Barq's root beer has more caffeine than A&W Cream Soda: 22mg vs 0mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 22mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
A&W Cream Soda vs Barq's root beer: the numbers
| A&W Cream Soda | Barq's root beer | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 0mg per 12 oz can | 22mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 0.0mg | 1.8mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | n/a (caffeine-free) | 18.2 |
Sources: A&W Cream Soda's figure is verified in our A&W Cream Soda caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Barq's root beer's figure is verified in our Barq's root beer guide against Coca-Cola brand data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick A&W Cream Soda when you want no caffeine at all, and Barq's root beer when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- A&W Cream Soda: the full caffeine guide
- Barq's root beer: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does A&W Cream Soda or Barq's root beer have more caffeine? Barq's root beer: 22mg per 12 oz can versus 0mg per 12 oz can for A&W Cream Soda.
Which is stronger per ounce? Barq's root beer, at about 1.8mg per fluid ounce versus 0.0mg for A&W Cream Soda.
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