Luke's Root Beers
Where can I buy all these root beers?
The beauty of the internet is that one can buy more than 50 brands of root beer online. Most of the smaller brands are available directly from the brewers by mail-order, check the web sites listed with individual brands. The following distributors also do mail order. The problem with ordering a six-pack of beer from anyplace across the country is that shipping charges will kill you -- the trick is to find a place relatively close to you so that the charges won't be so high. Here are some of the vendors we have used and would recommend.
Soda Pop Stop -- 35 brands of root beer (31 in stock last time we checked, including 2 diet). Began as an Italian deli -- they still serve sandwiches in the back -- they are now major soda players. Los Angeles, California (you can also go to their store in LA).
Pop the Soda Shop -- your online soda connection. 36 brands of root beer, plus four diet, but many are not in stock at any given time. Their greatest item is the 24 root beer sampler pack -- I got at least 12 root beers I had never heard of (including such gems as Gale's) along with the more common stuff. Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bradonvical -- this Louisiana-based enterprise has 10 brands, some obscure, from around the country. They even sent me a couple to review! They are one of the few that carries one of our favorites, Gale's Root Beer.
Strange Brew -- a coffee shop in Springfield, Ohio with a wonderful taste in sodas -- dozens available online, including 17 brands of mostly obscure and regional root beers. These folks even offer free e-mail, talk about one-stop shopping. I can't wait to have breakfast there some day.
Ifs, Ands or Butts -- America's first micro-soda bar, does internet sales too (30 brands, plus one diet). Dallas, Texas.
Seattle Beverage Company -- only one brand of root beer available individually (the great Americana), but try its root beer sampler pack, 10 bottles of at least 8 different brands.
John's Grocery -- in its gourmet soda department, sells three regional root beers, Goose Island, Millstream and Sprecher. Cheap prices, but killer shipping ($11.80 to ship a six-pack to San Francisco!). Iowa City, Iowa.
Luke's Root Beer Homepage + Luke's Root Beer Archive
2001 Root Beer Taste-off + 2002 Root Beer Taste-off