449537 Wed Oct 10 11:50:13 -0700 2007 27 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3022137 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. Wed Oct 10 11:50:13 -0700 2007 103569 writerinla 1 3022370 Lucky Devils, in Hollywood usually has a root beer on tap. I don't remember what kind. Wed Oct 10 12:51:37 -0700 2007 3022137 10132 sku 2 3022418 Usually Abita, which is a GREAT root beer. Wed Oct 10 13:03:33 -0700 2007 3022370 11201 Diana 1 3022416 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. Wed Oct 10 13:03:10 -0700 2007 3022137 11201 Diana 1 3022768 I think Westwood Brewing Company has a root beer on tap as well. And possibly Gordon Biersch. Wed Oct 10 14:31:11 -0700 2007 3022137 119202 nick_r 1 3023106 A & W, if you can still find one. Wed Oct 10 16:07:25 -0700 2007 3022137 10786 calabasas_trafalgar 2 3023124 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. Wed Oct 10 16:13:07 -0700 2007 3023106 123676 Velvet Elvis 2 3024370 Quoting from my prior response above about A&W "You can sometimes find an A&W around. Simi, Hawthorne, Bell, Torrance, Crenshaw, Norwalk." Thu Oct 11 06:34:18 -0700 2007 3023106 11201 Diana 3 3025183 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. Thu Oct 11 10:11:40 -0700 2007 3024370 103569 writerinla 4 3025704 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. Thu Oct 11 12:12:56 -0700 2007 3025183 10948 annagranfors 4 3039771 I could have sworn that there's an A&W on Pico next to Factor's Deli? Tue Oct 16 11:20:02 -0700 2007 3025183 21474 Marvin 1 3023509 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. Wed Oct 10 18:26:35 -0700 2007 3022137 14496 foodie21 2 3025219 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. Thu Oct 11 10:17:51 -0700 2007 3023509 103569 writerinla 3 3086889 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 Thu Nov 01 13:24:28 -0700 2007 3025219 77439 ElJeffe 4 3095258 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. Sun Nov 04 21:44:14 -0800 2007 3086889 60918 sodaman 5 3098656 That's great. I checked the Sprecher website and no California hits popped up but thats even better!! Mon Nov 05 20:36:01 -0800 2007 3095258 77439 ElJeffe 3 3095260 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). Sun Nov 04 21:46:17 -0800 2007 3025219 60918 sodaman 1 3025451 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. Thu Oct 11 11:06:17 -0700 2007 3022137 123676 Velvet Elvis 2 3025604 I think Houston's in Century City has root beer on tap. Never had it, though. Thu Oct 11 11:47:26 -0700 2007 3025451 16243 sherpa50 1 3031003 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. Sat Oct 13 04:23:43 -0700 2007 3022137 42707 brekkie_fan 1 3086248 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. Thu Nov 01 10:47:10 -0700 2007 3022137 109740 tahitiginger 2 3086363 Several varieties are available by the bottle at your local BevMo. Thu Nov 01 11:20:07 -0700 2007 3086248 123676 Velvet Elvis 2 3086529 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.htm\ Thu Nov 01 12:01:44 -0700 2007 3086248 10132 sku 1 3095268 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.. Sun Nov 04 21:50:18 -0800 2007 3022137 97161 Foodandwine 2 4615769 Is this vendor still there? Does anyone know if they are at other markets? Tue Apr 21 13:35:05 -0700 2009 3095268 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 1 3095300 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 Sun Nov 04 22:14:25 -0800 2007 3022137 13941 wowimadog 1 4615635 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. Tue Apr 21 12:57:42 -0700 2009 3022137 284948 Chris B 2 4615764 The OP wanted only Keg or Fountain not bottled options which is why Galco's was not mentioned. Tue Apr 21 13:34:16 -0700 2009 4615635 12588 Mattapoisett in LA