Root Beer Extract

Root Beer Extract

There was a time that in order to get root beer, you needed to buy extract and make your own.  I have done thisand am glad you can buy good root beer in a store.  Here are some of the root beer extract bottles I have been able to fine.  Generally they cost about $10.00 when you see them.  They are getting harder to find.

This is K.D. extract from Baltimore MD. The bottle has a cork in it but has no marking that would indicate the manufacture. Since the bottle came int he box, I am only assuming it is the correct bottle. It does have a raised Diamond on the bottom of the bottle.

This is a more recent Hires extract bottle. The bottle has a HIRES logo in pressed glass at the top.  I have three of these bottles. One of them has a bottle cap with the HIRES logo on it as well.

Thomsom & Taylor. The box is in very bad shape.The bottle say Thomson and Taylor on one side, SHAKE THOROUGHLY on one side, EXTRACT FOR MAKING ROOT BEER, on another side, and the last side has a pressed glass form of a glass of root beer with foam on the top and says IT FOAMS. This bottle used a cork.

Hannah COBB brand. This extract was manufactured by Montgomery Ward out of Chicago and Kansas City. Paper label with no other makings on the bottle. I paid $14.00.

Baker Extract Company out of Springfield Mass. Has the company name and location on one side. Says BAKER's INDIAN ROOT BEER EXTRACT on the other side.

John Lecroy & Sons out of Camden NJ.  Has a small corked bottle with no other markings. Lot's of writing on the box, including directions to make 80 glasses of root beer.

Grandma's Country Food.  This is new and can still be bought today.  Search for it and you will find it.  Very good extract and fairly inexpensive. $2.99 for a 4oz bottle. I use this extract to make root beer cookies. The bottle is plastic.

Watkins.  I got this at Walmart.  I do not like it as well as Grandma's. It is very light in color, almost clear, and seems to have a different after taste. I do not recommend this for making cookies.

Hires.  One of many versions of Hires extract bottle.  Two side have the logo and product name. One of the sides says HIRES DIVISION BEVERAGES INTERNATIONAL INC. EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.  The last side says CONTAINS WATER, CARAMEL COLOR, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.

Hires.  This bottle is clear with no markings except for the word HIRES in pressed glass on the bottom.

Hires. This looks like many of the other extract bottles, but is much more scarce and worth a lot more money. The four sides say:

HIRES IMPROVED ROOT BEER

PHILADELPHIA PA

MAKES FIVE GALLONS OF A DELICIOUS DRINK

MANUFACTURED ONLY BY CHARLES E. HIRES

What makes this one so unique is the word ONLY. All of the rest of the bottles in this style say Manufactured By Charles E. Hires and leave out the word only.

Hires. These are the same as above without the word ONLY.

Hires. The four sides say:

HIRES HOUSEHOLD EXTRACT

PHILADELPHIA PA

MANUFACTURED BY THE CHARLES E. HIRES COMPANY

FOR HOME USE

HIRES.  Four of these are the same as the previous bottles. The one that is second to the left is different.

It says:

HIRES HOUSEHOLD EXTRACT

PHILADELPHIA PA

MANUFACTURED BY THE CHARLES E, HIRES COMPANY

FOR BREWING ROOT BEER AT HOME

That is my collection of root beer extract bottles. There are more than I initially thought. I am sure I am missing several others.  If you are aware of one I do not have, please drop me a note so I know what to start looking for.  Thanks for looking.  tom@floodeen.com