Virgil's Handcrafted Black Cherry Soda

I opened this while in a little motel in Grand Marais recently (after picking it up at the local coop): 

On the stove of our little motel room on the North Shore.

Brand: Virgil's Handcrafted Black Cherry Soda.

Origin: Norwalk, CT.

Purchase Place: Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op, Grand Marais, MN.

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: This was quite rich. "Cough-syrup-like" as my wife said. It was sweet and tasty. It was NEARLY a "black cherry CREAM soda" as it was so creamy. That was the one thing I actually didn't care for that much. Other than that, it was pretty good! (If you like a sugary soda...)

Score: 6.5 out of 10.

A Weasel Walks Into a Bar...

This is BARELY soda-related:

Harmony Springs Cream Soda

I opened this to share with my boys as we had pizza last night: 

Brand: Harmony Springs Cream Soda

Origin: Ludlow, MA.

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

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar.

Review: This was very heavy on the vanilla, but that wasn't a bad thing. The cream wasn't all that smooth, which could have made it better. But the vanilla helped redeem it. I'd totally call it a vanilla cream, and not just a "cream" soda. If you like heavy vanilla, give this a try.

Score: 6 out of 10.

A Metal Detector Found an Old 7-Up Can

Dublin Texas Bottling Works 1891 Grapefruit Soda

I opened this to sip on tonight: 

Brand: Dublin Texas Bottling Works 1891 Grapefruit Soda

Origin: Dublin, TX.

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

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar.

Review: Do you like Squirt? Because it's basically Squirt. If I did a side-by-side, I don't know that I'd taste much of a difference. I think Squirt is decent, so I liked this. Easy.

Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Thunder Beast American Root Beer

I opened this with supper last night: 

Brand: Thunder Beast American Root Beer.

Origin: Washington, DC.

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

Sweetener: Cane Sugar and Honey.

Review: I loved the label and the sass that this bottle of root beer had. I loved that across the bottom of the label it said "the best thing to come out of Washington D.C. since freedom." But I did not love the taste. It had a heavy caramel sweetness to it, and then I noticed that it had honey in it. I LOVE honey, but it seems like 90% of the time, honey ruins root beer for me. It's not a flavor combo that works for me.

I poured some into 2 glasses for my boys, and even they didn't like it. They don't get soda (except for small sips here-and-there), but neither of them finished it. It just was not good. This will go down as one of my least favorite root beers ever.

Score: 1.5 out of 10.

Baumeister Grape Soda

I opened this with lunch today:

Brand: Baumeister Grape Soda.  

Origin: Green Bay, WI.

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

Sweetener: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Review: This is a very sugary and very rich grape soda. It's like "kids grape candy" sweet. And I mean this is a good way. The flavor is good and pretty deep. The more I drank it, the "richer" the flavor became. It's a solid grape soda if you like sweetness!

Score: 8.5 out of 10.

 

Coca Cola Bottles Over Time

Northern Soda Company's Pontoon Punch

I had to swing into Kowalski's last week, so I checked out their soda stash. I grabbed one of these - a brand that Remix Popcorn and Delights carries, but they haven't been open to browse for a while (just taking online orders): 

Brand: Northern Soda Company's Pontoon Punch.

Origin: Arden Hills, MN.

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

Sweetener: Cane Sugar.

Review: It smelled much like a slightly cherry Fresca, and it was slightly pinkish-red. And I don't think I was projecting this, but I tasted a bit like that too: nicely fruity and sweet with just an undertone of sourness to it. Quite tasty!

Score: 8 out of 10.