A&W Root Beer In London!
Yes, you heard me right.
Americans Expats like me are salivating as we speak. Everyone else are probably going, huh?
Root Beer is one of those truly American of drinks. No, its not actually beer, and to be honest its probably not one of those drinks that you can stand on a day to day basis.
But every once in a while, it tastes like a dream. Even better when you drop a couple of ice cream scoops in the glass. What, you’ve never heard of a Root Beer float??
My upbringing in Texas could not have been complete without copious amounts of Root Beer. IBC Root Beerto be precise. IBC was super cool growing up because the bottle looked a lot like a Lone Star beer bottle. Don’t believe me? Well just ask the fine law enforcement officials in the throbbing metropolis of Hickory Creek what they think. Those fine worthless individuals pulled me over at least 3 or 4 times thinking I was driving with an open container.
But I digress.
Root Beer, like a lot of American things, are not possible to buy over here in the UK. Krispy Kreme? Sure we got it. Root Beer? Nope. So imagine my surprise that I run into a shop selling Root Beer in Hounslow of all places. Yes, that Hounslow.
A&W Root Beer
So why in the hell would a shop in Hounslow be selling Root Beer? No disrespect to Hounslow, but I’d expect to see Osama Bin Laden in Harrods before I’d see a gaggle of Americans strolling down the Hounslow High Street.
Well, according to the owners of the shop, Mandhey’s 2, Root Beer is quite the fav drink in Singapore and the Philipeans. No really. It’s even canned there!
To find this urban utopia, click here. All you central London types, you’ll have to brave the Piccadilly line all the way by me at Hounslow East station. Or if your cooling your heels in Richmond, just hop on the H37 bus and take it all the way to the Hounslow Bus Station. From there, start walking towards the High Street. When you pass Marks & Spencers and Mothercare, you’ve gone too far.
So there you go. You can now curl up on your couch, watch a little American Football on Channel 4, eating your Krispy Kreme doughnut, and sipping some fine A&W Root Beer.
Bless.
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tags: Rants, A&W, London, Root Beer
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John wrote,
Did you know they used to sell root beer on tap in McDonalds in UK until about 15 years ago. I never met anyone else who liked it, and I suppose I should be grateful that McDonalds served it in the UK for as long as they did, but I think it’s nectar of the gods. Some British classics seem to be going the same way though: real ale is harder and harder to find in east london pubs and I haven’t come across powder-covered milk-bottle sweets for years. At least ginger beer’s still going strong - is that popular in US?Root beer for the daytime; real ale for the evening, ginger beer for the next morning hangover, and milk bottle sweets for sustenance - that’s all anyone needs.
Link | February 8th, 2006 at 22:23
Mike wrote,
Heya. I don’t know if you’d know if they are still selling it? I was thinking about importing some IBC myself from AmericanSoda.co.uk.
Anyway, if they are, be sure to put a post in the forum on www.root-beer.co.uk
Link | March 4th, 2006 at 8:37
Ed wrote,
http://www.canadashop.uk.com/index.html
sells A&W roor beer in Covent Garden
Canada Shop
27 Maiden Lane Covent Garden WC2E 7JS
0207 836 2292
Mo-Fr 1030-1830 Sa 1100-1830 Su 1100-1730
Link | November 23rd, 2006 at 14:17
gdm wrote,
Hmm, Canada Shop? All the stuff they seem to stock is American? Kraft Mac’n'Cheese?
Thanks for the tip though! I’ll be checking this place out!
Link | January 9th, 2007 at 10:33
John wrote,
I don’t know why people are so much conciouse about brands of beer when they know it tastes similar. Any way, to may all the brands taste similar. I’m simply indifferent.
Link | February 5th, 2007 at 10:10
Pat wrote,
Now find me some real American “biscuits!” heh. Maybe some of those pilsbury ones… buttermilk or otherwise. They don’t even have them at KFC here (well no mashed potatoes at KFC either… I ask my friends what they think the gravy is for without biscuits and mashed potatoes, and they promptly reply “for your chips!”) bah! they’re missing out.
Link | February 7th, 2007 at 14:16
posiejkp wrote,
Have just found A&W Root Beer and Diet A&W in London, at a fantastic diner called JACKS in Clapham Junction, 2 mins walk from the train station, address is 252 Lavender Hill, SW11. Not only do they sell A&W, but also genuine American milkshakes, mozzarella sticks (I’ve never found these in London before), the BEST onion rings…shall I go on? Oh, yes, burgers! Try them! V cool atmostphere too…
Link | May 1st, 2008 at 19:42