IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate

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Consumption of soda in 3...2...1...

It has been a long time since we’ve reviewed an IZZE product.  That’s a shame too as they make some really good soda.  I probably stopped reviewing them because Hipster Soda Drinker Aaron thought they were too mainstream since he saw them everywhere.  Hipster Soda Drinker Aaron was kind of an idiot.  Today though he goes away.  Today he becomes Soda Drinker Aaron once again when he opens this bottle of IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate.

 

Speaking of IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate, it has no refined sugars, no caffeine, no preservatives and is 70% pure fruit juice with a splash of sparkling water.  Ingredient wise we have an absolute winner on our hands here.  Taste has yet to be determined.

This smells more of grape juice than pomegranate, but since the ingredients include grape juice it’s somewhat understandable.  There is a pomegranate scent, but it seems to be happy enough playing second fiddle in this case.

This is wine for children.  I’m sure IZZE doesn’t want to sell it that way, but it’s the first thought that came to my mind.  The real deal grape juice lends itself easily to the wine comparison, but we all know that wine is so much more than grape juice.  The pomegranate adds the dryness you’d expect in a wine, but being soda it’s obviously sweeter.  Since the only sugars used are the ones from the fruits themselves it’s a fantastic balance.

Now here is where I come clean and say I’m not a wine drinker. I’ve had maybe 10 glasses in my life, and 5 of those were red.  IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate takes my tastebuds on a similar journey that the wine did.  A burst of flavor on the front end (although I like the IZZE version better) and a somewhat dry finish.  It makes me feel fancy, but not overly so, with each sip  I take.

Overall I’m thrilled with IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate.  The mouthfeel is nice with just enough fizz to remind you that you’re drinking a soda.  There is an aftertaste, but it mirrors the present taste accurately.  I really want some cheese and crackers now to enjoy with my bottle of IZZE.  

Hipster Soda Drinker Aaron kept me from reviewing this earlier in life and I dislike him for it, although maybe I wasn’t ready yet.  Perhaps Hipster Soda Drinker Aaron kept me from reviewing this with an unrefined tongue.  This is my favorite of the IZZE flavors and I immediately want more of it.  Pair that (WINE JOKE) with a stellar ingredient list and you’ve got a top soda.

~A

This was purchased at a Kroger Grocery Store

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A “Twist’s Choice” Recipient

Topo Sabores Pineapple

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He clearly hasn't tasted it yet.

Take notice creators of fruit flavored soda.  If you don’t have a picture of the fruit your soda is flavored after on your label you’re making me sad.  I LOVE seeing this exact thing, especially if it’s a simplified picture of the fruit.  It just reassures me that I know what the flavor of the soda I’m about to consume will be.

 

In today's case that is Pineapple by Topo Sabores.  They have placed a tiny pineapple near the neck of the bottle.  Right about where a medallion would go if sodas wore chains.  Topo Sabores is from Mexico and uses cane sugar to sweeten.  They don’t feel the need to plaster “Pure Cane Sugar” or “100% Cane Sugar” or “100% Natural Pure Raw Cane Sugar” on their bottle.  Sweetening with cane sugar is the norm in Mexico, as it should be.

That’s unfortunate.  The scent is a mixture of pineapple and vomit.  While I haven’t tasted this soda yet I KNOW it will not taste like it smells.  It won't taste like vomit, right?  Right?  This is going to taste like a sugary pineapple soda and we’ll all move on with our lives and forget my initial take on the scent.

I’m pleased to say that Topo Sabores Pineapple does not taste like a mixture of pineapple and vomit.  That has to be the saddest declaration I’ve made in a while.  Taste wise there is considerably more cardboard flavoring than I anticipated which is welcome in this case given aroma.

Let’s get through the good points now before I just start hating on this soda. While I don’t really like it there’s no reason for me to harp on what is certainly someone’s favorite soda.  The mouth feel is good and prickly and there is a fun amount of fizz.  I’m happy to say that the bubbles last the entirety of each sip.  

I was incorrect in assuming that this would be sugary sweet as there is an appropriate amount of sweetness within each sip.  There is little to no syrupy mouth feel either.  So it seems like I’ve figured out that the only issue I have with this soda is the flavor.

Sadly flavor carries quite the weight when it comes to reviewing sodas.  In the case of Topo Sabores Pineapple I’m just not able to recommend it.  From the initial smell to the cardboard taste that has yet to go away even though I’m almost done with the bottle, I can’t suggest it.

If you’re a pineapple fan give it a shot, but even then eh.  Just promise me that when you see the bottle on the shelf you’ll think of my face… that way when you taste the soda it’ll be an improvement from your previous state of mind.

~A

This soda was purchased at Kroger Grocery Stor

Buckeye State Scarlet Soda

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Look who's back!

So I’ve been in a soda slump recently.  It’s been hard to find anything new to review and anyone who has sent me sodas in the past no longer is… mostly because I’ve reviewed them all.  I needed something new.  I needed something that I hadn’t heard of to get me out of this slump.  Apparently I needed Buckeye State Scarlet Soda.

 

This bottle is THE most Ohio branded consumable I’ve ever seen.  From the Buckeye leaf on the label to the outline of Ohio right below it.  It’s even a “Scarlet” soda instead of a “Red” soda.  For those not in the know the colors of The Ohio State University are Scarlet and Grey.  What’s amusing is that I’m writing this review on “Scarlet Saturday” in Ohio.  The day that the Buckeyes take on the wolverines of michigan.  I honestly have no dog in this fight, as I’m a fan of Texas A&M, but since we’re drinking Scarlet Soda today my hat will tip towards the Buckeyes.

I’m not exactly sure what to expect of Buckeye State Scarlet Soda, my initial thought is that it’ll be a red cream.  It’s made with cane sugar and has been on this great Earth since 1937.  I also enjoy that the label lists it as a “Family Trad.”.  I’m not sure if that’s a Family Tradition or a Family Trademark.  Trademark doesn’t tend to follow the word Family, but Tradition is rarely abbreviated like that.  Anywho, enough jibber jabber, let’s start this review.

The scent is nothing like a red cream soda, so there goes that idea.  Oddly enough it smells a little appley, but I don’t think that’ll be the flavor at all.  I’m starting to lean towards the mismash of flavors idea now.  You know how there’s “Red” Kool-Aid?  I’m thinking this is just “Scarlet Soda” as it reads on the label.

That’s super odd, and I can’t think of anything I’ve had like it before.  It’s now officially not a red cream and while I get a hint of apple, it’s not prevalent enough name it a flavor.  My “mismash of flavors” idea has a full head of steam although my tongue keeps getting watermelon hints towards the finish.

I’m not sure if others would taste the watermelon as it’s becoming apparent to me that if five people drank this soda they’d all have slightly different experiences.  Even if I can’t nail down what exactly I’m tasting I will say that this is a fairly solid soda as far as beverages go.  I’m especially happy that it’s not overly sweet in taste.  This allows you to drink it with a meal and not feel overly bad because you’re drinking dessert.

With the good of course always comes the bad, but fortunately there isn’t a lot.  The flavor, while tasty, is a little on the weak side and the mouthfeel follows suit.  I would love this if the flavor had a little more bite and the bubbles shocked the back of my throat.  

There is also a very slight, and I mean very, cardboardish taste that arrives in the middle of some of my sips.  I’ve hated beverages for having this taste included, but this one is so subtle that I’d compare it to watching someone burp at the other end of the dining table.  You can see they did it and it’s gross, but ultimately you didn’t have to experience the aroma or heat that it created… so you can go about your meal and easily forget it.

So there you have it.  Buckeye State Scarlet Soda is better than your average soda and has a gorgeous label to boot.  If you’re in an area that supplies it pick yourself up one or four and give it a shot.  

Since today is Scarlet Saturday I might as well make a prediction to finish things off.  35-31 tOSU.

~A

This was supplied to us by Buckey State Scarlet Sod

Champ's Cola

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We’ve got an odd situation today.  I have a can in front of me that’s identical (except the name) to Quinabeer.  It’s red and has “Champion George Prince” on it flexing.  Seriously how many other cans of soda would look like this?  

So much flexing.

My concern is that Champs Cola (btw I’m reviewing Champs Cola today) is just a rebranded Quinabeer.  If that’s the case then I’m going to be a little sad.  If that’s NOT the case then I’m going to be perplexed as to why an exact labeling doppleganger (minus the name) was created.

It smells like a bubble gum cream soda so I’m starting to think this is the exact same beverage.  That’s ok, I’ll still review it.  That way if someone (you) searches for Champ’s Cola they have an entry to find.  

Who knows, perhaps I’ll forget what I thought about it before and rate it differently.  I seriously hope that I don’t, but I’m not going to read my Quinabeer review until after I’m done.

Ok, so it’s a bubble gum cream with a hint of orange soda to boot.  It’s this orange kicker that makes me not dismiss it immediately as a bubble gum monstrosity.  I’m not big on the bubble gum if you haven’t concocted that thought yet.

Even though the orange is pleasing to my pallet the bubble gum is just too overpowering for me to really get into this soda.  That’s unfortunate for Champ’s Cola as I think expounding on the citrus flavor could really make this go a long way.  That’s kind of a cocky thought, but I’m a “Jerk” so it should be expected.

All in all, Champ’s Cola aka Quinabeer aka Champ’s Cola, has the makings of being excellent, but the ratios just aren’t quite there.

~A

This was given to me by Rasslin’ Jakit


Jupina

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I like this picture more than I should

Just when you think you have nothing to review someone goes to the Grand Cayman Islands and grabs you a soda.  Three sodas to be exact… well two sodas from Grand Cayman and one from Mexico.  The one in question today is Jupina, with a tilde over the “n” although I’m not really sure how to do that.

 

The labeling of Jupina involves a picture of a pineapple upon a pineapple background.  There’s a lot of pineapple involved here so let’s go ahead and assume that’s the flavor.  The ingredients show that this can has 50 grams of sugar in it.  That my friends is a bunch o’ sugar.  Other ingredients listed are standard artificially flavored soda fare.  Let’s crack the can and give it a go.

It smells a little bit like an orange pineapple mix, but I’m still thinking this is primarily a pineapple soda.  Trust me when I say I’d prefer it be orange/pineapple.  I’m not sure why you wouldn’t trust me on that, or why I even needed to say “trust me”.

That is not the color of a pineapple soda.  That is the color of a cream soda.  I’m now officially worried.

I’m no longer worried.  This is a pineapple cream soda and I’m 100% cool with that.  Pineapple cream isn’t something I’m used to, but the combo works out nicely.  In the case of Jupina though the cream outweighs the pineapple.  

This heavy cream taste keeps the pineapple’s bite at bay.  Not that a pineapple is a very violent fruit, but it’s not as tame as Jupina makes it seem.  Reaching the end of the sip you’re tapped by the grenade like fruit.  Honestly I’d compare it to someone accidentally shoulder checking you in a crowded venue.  It’s a little unexpected, but as long as you’re not a complete jerk you’ll quickly forget about it.

I can honestly say that Jupina has exceeded my expectations as a soda.  Perhaps if I could read the Spanish language I’d know it was pineapple cream, but I feel I enjoyed it more being a surprise.  

If I could change any aspect of it I’d add a bit more pineapple taste to give the end a little more violence.  The smooth cream start and bumpy end would be a nice ride for a soda to give.  

This soda was given to my by Rasslin’ Jakit

Excel Red Cream

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I'm starting to get concerned.

Since 1936 Excel Red Cream has been in existence.  You’ve probably never heard of it, I hadn’t until I found a bottle in a gas station.  It’s still amazing to me that we can live amongst so many sodas that so many people haven’t heard about.  

The labeling for Excel Red Cream is very simple as you can see in the picture.  Almost has a “deck of cards” feel with the red diamonds adorning the side.  If you’re literate then you can see that it’s sweetened with Pure Cane Sugar as well.  Judging by the ingredients it seems they’ve paired that pure cane sugar with some artificial goodness and some good ol’ fashioned Red #40.  Mmmm Mmmm! My favorite.

Placing nose to mouth (odd, yes?) I get the definite aroma of red cream.  That mixture of bubble gum, vanilla, and mystery.  If it even tastes like an average red cream soda I’ll be happy as I’m not looking for anything spectacular today.

First sip starts with a burst of fizz, burning the tip of my tongue and quickly dissipating.  A syrupy red cream sensation rolls towards my gullet and disappears leaving a similar taste in its absence.  This is indeed an average red cream soda.

Fun beginning with a regrettable ending.  Kinda like that last relationship you were in.  Right guys/gals?  Am I relating to you yet?

What keeps this average soda from hitting the next level is primarily the syrupy mouthfeel you’re left with.  After each sip I just sit with an odd taste in my mouth wondering if I’d made the right choice.  Kinda like that last relationsh….

~A

This was purchased at a Shell Gasoline Station

 

Fitz's Strawberry Pop

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It's almost artsy.

I haven’t had a Fitz’s soda in a long time, but I don’t really recall fond memories of them.  Something about the aftertaste, but I’m not going to double check myself because I’m lazy.  Anywho, today’s soda is Fitz’s Strawberry Pop and it’s a vibrant red color that screams to be consumed.  It’s also sweetened with all natural pure cane sugar.  The only thing that would have made that funnier is if it was 100% All Natural Pure Raw Cane Sugar.  Just say “cane sugar” I’ll think of it exactly the same.

With a vibrant red strawberry soda comes a vibrant red strawberry scent.  It’s more of a candied scent, but still very enticing to me.  Now, all of a sudden, I look forward to drinking this and hope that it’s not just overly sweetened nonsense.  

CARDBOARD!  That’s what was wrong with the other Fitz sodas.  Fitz sodas have a pretty great taste to them, but ultimately the underlying cardboard flavor at the end is what sets me off.  

The guy across from me, we’ll call him Buttons, cannot taste the cardboard I do but says the soda dries out his mouth at the end. What dries out your mouth better than cardboard?!  Ok, so a bit of a stretch, but at least I know… sorry, we know, that this cardboard taste isn’t universally tasted.  

Aside from whatever I’m tasting on the back end (hehe) Fitz’s Strawberry Pop doesn’t taste like overly sweetened nonsense.  Even though the strawberry flavor seems very artificial there are still a few climbs and drops in its track.  It’s varied enough that I feel like I’d enjoy it quite a bit if it wasn’t for that other thing.  

Fitz’s Strawberry Pop also has a nice nibble to it.  Not strong enough for a bite, but you’re still going to see a mark for a little while.  I personally prefer bites to nibbles, but who knows if we’re even talking about sodas now.

All in all, this is a decent soda that unfortunately has a flavor in it that touches my tongue weird.  Even with that cardboard taste I’d still recommend that you try a bottle out.

~A

This soda was purchased at a Shell Gas Statio

Petey's Bing Raz

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Imagine the my luck.  I found two “Delicious...Refreshing” soda within two weeks of each other.  Of course they’re the same brand of soda, Petey’s Bing, but the flavor of the day...vor is Raz.  Being in tune with the advertising world I can tell you that Raz probably means that raspberry is involved.  A quick look at the ingredients tells me I’m right.  Both raspberry and cherry juice concentrate are involved so I look forward to my first swig.

His nose is stuck.

Smells like a candied raspberry, but thankfully not one of the blue variety.  This smells like red.  That’s a confusing sentence out of context, but you get it.

Petey’s Bing Raz just slapped my taste buds to the floor.  Raspberry flavor shows up immediately and forcefully.  It’s tart, sweet, and tangy tastes last throughout the duration of the sip.  A highly consistent beverage throughout in terms of taste, Bing Raz leaves little aftertaste on the backside and does most of it’s talking/walking up front.  

I haven’t said it yet, but I like this soda.  You don’t get many raspberry sodas with the power this one has behind it.  It’s brash and unapologetic for the tingly ride it takes my tongue on.  The only downside I can find is that the flavor wavers a small amount at the very end.  Now it doesn’t change so much that I’d retract my “consistent soda” statement, but it is a little different.

Some might find Petey’s Bing Raz a bit too pungent for the pallet.  I personally believe it’s too strong to be refreshing, but not every soda out there is supposed to refresh….oh awkward.  I just remembered the word “Refreshing” is on the can.  Ok, so it’s not refreshing in a “just went for a run let me get something to drink” sense.  Perhaps it’s refreshing in a “my mouth is dry and I just need liquid” sense.

Ah well, buy some and ignore this abrupt ending.

~A

This soda was purchased at Sprouts groce

Coca-Cola Life

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Those of you who read this site like a blog instead of a review site (thank you, btw) know that I don’t really dabble in the mainstream unless asked.  The three of you who fit the former descriptor also know I’m not really fond of stevia as a sweetener.  So why then did I purchase a bottle of Coca-Cola Life which is sweetened with stevia?  Sorry, let me rephrase that to get more clicks…

YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHY AARON DRANK COKE WITH STEVIA!  REASON NUMBER 4 WILL SHATTER ALL OF REALITY!!!

So I bought it because when I’m on the soda aisle I’ve seen numerous folks stop and stare at it.  Then they have a conversation with their significant other about it, then they walk off without trying it.  I’ve tried to help people understand what it was, but I honestly couldn’t tell them if it was good or not which is what you’re looking for in that situation.

People love Coke and even though this version of Coke is sweetened with stevia it’s also sweetened with cane sugar.  Previous reviews of mine have shown that a Cane Sugar/Stevia mix is usually a pretty good way to reduce calories and keep a nice flavor.  My 8oz bottle has 60 calories and 16 grams of sugar… less than the yogurt I just ate, but that’s not saying much.

"Life" Why Life?

Smell wise it’s a little weaker than regular Coca-Cola, but the scent is still unmistakable.  If this does indeed taste like regular Coke I’ll fully get behind this product.  Other than the fact that it’s called Coca-Cola “Life”.  That’s a bit pretentious to me.  Your soda is called “Life”, take it down a few notches.

So it tastes like a reduced calorie cola.  Granted, it tastes like a Coke brand reduced calorie cola, so they nailed that aspect of it.  Initially you get the quick bite of Coca-Cola Classic, but mouthfeel is really where the two sodas are most similar.   

There is limited flavor on the front end and the sweetness also kind of drops off on the back side, which makes the included stevia a bit more noticeable.  The “after sip” mouthfeel is a little sticky and hugs my teeth and tongue in an unpleasant, but tolerable way.  It’s not great, it’s not bad, it’s just kind something I’m drinking.  

Personally I’d choose Coca-Cola Zero over this every time as I think it gets closer to the Coke taste than “Life” does.  That kind of makes me feel that this may be a wasted product.  Does Coca-Cola Life fill the “wants to drink healthier soda without aspartame” crowd?  If anyone has the money to create something in that market it’s certainly Coca-Cola.

~A

This was purchased at my neighborhood Wal-Mart.​

Petey's Bing Black

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What if I were to tell you that there’s a soda out there that’s both “Delicious” and “Refreshing”.  Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well according to the labeling of the can in front of me, Petey’s Bing Black is just exactly that… both delicious AND refreshing.  

The soda at hand seems to be what we would classify as a “Lifestyle” beverage.  One that gets you your ginseng, your B vitamins, your C vitamin and the like.  It’s also, and this is a personal perk for me, make with blackberry juice.  I’m going to go out on a very sturdy limb and say that’s why it’s called Bing “Black”.  

According to the ingredients it has both blackberry and cherry juice from concentrate.  It’s sweetened with cane sugar and… yup, it has Guarana seed extract in it which confirms my “Lifestyle” beverage theory.

Smell wise you get a nice mixture of blackberry and cherry aromas with the edge going to blackberry.  This makes me a little excited to try it, but I’m still quite cautious.  

Pouring my friend a cup I see that Petey’s Bing Black has a great maroon coloring to it that begs for me to drink it.  This seems like the beverage equivalent of judging a book by its cover, but we all like visual stimuli around here, right?

The finish is considerably better than the start in the case of Bing Black.  Starting off the soda seems a bit empty and almost tinny to me.  Then the script is quickly flipped and my mouth is filled with the natural flavor of blackberries with a hint of cherry.  Being that the transition is so immediate the reaction my tongue has includes a little bit of confusion.

Confused my tongue isn’t sure what to expect next and ends up with a bitter finish and a fruit juice taste on my lips.  Petey’s Bing Black doesn’t tell a cohesive tale, but it knows some interesting short stories.  While I ultimately like to read short stories, I’m not big on drinking them.  Perhaps my tongue just isn’t smart enough to enjoy this beverage as it should be, but that shouldn’t stop you from giving it a try.

~A

This soda was purchased at a Sprout’s grocery store​

Original New York Seltzer Lemon and Lime Soda

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Got myself another tiny bottle of fun. Fun in this case comes in the form of a Original New York Seltzer Lemon & Lime Soda.  Last time I enjoyed a tiny bottle of ONYS I had the bizzare experience of drinking a clear root beer.  Today’s flavor, like all their others, is represented in a clear variety but Lemon & Lime is a flavor that is most often clear.

Ingredient wise this 10oz bottle houses carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, natural lemon and lime flavors with other natural flavors and ascorbic acid.

I really hope Twist takes care of this hippo somehow.

As I’m sure you’ve predicted here’s where I tell you to be wary of where it says “natural lemon and lime flavors” without actually saying that lemon and lime are involved.  Such a sketchy thing to me.

Scent wise a nice strong candy lime scent jumps out of the bottle.  Like a puppy the lemon aroma tags along, but is smaller than Big Dog Lime.  For those of you who know my flavor preferences you’re aware that this excites me.  #TeamLime

So the flavor is a little generic, but my first impression is that it’s better than Sprite.  Initially lime is the predominant flavor as the smell test said it would be.  This is a more subdued lime taste than I thought it would be, less candied than the scent led me to believe.  

Swiftly the flavor you’re greeted with transforms into the generic lemon & lime taste I expected.  While it’s not as bitey as 7up, of the three big “Lymon” sodas that’s the most similar.  The fact that it’s a seltzer is noticeable only in the finish.  As effectual as a fly landing on your potato salad then buzzing away is the bitterness of Original New York Seltzer Lemon & Lime Soda.  You don’t like that it’s there, but since it doesn’t linger too long it’s easy to forget.

So there you have it, a very generic citrus soda (except for that lime intro) in a cute little bottle.  All in all a good purchase, but I think I’m good with one.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Cock 'n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer

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Why wouldn’t you pick up “The Extra Cherry Ginger Soft Drink”?  The bottle even has a cartoon bull and chicken on it for the kids.  For labeling purposes technically it’s Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer.  According to the label this beverage is a “liquid treasure” that contains “natural ginger flavor” and “natural cherry flavor”.  

A glance at the ingredients shows that there are “natural flavors” but doesn’t really specify how they are obtained.  I’ve always said that if a bottle says “natural cherry flavor” on it, yet the ingredients don’t include “cherry anything” to be skeptical.  I’m sure they aren’t lying, but they aren’t telling the full truth either.

Cock 'n Bull 'n Hippo

That said I must give them some recognition for being the first cherry ginger beer that actually has a cherry smell to it.  Most are so lightly flavored with cherry your olfactory glands have to broaden their imagination to even being to detect the scent.

Very nice.  The cherry taste is noticeable, but doesn’t get in the way of the ginger beer.  It’s a fairly candied cherry taste, but honestly it makes the drink more fun.  

It’s within the front and finish of the drink… I like that terminology pairing so I’m going to rewrite the sentence.  The front and finish of Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer is where you get your cherry taste.  Sandwiched in the middle is gonna be your Ginger Spice.  As a child this was my favorite of the spice girls, but as I grew up I started leaning more toward Scary.

Ginger does it’s job, giving my mouth a quick sizzle that’s strong enough to linger long enough to be memorable.  This seer of the tongue lasts well into the final cherry aftertaste, culminating in a well paired “Buddy Cop Flick” of flavors.  

The biggest downside to Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer is that the cherry flavor tastes a bit more medicinal with each sip I take.  It doesn’t make me dislike the soda, but it certainly diminishes some of its initial charm.  Aside from that though it’s definitely something I’d recommend.  In fact I’ll do that right now.

~A

This was purchased at World Market

Paulaner Spezi

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Video Review from Apr. 3, 2020. Written review (below) from Sep. 10, 2015.

 

I have a German soda in front of me called Paulaner Spezi.  The flavor, according to the can, is Coffeinhaltige Orangenlimonade mit Cola.  I took and failed German so my best guess is caffeinated orange soda with cola.  It is sweetened with Zucker or sugar if you like and includes Orangensaft which I think is orange juice concentrate.  The label also says that citrus is involved in some way.  So it’s not a complete mystery to me, but this should be a hoot none the less.

It smells like orange juice and cola, so I think I’m on the right track.  The scent is faint, but I bet the flavor won’t be.

Orangensaftkonzentrat is a fantastic word

The color is a light orangey brown and the taste, and according to Buttons, “starts off dull, gets bright, and then just dulls out big time at the end.”  

The dull he speaking of is a somewhat bitter orange/cola mix that swishes past your tongue.  This quickly transitions into a burst of citrus cola that refreshes and then disappears just as suddenly.  Sadly what you end up with is the taste equivalent of an empty room with a chair in it. It’s sad, it’s a little bitter, and you don’t want to stay in there very long.

It’s a roller coaster with one good drop, fun but ultimately disappointing.  The mild bitterness of the final taste dampens your excitement for another swig.  

All in all an interesting beverage that I might give a try if I were in your shoes.  If you aren’t bitter about bitter than perhaps you’d enjoy it a bitter more.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Bundaberg Passionfruit

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I don’t think I’ve ever had a passionfruit outside of a soda.  Obviously I’m not going to do the research on this, but for the sake of this review let’s just assume I’m correct.  Today won’t rock that hypothesis either as I’m going to hopefully enjoy a bottle of Bundaberg Passionfruit.  

The ingredients say I’ll enjoy it as they include real passionfruit juice and cane sugar.  There’s even a touch of passionfruit puree… which explains why I need to “invert bottle before opening”.

Tiny orange hippo was hidden by the bottle

Wow, that is a pungent soda… in a good way of course.  The escaping aroma is very rich and full of passionfruit goodness, which smells a little like a peach if you ask me.

I’m good with that.  This tastes like I’m eating a passionfruit.  Please remember I’ve never actually had one, but if I had I imagine this is what it would taste like.  It just tastes juicy.  

Along with this juicy passionfruit taste (again, think tropical peach) there’s a nice burn on the back end that reminds me I’m alive.  The almost nectar sweet taste of Bundaberg Passionfruit lives on my lips well after each sip.  It’s an enjoyable experience each time I bring it to my taste buds.  The sweetness paired with the tart burst of bubbles makes for a fantastic mouthfeel and all around good experience.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Original New York Seltzer Root Beer Soda

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Confused, I stare at a tiny bottle of clear “root beer soda”.  It’s made by Original New York Seltzer so I’m going to assume that it’s seltzer water flavored with root beer.  Even if that’s true I’m still looking at this bottle with a tilted head... because I’m confused and because the ingredients are written sideways.  Carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, and natural flavors are what make up this 10oz bottle of mystery.  

Original New York Orange Hippo

Flavored seltzer water is usually on the bitter side, but this one has 33 grams of sugar in it so I’m hoping it’ll be quite sweet.  The bottle cap states that “The choice is clear” and that’s enough for me to already love this beverage.

Ok, so Original New York Seltzer Root Beer Soda smells like a root beer, but it’s a thin aroma so I’m not sure how rich the taste is going to be.  I suppose I shouldn’t assume a rich taste because this isn’t a root beer… it’s root beer flavored seltzer.  New things are so much fun to try.

That’s so very odd.  The powerful fizz of seltzer paired with the taste of root beer barrel candy.  Each sip starts off crisp and refreshing before introducing the root beer flavoring and then eventually fading away somewhat.  As far as aftertaste goes it’s fairly honest to the original flavor, but holds on longer than I appreciate.

I’m not sure how to say this, but it’s definitely not root beer… yet it’s root beer flavored.  On the sugar front it’s quite the sweet soda.  Only a the smallest amount of bitter taste is created by the seltzer, but the crisp mouthfeel is still present.  

Such an odd combination yet it works.  It’s not going to replace root beer or anything crazy, but at least now I can look fancy whilest enjoying a tiny clear soda.  This coupled with a short ingredient list will assure I pick up another bottle or two next time I see them.

~A

This was purchased at World Market

Earp's Original Sarsaparilla

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The bottle in front of me is sort of amazing.  First off it features an “actor” dressed us as Wyatt Earp.  How do you get that gig?  “Hey, we need someone for the role of Earp.”  “I’m an aspiring actor, I’ll fill your roll.  Where will this be broadcast?”  “Oh, no you aren’t performing… we’re just gonna take your picture and put it on a bottle.”

Hippo butt.

Speaking of the bottle again, this is called Earp’s ORIGINAL Sarsaparilla.  The capitalization is for emphasis, but “original” makes one believe there are other variations of Earp’s Sarsaparilla out there.  I’m not 100% sure they’re aren’t, but I’d put down $10 that says I’m right.

For real now, let’s get this review underway.  Earp’s Original Sarsaparilla is made with cane sugar and some artificial/natural flavors.  Nothing too crazy going on here.

The aroma has more of a licorice kick than I thought it would.  Root beer of course is another scent I’m experiencing, but that’s to be expected as sarsaparilla is its cousin.

That’s average.  On the bite/cream scale this seems to lean more towards bite, as there’s a good amount of burn and fizz, but the flavor itself is unmistakably average. 

Surprisingly the licorice taste isn’t very noticeable either which kind of disappoints me.  Well now that I said that my last sip had plenty of black licorice goodness.  So Wyatt Earp has made me a liar and I’m ok with that… because it’s still average.

So you have a bitey root beer with the taste of licorice.  This flavor is hanging out in my mouth for longer than I appreciate it to.  “Hanging out” is a fairly nice term as it just won’t leave due to it’s somewhat syrupy feel.  

Earp’s Original Sarsaparilla is alright, but nothing special.  If offered one take it.  If you want to try one do so, but don’t expect to be blown out of the water.

~A

This soda was purchased at a Shell Gas Station

Goslings Ginger Beer

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I’ve seen a lot of mascots on labels before, but never a seal until today.  Goslings Ginger Beer has a drawing of a seal on it’s label.  The seal has a life preserver around its neck with the word “Stormy” on it. This allows me to assume that it’s name is Stormy the Seal which is a perfectly acceptable name for a seal.

Stormy sits on the words “Ginger Beer” and underneath that “The refreshing zip of ginger”.  Now ginger is a lot of things, but “refreshing” was never something I’d attribute to it.  

A seal, a hippo, and an iguana review a soda...

Ingredients wise this is comprised of carbonated water, HFCS, natural ginger beer flavor, citric acid, gum acacia, and ester gum.  Which one of those ingredients bothers you the most?  If it’s not “natural ginger beer flavor” then I’m questioning your questioning ability.

What is “natural ginger beer flavor”?  It’s clearly not “ginger” because I believe they’d have put “ginger” on the label.  Can you find “natural ginger beer flavor” in the wild?  Did they make a ginger beer through natural methods then steal it of its flavor? Isn’t a ginger beer one part carbonation and one part natural ginger beer flavor?  SO MANY QUESTIONS!  Enough questions, it’s time to drink.

Goslings Ginger Beer has the lightest of scents.  The little bit of aroma I can discern is more citrus than ginger.  HOLD THE PHONE.  This is the Official Ginger Beer of the 35th America’s Cup.  How did I not see this?  This better be fan-freaking-tastic if it’s the official anything of anything.

After the first sip my concern has cooled a bit.  Goslings Ginger Beer may have ridiculous ingredients and be an official something of something, but it’s better than I thought it’d be.  The mouthfeel is cool, crisp and refreshing at first.  This experience transforms smoothly into the ginger burn you’d expect with a ginger beer.  It’s a strong burn, but not overly so.  Strong enough that I’m enjoying the pain, but not so much that it’s keeping me from wanting to go back.

On the downside, I am noticing the more I drink this the more the cracks are starting to show.  What started off as cool and refreshing is being replace with metallic and medicinal.  The burn is unchanged, but overall Goslings Ginger Beer does not build upon itself well.  Odd how an experience can change so quickly.

So there you have it, Goslings Ginger Beer starts off well, but ultimately doesn’t meet the mark set by many of the ginger beers before it.

~A

This was purchased at an HEB grocer

O-So Butterscotch Root Beer

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I will be amazed if I ever have a butterscotch root beer that I don’t like.  It’s butterscotch and root beer… how can that combo lose?  Well I suppose you could dislike either one of those flavors and it would lose quite handily.  For those poor at foreshadowing I’m reviewing a butterscotch root beer, O-So Butterscotch Root Beer to be exact.

O-So that's what he's looking at.

O-So starts off on a good foot because I think the labeling is fantastic.  It’s a very 1960’s looking label, if not a little older as the bottle even states that O-So has been around since the 40’s.  The artwork  really does a good job at making me feeling nostalgic for a time where I wasn’t even born.  There’s even a fun phrase at the bottom. “O-So Delicious!” GET IT?  THE SODA NAME IS USED IN THE SENTENCE!  So now that visually we’re starting off right, I hope the aroma is also a plus.

Hooray!  The aroma is a butterscotch root beer combo, just as it should be.  The butterscotch is the dominant scent, but not so much that you forget it’s a root beer.  Now that I know the smell is on point I feel comfortable saying the taste will be above average at the very least.

There’s that roasted marshmallow flavor I look forward too.  The flavor is both creamy and buttery at the start, but finishes up with a nice strong bite at the back of the throat.  This dichotomy really ups the enjoyment factor of the soda.  You can tell i’m serious about this because I used the word “dichotomy”.  I even chuckled to myself when I did because of how simultaneously ridiculous and smart I felt.

I guess the creamy/bite relationship is a lot like that of the salty/sweet.  Sure each one is good by their lonesome, but it’s easy to get burnt out on them.  Pair the two together and your “want” becomes a “crave”.  I’m not sure that I’ll be craving O-So Butterscotch Root Beer when I’m done with this, but I’ll certainly want additional bottles in my possession.

While sweet it’s not overly so, but I’m not sure I’d want to drink this with a meal.  I think I’m officially going to designate this as a dessert soda.  The lack of syrupy mouthfeel keeps the experience from building upon itself until it’s demise.  Each sip is its own reward.  “Each sip is its own reward”... man that was good!  Put that on a bottle then sell a million, then give me 15%.

So even though the review you just read is rather simplistic, in the case of O-So it works.  It’s two simple flavors that are paired and play well together.  Bottom line is that if you like butterscotch or root beer you’ll like this soda.

~A

This was purchased at a Shell Gas Station


Australian Style Hot Ginger Ale

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I’m having a bad day.  Hopefully by the time this review gets posted I won’t be, but today hasn’t been the best.  I tell you this in case my mood influences this review, but I doubt it will.  The reason for my doubt is the fact there’s a kangaroo on the label of the soda I’m about to partake in.  Australian Style Hot Ginger Ale is the beverage at hand so it seems only appropriate and cliche that a kangaroo be on this bottle.  It’s a silhouette of a kangaroo so that makes it all the “artier”.  

The kangaroo means it's authentic.

All I can gleam from the bottle is that this is a hot ginger ale that’s sweetened with “pure” cane sugar.  The ingredient list is short, which normally is good, and the only thing on it that bothers me at all is sodium benzoate.  So perhaps this hot ginger ale will burn off my bad mood… or maybe hurt my mouth to the point where I forget about it.

I get little to no ginger scent from the bottle itself.  If anything it smells like printer paper.  Not exactly the scent you strive for in this situation, but the flavor may make up for it.

Nope, not really.  It has a very light carbonation which is followed by the taste of printer paper.  The printer paper has been sweetened with some sort of sugary substance, probably sugar, and then a mild burning sensation begins in my mouth.

While still very noticeable, this is the weakest “burn” I’ve experienced from any bottle that had the words “Hot Ginger” on it.  Haha, that last sentence might bring a new demographic to the site if they have a very specific “taste”.  Let’s see if we can’t increase our chances of that.

Hot Ginger

Hot Ginger

Hot Ginger

Hot Ginger

Hot Ginger

Anywho, I don’t get any ginger flavor at all with this soda and that’s ok.  “Why is that ok?” you ask.  It’s ok because I honestly feel better that this soda has limited redeeming value.

So if you want a burning sensation in your oral cavity then look no further than Hot Ginger.

For our newest viewers of the site… sorry you didn’t get to see what you came here for, but I’m sure you like soda so why not stick around.

~Aaron

This soda was purchased at a Shell Gas Station

Onli Hibiscus Pomegranate Strawberry

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Sigh… I’m worried about this review.  The last two sodas from Onli that I tasted did not agree at all with my buds.  To make matters worse today’s flavor includes hibiscus, something I’ve never really enjoyed.  The name it’s parents call it when it’s in trouble is Onli Hibiscus Pomegranate Strawberry.  It’s unsweetened and a beautiful rose color.  I know it’s unsweetened because it says so in bold print at least three times on the bottle.  So… here we go with the lowest expectations possible.

He's trying to see what the iguana is looking at.

The aroma is a nice, light strawberry scent that tries to seduce my mind.  It’s not going to work though.  Even though this smells of something I should sip on a hot summer day I know better… or at least I think I do.  

Onli makes the world's most confusing beverages.  I’m 100% ok with this.  It’s not delicious and amazing, but I understand what their doing and approve.  The two sodas I had prior to this one didn’t compute in my mind or mouth.  In my opinion, and that of the people around me while reviewing, they were awful.  

Onli Hibiscus Pomegranate Strawberry starts off with a bitter burst, but it transitions easily into a pomegranate/strawberry mineral water.  It’s definitely a sipping beverage and not a chugging one.  The fragile flavors fight with the bitters of the hibiscus and carbonation, but ultimately the sides call truce and live in harmony.

A powerful array of bubbles is ever present and adds some texture to the mouthfeel of the soda.  There is not a strong aftertaste and your mouth gets no syrupy buildup sip after sip.  I feel alright drinking this, no guilt at all.  Then again there are maybe 3 beverages I’d have any guilt about consuming.  

So that’s it then.  Onli makes sodas that flit and flicker all across my taste spectrum.  Thankfully my most recent memory of them will be positive.  Want an unsweetened soda that you might actually enjoy, give this one a try.

~A

This soda was purchased at an HEB Grocer