A&W Restaurants (root beer taste)

[M3MEPLEASE]

Whenever I go on road trips, I try to find an original A&W restaurant to eat at. There are not many out there these days, most are either connected to Long John Silvers or are just attached to gas stations. I don't know of any original A&W restaurants with the drive ins left in Iowa. Are there any? The ones I know have either been converted, are connected to gas stations, or are in malls. I know Minnesota still has a few originals with drive ins on the way up to Minneapolis.

I got an argument with a friend about the A&W root beer tasting different from their restaurant fountains. He claims it tastes exactly the same as what you buy in the cans at the store, but I swear it taste much different and better when you purchase it at their restaurants. I know fountain drinks usually taste better than drinks in cans or bottles, but to me there is a significant difference. I know A&W use to make their own root beer at the actual restaurants itself years back. Curious to know if they still do that?

So, Is there a difference?

 

[clone2011]

Indianola's A&W is drive-in and sit-down.

 

[CyGal]

I think there's one in Carroll but it's been a while since I've been through there.

 

[cycloner29]

The one in Carroll is still there. Great food along with the rootbeer.

 

[SCNCY]

Whenever I go on road trips, I try to find an original A&W restaurant to eat at. There are not many out there these days, most are either connected to Long John Silvers or are just attached to gas stations. I don't know of any original A&W restaurants with the drive ins left in Iowa. Are there any? The ones I know have either been converted, are connected to gas stations, or are in malls. I know Minnesota still has a few originals with drive ins on the way up to Minneapolis.

I got an argument with a friend about the A&W root beer tasting different from their restaurant fountains. He claims it tastes exactly the same as what you buy in the cans at the store, but I swear it taste much different and better when you purchase it at their restaurants. I know fountain drinks usually taste better than drinks in cans or bottles, but to me there is a significant difference. I know A&W use to make their own root beer at the actual restaurants itself years back. Curious to know if they still do that?

So, Is there a difference?

I was watching the food network and they went to an A&W store to do something, but they showed the viewers how they make their root beer. Apparently every store makes it's own batch using the company ingredients, so that may be why.

 

[Arkansas Cyclone]

There used to be one in Jefferson but I noticed while I was back there last week that it's since been boarded up. I guess I'm not surprised as it was in a remote part of town.

 

[TaDelt]

There is one in Emmetsburg, I know it is an original that they remodeled recently. We usually stop there when we head up to Okoboji from the DSM area.

 

[cowboycurtis]

I thought emmetsburg has or had one at one time.

I remember webster city had one but it closed 20 years ago or more. its now a kum & go.

 

[SNEDDS3]

We had one Cedar Rapids till '08, the flood took care of that though. I'm sure the rootbeer would taste different there :wink:

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Years ago Forest City used to have one. They used soft serve ice cream in their root beer floats rather than the hard stuff. That's not the same either.

 

[ianoconnor]

IMO, it's definitely better at the restaurant as opposed to the cans.

 

[JP4CY]

Definitely one in Carroll, not open during the winter though. There are maybe a dozen booths inside, a drive in, and drive thru at that one. The rootbeer there is really good, its a lot smoother than in a can. I also think their hurricanes are better than DQ's blizzards.

 

[WalkingCY]

I agree....the fountain taste is DIFFERENT compaired to the canned/bottled variety. Both are tasty....but the fountain drink is so smooth at the restaurant. A&W freaking rocks.....good burgers.....followed by classic Root Beer Taste.

 

[CYdTracked]

A&W Restaurants type in your zip, there are quite a few in Iowa apparently. One is in Des Moines near the State Fairgrounds, I've eaten there a few times before.

 

[aeroclone]

I love A&W root beer out of the can, but the stuff in the restaurants is light years beyond it. I believe they brew it fresh every day. I'm not aware of any locations around me in KC that are the old school style, but we do have quite a few of the newer ones with a KFC or LJS connected to it. I haven't been in a little while, maybe I just figured out my lunch plans....

 

[Wingback]

There is no question that A & W fountain root beer has a much better taste than A & W in a can.

Does anybody remember the old Dog 'n Suds chain. They never were anywhere as large as the A & W chain, but their root beer was unbelievable. The last one I saw was about eight or ten years ago in Speedway, Indiana (stopped there on a trip to see the 500).

 

[TRZA]

The Indianola A&W was from a different part of the franchise's history. It still has the name of the owner front and center, GIBS. There are pictures from when it was just a shack selling hot dogs and floats beside highway 69. They have little phones to call your order in from the tables inside. The menu has a pork tenderloin fritter topped with a hamburger patty, very unusual for any chain, this was my meal there last time:

The tray has a rubber mat to keep your food from flying away, i guess its needed more outside.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

The Indianola A&W was from a different part of the franchise's history. It still has the name of the owner front and center, GIBS. There are pictures from when it was just a shack selling hot dogs and floats beside highway 69. They have little phones to call your order in from the tables inside. The menu has a pork tenderloin fritter topped with a hamburger patty, very unusual for any chain, this was my meal there last time:

The tray has a rubber mat to keep your food from flying away, i guess its needed more outside.

I remember going to the A&W drive-in in Storm Lake as little kid. We got to order baby (root) beers, Mom had the Momma-sized root beer and Dad got the Papa-sized one. The baby ones were free as I recall, but they didn't hold very much.

 

[JP4CY]

he baby ones were free as I recall, but they didn't hold very much.

Yeah they were like the equivalent of two shots.
At the one in Carroll I know you used to be able to get them in glass too instead of paperwax cups. That was awesome.

 

[tccoach]

I don't personaly remember the Dog n Suds chain, but I know there some around here back in the 60's and 70's...You used to be able to buy the root beer at stores around the Lake of the Ozarks a few years back...it was really good! I have a Dog n Suds mug much like you see A&W mugs all around today. I grew up in Indianola and the A&W has been a part of the town for many years... still like to stop in there from time to time.