Oak Creek Barrel Aged Root Beer

I opened this the other night:

Brand: Oak Creek Barrel Aged Root Beer.

Origin: Redding, California.

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

Sweetener: Sugar.

Review: Well, I didn't realize that I reviewed this about 6 months ago. Oops. But it was a good one to crack out after not having a root beer for a while. Last time, I gave it a "9," but this time I'll give it a bit of a lower score. But it's still quite good. It's REALLY creamy, but the flavor could be a bit richer. It's very smooth and goes down down well.

Score: 8 out of 10.
 

Frostie Strawberry Watermelon Soda

I tried this last night with my boys:

Brand: Frostie Strawberry Watermelon Soda.

Origin: Detroit, MI.

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

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar.

Review: This was really sweet, and tasted like a "kids soda." It tasted like a liquid Jolly Rancher to me. My wife agreed, and also added that it's a bit like a "Freezie." It's decently flavored, but the flavor is soft and it goes down easy. It's not a fancy "adult" soda - just a nicely flavored soda for anyone to enjoy. 

Score: 7.5 out of 10.
 

Pop Can Pun

Shasta Diet Root Beer

I opened this earlier tonight while I was grading at school:

Brand: Shasta Diet Root Beer.

Origin: Hayward, CA.

Purchase Place: Menards, St. Paul, MN.

Sweetener: Sucralose.

Review: For a diet, this was pretty average. It had a typical "weak" and slightly watery flavor, but the flavor wasn't too bad. It's pretty frothy and creamy, but it ends with a slight off/"chemically" taste. Still, pretty decent. I'll rank it right in the middle: average.

Score: 5 out of 10.

Cock N' Bull Bitter Lemon

I opened this while cleaning up last night:

I didn't know what to expect! A "signature bitter taste?" Umm... I'm... excited?

Brand: Cock N' Bull Bitter Lemon.

Origin: Spring Grove, MN.

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

Sweetener: Sugar.

Review: This was undrinkable! The first sniff / sip seemed promising... like a lemon-heavy lemon-lime. But then the last moment of each drink is a POW of bitterness. It is SO bitter. My 8-year-old was home with me, and he couldn't drink it either. I tried making a mixed drink (because it notes that it's good as a mixer, and I could see that), but what I tried with it didn't work. It still wasn't that drinkable. (Although it was better.) I can understand that this could be good in the right mixed drink, but on it's own (and how I tried it with an Elderflower Liqueur) it's undrinkable. Try it if you're looking for a bitter lemon flavor to add into mixed drinks, but unless that's specifically what you're looking for, stay away!

Score: 1 out of 10.
 

Tower Grape Soda

I opened this tonight as I was cooking:

Brand: Tower Grape Soda.

Origin: North Reading, MA.

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

Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Review: I don't know that I've had a "bad" grape soda. And this one wasn't bad either. It was sugary, sweet, and went down easy. It was nothing fancy or unique, but grape soda doesn't need to be. No complaints here! Tasty!

Score: 8 out of 10.