I am familiar with rootbeer as, though born and brought up in the uk, I have American family. My brother loves it and I... would say I dislike it but not hate it. I sometimes have drunk it when in the states as a bit of a novelty.

I've tried a rootbeer float and that was pretty yucky!

I don't know if you have Deep Heat (the gel you rub into sore muscles) in the US but... rootbeer tastes like that smells!