April Story Finds - Root Beer, Red Beer and Birch Beer

Beer. Some have hops. Some don't. And some go over ice cream.

During a recent trip to Fayetteville, North Carolina, I found a super restaurant and micro-brewery with a new twist. The brewmaster makes root beer, too.

Located within walking distance from reputable national flag hotels, The Mash House Restaurant & Brewery is a great place for lunch and dinner - and to take a group. Not only do you get a great meal, but you can tour the brewery - taste a few samples of mighty fine robust brewsky - and top it off with a root beer float.

Yes, kinda like the type you used to find at the old fountain drug stores. Whipped cream. Ice cream. Cherry on top. Long straw and spoon to help you get the last drop!

Root beer over ice cream in a beer joint. Whodathunkit?

But it all works! What a novel idea!

My favorite beer was the Irish Ravishing Red. Smooth, mild and brilliant red - definitely a woman's brew!

THEN there's the story of birch beer..... Joel and I were traveling just west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when we saw The Red Rabbit drive-in restaurant packed with a lunchtime crowd. Hungry too, we turned the car around and stopped. The waitress served us the old fashioned way - at our car. The hamburger and barbecue sandwiches were great - but we topped it all off with a birch beer float.

No, birch beer isn't beer. It's a soft drink with flavor that blends cherry and root beer together. Very tasty and perfect over vanilla ice cream.... topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a bright red cherry! Up North, birch beer is a dark red color. In North Carolina, it's clear and can be purchased at Lowe's Food stores. I sure do wish a restaurant would add birch beer floats to the menu! You can make a habit of stopping at The Red Rabbit!