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.

Goya Coconut Water

While technically not a soda, I opened this with my boys a few days back: 

 I took a photo of it, and later realized it was the Spanish side...

... so I had to turn the can and take one of the English side.

Brand: Goya Coconut Water.

Origin: Jersey City, NJ.

Purchase Place: Aldi, Minneapolis, MN.

Sweetener: Sugar.

Review: This smelled nicely like lightly sweetened coconut. But it was odd tasting. (Even after shaking it well like it said to.) The biggest thing that put me off was how thick it was. It had the thickness of syrup, but it wasn't nearly that sweet. So it was odd to wrap my head around. Sure, I'm not a huge fan of coconut-flavored things, but this I couldn't do. And neither could my boys - they both gave up on it after a sip. No thanks. I have to rate this pretty poorly.

Score: 2 out of 10.

Drug Test at Pepsi Co.

Rocket Fizz Rocket Fuel

I opened this yesterday afternoon: 

Brand: Rocket Fizz Rocket Fuel.

Origin: Incline Village, NV.

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

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar.

Review: I didn't know what flavor this was going to be, because it just said "caffeinated rocket fuel." It smelled it, and it was very subtle - maybe a bit like a cream soda? And the taste was familiar, but I couldn't place it right away. So I Googled the soda, and found out that it's also considered an energy drink, and that makes the flavor make more sense - it's maybe a bit "Red Bull-ish." I went through a full page of Google results (clicking on every link), and only found "mild fruity flavor" as a description of the flavor. It's sweet (maybe a bit TOO sweet), but I don't know that I'd say "fruity." But I don't fully know WHAT I'd say other than "energy drink-like mixed with cotton candy." Ehh, it's OK.

Score: 5.5 out of 10.