Root beer is a classic American soft drink that has been around since the 19th century. It is traditionally made from sassafras root extracts as well as a blend of other roots, herbs, spices, and flavorings like vanilla and wintergreen. Root beer has a unique sweet yet spicy flavor profile and foams up when poured thanks to the carbonation.
Irish root beer follows the same concept but with an Irish twist. It originated in Ireland and uses ingredients commonly found in Irish cuisine and beverages. Irish root beer brings together the flavors of traditional root beer with components like Irish cream liqueur, Irish whiskey, and Irish stout beer.
History of Irish Root Beer
The origins of Irish root beer can be traced back to small-batch craft soda makers in Ireland who wanted to put a unique spin on classic root beer. Some of the first producers of Irish root beer started experimenting with adding Irish liqueurs, whiskies, and stouts to homemade root beer in the early 2000s.
The concept started gaining popularity at Irish pubs and restaurants who wanted to offer unique craft sodas made with quality Irish ingredients. The idea spread to Irish American communities and there was growing demand for bottled Irish root beer that could be enjoyed at home. Several micro-breweries began bottling their recipes for Irish root beer and distributing them.
Today there are a handful of established Irish root beer brands such as Pat’s Root Beer, O’Sullivan’s Brew, and Dingle Brewing Company. Many smaller micro-breweries and homebrewers also create their own unique versions. As the craft soda industry continues to boom, Irish root beer is cementing itself as a novel addition to the root beer family.
Ingredients in Irish Root Beer
While ingredients can vary between different producers, there are some key components that set Irish root beer apart:
- Irish Cream Liqueur: Irish cream like Baileys is commonly added to Irish root beers. Irish cream provides a creamy sweetness and flavors like chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and honey.
- Irish Whiskey: Aged Irish whiskey gives Irish root beer a smooth bourbon-like flavor and aroma. Irish whiskey also lends complexity from the malted barley used to produce it.
- Irish Stout Beer: Stouts like Guinness impart an unmistakable roasted malt taste and provide a creamy head when poured.
- Sassafras Root: The base sassafras root gives Irish root beer its characteristic spicy and earthy root beer taste.
- Other Roots: Roots like birch bark, licorice root, burdock root, and dandelion root lend unique flavors and aromas.
- Spices: Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice are used to give a warming spice flavor.
- Natural Sweeteners: Sweeteners like honey or molasses provide sweetness to balance out the other ingredients.
- Vanilla: Vanilla extract enhances the sweetness and gives a signature creamy vanilla aroma.
The blend of these ingredients creates a root beer that is uniquely Irish. The use of premium Irish spirits and beers elevate Irish root beer into a sophisticated craft soda for adults.
The Taste and Flavor Profile
When you take your first sip of Irish root beer, the flavors of rich vanilla, spices, and honey hit your taste buds first. As you swallow, the taste transitions into woody and earthy sassafras with a hint of roasted Irish stout. The aftertaste is a smooth blend of Irish whiskey and cream.
Here are some of the stand-out flavors in Irish root beer:
- Creamy and sweet: The Irish cream liqueur lends a silky, sweet creaminess that coats the mouthfeel.
- Vanilla: Irish root beer often has a prominent creamy vanilla taste from both the Irish cream and vanilla extracts used.
- Spicy: Warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove give it a spicy bite similar to ginger ale.
- Roasty malt: The stouts provide a distinctive roasted malt flavor.
- Earthy and herbal: Sassafras root and other roots provide woodsy, botanical notes.
- Caramelized honey: Honey adds a touch of sweetness and a slightly burnt caramel note.
- Oaky and smooth: Irish whiskey contributes a smooth oak and subtle spirit flavor.
These layers of flavor make each sip of Irish root beer a unique experience. It strikes a perfect balance between the creaminess of Irish cream, the spicy sassafras and spices, the roasted malts, and the oak of Irish whiskey.
How Does it Compare to American Root Beer?
While both contain sassafras root and spices, several factors set Irish root beer apart from typical American mass-produced root beers:
Ingredients
Irish root beer uses quality Irish ingredients like cream liqueur, Irish whiskey, and Irish stout. American root beers are more likely to use cheaper corn syrup as the sweetener and artificial flavors instead of real vanilla.
Flavor Profile
The Irish ingredients lend unique flavors like creaminess, roastiness, oakiness, and honeyed sweetness. American root beers tend to have a more one-dimensional sweet and spicy root flavor.
Carbonation
Irish root beer tends to be less carbonated, while American root beers often have a very bubbly, soda-like carbonation.
Alcohol Content
Some Irish root beers contain a modest alcohol content from the Irish liqueurs and whiskey, while American root beers are completely non-alcoholic.
Availability
Irish root beer is produced in smaller batches by craft brewers, while mass market American root beers are widely available.
Enjoying Irish Root Beer
Irish root beer can be enjoyed straight from the bottle or on draft. It also shines when used as a component in cocktails and desserts:
Floats
Make a decadent Irish root beer float by pouring it over vanilla ice cream. The cold creamy sweetness perfectly complements the spicy root beer.
Cocktails
Use Irish root beer as a base for cocktails like the Irish Root Beer Float cocktail with Irish whiskey or the Spiced Irish Root Beer Old Fashioned.
Barbecues
The sweet complexity of Irish root beer makes it a great pairing for barbecue dishes like ribs, pulled pork, and brisket.
Desserts
Add Irish root beer to cakes, brownies, cookies, bread puddings, and ice creams for a unique flavor twist.
On Tap
Enjoy Irish root beer straight from the tap at an Irish pub for a smooth, freshly poured pint.
Where to Buy Irish Root Beer
Irish root beer can be found at some specialty retail stores or ordered online. Here are some places to buy it:
- Specialty liquor stores, especially ones with a robust Irish whiskey selection
- Gourmet food stores like Whole Foods that stock unique sodas and craft beers
- Irish and British import stores
- Directly from Irish craft soda producers’ websites
- Online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, and Etsy
- Irish pubs and restaurants may sell bottled Irish root beer to go
The most common established Irish root beer brands to look for include Pat’s Root Beer, O’Sullivan’s Brew, Dingle Brewing Rúille Buí Irish Root Beer, and Merry’s Irish Root Beer. Smaller micro-breweries also make their own versions under various names.
How to Make Your Own Irish Root Beer
Making homemade Irish root beer allows you to customize the ingredients to your taste. Here is an overview of the process:
Ingredients
- Sassafras root
- Licorice root
- Ginger root
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Allspice berries
- Vanilla bean
- Irish stout beer like Guinness
- Irish whiskey
- Irish cream like Baileys
- Molasses or honey
- Brown sugar
Process
Add all the ingredients except the Irish stout, whiskey, and cream liqueur to a large pot. Add water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 45 mins to an hour to allow the roots and spices to infuse the water.
Turn off heat and allow to cool completely before straining out the solids. Add stout, whiskey, and Irish cream based on taste. Sweeten with molasses or honey if needed.
Force carbonate by transferring to a sealed container hooked up to a CO2 tank or use carbonation drops. Chill before serving.
For a homemade non-alcoholic version, simply omit the Irish stout and whiskey.
Irish Root Beer Brand Spotlights
Here are some top brands brewing unique Irish root beers:
Pat’s Root Beer
Pat’s Root Beer is considered one of the original Irish root beer producers. They started in 2004 in County Cavan, Ireland. Their recipe features creamy Irish cream, oak aged Irish whiskeys, and aromatics like vanilla, wintergreen, and juniper.
O’Sullivan’s Brew
O’Sullivan’s Brew Irish Root Beer highlights Irish stout in their recipe. They use toasted malt, Belgian yeasts, wintergreen, and aged oak to complement the smooth creaminess from Irish dairy cream. Subtle citrus notes balance out the vanilla and caramel.
Merry’s Irish Root Beer
Based in Kinsale, Ireland, Merry’s handcrafts their root beer using natural sassafras sourced from Thailand. Locally sourced honey provides sweetness along with the flavors of vanilla, wintergreen, licorice, and caramel. They use a unique mix of herbal extracts like chamomile, elderflower, and hawthorn.
Dingle Brewing Rúille Buí Irish Root Beer
Rúille Buí translates to “yellow root” in Irish Gaelic, referencing the sassafras root base. Brewed in Dingle, Ireland, they include locally roasted malt to provide roastiness and subtle smoky notes.
Is Irish Root Beer Gluten-Free?
Some Irish root beers are gluten-free, but it depends on the particular brand and recipe. Gluten-free Irish root beers avoid using ingredients with gluten like barley, rye, and wheat.
Here are some things to look for in gluten-free Irish root beer:
- Made with 100% pure sassafras root instead of grain-based extracts
- Does not contain Irish stouts made with barley (uses gluten-free stouts instead)
- Avoid Irish whiskeys aged in barrels previously used for beers
- No wheat or barley based caramel colorings
- Sweeteners like honey, molasses, brown rice syrup instead of malt extract
- Specifically labeled as gluten-free
Some established Irish root beer brands like Pat’s Root Beer offer certified gluten-free options. Smaller craft brands may or may not accommodate dietary restrictions. Check the ingredients list and information from the manufacturer to determine if a particular Irish root beer is gluten-free.
Potential Benefits of Irish Root Beer
Like traditional root beer, Irish root beer may offer some potential health benefits when consumed in moderation. This is due to compounds found in ingredients like sassafras, licorice root, and ginger root.
Possible benefits of compounds in Irish root beer may include:
- Anti-inflammatory effects from sassafras and ginger
- Immune system support from zinc in ginger root
- Soothing effects on coughs and sore throats from licorice root, honey, and herbs
- Anti-bacterial effects from ingredients like honey, cloves, and juniper
- Anti-oxidants from sassafras, spices, and herbs
However, these potential benefits have not been extensively studied. Most Irish root beers are crafted to be enjoyed for the unique flavors rather than health reasons. They should be consumed in moderation due to sugar content.
Fun Facts About Irish Root Beer
- The original root beers made in America during colonial times used sassafras roots as a main ingredient. Sassafras was believed to have medicinal benefits.
- Sassafras root was banned from commercially sold foods and drinks in the 1960s due to a compound called safrole that was believed to be carcinogenic. Safrole is rarely found in the sassafras used today.
- Traditional sassafrasroot based homemade root beers would develop a slight alcohol content from the natural yeasts used to ferment it. This may have contributed to its popularity and amusing names like “small beer.”
- During Prohibition in America, sassafras root extracts were banned as a potential way to covertly brew alcoholic beverages. However, root beer was exempted since it had such low alcohol levels.
- The sassafras bush is native to Eastern North America and was exported extensively to Europe by early colonists in Virginia. Sassafras quickly became popular in European medicines.
- Brewers would originally concoct homemade root beer recipes by experimenting with whatever roots, barks, and botanicals they had on hand along with some yeast to ferment it.
- Traditional root beer derives its name from the use of sassafras root, but most commercial versions today use artificial sassafras flavoring instead. Safrole has been associated with liver damage and cancer.
- Root beer floats possibly originated from a mistake – a scoop of vanilla ice cream accidentally fell into a mug of root beer at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
- The root beer sarsaparilla has a distinctly different flavor profile thanks to the sarsaparilla vine rather than sassafras. It was originally an Old West saloon drink.
- An old time root beer recipe from the 1800s called for sassafras, sarsaparilla, hops, coriander, wintergreen, sweet birch, juniper berries, spikenard, and honey among other ingredients.
- George Washington had a recipe for small beer involving molasses or persimmons, bran hops, and yeast – a primitive form of root beer.
Conclusion
Irish root beer brings together the beloved flavors of traditional sassafras root beer with the smooth and complex flavors of quality Irish ingredients. The addition of freshly roasted Irish stout, velvety Irish cream liqueur, and aged Irish whiskeys gives Irish root beer a unique tasting experience not found in mass market American root beers. Sips of Irish root beer are perfect for enjoying with traditional Irish pub food or using as the base for modern culinary creations like root beer floats and cocktails. As the craft soda industry expands, keep an eye out for new and innovative Irish root beer producers experimenting with taking this old fashioned beverage in new directions using local Irish ingredients.