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Charles Hires: The Man, The Myth, The Creator of Root Beer
“Root beer … has been my favorite since childhood. I’ve since swilled many different brands and none can come close to my Aunt Mary’s recipe. Her luscious homemade concoction, served ice cold, was full-bodied and thickly foamed. In ‘Rally at Dandelion Hill’ folks are touting their special different tastes and this is my tribute to the good times of my childhood. So here’s a tribute toast with root beer in hand to you and the many mugs of suds along your happy trails.” -Charles Wysocki, artist, 1928
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Philadelphians can proudly claim everything from the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell to cheesesteaks, Tastykakes, and intensely passionate sports fans (please don’t pelt me with batteries; I was born and raised here). But did you know Philadelphians can also lay claim to root beer? That’s right, the deliciously refreshing beverage has its roots in the cradle of liberty!
Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Hires indicates in his autobiography that he discovered “root tea,” as it was then known, 
while on his honeymoon in New Jersey in 1875. Hires re-christened the concoction “root beer” to gain working class appeal, and touting it at “the greatest health giving beverage in the world,” he debuted the drink at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876.
Unlike anything else on the market (and predating colas and other sodas), Hires Root Beer almost immediately took off in popularity. In fact, by the early 1890s Hires had begun marketing individual bottles of the brew, much like those still enjoyed by millions today. (He’d previously just sold extract to families and soda fountains.)
Now Philadelphians can also proudly lay claim to ROOT—our very own recreation of a pre-Temperance root tea (sorry, Charles Hires)! Similar to Hires’ late-19th century creation, ROOT is unlike anything else on the market and traces its origins deep into American history. So next time you’re sipping a classic ROOT ‘n’ Birch, pause for a moment and reflect on the long, complex history you’re imbibing.
Written by percival on 09/30/2009 in Blog | History | Philadelphia | Root | Spirits | Spirits Content | Spirits press
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