The Best Places To Buy Dorothy Molter Root Beer

Known as The Root Beer Lady, Dorothy Molter was the last full-time resident of the Boundary Waters wilderness. She lived in this remote area until her death in 1986, brewing her own root beer and offering it to visitors. Although she was technically prohibited from selling root beer after the 1964 Wilderness Act, she continued to provide it to guests in exchange for donations. Today, you can buy root beer inspired by Dorothy's recipe at the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely, Minnesota, or online through the museum's website.

The Dorothy Molter Museum sells root beer

Each summer, Dorothy brewed up to twelve thousand bottles of root beer, which she offered to visitors to her cabin in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. She used root beer syrup, sugar, yeast, and clear, cold water from Knife Lake to home-brew her root beer. Her recipe was not a secret, and it is available at the museum. However, the end product varied, as the carbonation came from the yeast processing or fermenting the sugar, creating bubbles.

The root beer sold by the Dorothy Molter Museum is not brewed in her 8-gallon crock with lake water, but they have stuck as close to her original recipe as possible. It can be purchased directly from the museum during their public operating hours in the summer season. During the off-season, when the museum is not open to the public, purchases and orders may be picked up by appointment by ordering online, via email, or by calling the museum.

The root beer sold by the museum has received mixed reviews. While some people enjoy it, others have criticised it for containing high-fructose corn syrup, which they believe deviates from Dorothy's original recipe. The museum has since implemented a real sugar-only policy for their root beer.

It's not brewed to her original recipe

Dorothy Molter, known as "The Root Beer Lady", was famous for brewing her own root beer and offering it to visitors to her island in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Each summer, she would home-brew up to twelve thousand bottles of root beer using water from Knife Lake.

However, Dorothy's root beer is no longer brewed to her original recipe. While the recipe is not secret and is available at the Dorothy Molter Museum, it is no longer brewed in her 8-gallon crock with lake water. The recipe has been adapted to allow for easy home brewing, with a simplified quick-brew version available from the Museum that emphasises the use of natural roots, herbs, and spices.

The original recipe used root beer syrup (from the Ely A&W, the grocery store, or ordered in bulk through the Boy Scout Base), sugar, yeast, and clear, cold water from Knife Lake. The carbonation came from the yeast processing or fermenting the sugar, creating bubbles. The bottles would then sit and ferment for three days up to two weeks, depending on the temperature.

Due to high demand during the peak summer months, it was sometimes challenging for Dorothy to keep up with root beer production. This, coupled with the varying length of fermentation time and cooling time in the ice house, meant that the consistency of her root beer could be somewhat unpredictable. Despite this, visitors to her island, many of whom were paddlers who had been camping for days, were always eager for a taste of her brew.

It can be purchased online

Dorothy Molter, also known as "The Root Beer Lady", was famous for brewing her own root beer using root beer syrup, sugar, yeast, and clear, cold water from Knife Lake. She lived in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and each summer, she brewed up to twelve thousand bottles of root beer, which she offered to visitors.

Although Dorothy Molter's original root beer is no longer available, you can still purchase root beer made from her recipe at the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely, Minnesota. The museum is dedicated to her life and legacy and offers a unique glimpse into her world.

You can buy the root beer directly from the museum during their public operating hours in the summer season. If you're visiting during the off-season when the museum is not open to the public, you can still make purchases by appointment. You can place your order online through their website, via email, or by giving them a call.

The Dorothy Molter Museum's website also mentions that they work with distributors like Starkovich Distributing Company in Virginia and Michaud's Distributing, Inc. in Duluth to provide their product to a wider area. So, if you're a retailer, you can contact these distributors directly to enquire about purchasing the root beer.

It's also available via wholesale

Dorothy Molter, also known as "The Root Beer Lady", was famous for brewing her own root beer on Knife Lake, which she offered to visitors. While her original recipe is no longer brewed in her 8-gallon crock with lake water, the Dorothy Molter Museum has recreated it as closely as possible and sells it as Dorothy's Isle of Pines Root Beer.

If you are a retailer, non-profit, or food service provider interested in purchasing Dorothy's Root Beer in wholesale quantities, the museum is the place to go. The museum, located in Ely, Minnesota, is dedicated to preserving the life and legacy of Dorothy Molter and offers the root beer for sale during its public operating hours in the summer. When the museum is closed to the public during the off-season, you can still make purchases by appointment, either by ordering online, via email, or by phone.

The museum also works with distributors to provide their product to specific areas. For example, they collaborate with Starkovich Distributing Company in Virginia and Michaud's Distributing, Inc. in Duluth. If you are a retailer in one of these areas, you can contact the distributors directly to inquire about purchasing Dorothy's Root Beer.

In addition to purchasing directly from the museum or through distributors, you can also explore wholesale options through online retailers. A quick online search may reveal businesses that offer wholesale purchasing options for Dorothy's Root Beer. By buying in bulk, you can take advantage of potential discounts and ensure a steady supply for your customers or members.

It's distributed by Starkovich and Michaud's

Dorothy Molter's root beer is distributed by Starkovich Distributing Company in Virginia and Michaud's Distributing, Inc. in Duluth. The root beer is brewed for the Dorothy Molter Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and interpreting Northwoods wilderness heritage through learning opportunities inspired by Molter's life and legacy. Molter, known as the "Root Beer Lady", lived in the Boundary Waters wilderness and brewed up to twelve thousand bottles of root beer each summer, which she offered to visitors. After her death in 1986, her cabins were moved to Ely, where the museum is located.

Starkovich and Michauds distribute Dorothy Molter's root beer to retailers in their respective areas. The root beer is also available for purchase directly from the Dorothy Molter Museum. The museum's website provides contact information for Starkovich and Michauds for retailers interested in carrying the product. Additionally, the website offers a list of 2022 retailers in the area that work with these distributors.

The root beer distributed by Starkovich and Michauds is based on Molter's original recipe, although it is no longer brewed in her 8-gallon crock with lake water. It is marketed as "Dorothy's Isle of Pines Root Beer" and is one of the draws for the thousands of visitors to the museum each year. The museum also offers a variety of other merchandise, including apparel, gifts, souvenirs, and books.

The distribution of Dorothy Molter's root beer by Starkovich and Michauds helps to spread awareness of Molter's legacy and the work of the museum. The root beer provides a taste of wilderness heritage and a connection to the life of the "Root Beer Lady", who, despite facing challenges, persevered and became an iconic figure in the Ely area. The distribution ensures that Molter's story and the traditions she embodied can reach a wider audience, contributing to the preservation of her legacy and the promotion of the museum's educational mission.

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