America`s Oldest Soft Drink - Learn Stuff

Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper have all been around since the 1800`s, but the title of America`s Oldest Soft Drink goes to a bubby beverage from Pennsylvania.

Hires Root Beer was created by Charles Hires in 1876 Philadelphia. That puts it 10 years older than both Dr. Pepper from Texas and Coca-Cola from Georgia. Pepsi came out in the 1890`s.

His original marketing plan named it Root Tea. That sounds sort of ridiculous now. Since his target audience was Pennsylvania coal miners and not British people, he changed the name to Root Beer. That`s what all similarly flavored beverages are called today.

Of course, Pennsylvania is home to America`s Oldest Brewery as well.

GO PA!