As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can confidently say that traditionally brewed root beer does not contain any alcohol. Root beer is typically made by fermenting a mixture of herbs, roots, and spices, which gives it a unique and distinct flavor. During the fermentation process, yeast consumes the sugars present in the mixture and produces carbon dioxide, giving root beer its characteristic fizziness. However, the amount of alcohol produced during this fermentation is extremely low, usually less than 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume). This makes it legally classified as a non-alcoholic beverage.
Having experimented with brewing root beer myself, I can attest to the fact that it does undergo fermentation. However, the resulting alcohol content is negligible, and the focus is primarily on the flavor profile rather than the alcoholic content. In fact, most commercially available root beers, whether bottled or on tap, follow this traditional brewing process and contain no alcohol.
That being said, there are exceptions to this rule. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of adding alcohol to root beer to create what is commonly known as “hard root beer.” These versions of root beer intentionally have a higher alcohol content and are marketed as alcoholic beverages. They are typically brewed using traditional root beer ingredients but with the addition of higher amounts of fermentable sugars and yeast strains that produce a higher alcohol content. The resulting product can have an alcohol content ranging from 4% to 12% ABV, similar to other alcoholic beverages like beer or wine.
It's worth noting that not all root beers labeled as “hard” contain alcohol. Some companies use the term “hard” to simply indicate a stronger flavor or a higher concentration of spices, without any alcohol content. Therefore, it's essential to read the label carefully to determine if a root beer contains alcohol or not.
Traditional root beer is typically non-alcoholic, with an alcohol content of less than 0.5% ABV. However, the emergence of hard root beers has introduced alcoholic versions of this beloved beverage. It's important to read labels and be aware of the specific product you are consuming to determine if it contains alcohol or not.