Contributing Editor Chef Gale Gand sees a little bit of the divine in root beer. Ill. Describing her affection for the foamy-topped beverage as bordering on passion, Gand created her own rendition. Last year, Gale's Root Beer joined 12 microbrewed beers on tap at Brasserie T, where it's also a key ingredient in Gand's black cow.
Several trends feed root beer's revival.
Interest is growing in microbrewed beers, and it's a short step to the soft-drink side of carefully crafted beverages. And world-weary baby boomers long for familiar tastes of their youth. Originally brewed from sarsaparilla, juniper, ginger and pipsissewa, among other ingredients, in a formula concocted by Charles Hires, root beer has many personas. It often includes wintergreen, vanilla, anise, lemon oil and cloves. Gand's rendition features cinnamon, ginger and vanilla.