, mystery, and cheek.

Fun fact: Hires’s massive success inspired a rivalry. The Barq’s family jumped in later with their own recipe. They made it creamier. The battle for your taste buds was on.

Today, you can still find Hires Root Beer in some stores. It tastes like a campfire in a can. Please try it.

Charles Hires died in 1937, a rich man. He proved that a little root magic could change the world. Or at least your backyard BBQ.

So raise your glass to the first root beer. It’s weird, wonderful, and totally unashamed of being a medicinal fake-out.

Bottoms up. No safrole required.