Join me on the Bottling Line!
The All-American spirit synonymous with root beer floats and tunes on the jukebox is alive and well at Fitz’s Root Beer and Bottling Company in St. Louis, Missouri. The classic diner in the vibrant Delmar loop is a throwback to good times and great food served hot and fresh with a frosty mug of your favorite soda. What makes it even more special –and delicious- is that the root beer (and several other yummy flavors) are bottled from the 1947 sugar cane recipe right on site and served on tap.
All that would be enough to earn a visit, but Fitz’s doesn’t stop there. On any given afternoon, you can have a front row seat to the heart and soul of the Fitz’s operation-the bottling line. Kids of all ages stand with noses and fingers pressed to the glass viewing area to watch the bottling process take place from start to finish. The bottling mechanism is the genuine article, built in the 1940s and rescued from a field in Wisconsin to be expertly resurrected in the center of the restaurant. The machinery certainly doesn’t show it’s years, as the whizz and clink of bottles combined with the candy colored syrup perform an expert parade.
It’s hard to know what to watch as the bottles soldier along at a delightfully dizzying 3000 bottles per hour, but it’s even harder to decide which flavor is your favorite. The original recipe root beer includes 14 different flavors and thanks to this complex and robust blend, has been named one of the best root beers in the United States. Giving the root beer some stiff competition is the newly created black cherry recipe, which earned thumbs up all around from our crew as the best cherry soda ever!
Simply–a stop at Fitz’s is something special. Not only will you enjoy great food in a fun, family atmosphere, but you can slurp up some goodness that is not just made in America, but made right before your eyes.
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walkingon travels says
Ok, so maybe after the night I've had watching you dive into that root beer float wasn't the best idea. Now I really want one! But love the video of the kids learning all about the production line. I'll have to show Dek in the morning!
Jeanne says
That's fantastic! I've never been to St.Lois wth the kids, but I'd love to do that, and share the wonderful sculpture I've seen there. I'll be sure to include Fitz's Root Beer on their tour!
Mary @ The World Is A Book says
Great tour and video! I love that your boys got to help out a bit. That root beer float looks sinfully good! My daughter is a root beer fanatic so i will need to keep this in mind if we ever make it to St. Loius. In the meantime, I need to hunt for Fitz's now. Safe travels!
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com says
Hmmm…I didn;t know root beers come in different flavors! We only have one flavor here in the Philippines. I wonder what it would taste like?
InACents says
Mmm, that really sounds great right now. One of my favorite articles was still the one you did on Dr. Pepper. Great job!
Vanessa says
This would be the perfect spot for me – I love rootbeer! Did you know that Crush makes Birch Beer? The only place I’ve ever seen it sold was in Newfoundland, Canada.
Ashley says
I miss Fitz’ 🙁
Stephanie @ CrayonMarks&TigerStripes says
I am from St Louis and I have never been here!! Next time I visit the parents, we are going to have to go ! That float looks amazing!!!
Stephanie @ CrayonMarks&TigerStripes recently posted…Intentional 2014