Barq's root beer has more caffeine than Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon): 22mg vs 11mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 11mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.
Barq's root beer vs Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon): the numbers
| Barq's root beer | Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 22mg per 12 oz can | 11mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 1.8mg | 0.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 18.2 | 36.4 |
Sources: Barq's root beer's figure is verified in our Barq's root beer caffeine guide against Coca-Cola brand data (source); Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon)'s figure is verified in our Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon) guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon) when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, 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
- Barq's root beer: the full caffeine guide
- Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon): the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
FAQ
Does Barq's root beer or Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon) have more caffeine? Barq's root beer: 22mg per 12 oz can versus 11mg per 12 oz can for Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon).
Which is stronger per ounce? Barq's root beer, at about 1.8mg per fluid ounce versus 0.9mg for Brisk Iced Tea (Lemon).
Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.