---
title: "Root beer brands in the United States: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the root beer brands people buy in the United States. Share of Search among Barq's, A&W Root Beer, Mug Root Beer, Sprecher, IBC Root Beer, Dad's Root Beer, Stewart's, Virgil's, OLIPOP and Zevia, the root beer brands Brandwave compares in the United States, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/categories/us-root-beer-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Root beer brands in the United States: Which are searched most?

Compare the root beer brands people buy in the United States. Share of Search among Barq's, A&W Root Beer, Mug Root Beer, Sprecher, IBC Root Beer, Dad's Root Beer, Stewart's, Virgil's, OLIPOP and Zevia, the root beer brands Brandwave compares in the United States, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Root beer brands
- **Market**: United States
- **Brands compared**: 10
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Barq's, 28.3%

## Which brand is most popular in search among root beer brands in the United States?

- In September 2026, Barq's was the most searched among root beer brands in the United States, with an estimated 49.5K branded searches, 28.3% of all searches for the ten we track.
- A&W Root Beer is in 2nd place, 5.1 percentage points behind at 23.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barq's’ share of searches among root beer brands in the United States increased from 26.7% to 28.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, A&W Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States decreased from 26.7% to 23.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mug Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States increased from 14.6% to 15.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprecher’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States increased from 8% to 10.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IBC Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States increased from 8% to 8.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dad's Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States decreased from 5.3% to 4.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Stewart's’ share of searches among root beer brands in the United States decreased from 5.3% to 4.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barq's’ share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 28.3% in September 2026 and was lowest at 20.4% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, A&W Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 45.3% in March 2026 and was lowest at 23.2% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mug Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 15.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 9.1% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprecher’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 11.5% in August 2026 and was lowest at 6.9% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IBC Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 8.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 6.1% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dad's Root Beer’s share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 12.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 4.1% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Stewart's’ share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 5.3% in October 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgil's’ share of searches among root beer brands in the United States peaked at 3.4% in December 2025 and was lowest at 2.2% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barq's rose from 2nd to 1st among root beer brands in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, A&W Root Beer fell from 1st to 2nd among root beer brands in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprecher rose from 5th to 4th among root beer brands in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IBC Root Beer fell from 4th to 5th among root beer brands in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgil's, OLIPOP and Zevia held steady: their share of searches among root beer brands in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Top root beer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sprecher was mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Barq's was recommended most often, though no answer put it first. A&W Root Beer was second, and Mug Root Beer was third.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Barq's | 1st | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| A&W Root Beer | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Mug Root Beer | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Sprecher | 4th | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Stewart's | 4th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| IBC Root Beer | 6th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Dad's Root Beer | 7th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| Virgil's | 7th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| OLIPOP | 9th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| Zevia | 10th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about root beer brands

- Asked ChatGPT "Which root beer should I buy?": 1. Sprecher, 2. Mug Root Beer, 3. IBC Root Beer, 4. A&W Root Beer
- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best root beer brands?": 1. A&W Root Beer, 2. Barq's, 3. Mug Root Beer, 4. Virgil's, 5. Sprecher
- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best craft root beer?": 1. Sprecher
- Searched Google, AI Overview "root beer brands": 1. A&W Root Beer, 2. Barq's, 3. Mug Root Beer, 4. Dad's Root Beer, 5. Stewart's, 6. IBC Root Beer, 7. Sprecher, 8. Virgil's, 9. OLIPOP, 10. Zevia
- Searched Google, AI Overview "best root beer": 1. Stewart's, 2. Barq's, 3. IBC Root Beer

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in United States on October 25, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Barq's vs A&W Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/a-and-w-root-beer-vs-barqs): 28.3% against 23.2% Share of Search.
- [Barq's vs Mug Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/barqs-vs-mug-root-beer): 28.3% against 15.5% Share of Search.
- [Barq's vs Sprecher: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/barqs-vs-sprecher): 28.3% against 10.4% Share of Search.
- [Barq's vs IBC Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/barqs-vs-ibc-root-beer): 28.3% against 8.5% Share of Search.
- [A&W Root Beer vs Mug Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/a-and-w-root-beer-vs-mug-root-beer): 23.2% against 15.5% Share of Search.
- [A&W Root Beer vs Sprecher: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/a-and-w-root-beer-vs-sprecher): 23.2% against 10.4% Share of Search.
- [A&W Root Beer vs IBC Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/a-and-w-root-beer-vs-ibc-root-beer): 23.2% against 8.5% Share of Search.
- [Mug Root Beer vs Sprecher: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/mug-root-beer-vs-sprecher): 15.5% against 10.4% Share of Search.
- [Mug Root Beer vs IBC Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/ibc-root-beer-vs-mug-root-beer): 15.5% against 8.5% Share of Search.
- [Sprecher vs IBC Root Beer: compare search popularity](/demand/us/compare/ibc-root-beer-vs-sprecher): 10.4% against 8.5% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for United States root beer brands in September 2026?

- In September 2026, Barq's overtook A&W Root Beer to become the leader among root beer brands in the United States, with 28.3% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Mug Root Beer gained share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 14.1% to 15.5%.
- In September 2026, IBC Root Beer gained share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 7.7% to 8.5%.
- In September 2026, A&W Root Beer lost share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 25.7% to 23.2%.
- In September 2026, Sprecher lost share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 11.5% to 10.4%.
- In September 2026, Dad's Root Beer lost share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 5.1% to 4.6%.
- In September 2026, Stewart's lost share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 5.1% to 4.6%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Zevia in the United States rose 30% over 12 measured months, from 1K to 1.3K in September 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Barq's | 28.3% | 49.5K | 0.0% | The Coca-Cola Company |
| 2 | A&W Root Beer | 23.2% | 40.5K | -18.2% | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 3 | Mug Root Beer | 15.5% | 27.1K | 0.0% | PepsiCo |
| 4 | Sprecher | 10.4% | 18.1K | -18.5% | Sprecher |
| 5 | IBC Root Beer | 8.5% | 14.8K | 0.0% | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 6 | Dad's Root Beer | 4.6% | 8.1K | -18.2% | Dad's Root Beer |
| 7 | Stewart's | 4.6% | 8.1K | -18.2% | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 8 | Virgil's | 2.5% | 4.4K | -18.5% | Reed's |
| 9 | OLIPOP | 1.7% | 2.9K | 0.0% | OLIPOP |
| 10 | Zevia | 0.74% | 1.3K | 0.0% | Zevia |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | A&W Root Beer | 40.5K | 26.7% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Barq's | 40.5K | 26.7% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 14.6% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | IBC Root Beer | 12.1K | 8% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Sprecher | 12.1K | 8% | 5 |
| Oct 2025 | Dad's Root Beer | 8.1K | 5.3% | 6 |
| Oct 2025 | Stewart's | 8.1K | 5.3% | 7 |
| Oct 2025 | Virgil's | 4.4K | 2.9% | 8 |
| Oct 2025 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.9% | 9 |
| Oct 2025 | Zevia | 1K | 0.66% | 10 |
| Nov 2025 | A&W Root Beer | 40.5K | 26.9% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Barq's | 40.5K | 26.9% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 14.8% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | IBC Root Beer | 12.1K | 8% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Sprecher | 12.1K | 8% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Dad's Root Beer | 8.1K | 5.4% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Stewart's | 6.6K | 4.4% | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | Virgil's | 4.4K | 2.9% | 8 |
| Nov 2025 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.9% | 9 |
| Nov 2025 | Zevia | 1K | 0.66% | 10 |
| Dec 2025 | A&W Root Beer | 40.5K | 25.7% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Barq's | 40.5K | 25.7% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 14.1% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Sprecher | 18.1K | 11.5% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | IBC Root Beer | 12.1K | 7.7% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Dad's Root Beer | 8.1K | 5.1% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Stewart's | 6.6K | 4.2% | 7 |
| Dec 2025 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 3.4% | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.8% | 9 |
| Dec 2025 | Zevia | 1K | 0.64% | 10 |
| Jan 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 49.5K | 30.4% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Barq's | 40.5K | 24.9% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 13.6% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Sprecher | 14.8K | 9.1% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 12.1K | 7.4% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 8.1K | 5% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Stewart's | 5.4K | 3.3% | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 3.3% | 8 |
| Jan 2026 | OLIPOP | 3.6K | 2.2% | 9 |
| Jan 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.8% | 10 |
| Feb 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 60.5K | 34.5% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Barq's | 40.5K | 23.1% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 12.7% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 12.1K | 6.9% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 12.1K | 6.9% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Sprecher | 12.1K | 6.9% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Stewart's | 6.6K | 3.8% | 7 |
| Feb 2026 | Virgil's | 4.4K | 2.5% | 8 |
| Feb 2026 | OLIPOP | 3.6K | 2.1% | 9 |
| Feb 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.74% | 10 |
| Mar 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 110K | 45.3% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 20.4% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 22.2K | 9.1% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Sprecher | 18.1K | 7.5% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 6.1% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 9.9K | 4.1% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Stewart's | 8.1K | 3.3% | 7 |
| Mar 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.2% | 8 |
| Mar 2026 | OLIPOP | 3.6K | 1.5% | 9 |
| Mar 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.54% | 10 |
| Apr 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 60.5K | 30.6% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 25.1% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 13.7% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Sprecher | 18.1K | 9.2% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 7.5% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 9.9K | 5% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Stewart's | 8.1K | 4.1% | 7 |
| Apr 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.7% | 8 |
| Apr 2026 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.5% | 9 |
| Apr 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.66% | 10 |
| May 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 60.5K | 28.9% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 23.7% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 13% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Sprecher | 22.2K | 10.6% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 14.8K | 7.1% | 5 |
| May 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 7.1% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Stewart's | 9.9K | 4.7% | 7 |
| May 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.6% | 8 |
| May 2026 | OLIPOP | 3.6K | 1.7% | 9 |
| May 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.62% | 10 |
| Jun 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 60.5K | 27.4% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 22.4% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 27.1K | 12.3% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 12.3% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Sprecher | 22.2K | 10.1% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 6.7% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Stewart's | 9.9K | 4.5% | 7 |
| Jun 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.4% | 8 |
| Jun 2026 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.3% | 9 |
| Jun 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.59% | 10 |
| Jul 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 49.5K | 25.4% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 25.4% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 13.9% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Sprecher | 22.2K | 11.4% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 7.6% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 12.1K | 6.2% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Stewart's | 9.9K | 5.1% | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.8% | 8 |
| Jul 2026 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.5% | 9 |
| Jul 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.67% | 10 |
| Aug 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 49.5K | 25.7% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 25.7% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 14.1% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Sprecher | 22.2K | 11.5% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 7.7% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 9.9K | 5.1% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Stewart's | 9.9K | 5.1% | 7 |
| Aug 2026 | Virgil's | 5.4K | 2.8% | 8 |
| Aug 2026 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.5% | 9 |
| Aug 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.68% | 10 |
| Sep 2026 | Barq's | 49.5K | 28.3% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | A&W Root Beer | 40.5K | 23.2% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Mug Root Beer | 27.1K | 15.5% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Sprecher | 18.1K | 10.4% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | IBC Root Beer | 14.8K | 8.5% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Dad's Root Beer | 8.1K | 4.6% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | Stewart's | 8.1K | 4.6% | 7 |
| Sep 2026 | Virgil's | 4.4K | 2.5% | 8 |
| Sep 2026 | OLIPOP | 2.9K | 1.7% | 9 |
| Sep 2026 | Zevia | 1.3K | 0.74% | 10 |

## What is being compared

- **A&W Root Beer**: Measured on the search term “a&w root beer”.
- **Barq's**: Measured on the search term “barqs root beer”.
- **Dad's Root Beer**: Measured on the search term “dads root beer”.
- **IBC Root Beer**: Measured on the search term “ibc root beer”.
- **Mug Root Beer**: Measured on the search term “mug root beer”.
- **OLIPOP**: Measured on the search term “olipop root beer”.
- **Sprecher**: Measured on the search term “sprecher root beer”.
- **Stewart's**: Measured on the search term “stewarts root beer”.
- **Virgil's**: Measured on the search term “virgils root beer”.
- **Zevia**: Measured on the search term “zevia root beer”.

- [A&W Root Beer](/demand/us/brands/a-and-w-root-beer)
- [Barq's](/demand/us/brands/barqs)
- [Dad's Root Beer](/demand/us/brands/dads-root-beer)
- [IBC Root Beer](/demand/us/brands/ibc-root-beer)
- [Mug Root Beer](/demand/us/brands/mug-root-beer)
- [OLIPOP](/demand/us/brands/olipop)
- [Sprecher](/demand/us/brands/sprecher)
- [Stewart's](/demand/us/brands/stewarts-fountain-classics)
- [Virgil's](/demand/us/brands/virgils)
- [Zevia](/demand/us/brands/zevia)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among root beer brands in the United States?

In September 2026, Barq's was the most searched among root beer brands in the United States, with an estimated 49.5K branded searches, 28.3% of all searches for the ten we track.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Root beer brands in the United States: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/categories/us-root-beer-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/categories/us-root-beer-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.