Why Try Root Beer Ribs?

Root beer glazed ribs achieve that perfect balance between sweet and salty. Root beer is actually a perfect glaze for grilled ribs because it combines the flavors of herbs, berries and roots. The beverage was developed by pharmacist Charles Elmer Hires in the 1870s and is easily accessible today at any store. That means a perfect rack of ribs is always easy to make.

Root beer is perfect for meat because it is very sweet and highly acidic. That acidity tenderizes the meat fast and makes your ribs sweet and fall-off-the-bone tender. The caramel flavor offers layers of taste that allow you to whip together a simple glaze with relatively few ingredients — but you end up with a dish that makes it seem like you spent hours over the stove.

This glaze recipe is an excellent alternative to store-bought barbecue sauce, and it’s one way to make yourself a master of the grill. Serious chefs like you develop their own sauces and recipes instead of only using storebought options. It is a sure way to make your cooking stand out.

Choosing Fresh Ribs

Where possible, get your ribs from a reputable butcher or a store known for quality meat. Look for ribs that are fresh and have never been frozen, if possible, as this will give you the best texture. Ribs with plenty of meat on the bone are best, giving you and your guests something to really bite into. Avoid ribs with large areas of fat, since this will melt away, taking flavor with it. Also, avoid any ribs with exposed bone, since the bones can fall off during grilling.

As always with meat, give the ribs a sniff test. The meat should smell fresh, without a strong or coppery note. Take a peek for any discoloration or areas that look dried out. It could be an indication of freezer burn, which you want to avoid.

Root Beer Flavored Deliciousness!

This shouldn’t take you much longer than usual to make a perfect rack of root beer flavored ribs. First thing you do is get your ribs going on the smoker with your favorite AP Rub, like Grilla Grills All-Purpose Rub, and a small amount of rock salt at 225 degrees. Then just follow the directions on how to make your own root beer flavored sauce. Baste a few times and this meal will be a thing of the past!

Serving Root Beer Ribs

Once your root beer ribs are done, you can serve them as a rack with mashed potatoes. You can also cut them up for finger-licking cookouts, casual lunches and dinners. Serve them on a big platter with plenty of beer, soda, water, sweet tea, lemonade or your favorite drinks.

These ribs pair wonderfully with all the summer foods you might expect during grilling season. Try them with smoked potatoes, mac and cheese, fries, pasta salad, sweet potato salad, fries, corn on the cob or other cookout classics. We also have a variety of accessories and, of course, grills to get you going during grilling season.