I don't drink but for a few times a year. Usually this is my birthday (except for this year when my wife bought me a DE razor, brush, blades and cream for my birthday instead of the usual case of craft beer - that normally gets consumed a bottle at a time over a couple of weeks) and the odd family gathering (my parents own a vineyard and my father in law is a winemaker - refusing drinks can get... political). A heart condition and an intolerance means my general level of consumption is quite low.
So, my "I'm socialising and I feel awkward being the only one without a glass in my hand that is constantly being refreshed" drink of choice was ginger beer - not sure if you North American chaps are familiar with it but I assume it is similar to non alcoholic root beer only made with ginger root. Depending on how you brew it or what brand you buy it is usually gingery with a hint of lemon or lemony with a hint of ginger(I like mine gingery).
Anyway it doesn't lend itself well to all night consumption and one can get kinda sick of it after a while. I started drinking Bundaberg Sarsaparilla an Australian brewed Sarsaparilla drink that is kinda like an aniseedy cola, nice and dark, a little foamy and quite sweet - but again not an all nighter mostly because of the sweetness. The point which I am slowly driving to is Root Beer! What is it? What does it taste like? Can it be home brewed (no supply in NZ you see)? Are you familiar with ginger beer and Sarsaparilla and if so how does Root Beer compare?
So, my "I'm socialising and I feel awkward being the only one without a glass in my hand that is constantly being refreshed" drink of choice was ginger beer - not sure if you North American chaps are familiar with it but I assume it is similar to non alcoholic root beer only made with ginger root. Depending on how you brew it or what brand you buy it is usually gingery with a hint of lemon or lemony with a hint of ginger(I like mine gingery).
Anyway it doesn't lend itself well to all night consumption and one can get kinda sick of it after a while. I started drinking Bundaberg Sarsaparilla an Australian brewed Sarsaparilla drink that is kinda like an aniseedy cola, nice and dark, a little foamy and quite sweet - but again not an all nighter mostly because of the sweetness. The point which I am slowly driving to is Root Beer! What is it? What does it taste like? Can it be home brewed (no supply in NZ you see)? Are you familiar with ginger beer and Sarsaparilla and if so how does Root Beer compare?