Grandpa Graf's facts for kids

Grandpa Graf's (also known as Graf's Root Beer or Graf's) is a bubbly root beer soda. You can find it in stores in eastern and northern Wisconsin. This tasty drink was first made in 1873 by a man named John Graf.

The Story of Grandpa Graf's

The story of Grandpa Graf's root beer began in 1873. John Graf Sr. first made this root beer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He also brewed beer back then.

Later, in the 1930s, Graf's company moved to a new spot. John Graf started his own company, Graf Beverages. They made many kinds of soft drinks. But his root beer was always the most famous.

John Graf's picture is still on the root beer cans today! After he passed away in 1930, his daughter, Sylvia Graf, took over the company. When she passed away in 1963, Lawrie O. Graf became the new leader. Lawrie Graf was very smart. He studied chemistry at Marquette University. He helped the company become famous all over the country.

Lawrie Graf ran the company until 1968. Then, he sold it to a company called P & V Atlas. Over the years, Graf products were sold to other big companies. These included Canada Dry and A. J. Canfield. Today, it is part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

Where to Find Grandpa Graf's

You can buy Grandpa Graf's in northern, eastern, and southern Wisconsin. It is most common in Milwaukee. The company also sends it to Minnesota, Michigan, and Chicago. Grandpa Graf’s and another drink called 50/50 were not sold for a while during a recent worldwide event.

Meet Grandpa Graf!

In the beginning, this soda was just called "Graf's Root Beer." Lawrie Graf changed the name to "Grandpa Graf's." He also gave it the logo of John Graf Senior's face. He asked a cartoonist named Sid Stone to draw the picture of his grandfather.

The soda was also sold in glass bottles. These bottles had the same picture that is on the cans today. The canned root beer was more popular than the bottled kind.

Cool Innovations and Awards

From the 1940s to the 1960s, Grandpa Graf's was known for new styles and flavors. In 1946, a news report said Graf's made a lot of soda every day. Grandpa Graf's was most popular in the mid- to late-1950s.

The company was one of the first to use flat-top cans. They also introduced sodas without sugar. Graf's was also one of the first to use the "family" size bottle. This was a large bottle that held a quart of soda. They also experimented with twist-cap bottles. Graf's won many awards in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.