There are many differences between sarsaparilla and root beer, but here is the gist of it: Sarsaparilla is a drink made from the zarzaparrilla plant and has a unique, bold flavor and bitter aftertaste that is like root beer but not. Sarsaparilla is also used to flavor root beer, but it is safer to drink than root beer made with sassafras root. Sarsaparilla is non-alcoholic and serves a medicinal purpose as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Meanwhile, root beer is carbonated, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and commercially produced as a soda.