National Stewart’s Root Beer Day - Grab a glass or two of Stewart’s root beer classics to honor the day.

National Stewart’s Root Beer Day 2024 – June 17, 2024

June 17 beckons you to celebrate the National Stewart’s Root Beer Day. Picture this: It’s a hot summer day with the sun beating down without mercy, but you have nothing to worry about as you have a cold pack of Stewart’s root beer to freshen you up. The frothy root beer, which the company sells in different flavors ranging from black cherry to orange and cream, is an old American favorite due to the nostalgia and the great taste attached to it. Stewart’s Fountain Classic also has a chain of restaurants in America. 

History of National Stewart’s Root Beer Day

The National Stewart’s Root Beer Day pays homage to Stewart’s Fountain Classics. The company was started in 1924 as a small business by the American teacher and entrepreneur, Frank Stewart. Stewart wanted an extra source of income for his household, and this prompted him to start selling root beers from a drive-thru. The company started by selling only the original flavor of root beer, but as the business expanded and became popular, more flavors were added to the cart. Today, you can enjoy a birch root beer, or cream and soda, or if you are in the mood for something fruity, you can treat yourself to a grape or a black cherry root beer. At the core of it, Stewart’s Fountain Classics are the material for old-fashioned American nostalgia.Root beer’s origins lie with the indigenous tribes of America. Indigenous people created the beverage using the root bark obtained from sassafras trees. The tribes used root beer for medicinal purposes and general drinking. It was after the arrival of Europeans on American soil that root beer started being sold as a commercial drink. The fermented creamy drink was sold as a dry mix by the American pharmacist, Charles Elmer Hires. The dry mix would have to be mixed with sugar, yeast, and water before being left to ferment and froth for a fixed period. Hires’ friend Russell Conwell, suggested that Hires create a liquid formulation for the beverage as that would lead to a better marketing strategy. Conwell proved to be right because root beer sales increased drastically after Hires introduced the new liquid formula in the market. With the influence of many cultures and cuisines, root beer has garnered a host of versions. You can make your own root beer too with the basic ingredients and a combination of your favorite spices, sweets, and herbs.

National Stewart’s Root Beer Day timeline

1860s
Root Beer Sold at Confectionaries

A version of root beer, inspired by the sassafras root beer versions, is being sold at confectionery stores.

1876
Root Beer’s Commercial Introduction at Philadelphia

Charles Elmer Hires introduces his commercial liquid formulation for root beer at Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.

1924
Stewart’s Fountain Classics’ Inception

American teacher Frank Stewart sets up his root beer company to increase his income sources.

1990
Bottling Rights Acquired by Cable Car Beverage

The bottling rights for Stewart’s Fountain Classics are given to Cable Car Beverage Corporation.

National Stewart’s Root Beer Day FAQs

When is National Stewart’s Root Beer Day?

National Stewart’s Root Beer Day takes place every year on June 17. 

Is Stewart’s root beer alcoholic?

Stewart’s sells both alcoholic and non-alcoholic root beers. You can enjoy the same flavors you enjoyed in your childhood, but alcohol this time. 

Do Stewart’s root beers have caffeine in them?

Stewart’s root beers do not have caffeine in them. While they do offer an array of flavors, all of Stewart’s root beers are made with the basic staple ingredients that all root beer is made of.

How To Celebrate National Stewart’s Root Beer Day

  1. Drink a Stewart’s classic

    Take a trip down memory lane by drinking Stewart’s root beer. You can try an old favorite, but you should also give other flavors a chance. You never know, you might just discover a new favorite.

  2. Customize your root beer

    One great feature of root beer is how versatile it is. Try mixing spices and herbs like cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and dandelion root. If you like sweets, you can try root beer with vanilla ice cream and/or licorice.

  3. Make a root beer cake

    If there’s anything we love more than cake and beer, it is a root beer cake. You can order one from your local bakery, or you can make one at home. Whatever you choose to do, it’s going to be a win-win situation because you’ll be getting the best of both worlds.

5 Facts About Root Beer That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. Carcinogenic roots banned by the U.S.A.

    The U.S. FDA banned the sassafras root, which is used to make root beer after it was discovered that the ingredient is carcinogenic.

  2. Root beer nicknames akin to cows

    Root beer floats are also known as brown and black cows.

  3. Not popular in other continents

    Root beer has enjoyed exclusive popularity in North America, but it has failed to woo the masses on other continents.

  4. Franklin’s root beer breakfast

    Benjamin Franklin used to enjoy drinking root beer at breakfast.

  5. Root beer for water in Europe

    When Europeans weren’t aware of proper sanitation, small beers like root beer and teas were consumed in place of water.

Why We Love National Stewart’s Root Beer Day

  1. It’s a celebration of Stewart’s Fountain Classics, Nostalgia, root beer treats

    Stewart’s Fountain Classics is a story of determination and willpower. From a small business in the 1920s, it has grown into a magnificent business empire today. It was also voted as the best company for root beers in 2006 during the World Cup of Root Beer.

  2. It’s a celebration of nostalgia

    Warm summer days call for a cold foamy and creamy glass of root beer. Millions of Americans associate their best times with Stewart’s root beer as the company has been around for almost a century now.

  3. It’s a celebration of root beer treats

    Whether you like sweets or you bend towards the savory more, root beer has got you covered. Enjoy it in the form of cakes or pies, or go ahead and try it by adding it as an ingredient to a savory dish like pasta or steak. The options are endless here, and we are pumped for it.

National Stewart’s Root Beer Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 June 17 Saturday
2024 June 17 Monday
2025 June 17 Tuesday
2026 June 17 Wednesday
2027 June 17 Thursday