A&W Root Beer

A&W Root Beer

A&W Root Beer is a brand of root beer, primarily available in the United States and Canada, that was started in 1919 by Roy Allen. In 1922, Allen partnered with Frank Wright. They combined their initials to create the brand "A&W" and inspired a restaurant chain which was founded in 1922. The first A&W root beer drinks were sold for five cents. A&W Root Beer is often referred to as the root beer standard amongst root beer reviewers.

Outside Canada, the rights to the A&W brand are owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which in turn licenses the brand to the similarly named U.S.-based restaurant chain; A&W products are distributed via various U.S. bottlers. A&W Food Services of Canada, which is independent of both DPSG and the U.S. chain, is responsible for both the restaurants and the marketing of root beer products in that country, with retail products being bottled and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company.