Last Updated on April 30, 2026 by Brian Kachejian
Feature Photo and design by Brian Kachejian
After working through the probiotic and prebiotic round, getting back to traditional root beer felt like stepping into familiar territory again. In Round 2 of our 25 root beer taste test, my son Cole and I focused on canned root beers, the brands most people actually buy in supermarkets, convenience stores, and distributors. This is where things got serious, because now we were dealing with some of the biggest names in the business, along with a few regional favorites that carry strong reputations.
Root beer has a long history in American culture, originally rooted in herbal beverages made from sassafras root. Commercial root beer began to take shape in the late nineteenth century, and by the twentieth century, it had become one of the most recognizable soft drinks in the country. Brands like A&W helped define the classic smooth-and-creamy profile, while others developed sharper, more bite-driven styles. That variety is what makes a competition like this interesting, because not all root beers are built the same.
For more rankings like this, check out our Best Probiotic and Prebiotic Root Beer Ranked Round 1 Taste Test.
A&W Root Beer
A&W Root Beer is not just another brand in this category; it is one of the foundations of modern root beer itself. The story begins in 1919 when Roy W. Allen opened a roadside stand in Lodi, California, serving root beer made from a formula he had acquired from a pharmacist. That first serving took place during a homecoming celebration for World War I veterans, which helped establish the drink as both a refreshment and a social experience tied to American culture.
The brand name A&W came shortly after when Allen partnered with Frank Wright, combining their initials to create what would become one of the most recognizable names in soft drinks. What followed changed the food industry. A&W began franchising early, allowing independent operators to open stands under its name and using its syrup, effectively helping to create one of the first restaurant chains in the United States. By 1950, there were more than 450 A&W locations, and by 1960 that number had grown to over 2,000, driven in part by the rise of car culture and the popularity of drive-in dining.
What made A&W stand out was its profile. Unlike sharper or more herbal root beers, A&W leaned into a smooth, creamy texture that became closely associated with root beer floats and easy drinking soda. That identity remained consistent through decades of ownership changes, expansions into international markets, and the transition to mass-bottled and canned distribution. Today, it remains one of the most widely recognized root beer brands in North America, with its formula still centered around balance rather than intensity.
Brian: 8
Cole: 7.5
When we got to A&W in this round, it immediately felt like coming back to what root beer is supposed to taste like. Smooth from the first sip, no harsh edges, no overwhelming notes. It sits right in the middle, which is exactly why it has lasted this long.
But that same balance is also where it runs into trouble in a competition. When you put it up against something more aggressive like Barq’s, it can feel a little too safe. It does everything well, but it does not push far enough in any direction to take control of the round.
That is the trade-off with A&W. It is the definition of classic root beer, but in a head-to-head taste test, being classic does not always mean being the best.
Barq’s Root Beer
Barq’s Root Beer has one of the oldest and most distinctive identities in the category, and it has never tried to be like anything else. The brand traces back to 1898, when Edward Barq created the drink in Biloxi, Mississippi, after opening the Biloxi Artesian Bottling Works.
Before root beer became standardized, Barq’s stood apart from the beginning. It was originally based more on sarsaparilla than the sweeter, creamier profiles that would later define brands like A&W. It contained less sugar, higher carbonation, and a noticeably sharper bite, which gave it a completely different personality compared to other root beers of its time.
For years, Barq’s was not even marketed as “root beer” at all, partly to avoid legal issues with competitors and partly because its formula did not fit the category’s typical expectations. That independence helped define the brand. While others leaned into smooth and creamy, Barq’s built its reputation on intensity.
As the brand expanded through the twentieth century, it developed a loyal following, particularly in the South, where it became a staple. By the late twentieth century, it moved into national distribution and was eventually acquired by The Coca-Cola Company, which pushed it into supermarkets and vending machines across the country.
One of the defining traits that still separates Barq’s today is caffeine. While most root beers are caffeine-free, Barq’s includes it in many of its formulations, adding another layer to its already sharper profile.
Brian: 9
Cole: 8
When we put it up against A&W and Mug, the difference was immediate. This one does not ease you in; it hits right away. There is a stronger, more aggressive flavor that carries through the entire sip, and that is exactly what pushed it to the top of the first bracket.
The sharpness, the bite, and that slightly bitter edge gave it more presence than anything else in that group. It felt more alive, more defined, and more memorable.
But that same strength is also what makes it a risky contender in a championship round. When you put it against something smoother like Virgil’s, the question becomes whether that intensity works in its favor or starts to work against it.
In this round, though, there was no question. Barq’s took control early and held it.
Mug Root Beer
Mug Root Beer does not have the same long-legacy feel as brands like Barq’s or A&W, but its story still dates back to 1940, when it was first introduced in San Francisco under the name Belfast Root Beer. It was created by the Belfast Beverage Company, which had been producing sparkling water and ginger ale since 1877.
By the time root beer became a major commercial product in the mid-twentieth century, Mug positioned itself as a straightforward, sweet, easy-drinking soda aimed at a wide audience. Over time, the brand evolved from Belfast Root Beer to Belfast Old Fashioned Mug Root Beer, then simply Mug Root Beer.
A major turning point came in 1986 when PepsiCo acquired the brand, bringing Mug into a national distribution system and placing it directly in competition with Barq’s and A&W. The branding shifted toward mass appeal, including the now well-known bulldog mascot, and Mug became a regular presence in supermarkets, gas stations, and vending machines across the country.
What Mug represents in the root beer world is accessibility. It is designed to be softer, sweeter, and less aggressive than some of its competitors. Where Barq’s hits hard and A&W leans creamy, Mug tends to sit in a lighter space, built more for easy drinking than bold flavor complexity.
Brian: 7
Cole: 6
This one felt flatter compared to the first two. It had some sweetness, but it lacked the depth and presence needed to compete.
Winner of Round 1 Bracket, Barq’s
Dr. Brown’s Root Beer
Dr. Brown’s is not just another soda brand; it is a piece of New York history dating back to 1869. The brand was created in New York City and quickly became part of everyday life in Jewish neighborhoods, where it was sold door-to-door and served in delicatessens alongside traditional meals.
Unlike most soda companies, Dr. Brown’s did not build its reputation through national advertising or mass distribution. It grew through community and culture. For decades, it was closely tied to New York deli life, often paired with foods like pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup. That connection helped it spread beyond the city as people moved across the country, taking the brand with them.
One of the most interesting aspects of Dr. Brown’s history is that its origins are not entirely clear. The story often points to a doctor who created a celery-based tonic using celery seeds and sugar, which eventually became the brand’s famous Cel-Ray soda. At the same time, there has always been speculation that the name “Dr. Brown” may have been more of a marketing creation than an actual person.
What makes Dr. Brown’s stand apart is that it never tried to fit into the standard soda model. While other brands focused on mass appeal, Dr. Brown’s stayed rooted in its identity as a deli soda, with a lineup that includes cream soda, black cherry, and root beer. Even its packaging reflects that history, featuring classic New York imagery designed to reinforce its connection to the city.
Brian: 7
Cole: 5
When we got to Dr. Brown’s in this round, it immediately felt different from everything else on the table. There was a distinct medicinal note in the aftertaste that stood out right away. It gave the drink character, but it also made it harder to keep going back for more.
This is one of those root beers where the history almost becomes part of the flavor. You can feel that old-school soda-fountain influence in it, something that does not try to be smooth or sweet in the same way as A&W or Mug.
For me, that made it interesting. For Cole, it made it a tough sell. And in a competition like this, where everything is judged side by side, that difference in reaction was enough to keep it from moving forward.
Virgil’s Root Beer
Virgil’s Root Beer represents a very different chapter in the story of root beer, one that looks backward to move forward. The brand was introduced in 1994 by Reed’s Inc., a company focused on natural beverages and traditional formulations. Instead of following the mass-produced soda model, Virgil’s was built around recreating old-style root beer with natural ingredients and a more carefully crafted recipe.
From the start, Virgil’s positioned itself as a craft root beer. It uses cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup and incorporates a blend of herbs and spices designed to reflect earlier root beer traditions. That formula includes ingredients such as licorice, vanilla, and wintergreen, which give it a more layered, complex flavor than standard supermarket brands.
While many root beers aim for consistency and broad appeal, Virgil’s leans into depth. The flavor profile is not built around one dominant note. Instead, it unfolds as you drink it, starting smooth and developing into something more nuanced. This approach helped the brand grow quickly in specialty markets and eventually break into larger supermarket chains, where it stands out as a premium alternative to the major brands.
That positioning is important because Virgil’s is not trying to compete directly with something like A&W or Mug on familiarity. It is trying to offer something different, something that feels closer to a higher-end soda experience. That identity became a major factor in how it performed in this round.
Brian: 7.5
Cole: 6
When we first tasted it within its bracket, it did not immediately dominate. It was more subtle, especially compared to stronger root beers. But once we started going back and comparing it directly against the others, something changed.
The smoothness started to stand out. The balance became more noticeable. There were hints of vanilla and licorice that gave it a richer, more refined feel. It was not trying to overpower anything; it was trying to stay consistent from start to finish.
ADK Root Beer
ADK Root Beer comes out of Adirondack Beverages, a company founded in 1967 in Scotia, New York, right in the Mohawk Valley. Unlike the legacy soda giants that built their names nationally over decades, Adirondack grew as a regional brand, supplying drinks primarily throughout the Northeast. That smaller footprint has always been part of its identity, a local soda company built around New York distribution rather than nationwide dominance.
The company’s roots are tied closely to the Adirondack Mountains, and that connection shows up in how they position their products. Their beverages are built around water sourced from a protected glacial aquifer in the region, which they emphasize as a key part of their flavor foundation. That focus on source water and regional identity gives ADK a different angle from mass-produced soda brands built around consistency across large-scale bottling systems.
Over time, Adirondack expanded its lineup to include a wide range of sodas, sparkling waters, and specialty drinks, while still maintaining a smaller, more localized presence compared to national competitors. The company was eventually acquired by Polar Beverages in the 1990s, bringing it under a larger umbrella while still keeping its regional character intact.
What ADK represents in a lineup like this is the local underdog. It is not trying to compete with the history of A&W or the boldness of Barq’s. It sits in a different lane, one that leans on regional pride and a more straightforward soda profile.
Brian: 4
Cole: 4
When we got to ADK in this round, it immediately struggled to keep up. The flavor lacked strength, and compared side by side with the other brands, it felt watered down. There was no defining note that stood out, no depth that built as you drank it.
This is where the difference between regional and national brands became clear. The bigger brands offer a more developed flavor profile, one refined over decades of mass production and competition. ADK, in this case, just did not have that same level of presence.
In a different setting, maybe on its own, it might come across differently. But in a direct comparison like this, it never found its footing.
Winner of Round 2 Bracket, Virgil’s
Canned Root Beer Championship
Barq’s vs Virgil’s
This was the matchup that decided everything for the canned category. Two completely different styles went head to head, Barq’s with its sharp, aggressive flavor, and Virgil’s with its smoother, more refined approach.
Brian, Barq’s 8.9, Virgil’s 9
Cole, Barq’s 8, Virgil’s 9
Once we went back and compared them directly, the difference became clearer. Barq’s had strength, but Virgil’s had balance. The smoother profile, subtle sweetness, and overall finish pushed it ahead.
Canned Root Beer Champion, Virgil’s
Final Verdict
This round proved that not all big brands dominate, and not all lesser-known brands fall behind. Barq’s showed why it has such a strong following with its bold flavor, but Virgil’s found a way to win with balance and a more refined taste.
That sets up the next stage of this series. Virgil’s now moves on as the canned champion and will face the bottled root beer winner in the next round. That is where we find out if cans can hold their ground or if bottles take over completely.
If you enjoy comparisons like this, also check out Which Cheez-It Flavor Is the Best? 9 Varieties Tested and Ranked and Best Haribo Goldbears Flavors Ranked Taste Test.
Watch the Full Video
Watch the full unedited taste test below to see every reaction as it happened.
