National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
June 17
About National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
National Stewart’s Root Beer Day takes place every year on 17 June. It celebrates one of America’s most nostalgic soft drinks and the brand that has been frothing up mugs of root beer for almost a century. The day is a perfect excuse to pour an ice-cold glass, build a root beer float, and raise a toast to a drink that has been a fixture of American drive-ins and diners since the 1920s.
How to Celebrate National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
Few awareness days are as easy, or as enjoyable, to take part in. Here are plenty of ways to mark the occasion.
- Make a root beer float – The classic celebration. Pour chilled root beer over a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it foam up into a creamy, fizzy treat.
- Try a new flavour – Stewart’s makes more than just the original. Track down black cherry, orange and cream, or one of the other varieties and compare them side by side.
- Host a tasting – Line up several root beer brands and run a blind taste test with friends or family to crown your favourite.
- Serve it in a frosty mug – Pop a glass mug in the freezer beforehand so your root beer arrives ice-cold with a proper frosted finish, just like the old drive-ins.
- Pair it with a cookout – With the day falling in mid-June, root beer is a natural match for a summer barbecue of burgers, hot dogs, and grilled favourites.
- Bake with root beer – Use it in cakes, pulled-pork glazes, or barbecue sauce for a sweet, spiced depth of flavour.
- Visit a diner or drive-in – Seek out a classic American diner and order a root beer the traditional way, soaking up a bit of mid-century nostalgia.
- Share the moment – Snap a photo of your float or frosty mug and post it online to encourage others to join in the celebration.
What is National Stewart’s Root Beer Day?
National Stewart’s Root Beer Day is a light-hearted American food and drink observance that honours the legacy of the Stewart’s root beer brand and the broader appeal of root beer itself. Root beer is a sweet, foamy soft drink traditionally flavoured with sassafras and a blend of herbs and spices, and it holds a special place in American culture thanks to its long association with drive-ins, diners, and family road trips. The day is for anyone who enjoys the drink, from lifelong fans to those tasting it for the first time.
When is National Stewart’s Root Beer Day?
National Stewart’s Root Beer Day falls on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. It is celebrated on the same date every year, so the date never changes. It shares its date with the broader National Root Beer Day, making 17 June a double celebration for root beer lovers.
The History of National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
The story behind the day begins in 1924, when an American teacher and entrepreneur named Frank Stewart started selling root beer as a way to bring in extra income for his household. He set up a drive-thru and offered just one product at first: the original root beer recipe. Customers loved the frothy, freshly made drink, and the business grew steadily from its modest beginnings.
As demand increased, Stewart expanded the range, adding new flavours to the line-up over the decades. The brand became a familiar name across the United States, synonymous with the golden age of the American drive-in. In 2006, Stewart’s was voted the best root beer at the World Cup of Root Beer, a testament to the quality and enduring popularity it had built over more than 80 years.
Today Stewart’s produces both alcoholic and non-alcoholic root beers in a range of flavours, from black cherry to orange and cream. National Stewart’s Root Beer Day grew out of the affection fans hold for the brand, giving them a fixed date each year to celebrate the nostalgia, taste, and history packed into every glass.
Fun Facts About National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
- The Stewart’s brand was founded in 1924 by teacher and entrepreneur Frank Stewart, who started by selling root beer from a drive-thru.
- The company began with a single product, the original root beer, before expanding into a range of flavours.
- Stewart’s was voted the best root beer at the World Cup of Root Beer in 2006.
- The brand now produces both alcoholic and non-alcoholic root beers, including black cherry and orange and cream varieties.
- The root beer float, root beer poured over vanilla ice cream, is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the drink.
- 17 June is also National Root Beer Day, so root beer fans get two reasons to celebrate on the same date.
Why National Stewart’s Root Beer Day Matters
The day is a celebration of nostalgia, craftsmanship, and a uniquely American soft drink tradition that has survived for almost a hundred years. It supports a long-established brand and gives families a fun, simple way to come together over a shared treat. If you enjoy refreshing summer drinks, you might also like National Refreshment Day, another occasion built around taking a moment to relax with something cold and satisfying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Stewart’s Root Beer Day?
It is an American food and drink day on 17 June that celebrates the Stewart’s root beer brand and root beer in general, encouraging people to enjoy a glass, a float, or a new flavour.
When is National Stewart’s Root Beer Day in 2026?
It falls on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, and is celebrated on the same date every year.
How did Stewart’s Root Beer start?
Frank Stewart began selling root beer from a drive-thru in 1924 to earn extra income. The drink proved popular, the business grew, and the brand became an American favourite, winning the World Cup of Root Beer in 2006.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best root beer float photos on social media with #StewartsRootBeerDay and #StewartsRootBeerDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to pour a frosty mug of their own!
Related Awareness Days
- National Refreshment Day – A summer day dedicated to enjoying a cold, refreshing drink.
- National Vanilla Ice Cream Day – The perfect partner for a root beer float.
- National Ice Cube Day – A quirky day celebrating the small thing that keeps every drink frosty.
Links
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