Vendor brews up more Billy Jack Root Beer

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

— Known for their hillbilly shack and longneck bottles filled with smooth, rich root beer, Billy Jack’s Home Brew Old Fashion Root Beer will once again return to Siloam Springs Dogwood Festival.

Billy Jack’s Root Beer, based out of Springfield, Mo., has been sold at the Dogwood Festival for five years, said Sharon Fleming.

The root beer is named after Fleming’s son, Billy, who is hearing impaired.

He started brewing his homemade root beer about 10 years ago when he was looking for a way to make some extra money on the weekends, Sharon said.

Brewing and selling homemade root beer was the suggestion of Sharon’s sister, Jean Isaacson, who shared her recipe with Sharon and Billy.

“She gave us her recipe and threatened us with our lives if we told anybody,” Sharon said with a laugh.

Unlike regular root beer, Billy Jack’s is carbonated with a natural carbonation instead of gas carbonation.

“I can’t tell you how, but it’s a natural carbonation,” Sharon said. “It’s really smooth and really tasty, and we serve it ice cold.”

Customers can buy Billy Jack’s root beer in brown longneck bottles for $3 or in a milk jug quart for $5.

After the first purchase, the bottle can be refilled for $1 or the quart for $2.

Sharon said the quart size is great for families and is served with cups so people can share.

“They can bring that jug back the same day, next day, next year, and I’ll refill that for $2,” she said.

“So for a couple of dollars they can treat the whole family.”

This homemade brew is only sold at festivals so the product is offered fresh.

“Everything we sell is made fresh ... and it needs to be kept fresh,” Sharon said.

Adding to the festival fun, the root beer is soldout of a trailer decorated as a hillbilly shack with “just all kinds of junk” like fake chickens, tools, pots and pans, lanterns, license plates and wooden barrels that contain the ice cold beverage.

Sharon said the decor is “just for the fun of it.”

“The fun of these festivals, that’s why I go, and I love it,” she said.

Through the summer months Billy Jack’s stays busy selling its home brew at multiple festivals, averaging one a weekend.

Sharon said they love coming to the Dogwood Festival in Siloam Springs because of wonderful people and the beautiful location of the festival along Sager Creek.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful festival,” she said.

Ican’t tell you how, but it’s a natural carbonation.

Sharon Fleming, Owner About the bew’s fizz

Lifestyles, Pages 40 on 04/27/2011