Brandwave

A&W Root Beer vs IBC Root Beer:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, A&W Root Beer had more branded searches than IBC Root Beer among root beer brands in the United States. A&W Root Beer had about 40,500 branded searches, while IBC Root Beer had 14,800. A&W Root Beer made up 23.2% of all root beer brand searches we track, and IBC Root Beer accounted for 8.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about root beer brands, A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer each appeared in three of the five answers. A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among root beer brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

A&W Root Beer, about 3 searches for every 1 for IBC Root Beer

A&W Root Beer 40.5K searchesIBC Root Beer 14.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

A&W Root Beer in 3 of 5IBC Root Beer in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

A&W Root Beer first in 2IBC Root Beer first in 2

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Top root beer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, A&W Root Beer was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. IBC Root Beer was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Barq's1st
  2. A&W Root Beer2nd
  3. Mug Root Beer3rd
  4. Sprecher4th
  5. Stewart's4th
  6. IBC Root Beer6th
  7. Dad's Root Beer7th
  8. Virgil's7th
  9. OLIPOP9th
  10. Zevia10th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Sprecher4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Barq's3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • A&W Root Beer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mug Root Beer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • IBC Root Beer3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Stewart's2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Virgil's2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Dad's Root Beer1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • OLIPOP1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Zevia1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about root beer brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 25, 2026.

Is A&W Root Beer or IBC Root Beer more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten root beer brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer among root beer brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for A&W Root Beer, IBC Root Beer. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBarq'sA&W Root BeerMug Root BeerSprecherIBC Root BeerDad's Root BeerStewart'sVirgil'sOLIPOPZevia
Oct 202526.7%26.7%14.6%8%8%5.3%5.3%2.9%1.9%0.66%
Nov 202526.9%26.9%14.8%8%8%5.4%4.4%2.9%1.9%0.66%
Dec 202525.7%25.7%14.1%11.5%7.7%5.1%4.2%3.4%1.8%0.64%
Jan 202624.9%30.4%13.6%9.1%7.4%5%3.3%3.3%2.2%0.8%
Feb 202623.1%34.5%12.7%6.9%6.9%6.9%3.8%2.5%2.1%0.74%
Mar 202620.4%45.3%9.1%7.5%6.1%4.1%3.3%2.2%1.5%0.54%
Apr 202625.1%30.6%13.7%9.2%7.5%5%4.1%2.7%1.5%0.66%
May 202623.7%28.9%13%10.6%7.1%7.1%4.7%2.6%1.7%0.62%
Jun 202622.4%27.4%12.3%10.1%6.7%12.3%4.5%2.4%1.3%0.59%
Jul 202625.4%25.4%13.9%11.4%7.6%6.2%5.1%2.8%1.5%0.67%
Aug 202625.7%25.7%14.1%11.5%7.7%5.1%5.1%2.8%1.5%0.68%
Sep 202628.3%23.2%15.5%10.4%8.5%4.6%4.6%2.5%1.7%0.74%

How has the A&W Root Beer and IBC Root Beer comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

3 changes

  1. 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.

  2. In September 2026, IBC Root Beer gained share of searches among root beer brands in the United States, from 7.7% to 8.5%.

  3. 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%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using A&W Root Beer’s and IBC Root Beer’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

A&W Root Beer

1 branded search term

  • a&w root beer

IBC Root Beer

1 branded search term

  • ibc root beer

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among root beer brands

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