Mug Zero Sugar Root Beer

I stopped at our local "corner store" and grabbed a Zero Sugar Mug:

 
Brand: Zero Sugar Mug Root Beer.

Origin: Purchase, NY.

Purchase Place: Marshall Stop, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: Sucralose.

Review: This really did NOT taste "diet" or "low calorie." It still had that pretty standard DEEP Mug Root Beer flavor. I was pleasantly surprised! I expected it to be a solid soda, but didn't expect it to taste THAT "normal." If you like Mug and want a diet option, then you need to try this. 

Score: 8 out of 10.

Pepsi Nitro Draft Cola

"Nitrogen-infused cola?!?" I just had to grab this when I saw it:

Chill, "pour hard," and then "admire" and enjoy? Intriguing!

Lots of long-lasting head.

The final pour was 80% foam!

Tearing open the can afterwards to find the nitrogen dispenser at the bottom.

Brand: Pepsi Nitro Draft Cola.

Origin: Purchase, NY.

Purchase Place: Kowalski's Market, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: The "crack" of opening this can was loud! It startled my wife! I then poured it "hard" (as instructed) into a few glasses for my family to enjoy. It had bigger and longer-lasting head than normal, but nothing too dramatic. 

But it WAS more dramatic in the flavor - it added a real smoothness (almost creaminess) to the Pepsi flavor. This was really good, and very unique on the tongue (if that doesn't sound too pretentious - talking about "mouth feel"). There was a "vanilla cola" version of this next to it at Kowalski's, and I'm thinking about stopping back to try that as well. Very interesting, very tasty, and a bit of a different experience than just a "normal" cola. On taste alone, I'd call this a 9, but I'm almost bumping it up to a 9.5 because of the interesting and foamy head.

Score: 9 out of 10.

Moneybag's Creme Soda

I was recently "up north" with family in a cabin, and I brought this to enjoy:

Under the bottle cap.

Wait... Gene Simmons?

     

Brand: Moneybag's Creme Soda.

Origin: Niagara Falls, NY.

Purchase Place: Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: First of all... yes, this is put out by Gene Simmons of KISS fame. I enjoyed the design on the front of the bottle, but didn't spot Simmons's name until I took off the cap. It's a pretty smooth cream (or "créme" as it's spelled on the bottle) and it went down easily. Nice and sugary. There's a BIT of a chemically aftertaste, but it's not bad. I'll rank this just a bit over average.

Score: 6 out of 10.

Fresh Fizz Organic Soda Sparkling Jalapeno Limeade

I opened this while in my car waiting for one of my sons' sports practices:

Sitting in my car

Brand: Fresh Fizz Organic Soda Sparkling Jalapeño Limeade.

Origin: Island Park, NY.

Purchase Place: Fresh Thyme, Minneapolis, MN.

Sweetener: Organic Honey.

Review: This was a risky soda. I grow jalapeño peppers and like cooking with them, but I didn't know how I'd like that flavor in a soda... and if they'd be able to CREATE that flavor in a soda.

The first time bringing it to my mouth gave me a sniff of what smelled like TRUE jalapeño peppers - I was impressed already one second before taking my first sip. After my first sip, I was even more impressed - the jalapeño flavor came through well and was spot on! There are only 4 ingredients (carbonated water, lime juice, honey, and jalapeño peppers) and they all pull their own weight. 

This was not a "gulping" soda... this is definitely a "sipping" soda. My wife enjoyed the flavor and remarked this would be good in a cocktail, which is 100% right. The limeade cuts through the jalapeño nicely, and they work well together! It's hard to give this a score because it's not something I would just open and gulp down because it's so tasty, but I would sip on it for a while because it's refreshing. I was impressed by this!

Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Zero Sugar Lemon Lime Starry

I've been seeing this around lately (a "rebrand" of Sierra Mist), and I grabbed one on a walk around the neighborhood with my son recently:

On the back wall of Marshall Stop.

 
Brand: Zero Sugar Lemon Lime Starry.

Origin: Purchase, NY.

Purchase Place: Marshall Stop, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: Aspartame.

Review: I didn't need to try this. It was a pretty generic lemon lime soda. Sure, it *WAS* good, but it wasn't doing anything different from 7Up, Sprite, Sierra Mist (what it replaced), etc. It's just another decent lemon lime soda. It's a lot like a 7Up, but just slightly sweeter (which I guess is pretty impressive for it being a 10 calorie drink). I like lemon lime sodas, and I liked this... I just wish it was trying something new.

Score: 7 out of 10.

Reed's Root Beer Hard Candy

These caught my eye at Ace Hardware last month:

Individually wrapped like the packaging says. Seems old fashioned (and a touch wasteful).

The candy inside.

I don't often "review" CANDY, but being this is root beer flavored, I feel like I need to...  

Brand: Reed's Root Beer Hard Candy

Origin: Great Neck, NY.

Purchase Place: Frattallone's Ace Hardware, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: Sugar and Glucose Syrup.

Review: Obviously, my main point of reference is a "root beer barrel," but I expected this to be better (or maybe "more refined") than a root beer barrel. And I was right. It was a bit more caramel flavored, but just a touch. The flavor was actually more subtle than a root beer barrel - it didn't have that same harshness. And it was very long lasting. So it's a slightly more refined, slightly more gentle, and slightly more caramely version of a classic root beer barrel. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's pretty good and quite enjoyable!

Score: 7.5 out of 10.

2023 Limited Edition Pepsi Peeps Soda (Pepsi x Peeps)

I saw these at Target and just HAD to try one:

Pepsi x Peeps

Close-up of the label.

 

Brand: 2023 Limited Edition Pepsi Peeps Soda (Pepsi x Peeps).

Origin: Purchase, NY.

Purchase Place: Target, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: A few weeks ago, I was grocery shopping with my wife when we first came across this. We looked at it, and one of the Pepsi delivery guys who was stocking shelves next to us said it was pretty horrible. So we left without getting a bottle.

But his reaction has been making me want to try one ever since! So when I swung by a few days ago, I noticed there were still a few left in then bin where we originally saw them. So against my better judgement, I grabbed one.

It smelled like an extra sweet Pepsi. And it tasted like an extra sweet Pepsi... at first. Then the end of each taste turned into something weird. Like hot wet landfill. Like sugar trash. Like sweet death. It's super "chemically" and really nothing like marshmallows. I was excited for this, but they just couldn't get a real marshmallow taste, or maybe the taste of Pepsi just didn't vibe with it. I don't know how this through Pepsi's team (much like Coke's limited edition "Dreamworld").

Score: 2 out of 10.

Bruce Cost Pomegranate with Hibiscus Ginger Ale

I opened this just now: 

Brand: Bruce Cost Pomegranate with Hibiscus Ginger Ale.

Origin: Brooklyn, NY.

Purchase Place: Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market, Minneapolis, MN.

Sweetener: Organic Cane Sugar.

Review: I was kinda not looking forward to this as I don't always enjoy that back-of-the-throat bite that ginger ale has. (My wife grabbed this for me while getting groceries this past weekend.) But there's something about the hibiscus flavor in this that sweetens this up and takes away that horrible bite! This wasn't bad! It still had the slight bite of ginger ale, but it wasn't too much. It was a real interesting and very drinkable ginger soda... and this coming from someone who isn't usually a fan of ginger! (Side note: I also enjoyed a little warning on the small label on the neck: "Separation is natural. Shake gingerly." #DadJoke)

Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Manhattan Special Black Cherry

I opened this tonight after a big day: 

 

Brand: Manhattan Special Black Cherry.  

Origin: Brooklyn, NY.

Purchase Place: "Minnesota's Largest Candy Store," Jordan, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: This had a unique flavor. I sipped it before I looked at the ingredients, and then I noticed it has "vegetable juice for color" as the 3rd ingredient, and I swear I can taste that. It has a "natural/earthiness" to it. The black cherry flavor is somewhere between "black cherry" (but not quite) and some sort of "cherry cream" (but also not quite). It's a unique flavor that I have to give them credit for (they weren't just doing "another black cherry" soda), but not quite my thing. It was just OK.

Score: 5.5 out of 10.

Manhattan Special Sarsaparilla

I opened this earlier today as I was cleaning the basement: 

Brand: Manhattan Special Sarsaparilla.

Origin: Brooklyn, NY.

Purchase Place: Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, Jordan, MN.

Sweetener: Sugar.

Review: This was the first bottle from my new collection of sodas from Minnesota's Largest Candy Store last month.  I didn't hunt this one out - I just reached into the case and pulled out the first thing I touched. 

As for how I liked this one, it was very creamy and very tasty. It formed a good head, and just tasted "natural" - there wasn't anything fake or chemically about this. It was an easy-to-drink soda on this warm day.

Score: 7.5 out of 10.

Boylan Cane Cola

I was grabbing some mulch at Ace (on Grand near Snelling Ave) last week, and I also grabbed this:

I liked the design of the bottle cap.

Brand: Boylan Cane Cola.

Origin: New York, New York.

Purchase Place: Frattallone's Ace Hardware, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: This was OK. It had that flowery sweetness that many "good" colas have, but it was pretty subtle. There wasn't anything special or unique about this. Pretty average, so I'm giving it an average "5."

Score: 5 out of 10.

Pennsylvania Dutch Cherry Cola Candy Cane

I was shopping at "Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market" on University Ave in Minneapolis a few weeks back, and I happened to glance across the flavored candy canes. And I spotted this:

A jar of Pennsylvania Dutch Cherry Cola Candy Canes.

Just the good stuff: sugar, more sugar, fake flavor, and color.

Brand: Pennsylvania Dutch Cherry Cola Candy Cane.

Origin: Hicksville, NY.

Purchase Place: Fresh Thyme, Minneapolis, MN.

Sweetener: Sugar and Corn Syrup.

Review: I was first (pleasantly) surprised to find that there was no strong peppermint taste. Even though it's NOT a traditional candy cane, I was afraid it'd have a hint of peppermint thrown it. But it didn't.

At first, all I tasted was "cherry." There was no other flavor than cherry. "Where's the COLA?" I wondered. Then I realized I was just sucking on a red part - notice in the picture above that the cane is swirled red and brown. I focused my licks on a brown part, and sure enough, that was more "cola" flavored. So that was kinda fun to discover.

Both the cherry and the cola weren't very strong, but they were OK. I'm not really a fan of hard candies, so take that into consideration. This was fine, but there's ZERO chance it could beat an ACTUAL cherry cola. So I'll rank this just below average.

Score: 4 out of 10.
 

Refrescos Country Club UVA Grape Soda

I opened this as I was cooking a meat loaf yesterday:

Brand: Refrescos Country Club UVA Grape Soda.

Origin: Brooklyn, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: I quite often say that I like (or at least"don't mind") a syrupy soda. But this was nearly too much for me. I don't know that I've EVER had a soda that was this syrupy. My wife would have called it a little "cough syrup-like" (although it didn't taste medicinal at all). The grape flavor was "expected" and OK, but it was just a bit to thick-tasting. I appreciate that it seems to be trying something new/unique, but I'll still have to rate it just below average.

Score: 4 out of 10.

Olde Brooklyn Brighton Beach Black Cherry Soda

I opened this last night and shared a few sips with my boys:

Brand: Olde Brooklyn Brighton Beach Black Cherry Soda.

Origin: Whitestone, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar.

Review: This is really interesting because it starts VERY creamy, but then each sip ends with a bit of a "bite." It's unusual to have both those sensations in the same soda. It's just a basic (but tasty) creamy black cherry soda. I'm a bit surprised that it's not labeled as "black cherry CREAM." It's a solid soda!

Score: 8 out of 10.
 

Fiz Roc City Root Beer

I cracked into this today:

Brand: Fiz Roc City Root Beer.

Origin: Rochester, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: I thought I'd had this before, but as I looked back on this blog, I realized I'd only sampled it at a "root beer tasting" at Blue Sun Soda. (I actually noted that Fiz's was the only root beer at the tasting that I hadn't had before, but I didn't note if I liked it or not.)

It had a very "thick" flavor, almost molasses-like. Whenever I think of a "classic" root beer flavor, it's one of 2 things: sort of an A&W, or like this Fiz. It was pretty good. Pretty rich. And when I set it down a little hard on the counter once it made and kept a good head. Nothing great, but pretty decent.

Score: 7 out of 10.
 

Boylan Grape

I've had an up and down relationship with Boylan. It was time for another try. So I opened this over the weekend:

Brand: Boylan Grape Soda.

Origin: New York, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: This was sugary and delicious. It had a deep grape flavor and went down easily. It's been a few years since I had Faygo grape soda, but it reminded me of that (but maybe a bit smoother and better). Tasty stuff!

Score: 8.5 out of 10.

Sioux City Ginger Beer

I opened this in my office between classes today:

The odd thing is that the label contained hardly any more info than what's pictured above: just a barcode to the left (barely visible near the bottom of the label in that pic), and which states you can get a refund for the bottle on the right. No other info. Strange. So I got the rest of the info from Beverages Direct.


Brand: Sioux City Ginger Beer.

Origin: Whitestone, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: This was pretty decent (and this coming from someone who doesn't care for ginger things). It had a good, natural bite of ginger (the kind that nearly stings the back of your throat), but then it almost finished smooth. That combo I like (a bite, but then smooth), so this was better than I figured it would be. It was like a ginger ale mixed with a slightly "thin" cola (but not in a bad way). If you are a ginger fan, check this out.

Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Colombiana La Nuestra

Today my students were working on their final project proposals, so I took it easy and drank this:

A student in the background. Not my student. Just a student.

Brand: Colombiana La Nuestra.

Origin: Milton, NY.  (I was hoping for something more exotic. Something,... more south...)

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: I cracked this open not knowing what to expect, or even what flavor it was. It only said "Kola Flavored Soda" on the bottle, which I've always thought of as a sweeter, fuller, "fruitier" cola flavor.

Well, it wasn't really cola flavored. It was VERY smooth, and nearly a "cream soda." I saw something online saying this is apple flavored, but I don't taste that. It's like a sweet cream soda with a BIT of a Dr. Pepper flavor. Interesting. Unique. Not bad.

Score: 6 out of 10.
 

Crystal Pepsi

I was at the convenience store yesterday to get some soda for my boys who were getting over throwing up. In the cooler, I spotted this, and couldn't resist trying it:

Brand: Crystal Pepsi

Origin: Purchase, NY.

Purchase Place: Marshall Stop, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: I tried to ignore the fact that it was clear because I didn't want that to affect what I thought of it. (I feel like I'll "taste" something differently based on it's color.) At first sip, it tasted like a "lighter" Pepsi. It was initially similar to Pepsi, but then there was an extra sweetness. I rarely say this, but it was a bit too sweet for me. It was like an overly sweet cola (which really doesn't sound all that bad to me, but it was just slightly too much). A bit different, not great, but not horrible.

Score: 5 out of 10.

Saranac Diet Root Beer

I opened this yesterday (a HOT afternoon):

With veggies from our garden in the background.

Brand: Saranac Diet Root Beer.

Origin: Utica, NY.

Purchase Place: Blue Sun Soda, Spring Lake Park, MN.

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: The initial flavor that hit my lips was strong on the vanilla and very tasty. But then it turned into a steaming pile of crap. I think this was the first "diet" soda that I've had that still uses high fructose corn syrup: this had 35 calories, and one would assume that that means it's just using a lot less HFCS. And it tastes like that. It's not sweet at all. It's thin, weak, and chemically. I was severely disappointed.

Score: 2 out of 10.