Root Beer

There is nothing like an ice cold root beer in a frozen glass mug. One of my first experiences with this was when I was hiking in Northeastern New Mexico with a group of Boy Scouts around 1990. We had been on the trail for almost a week and hit one of the few cantinas that were on the Philmont Ranch. This one particular cantina had ice cold root beer on tap. It was particulary wonderful since I had been on the trail for a week with nothing but water.

I did not really start drinking (root beer) until my senior year in college. Since then I have found it especially good when I cook BBQ and have several people over. IBC has been the "go-to-guy" mainly b/c of its good taste and ease of access (Wal Mart @ $2.50 per 6). My brother-in-law PK has since exposed me to Stewart's Root Beer and I have had Diamond Bear's (of Little Rock) home brew a couple of times now which is excellent as well (you can actually buy it by the keg from them). I like A&W if it is on tap at one of their stores, otherwise I would rather have IBC.

So, I want to know what is your favorite root beer. I will start compiling a list and maybe even have a sampling party at some point. This may take a while b/c some of these will have to be ordered.