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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
For a first craft root beer buy, the Beverages Direct variety sampler packs twelve small-producer root beers in 12 oz glass bottles, so you can taste before committing to a full case. Two things decide whether a craft root beer is worth buying: real sugar instead of corn syrup, and carbonation that stays lively to the last pour.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You will see which bottles use pure cane sugar, which come in glass so the fizz holds, and which pours best over vanilla ice cream for a float. By the end you will know which craft root beer pick fits your fridge.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Craft Root Beer
Craft root beer is not one drink. It ranges from a light, mildly fizzy pour to a thick, foamy, almost creamy glass that tastes like a soda fountain from decades ago. The bottle in front of you decides most of that before you even twist the cap.
Sweetener: cane sugar, honey, or corn syrup
The single biggest flavor divider is what sweetens the bottle. Cane sugar gives a clean, round sweetness that finishes fast. Honey adds a fuller, heavier body. Corn syrup tends to taste flat and sticky by comparison, which is why so many craft labels advertise that they skip it. If the ingredient list says pure cane sugar or real honey, you are getting the traditional profile buyers hunt for.
Glass versus can
Glass is the traditional home of craft soda, and it also protects carbonation and freshness better than a can over time. Cans are lighter to ship and easier to stack in a fridge, so they suit parties and everyday stocking. If you mainly pour over ice cream, glass is the safer bet for a lively, foamy float.
Bottle size and how you will actually drink it
A 7.5 oz can is a small treat that fits anywhere and pairs nicely with a dessert. A 12 oz bottle is the classic single serving. A 16 oz bottle is a committed pour, better for floats or for sharing. Match the bottle size to how often you actually drink one, not to how it looks on a shelf.
Variety packs versus a single case
A sampler is the cheapest way to find your favorite before buying a full case. One listing can include twelve different regional root beers, but the exact bottles rotate and are not always as pictured, so treat a sampler as a tasting tour rather than a guaranteed lineup. Buy a single-brand case only once you know the flavor you love.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Sweetener | Bottle Type | Pack Size | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverages Direct Variety Sampler★ Best Overall | Tasting across regions | Craft recipes | 12 oz glass | 12 pack | Amazon |
| 1919 Draft Root Beer 7.5ozBest for Small Sips | Small single-serve treats | Real sugar | 7.5 oz can | 10 pack | Amazon |
| Henry Weinhard’s Root BeerThe Classic | Classic glass-bottle sipping | Cane sugar & honey | 12 oz glass | 6 pack | Amazon |
| Wild Bill’s Classic Root Beer | Stocking the fridge | Pure cane sugar | 12 oz can | 12 pack | Amazon |
| 1919 Draft Root Beer 16oz | Floats and parties | Real sugar | 16 oz can | 12 pack | Amazon |
| Sprecher Root Beer | Gourmet honey-sweetened pours | Real honey | 16 oz glass | 12 pack | Amazon |
| Jones Soda Co. Root Beer | Fun fan-made bottles | 100% cane sugar | 12 oz glass | 12 pack | Amazon |
| Maine Root Soda Root Beer | Fair Trade, less-sweet sipping | Fair Trade craft soda | — | 12 pack | Amazon |
| Root Beer Surprise Variety Sampler | Gifting a root beer fan | Craft artisan brews | Glass bottles | 12 pack | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Beverages Direct Root Beer Variety Soda Sampler, Craft Mix, 12 Pack
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 150+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
Twelve different regional root beers in one box, so you taste the whole country before you commit.
If you have never bought craft root beer before, this is the box that answers every question at once. It carries 12 different root beers from across the country, one bottle of each, all in 12 oz glass bottles. That is 144 fluid ounces in total, and it is the widest spread on this list — compare it to the 7.5 fluid ounces in a single small 1919 can and the range of what you get here is enormous. Twelve ounces is also the classic single serving, which is exactly the right size for a tasting night.
What you are really buying is a shortcut past the guesswork. A case of one flavor might be great or might miss your taste entirely; a sampler tells you which small-producer recipes you actually love, so your next full case is the right one. The selection is not always as pictured, and a sampler can include two bottles from the same brand, so treat the lineup as a rotating tour rather than a fixed menu. Glass packaging matters here — it protects carbonation and freshness better than a can, which is why the flavors arrive tasting the way the brewers intended.
Buyers who have used this as a gift win, too. The crowd buying for someone else is consistent: it is simple to send, it arrives well packed, and even glass bottles reach the door intact. Owners also report that the flavors genuinely vary — some pours sweeter, some more herby — which is the whole point of a mix like this. The variety is the biggest draw, and it is the reason this box sits at the top.
Where it wins you over
- A real 12-brand tasting spread in one 144 fl oz order
- 12 oz glass bottles, the classic single-serve size
- Arrives packed well, so glass usually survives shipping
- Easy to send as a personalized gift
What to plan around
- The lineup rotates and is not always the exact bottles pictured
- A few pours will land sweeter or more herby than you expect
- Glass means you should store it somewhere it will not get knocked over
Grab this one: first-time craft root beer buyers and anyone shopping for a soda lover who wants to taste across regions.
Pass it over: if you already know the single flavor you want in a full case, buy that brand instead.
2. 1919 Draft Root Beer 7.5oz Can, Real Sugar, Real Vanilla, 10-Pack
A tiny can of full-bodied, creamy draft root beer that hits like it came off a frosty keg.
Fans call this the one that tastes like a keg pour, and the small 7.5 oz can is exactly why it works as an everyday treat. It is crafted with real vanilla and sugar, and it is naturally caffeine free, so you can crack one after dinner without lying awake. Because the can is so small, it fits anywhere in the fridge and gives you a measured little pour rather than a full bottle to finish.
It is also a convenient size if you like a little snap in your soda. Owners describe a lively, creamy body and a slight kick they enjoy, and the compact cans make it easy to keep a few cold at all times. The can is lighter than a glass setup, too — this 10-pack ships at 5.6 pounds. Weigh that against the 8.55 pounds of the Henry Weinhard’s six-pack above, which comes in heavier glass bottles.
Be honest about the size, though. A 7.5 oz pour is intentionally small, and more than one fan notes it can leave you wishing there was a bit more in the can. The one repeated caveat that shows up is that it is not a cheap bottle to keep stocked for daily drinking, and one buyer notes they wished it did not use artificial ingredients alongside the real sugar. Neither of those makes it a bad buy — it just means it is the treat-for-a-moment pick rather than the daily pour.
The pull: creamy, vanilla-forward flavor with a keg-style draft character, all in a caffeine-free can that fits in the fridge door.
Weigh this: the 7.5 oz size is genuinely small, so buy it for a dessert treat, not for volume sipping.
Made for: dessert pairing, movie-night treats, and anyone who wants a measured small pour instead of a full glass bottle.
Not the fit for: households that go through root beer fast and want a larger everyday can or bottle.
3. Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer 6 Pack | 12oz Glass Bottles
The honey-sweetened old-school glass bottle that tastes like a root beer barrel candy.
This is the bottle you buy because you want the recipe that has not moved in generations. It is blended with sassafras, rich vanilla, and sweet honey, and it is sweetened with cane sugar for a full-bodied pour. Each 12 oz bottle carries 180 calories, 41g of sugar, and zero fat, and the glass keeps that flavor sealed until the cap pops. Six bottles come in the pack, 72 fluid ounces total.
Shipping weight is where this one stands apart from the smaller cans on this list. The six-pack weighs 8.55 pounds, which is the heavy end for a pack of this size — heavier than the 5.6 pounds of the 1919 7.5oz ten-pack above. That weight is the glass doing its job: it protects the carbonation and freshness that makes the pour taste the way the recipe intends.
The people who love this say it is silky and packed with flavor, like an old-timey candy, with no sharp gingery edge. It is hard to find on a local shelf in much of the country, which is a big reason shoppers order it here. The honest note is that taste memory is a tricky thing: at least one buyer found it smoother, waxier, less peppery than the version they remembered, and said they would not reorder. The pouring candies note — if you are chasing the exact bottle from years ago, order one six-pack first and compare.
Why the recipe wins: sassafras, vanilla, and honey over cane sugar deliver a heavy, candy-store pour that is hard to find locally.
Before you commit: order a single six-pack first if you are chasing a memory, because taste memory and the modern bottle do not always line up.
Buy it if: you want a nostalgic, honey-and-cane-sugar glass bottle and value the traditional flavor over a big pack count.
Look elsewhere if: you need a large, budget-friendly case for frequent pouring rather than a small classic six-pack.
4. Wild Bill’s Classic Root Beer, 12 oz 12 Pack
A veteran-owned fridge case with creamy, spicy depth that pours straight from the can.
This is the case for the household that drinks root beer often. It comes as a 12-pack of 12 oz cans — 144 fluid ounces — made with pure cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, plus a gluten-free, vegan, caffeine-free, low-sodium recipe. The tasting notes lean on vanilla, juniper, and licorice, giving it a bold, spicy undertone under the sweet finish rather than a straight syrup taste. A can is also lighter to store and stack than glass, which suits a case you plan to go through.
What the reviews back most is flavor, followed by texture. People who like it describe a smooth, bold, frothy body and go out of their way to praise that it uses real sugar rather than corn syrup. A whole crowd keeps reordering it, which is the best sign a canned craft soda can give you.
The catch is carbonation consistency. Some drinkers love the fizzy kick, while others notice it flattens more quickly than a glass bottle would. That split shows up in the reviews, so if a long-lasting crackle matters most to you, glass is the better format. It is still a solid everyday can — just not the fizz champion of this lineup.
What keeps people reordering
- Big 12-pack of 144 total fluid ounces for frequent pouring
- Pure cane sugar, caffeine free, gluten free, and vegan
- Bold vanilla, juniper, and licorice tasting notes
- Veteran-owned and operated manufacturer
Things worth knowing first
- Carbonation is a love-it-or-not split — cans lose fizz faster than glass
- The bold, spicy profile will not suit drinkers who want a plain sweet pour
- No glass bottle here, so it is not the choice for a shelf-display purchase
Your pick if: you want a big, cane-sugar case of cans to keep the fridge stocked without glass-bottle weight or fragility.
Choose a bottle instead if: you want the longest-lasting carbonation and the classic glass-soda ritual.
5. 1919 Draft Root Beer 16oz Can, Real Sugar, Real Vanilla, 12-Pack
The big-can 1919 pour: high sweetness and high foam, built for a proper root beer float.
If the small 7.5 oz 1919 above left you wishing for more, this is the answer — the same real-sugar, real-vanilla recipe in a full 16 oz can, sold as a 12-pack. That bigger can tops out at 16 fluid ounces per serving, so one can easily covers two scoops of vanilla ice cream with root beer to spare. The whole case weighs 13.7 pounds, and it is naturally caffeine free.
The flavor profile that gets repeat buyers is the foam. Owners describe that high sweetness, high foam, low bubble combination — a big, pillowy head that holds up when you pour it over ice cream. It has also broken out of the region it started in. What was once only available in a pocket of the Midwest now lands on doorsteps across the country, which fans who moved away are quick to appreciate.
Two things to plan for. First, the case does ship in cans, and a can or two has occasionally arrived dented or swollen in transit; the fix is simple — pour it into a glass rather than drinking straight from the can. Second, it is a premium pour rather than a cheap one, and several buyers treat it as an occasional reward rather than a daily bottle. Neither takes away from the flavor, which is the reason people keep coming back.
Why float lovers pick it
- 16 oz can holds a generous single pour or a full two-scoop float
- Real sugar and real vanilla, naturally caffeine free
- High-foam character that holds its head over ice cream
- Now shipped nationwide, not just a regional buy
Good to factor in
- Cans can arrive dented — pour into a glass to be safe
- A premium pour, so most buyers treat it as an occasional treat
- A can is lighter than glass, so it will not hold fizz as long once opened
The one to reach for: root beer float nights, parties, and anyone who wanted more than the small 1919 can delivers.
Think twice if: you want a single small everyday sip, in which case the 7.5 oz 10-pack fits better.
6. Sprecher Root Beer in 16 fl oz Glass Bottles (12 Pack)
Fire-brewed in gas-fired kettles and sweetened with real honey, this is the caramelized odd one out.
Sprecher brews its root beer in small batches in traditional gas-fired kettles, which is a step most soda makers skip. That fire-brewing is what gives it a smooth, rich, caramelized edge, and the pour is sweetened with real honey rather than plain sugar. It comes in 16 fl oz glass bottles — twelve of them, 192 total fluid ounces — so this is the largest glass haul on the list. The glass keeps the carbonation and freshness locked in, and the recipe is caffeine free, gluten free, and kosher certified.
It also earns its keep as a float soda. The flavor is naturally creamy, and the honey gives it a fuller body than an ordinary soft drink, so it holds up beautifully over vanilla ice cream. It holds up on its own, too.
What sets the flavor apart from the lighter pours here is balance. Drinkers describe it as balanced rather than heavy on any one ingredient, with a distinct barrel-brewed taste that does not taste like a standard canned root beer. It is the pick for someone who wants the pour itself to be the event.
The flavor case: fire-brewing in gas-fired kettles plus real honey produces a caramelized, creamy body that stands out from lighter pours.
Size to respect: a 16 oz glass bottle is a committed single serving, so it is best shared or poured over ice cream.
Best for: drinkers who want a honey-sweetened, fire-brewed pour with a caramelized finish and the biggest glass bottle on this list.
Skip if: you want a small, quick sip or a light, low-sugar leaning flavor.
7. Jones Soda Co. Root Beer, 12 oz Glass Bottles, 12-Pack
The bottle with a fan photo on the label and a fortune under every cap — soda as a small event.
Jones makes its root beer with pure, 100% cane sugar, and the glass bottle packaging is deliberate — the company says it holds the flavor because glass preserves the carbonation the way the soda was meant to be consumed. Each 12-pack holds 144 fluid ounces of 12 oz bottles. The pour runs smooth, with a clean, easy sweetness rather than a heavy syrup finish.
Then there is the part no other bottler on this list does. Every label carries a fan-submitted photo, some marked bottles come to life with a video through augmented reality, and each cap hides a fortune submitted by fans. None of that changes how it tastes, but it does change how much fun a bottle feels like in hand, and it is why guests tend to remember the pour at a party.
The flavor itself wins people over first — drinkers describe it as smooth, with no unpleasant aftertaste, and a screw top that twists off without a fight. The one thing to set expectations on is what you are paying for a craft glass bottle. Several buyers find it a little expensive for a case, though the same drinkers say the real, pronounceable ingredients are what they are happily paying for. Think of it as the label you buy when you want the pour to be part of the fun.
What makes it stand out
- Pure 100% cane sugar recipe in glass 12 oz bottles
- Fan-submitted photos on every label and fortunes under each cap
- Smooth taste with no unpleasant aftertaste
- Screw top that opens easily, 144 fl oz per case
What to weigh
- A premium glass-bottle price for buyers who just want volume
- Some bottles carry augmented reality, some do not, so do not buy for that alone
- Glass shipping means you should store the case somewhere secure
Right for you: parties, gifts, and anyone who wants a cane-sugar glass bottle with a bit of personality built into the label.
Consider a can if: you just want the cheapest per-ounce way to keep root beer on hand.
8. Maine Root Soda – Fair Trade Craft Soda in Glass Bottles (Root Beer 12 Pack)
A milder, gently fizzy root beer for drinkers who find the big brands far too sweet.
This one is for a specific drinker: the person who wants root beer flavor without the syrupy wallop. It is a Fair Trade craft soda sold as a 12-pack, and the people who like it are clear about why — it is not as sweet as most of the root beers on the shelf, and the carbonation is mild rather than aggressive. If standard root beers taste like drinking candy syrup to you, this is the bottle that fixes it.
The other draw is the ingredient list. Drinkers describe it as a cleaner formula and a fresh, natural pour, which is what Fair Trade craft soda branding is about. A 12-pack gives you a steady supply for a treat you can look forward to rather than an all-day sipper.
Because the carbonation is mild, do not expect a huge, foamy float head — this is a bottle for drinking cold on its own rather than pouring over a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pair the gentler fizz and lower sweetness with that use case and it does exactly what it promises.
The pitch: Fair Trade craft soda with a cleaner ingredient list and a natural, fresh taste that suits a less-sweet palate.
Set your expectation: the mild carbonation means it will not build the big foam head that a float needs.
Matches you if: you want a naturally flavored, not-too-sweet root beer to drink cold on its own.
Pass if: you want a big, foamy pour for ice cream floats or a heavily carbonated sip.
9. Root Beer Surprise Variety Sampler with Bottle Opener (12 Pack)
Twelve artisan root beers plus a bottle opener, built as a ready-to-give package.
This sampler is put together with gifting in mind. It is a 12-pack of curated artisan root beers from small-batch brewers, spanning flavors from classic vanilla to more adventurous spices, and it ships as a 15-pound case with a Crazy Soda Pop bottle opener included. That opener is the small touch that makes it painless to hand over as a birthday or holiday gift.
The fun of a box like this is trading bottles. Gather a few people, pour a little of each, and compare — that is where the drinkers say this one shines, and it is why a root beer enthusiast enjoys working through a case like this. The selection rotates across the country, so the lineup is a surprise by design rather than a fixed list.
One thing to read carefully before you order: the listing states the root beer selection is not always as pictured. The photo can suggest more bottles than the pack actually contains, and that mismatch has caught at least one buyer out. Look at the pack count in the title rather than the photo, and this is an easy, fun gift for the root beer obsessive on your list.
Where it lands: a curated 12-brand artisan sampler with a bonus bottle opener that makes it a clean gift to hand over.
Read before buying: the bottles rotate and the selection is not always as pictured, so trust the pack count, not the photo.
Buy it for: gifting a root beer fan, or hosting a tasting night with a group who want to trade bottles.
skip it if: you want a guaranteed, exact list of specific root brands in the box.
Understanding the Specs
Sweetener: real sugar, honey, or corn syrup
The sweetener is the fastest way to predict how a bottle will taste. Pure cane sugar, real sugar, and real honey deliver a clean, full-bodied sweetness that finishes without a sticky aftertaste. Corn syrup tends to taste flatter and heavier. Labels like Wild Bill’s and Jones advertise pure cane sugar, Sprecher and Henry Weinhard’s lean on honey, and the 1919 cans use real sugar — those are the markers to scan for first.
Glass bottle versus can
Glass is the traditional craft-soda container and it protects carbonation and freshness better than a can over a longer stretch of time. Cans are lighter to ship and easier to stack, which suits a case you plan to go through fast. For carbonation that holds to the last glass, pick glass over cans. If you want an everyday, easy-to-store case, a can earns its place.
Bottle size and total fluid ounces
Size decides how you actually drink it. A 7.5 oz can is a small, single-serve treat that fits anywhere. A 12 oz bottle is the classic pour. A 16 oz bottle is a committed serving, better for floats or sharing. The total fluid ounces in the case tells you how far a multipack will stretch, so match the number to your household’s pace.
Variety packs and rotating selections
A sampler gives you a spread of regional recipes before you commit to a full case. The trade-off is that the lineup rotates and is often not exactly as pictured, so a sampler is a tasting tour, not a guaranteed order. Read the pack count and the fine print, then enjoy the surprise rather than expecting a fixed list.
FAQ
What makes a root beer a craft root beer?
Is glass better than a can for root beer?
What size root beer bottle should I buy for a float?
How is 1919 root beer different from Wild Bill’s?
Is a variety sampler pack worth it?
Is craft root beer caffeine free?
Does root beer come in a glass bottle or a can in these picks?
How should I store craft root beer so it stays fresh?
Are these root beers good for making a root beer float?
Is craft root beer sweetened with corn syrup?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
If you want the smartest single starting point in craft root beer, the Beverages Direct variety sampler wins because it gives you twelve different regional pours in 12 oz glass bottles, so you find your favorite before spending on a full case. If creamy, vanilla-forward draft flavor is what you are after, 1919 Draft Root Beer delivers it in a small can that fits anywhere. And for a big, foamy float-night pour, the 16 oz 1919 12-pack is the can to reach for. The one nudge worth making is this: buy a sampler first, because craft root beer is where real sugar and glass-bottle freshness make the difference, and tasting them side by side is the fastest way to learn which pour is yours.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Gardening Beyond earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.