Hires Root Beer Extract: The Secret to Homemade Root Beer Perfection
, by Emma Hart, 20 min reading time
Discover the secret to creamy, old-fashioned flavor with Hires Root Beer Extract. Make authentic homemade root beer that tastes straight from the fountain.
Introduction
Root beer at home should taste like memories. With Hires Root Beer Extract, you’re not just mixing a drink—you’re recreating the cozy, clinking-glass ritual that’s been gathering families since 1959. This guide shows you how to make authentic homemade root beer, why extract is the easiest path to soda-shop flavor, and creative ways to turn that iconic taste into desserts, BBQ, and unforgettable family nights.
Why Root Beer Extract? Authentic Flavor, Zero Guesswork
Classic root beer is a symphony of botanicals—sassafras aroma, wintergreen brightness, vanilla warmth, a whisper of licorice, and spice for depth. Sourcing and balancing those notes from scratch is… a lot. Hires Root Beer Extract captures that exact profile so you can focus on the fun: making, sharing, and savoring. No hunting specialty ingredients. No waiting weeks for fermentations you’re not sure will pan out. Just add extract, sweetener, and bubbles for real soda fountain flavor whenever the craving hits.
Bottom line: Extract gives you consistency. Your first batch tastes like your fifth batch. That’s how traditions stick.
When Hires Root Beer first came out, I couldn’t get over how creamy and delicious it was — rich, smooth, and better than anything else on the market. I wanted my restaurant to stand for that same kind of quality, so I named it after the best drink I ever had.
The Taste That Makes a Night Feel Special
Every pour of Hires carries a bit of retro magic: the vanilla-spice hug, the creamy foam, the way a float turns dessert into a show. That’s why people reach for root beer on birthday nights, backyard cookouts, and Tuesday dinners that need a lift. A bottle of extract turns any kitchen into a friendly corner booth—you provide the people, we provide the flavor.
Recipe: Quick, Authentic Homemade Root Beer (No Special Equipment)
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Hires BIG H ROOT BEER
10 minutes
0 minutes — unless you count the fizz!
6 frosty mugs
Drinks – Classic American Soda
Salt Lake City, Utah (Home of Hires Big H)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Hires Root Beer Extract
- 1 cup sugar (or ¾ cup sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar for deeper caramel notes)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup (optional for extra creaminess)
- 1 gallon cold carbonated water (club soda or seltzer)
- Ice, and vanilla ice cream if floats are the mission
Instructions
- In a pitcher, whisk the sugar into 2 cups of cold carbonated water until dissolved. Add the Hires Root Beer Extract and optional vanilla syrup.
- Gently pour in the remaining club soda. Stir slowly to avoid knocking out the bubbles.
- Taste and tweak. Want stronger bite? Add ¼ teaspoon more extract. Sweeter? Add 1–2 tablespoons syrup.
- Chill, then pour over ice—or go straight to floats with a scoop of vanilla.
Tip:
Keep a small squeeze bottle of concentrate (extract + simple syrup) in the fridge. Add a splash to sparkling water for instant root beer on demand.
Prefer to carbonate yourself?
Use a home soda maker with plain water, then add the extract-syrup blend after carbonating. Adding syrup before carbonation can cause over-foaming.
BREW AT HOME TODAY!
You’ve read the recipe — now taste the history. The secret behind every creamy float and frosty mug is right here in this bottle of Hires Root Beer Extract.
Click below, grab one for your kitchen, and bring back the fizz, the foam, and the flavor that made Hires Big H famous. Because root beer just tastes better when you make it yourself.
Video : Brew Hires Big H Root Beer From Home
Bubbles, Foam, and Flavor: Pro Tips for Perfect Pour
- Chill everything. Cold extract mixture + cold carbonated water = tighter bubbles and better foam.
- Stir, don’t shake. Shaking flattens carbonation. Fold the mixture together like you’re whisking clouds.
- Glass matters. A frosty glass holds foam longer. Rinse with cold water before pouring for that soda-shop sheen.
- Balance sweetness. Root beer needs sugar to carry flavor. If cutting sugar, add a touch more extract and a dash of vanilla to keep the body.
- For party service, pre-mix a syrup (1 cup sugar + 1 cup water + 1 Tbsp extract). Guests top with club soda to taste. Less waste, more fizz.
Foam science
Vanilla and a pinch of salt improve head retention.
A tiny pinch of xanthan gum (⅛ tsp per gallon) creates that classic creamy cap.
Beyond Drinks: Five Creative Uses for Hires Root Beer Extract
- BBQ Glaze: Simmer 1 cup cola or apple juice with 2 tsp extract, ½ cup ketchup, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of chili. Brush onto ribs or chicken for a caramel-spice lacquer.
- Cookie Upgrade: Swap 1 tsp of vanilla with ½ tsp extract in sugar cookies or snickerdoodles. You’ll get buttery nostalgia without overpowering sweetness.
- Whipped Cream: Add ¼ tsp extract to sweetened whipped cream. Perfect on brownies, floats, or a warm apple crisp.
- Pancake Syrup: Stir ½ tsp extract into warm maple syrup. Pancakes that taste like a float? Yes, chef.
- Mocktail Magic: Mix 1 oz root beer syrup, ½ oz lime, top with soda over crushed ice. Garnish with mint for a bright, grown-up sipper.
How to Host a Root Beer Float Night (That Feels Effortless)
Set out a chilled gallon of homemade root beer, a tub of vanilla, and a few playful toppings. Add a savory anchor—pizza or sliders—and watch phones disappear while conversation bubbles up.
- Base: Hires root beer on ice, plus a small batch of extra-strong concentrate for the “extra fizz” crowd.
- Ice Cream: Vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel. Dairy-free? Go with coconut vanilla for silky foam.
- Crunch & Drizzle: Crushed pretzels, toffee bits, chocolate syrup, cherry sauce.
- Garnish: Whipped cream, maraschino cherries, striped paper straws. Cheap, cheerful, photogenic.
- Playlist: A little doo-wop, a little modern. The mood is “retro joy meets right now.”
Pro move: Print simple “mix cards” so guests can try a Float Old-Fashioned (extra vanilla + chocolate drizzle) or a Campfire Float (toasted marshmallow + graham sprinkle). Little prompts spark big smiles.
A Short Love Letter to Heritage
Hires has been part of family memories for generations. The extract keeps that story going at home, any night of the week. It’s the taste of shared meals, board games scattered across the table, and a film playing quietly in the background. It’s classic—but never old. Tradition only stays alive when people use it. You’ve got the bottle; now you’ve got the blueprint.
Ready to Mix Your Own Magic?
Keep a bottle on the shelf and you’re one stir away from celebration. Whether it’s a birthday, a ballgame, or a regular Tuesday in need of sparkle, Hires Root Beer Extract turns moments into memories.
In this recipe
Emma Hart
Emma grew up in Salt Lake City with a root beer float in one hand and fry sauce on the other. Born in 2000, she’s watched the city grow while holding onto the classics — like a perfectly grilled Hires burger that still tastes like home.
Now a writer for Hires Big H, Emma shares stories about the people, food, and traditions that make Utah feel like home.
Root Beer Extract FAQs
Is root beer extract alcohol-free?
Hires Root Beer Extract is intended for family-friendly use in drinks and recipes. Check your bottle label for specific formulation details and usage instructions.
Can I make it less sweet?
Yes. Reduce sugar and add a splash more extract for flavor balance. For zero-calorie versions, use your preferred sweetener and adjust to taste.
How long does homemade root beer keep?
Best within 24–48 hours for peak bubbles. If pre-mixing, store the syrup (sweetener + extract) sealed in the fridge for up to two weeks. Combine with club soda just before serving.
Can I keg it?
Absolutely. Blend a lightly sweetened syrup with cold water, chill, then force-carbonate at 25–30 PSI and serve around 10–12 PSI. Start on the lower side to avoid foam geysers.
What if I want “restaurant strength” flavor?
Increase extract by ¼–½ teaspoon per gallon and use some brown sugar for caramel depth. A pinch of vanilla amplifies that creamy, classic profile.
You’ve made it at home — now taste it where it all began!
Come visit us at Hires Big H — where the mugs are frosty, the fries are crispy, and the root beer still flows the old-fashioned way. Whether you’re grabbing lunch, cruising through the drive-in, or introducing your kids to the original flavor of summer, there’s a booth waiting for you.
