Hires Improved Root Beer

[robertk]

Bottle Vitals​

Embossing	Date	Color	Shape	Size (Width x Height x Depth)	Value*
Hires Improved Root Beer	1890	Aqua	Square jar	1.5" x 4" x 1.5"	$20.00

Bottle Views (click to enlarge):

Front	Back	Side	Side	Bottom
Hires Improved Root Beer	Manufactured By Charles Hires	Philadelphia U.S.A.	Makes Five Gallons Of Delicious Drink

I used to get Hires root beer in bottles as a kid, but haven't seen it in a while. I didn't realize it started out as both a drink and a medicine. Mr. Charles Hires apparently received a spiced root recipe from an innkeeper where he stayed once, and turned that recipe into a root extract, first as a powder, then later, as a liquid. This extract could then be mixed with yeast, sugar, and water and brewed into root beer. Mr Hires presented it as a healthy alternative to beer, claiming that it had half as much alcohol as a loaf of home made bread. He originally called it "root tea", but changed it to "root beer" to more effectively market it to Pennsylvania miners.

And market he did. Marketing was quite aggressive, taking aim at consumers as well as retailers in the drug and soda trades

And he marketed to the retailers who could provide the drink to their customers, at a tidy profit.

In his home state of Pennsylvania he even ran half page ads with testimonials extolling the virtues of his wonder tonic.

So the next time you're enjoying a refreshing root beer, remember it all started as a patent medicine.

Before and after cleaning (just soap and water). Not a ton of difference on this one.



* Value based on sold eBay listing for cost plus shipping at the time of posting.

 

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[DizzyDigger]

Robert, I'm not a bottle collector, but I've learned bunches of cool stuff about 'em since you've been posting about various bottles. Much appreciated!

 

[Limitool]

Are ya still having fun with this Robert....? Your doing a great job. The info you post with each bottle is very interesting.

 

[robertk]

Thanks, guys. I’m having a blast. Learning a lot, and holding little pieces of history in my hinds. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity.

 

[Limitool]

Thanks, guys. I’m having a blast. Learning a lot, and holding little pieces of history in my hinds. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity.

Hell you've already blown me away with what you've done and your just getting started overall in the scope of the collection. You better start using a reference system soon to easily draw from. It would be great after you've done a lot of them to put them into a nice display cabinet with your printed info for each.

I know where a nice woodshop is. I bet we could knock out some really nice ones together sometime.

 

[robertk]

Hell you've already blown me away with what you've done and your just getting started overall in the scope of the collection. You better start using a reference system soon to easily draw from. It would be great after you've done a lot of them to put them into a nice display cabinet with your printed info for each.

That is exactly what I intend to do. Some kind of antique apothecary-looking cabinet with glass doors, I think. Haven't quite crystallized that vision just yet.

I know where a nice woodshop is. I bet we could knock out some really nice ones together sometime.

Yep, and I happen to know a craftsman who is really good at the "distressed wood" look.

 

[Limitool]

That is exactly what I intend to do. Some kind of antique apothecary-looking cabinet with glass doors, I think. Haven't quite crystallized that vision just yet.


Yep, and I happen to know a craftsman who is really good at the "distressed wood" look.

I happen to have 2 large oak display cabinets out in the small home out back. Both have open glass doors and 4 glass shelves each. The glass for both use the heavy duty display type glass (heavy). I'll have to take a pic and the measurements to show ya. It might give ya an idea to take off from.

 

[russau]

I also liked Hires Root Beer as a kid ! BUT back then (as a kid) I liked all sodas I could get !

 

[unclemac]

...still available too.... we make it all the time, very easy to do.

Amazon.com

 

[robertk]

...still available too.... we make it all the time, very easy to do.

Amazon.com

Oh now that's cool. I didn't know it was still available as a concentrate like that. Neat!

 

[unclemac]

5 lbs. of sugar...one ( I use 2) bottles of extract...5 gallons of water...yeast dissolved in 2 cups tepid water. In a very clean caldron, knead the extract into the sugar. Add the water and stir to get it all dissolved. Add the yeast water, stir. Bottle it right away...(use a siphon), and cap the bottles. lay then on their side for 3 days at room temp. and then chill in the fridge. Let them work for a week or 2 more.... and viola! carbonated root beer. The yeast and sugar interact to make the bubbles but since you capped it right away...no alcohol.

 

[ISmellGold]

Yeah, got into researching bottles a bit for sh*ts & Giggles and history. there were alot of Drinks that started off as "Medicine".
I think the most interesting time for bottles is around the turn of the century. When they were going from corks to Bottlestops to bottlecaps.
Really the reuseable Bottlestop was only popular about 12 years, 🤔

 

[unclemac]

...and before they were all clear glass too... i love the embossed aqua blue quack-meds. "Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root Remedy"... how can you beat that?