The 21 Best Root Beer Brands of All Time, Ranked

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned root beer. More full-bodied and flavorful than your other run-of-the-mill soda pops, the best root beer brands make a one-of-a-kind beverage that's frothy, delicious and somehow, nostalgic.

Not to mention, it's always a good idea to add it to ice cream—AKA a root beer float if you've been hiding under a rock. If you're an actual root beer enthusiast, you can probably tell a good RB from a meh one (spoiler alert: the good ones usually come in a bottle!).

Parade is ranking the best root beer brands of all time and while they're all good, some are just, well, better. Keep reading for our top 21 favorites!

Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.

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21 Best Root Beer Brands, Ranked

21. Freddie's Root Beer

Freddie's Old Fashioned sodas are made by Buffalo Trace Distillery and are named for everybody's favorite BTD tour guide, Freddie Johnson. It can be notoriously hard to come by though, as it's usually only available for purchase at the distillery's own gift shop.

(Mix Case) Premium Root Beer Variety Orca Choice 12 Pack

20. Mug

Mug Root Beer is the party root beer that you should have on hand at any event in which you're hosting more than five people. Other than that, if we wanted a cold glass of the creamiest root beer imaginable, we wouldn't exactly be lining up for Mug. It's great in a pinch but not comparable to the others on this list.

Mug Root Beer Soda, Fridge Pack Bundle, 12 fl oz, 36 Cans

19. A&W

If you thought A&W would be closer to the #1 spot, we understand why you'd think that, but when it comes to root beer, so many other small-batch, hole-in-the-wall spots do it better. A&W can taste too sugary-sweet, so much so that it can get overwhelming. Especially if you're going to use it for a float, we'd recommend going with a sharper root beer over a sugary one. That being said, it puts up a good fight.

A&W Root Beer Soda, 12 fl oz cans, 24 pack

18. Zevia

The zero-sugar soda from Zevia is pretty good, but it's not exactly the genuine root beer flavor we're looking for. It's a little creamy and a little spicy, but we wouldn't mind it if they upped it on both fronts.

Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, Ginger Root Beer, 12 Ounce Cans (Pack of 24)

17. H-E-B Old Fashioned

Easy to find just about anywhere in the Midwest, the caffeine-free H-E-B Old Fashioned is largely considered old reliable.

(Mix Case) Premium Soda Orca Choice 12 Pack

16. Virgil's

Virgil's puts an all-natural spin on root beer—brewing soda that never contains artificial coloring, preservatives or GMOs. It's brewed in small batches (which makes for a higher quality and a better carbon footprint for the environment), but what's most fascinating of all is that Virgil's is unwilling to share their secret recipe, which allegedly includes more than 15 different spices.

Virgil's Handcrafted Root Beer, 12 Ounce (24 Glass Bottles)

15. Summit

This root beer brand looks exactly like what you think it does: an authentic root beer from the 1930s that had its original debut in a pharmacy-slash-apothecary. The same family is still brewing Summit today, its signature vanilla flavor profile is as strong as ever, and the branding pays homage to the family pharmacy that started it all.

14. Sioux City

Sioux City will transport you right to the Old West. We love how they use traditional ingredients and sweeten them up with pure cane sugar.

Sioux City Root Beer 12 Pack

13. Bundaberg Root Beer

The alternative styling of the Bundaberg Root Beer is kind of fun. It looks like it could pass for your mother's apple cider vinegar that sits in the pantry year after year, but it's actually one of the most delicious root beers there is. It's got an old-timey pop-off top and the brewers use sarsaparilla root, ground ginger and molasses (amongst other ingredients) to achieve that really raw flavor.

Bundaberg Root Beer 4 Bottles (Pack of 6)

12. Killebrew

Killebrew harkens back to old-fashioned root beer recipes that feel just as American as baseball or apple pie. Their secret is Minnesota honey and to this day, it's still brewed in the Midwest. It can be hard to find, so if you ever see it out in the wild, snag it.

11. GOODONYA

Touted as a nature-inspired mineral wellness root beer, this herbal soda will is actually a tincture. It's very different from the others on this list as you can probably tell right off the bat, considering it looks more like a medicinal eye dropper than a can. But while that's a bit intimidating, this take on root beer soda shouldn't be missed. A few drops of it are meant to be mixed with sparkling water, so if you can deal with the unconventional setup and are adventurous, let this one surprise you.

Added benefits include 1250 milligrams of Rehmannia-chaga extract and a blend of other fruit and vegetable extracts. Can root beer actually be... good for you?

10. IBC

Another glorious root beer that comes in a glass bottle, IBC also makes a diet version as well as a cream soda. They use pure cane sugar for a low dose of sweetness that never overpowers that down-to-earth sarsaparilla flavor that's synonymous with authentic root beer.

IBC Premium Rootbeer 12oz(24 case)

9. Sprecher Brewing Co.

Sprecher Brewing Co. does their root beer-brewing differently and their unique take on the process does not disappoint. It's the only brewery in the U.S. that fire-brews RB with raw honey. Sprecher makes Cherry Cola too, but it's the Sprecher Root Beer that has us at a loss for words.

Sprecher Root Beer, Fire-Brewed Craft Soda, Glass Bottle, 16oz, 12 Pack

8. Parlor Beverages

Parlor Beverages' root beer is a best-kept secret, but it's too delicious to not let the cat out of the bag. Self-proclaimed as "the best f---ing root beer," Parlor offers nostalgic, vintage branding and pin-up-esque merch too, that looks like what root beer tastes like.

7. Olipop Classic Root Beer

You've probably heard of Olipop before, but it's most often branded as a "prebiotic soda," as it contains 9 grams of plant fiber, only 2 grams of sugar and is non-GMO. Yes, it's true, it makes you go, but the digestive-regulating element aside, this is a heckin' good root beer flavor. Olipop makes other flavors too, like a rockin' Cream Soda and a really good Cherry Vanilla, but their Classic Root Beer can hang with the big boys and girls.

OLIPOP - Old School Classics, Vintage Cola & Root Beer, Classic Soda Variety Pack, Healthy Soda, Prebiotic Soft Drink, Aids Digestive Health, 9g of Plant Fiber, Low Calorie, Low Sugar (12 oz, 12-Pack)

6. Tractor Beverage Company

The first and only line of certified organic, non-GMO beverages for food services, Tractor Beverage Company's root beer is not to be believed. How can it taste just as good (arguably better) than some of the most popular brands that funnel in the corn syrup? We're not sure what kind of magic this is, but the notes of cool wintergreen, sweet birch, tart juniper berry cassia bark and licorice are a real hit. And without any artificial preservatives, pesticides, sweeteners, colors or flavors at that!

5. Faygo

This soda brand first came about in 1907, but it wasn't until the 1940s that they perfected their root beer. People across the Midwest love Faygo and it was even recognized as the best root beer in the country in 2009.

Faygo Old Fashioned Draft Style Root Beer - 12 Pack of 12-oz. Cans

4. Stewart's

Stewart's has been around since Frank Stewart debuted it in 1924 and as far as our tastebuds can tell, the recipe has remained as authentic as ever. If you ever find yourself at a local country store, definitely pick up a pack of these in glass bottle form.

Stewarts Original Root Beer Soda 12 Oz Glass Bottle (Pack of 6, Total of 72 Oz)

3. Teddy's

Teddy's may not come in a glass bottle, but it's still a near-perfect take on root beer and the effect of the plastic bottle is almost as good (almost). It's caffeine free and the brand makes some other pretty good soda flavors too, like Orange Creamsicle, Sasparilla and Grape (which can be hard to find). As far as its root beer flavor, it's the best in Teddy's lineup.

Teddy's Soda Hand Crafted Soda, Root Beer, 26 Fluid Ounce (Pack of 15)

2. Barq's

Is this controversial? Our taste testers don't care. The Barq's tagline says it all: It's good. There is one caveat, though, while Barq's can hold a candle up to some of the best small or local-only brewers out there, you must, must, must get the glass bottles of Barq's if you want the authentic root beer experience. The #2 spot is a no-can zone!

Barq's Rootbeer 12 oz Glass Bottles 12 Pack

1. Dad's

Hardcore root beer fans go hard for Dad's, a root beer brand that's been around since 1937. It first made waves in Chicago and has become a staple amongst Midwest root beer drinkers.

Dad's Root Beer, 12-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 12)

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