Root Beer

[writerinla]

I'm looking for recommendations on places to get a good old-fashioned fountain root beer, not bottled. The place doesn't necessarily have to serve food as well, but that would be nice.

Most places that bill themselves as soda fountains, such as the Fair Oaks pharmacy in South Pasadena, do have some good soda selections, but not good root beer.

[Chris B]

I don't think I saw GALCO'S SODA POP STOP in Highland Park mentioned anywhere. They've got a TON of bottled root beer. The owner is always there and happy to aid you amidst the massive selection. Try AMERICANA - it's my favorite, bar none!!! Note: I highly recommend staying away from non cane sugar root beers. They're simply not as good.

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Galco's Soda Pop Stop
5702 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

[Mattapoisett in LA]

The OP wanted only Keg or Fountain not bottled options which is why Galco's was not mentioned.

[wowimadog]

i haven't been here, so i'm not sure, but have you tried watson's drug in orange? apparently, it's an authentic soda fountain, oldest in orange county (established 1899).

watson's drug
116 e. chapman avenue
orange, ca 92866
714 633 1050

[Foodandwine]

I was at the Torrance Farmers Market yesterday. There was a guy with a fountain selling only Root Beer. I did not try it. He did have bottles to take home a $2 a pop ( no pun intended ) However, he was hawking the fountain stuff to drink on the spot. BTW the Market is a pretty good one! He only sells Root Beer nothing else..

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Torrance Certified Farmers Market
2400 Jefferson St, Torrance, CA

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Is this vendor still there? Does anyone know if they are at other markets?

[tahitiginger]

I'm a root beer freak too so I'll be checking out some of these places. Recently I had a hankering for sasparilla. I can't even remember what it tasted like exactly- had it in a ghost town in Nevada I think. I wonder if it's to be had anywhere around here.

[Velvet Elvis]

Several varieties are available by the bottle at your local BevMo.

[sku]

An absolutely fabulous sarsparilla is Snake River. It's probably my all time favorite soda. Available at Surfas or on-lline:

http://www.jhsodaco.com/sarsaparilla....

[brekkie_fan]

I would stick with A&W and most breweries (not incl BJs, in your case). I've had one 'with bite' at Newport Beach Brewing Co.

[Velvet Elvis]

Not really what you asked for, but my current favorite bottled RB is Buckin' Root Beer from Jackson Hole Soda Company. We found it at BevMo and love it.

[sherpa50]

I think Houston's in Century City has root beer on tap. Never had it, though.

[foodie21]

The Stand on Ventura Blvd. in Encino has an excellent draft root beer from the fountain. They have burgers, fries and hot dogs which are pretty good, but I remember being really impressed by the root beer. And I'm pretty picky about my root beer.

[writerinla]

I'm pretty picky about root beer, too, so that's why I threw the question out on the board. You can get it pretty much at any restaurant that serves soft drinks, but getting good root beer is another matter.

Thanks for the suggestions, all.

[ElJeffe]

While no distribution in CA, Sprecher root beer is the best I've ever had. Sprecher Brewing (they are a major beer distributor in the Midwest) sells it online.
Enjoy.

http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/soda.php

[sodaman]

What do you mean No Distribution in LA? Real Soda has had Sprecher Root Beer (and the other flavors including my favorite the cream soda) for like a decade. You can find the site online at www.realsoda.com but you can also drive up to the warehouse in Torrance (their phone is 310 326 9202) and buy Sprecher by the case, all the flavors. They have the best soda selection anywhere by the way... you'll see so much soda you'll really not have a car big enough to haul away all that you want to buy; the pricing is also kind of cheap if you buy it by the case, cheaper than retail.

[ElJeffe]

That's great. I checked the Sprecher website and no California hits popped up but thats even better!!

[sodaman]

Oops I put my reply on the wrong one but I was wanting to say that Sprecher sodas are available in Torrance from Real Soda and also you can as another writer wrote... buy it at most BevMo's. Where else... hmmm... Sainsbury Deli on Amherst & Wilshire in West LA (great sandwiches) and many of the Bristol Farms have it too. But if you like to get it by the case just go to Real Soda; it'll cost you less than a buck a bottle there. (16oz).

[calabasas_trafalgar]

A & W, if you can still find one.

[Velvet Elvis]

There is one in San Dimas.

I had the Root Beer at BJ's once. It was ok, but I was hoping for something a little more smooth and creamy like IBC or A&W. BJ's had a little more bite to it.

[Diana]

Quoting from my prior response above about A&W

"You can sometimes find an A&W around. Simi, Hawthorne, Bell, Torrance, Crenshaw, Norwalk."

[writerinla]

There's used to be an A&W in the food court of the Beverly Center. That's the only one I know of in LA proper. I don't know if it's still there.

[annagranfors]

I said it before, I'll say it again...anyone who could open a *complete replica* of a 50s-60s A&W drive-in, replete with waitresses on rollerskates and those trays they hung off your window and the "family" burgers (Mama/Papa/Teen etc) and most of all, that creamy, wonderful root beer (gimme a glass gallon jug to go!) would have a runaway success on their hands.

[Marvin]

I could have sworn that there's an A&W on Pico next to Factor's Deli?

[nick_r]

I think Westwood Brewing Company has a root beer on tap as well.

And possibly Gordon Biersch.

[Diana]

All BJ's make and serves their own root beer on tap. No, it isn't alcoholic.

You can sometimes find an A&W around. Simi, hawthorne, Bell, Torrance, Crenshaw, Norwalk.

[sku]

Lucky Devils, in Hollywood usually has a root beer on tap. I don't remember what kind.

[Diana]

Usually Abita, which is a GREAT root beer.