All-American favourite root beer is the latest tipple to join the blossoming boozy old-fashioned soft drink category.

Frank’s Alcoholic Root Beer (rsp: £1.95) will be rolled out to Tesco later this month by Kopparberg cider maker C.O.S Brands, which launched Frank’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer in April.

The root beer is a blend of C.O.S’s Sofiero beer with added wintergreen oil, liquorice root, aniseed and vanilla extract, and is designed to compete in the alcoholic ginger beer market. “Just as we have been ­innovators with the fruit cider category with Kopparberg, so we are planning to bring long-term growth to the flavoured beer market,” said C.O.S Brands MD Davin Nugent.

“Drink types that would previously have been considered the preserve of the specialist off-licence are now finding customers in large supermarket multiples and off-licence groups. The drinks repertoire of the UK consumer is becoming more similar to Continental Europeans, particularly those in Belgium or Germany, where flavoured beers enjoy strong sales.”

Tesco buyer Ian Targett welcomed the influx of innovative alcoholic drinks coming through to the drinks fixture in time for Christmas. “The success of the alcoholic ginger beer market, and the success of the Frank’s brand as a part of that, has shown that there is strong demand for alcoholic versions of these old-style adult soft drinks,” said Targett. “Product development keeps drinks categories vibrant and interesting and we welcome Frank’s spirit of adventure in this regard.”

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