On March 9, 1995 Abita Root Beer joined the list of products brewed and bottled by the Abita Brewing Company. It is the first soft drink offered by the company that specializes in microbrewed lagers and ales.
Abita brews its root beer with spring water, herbs, vanilla,
and yucca (which creates foam). Unlike most soft drink manufacturers,
Abita sweetens its root beer with the pure Louisiana cane sugar.
The resulting taste is reminiscent of soft drinks made in the
1940's and 1950's before bottlers turned to corn sugar and fructose.
Like earlier root beers, Abita is also caffeine-free.
Abita packages its root beer in 12 oz. amber bottles. An adaptation of the original Abita Beer logo is used on both the bottle labels and 6 pack containers. The design by New Orleans artist Sally Koch features a navy blue background with a stylized sheaf of green sugar cane. The 6-pack container also features historical illustrations and text describing Abita Springs and the brewing process. It has been named a 1995 regional winner for packaging in the prestigious Addy Awards competition.
The brewery began test-marketing its root beer at Christmas
time through its gift shop in Abita Springs. Sales were brisk
and plans
were begun for commercial distribution. Production delays
in Mexico where bottles with applied ceramic labels were to be made,
postponed the distribution. A steady stream of customers convinced the
brewery to scrap its ceramic label plans, revert to paper labels and
bring the root beer on line. Distribution throughout Louisiana began
on March 9 with the Crown Beverage Company serving the New Orleans area
and Great Southern covering the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain and
Baton Rouge. Distributors in Texas, Virginia and North Carolina have
placed additional pre-orders.
– Times Picayune