I know, we typically think of lemons and lemonade, but there's a new story to tell and it starts back in the 1800's. A man by the name of Charles Hire developed a drink that he called Root Beer. He called it this primarily because the drink was derived from the bark of the sassafras tree. The term beer was used if only because when it was fermented with yeast it had trace amounts of alcohol in it.

It may have been an unfortunate term to use for the new drink since the total alcohol content was actually less than a loaf of bread. The end result was a slow winning over of those involved in the temperance movement who came to view this as an acceptable drink.

Root beer was said to have had medicinal purposes and was used to help those who had sore throats and a cough.

Root Beer has been given added flavor over the years as its original taste is enhanced with additives like vanilla, cherry and cinnamon.

In 1920, when prohibition was introduced and breweries were shut down the 'temperance drink' was brought up. In many cases (such as Independent Breweries Company or IBC) a brewery was converted to the manufacture of this tame beverage. In 1919 IBC started bottling root beer and they continue to do so today

While root beer has less than a 5% market share today it does have a rich history enhanced by adversity.

This is why I could say with great confidence, "When life hands you prohibition, make root beer."

It can be easy to become alarmed in uncertain times. When things look bad it seems the best course of action is get out while you can and hope you can ride out the storm, but what if you are simply missing out on the best opportunities in the worst of times?

It would have been the path of least resistance for IBC (now owned by the largest candy company in Europe) to simply watch another bottling plant sit idle. Instead they took advantage of the circumstances they encountered and found a new use for the plant. This forward thinking resulted in a rich history for the company that provided an alternative to prohibition. The success was worth noting in the thirteen years of prohibition and that success has developed into a nearly 100 year-old business.

The longevity of root beer has made it a staple at western museums and theme parks. Visitors will find themselves gravitating toward either a classic root beer in a brown bottle or its close cousin Sarsaparilla.

You have probably enjoyed the refreshment of a root beer float. This would not likely be the case if a man named Charles Hire worked to market his idea and then rely on others to grow the idea and find new ways to bring it to the masses.

Virtually every product has it's own unique story and lessons that can be learned in developing or recasting their money making idea. If you are struggling with your own idea, grab a root beer and think about a few new ways to make changes that will bring new life to your dream.