Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The Hires Soda Fountain Barrel

Everyone knows that frosty cold root beer always tastes better from a big 'ol wooden barrel. One of my favorite local haunts, Carl's Drive-in in Maplewood MO, has been serving their homemade version from a wooden barrel since 1975, and if you google "vintage root beer barrels" you'll see all kinds of great examples from a variety of world famous brands. So anyway, the point of this jibber jabber being a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a fun little home edition soda fountain barrel from the 50's or 60's, capitalizing on Hires Root Beer, a brand which I'm not sure I've ever had. Put it all together, and dump your own store bought RB into it, then serve it up to your chums like a true soda jerk. The barrel itself is unfortunately made of cheapo plastic, but the box is at least full of cute illustrations. It's also full of great shout-outs telling us that it "really works!", it's an "unbreakable - true replica!" and that it "won't leak!" I didn't actually buy this thing to test it out, but I hope all of that is true, --cuz we already know that "kids love it!" We adults do too!






7 comments:

Mr. Cavin said...

Hmm. I don't think I've ever had root beer out of a wooden barrel. Or regular beer, either. I've got to fix that.

Cute box. Really like that sorta smugly sleepy counter man.

top_cat_james said...

Sorry, no free refills.

JMR777 said...

I remember Hires Root Beer, it was popular the Philadelphia PA area. It seems to still be available through Walmart in the Philly area.
Hires has been squeezed out by A & W, Mug and Barq's root beers. The soda pop market can be quite cutthroat, for colas and root beers, respectively.

Brian Barnes said...

"Unbreakable" and "let kids play with it" will certainly end poorly!

Guy Callaway said...

I still love the A&W Root Bear!
I met him once, and he was a (tubby) gentleman.
Also, his theme tune is classic.

Tom said...

I love Carl's. It's been years since I've been there, but I agree, best root beer hands down. Their barrel says IBC if I recall correctly.

Mr. Karswell said...

Their barrel does indeed say IBC, but from what I’ve heard (and read online), Carl’s root beer is their own recipe.