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:
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.
Sorry, no free refills.
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.
"Unbreakable" and "let kids play with it" will certainly end poorly!
I still love the A&W Root Bear!
I met him once, and he was a (tubby) gentleman.
Also, his theme tune is classic.
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.
Their barrel does indeed say IBC, but from what I’ve heard (and read online), Carl’s root beer is their own recipe.
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