The Soda Pop Thread

[downtown]

So most of y'all know I can't drink, which means I can't really participate in the booze snobbery that is common both on the forums I read, and with my real life peers. Just because I'm a teetotaler doesn't mean I'm not selective about what beverages go into my body though! I've begun to develop a "thing" for off the beaten path soda pops.

My personal favorites (for the purposes of this thread, "indie" sodas are defined as not being made by Coke, Pepsi or the 7UP companies, and aren't supermarket offbrand derivatives (so the Sams Club DR.THUNDER doesn't count.)

The all time champion in my house?

straight out of the motherland. Buying this was a special treat growing up, because only one store in 100 miles sold it. I've had much better luck finding Brazilian pop here in Chicago. It's like a fruity ginger ale, but better!

Also, I've recently been introduced to Green River, which I think is actually a midwestern pop (think 7UP with more sugar?)

I had never seen this in my life until 3 months ago, and now I'm seeing it all over the city.

This is a southern soda, mostly in the Carolinas and Tenn I think, but I found it at an off-campus bar near Purdue, and I love it.

I've never seen better smelling soda (it's cherry flavored)

What are your favorites??

 

[Smellincoffee]

Ah, the fabled Cheerwine...when I first moved to my university town, a guy I met told me this little place down the street was the only place in the state he knew of that sold an exquisite conconction called "Cheerwine". So I went to the little place town the street, and they were...closed for winter. So I came back in the spring, and all they had was Cherry Coke -- which I like just fine, but I was disappointed at the lack of Cheerwine. They shut their doors soon after and became an ice-cream sundae place. :shrug:

All of my soda choices (Barq's Root Beer, Cherry Coke, Sprite, and Pepsi) are all mainstream...with the exception of Jones' Soda, I suppose, but it's generically cool instead of indie cool now.

 

[Zelig]

Are there any sweetener-free soda pops that don't taste like ass?

edit: Or any good ones that just use juice as a sweetener?

 

[_random_]

Jones would probably be the standard answer in a thread like this. Lemon Drop, Green Apple, and Cream are some of my favorite flavors.

 

[Lord of Elves]

I have relatives who live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and while visiting them they introduced me to Vernor's. It's a kind of ginger ale, but somewhat spicy or very sugary, and also heavily carbonated. Has an interesting taste, but it has to be kept cold to taste like anything other than regular ginger ale.

Spoiler :

 

[Ajidica]

If I can get it, I like A&W Root Beer served fresh. Otherwise, Dr. Pepper is the way to go. Or cherry coke if I am in the mood.

 

[Joecoolyo]

I don't think I've had any soda that isn't mainstream

 

[f35acepilot]

I don't get much of a chance to drink new sodas, but the store on my campus just started selling this amazing root beer.

It's fair trade certified and organic (always been a fan of the taste of organic drinks)
And since I'm awful at describing taste, I'll link in an article.

 

[classical_hero]

Soda Pop? It is a soft drink.

I am also a teetotaller, but I know they are not good for me, so I should avoid them, but I just can't but we just get the generic one, from the Coca-cola company, the PepsiCo, and from Schweppes.

 

[Disgustipated]

I used to call it coke back in my day. Even when it wasn't coke. We always called all soda coke. When I moved back east in the military I called it soda. I never called it soda pop or pop. I think pop is a northern word for it.

As for soda I don't drink it any more. I used to love Dr. Pepper and Mt. Dew. But I have given up all caffeine for health reasons. I miss soda, but now I realize how unhealthy it is, I realize it's for the best. Back in the day, however, it was my primary means of caffeine. I don't drink coffee, and dislike most tea.

 

[Earthling]

So this thread reminded me of something I had to go look up even though I've said enough about soda around here recently anyway. I probably would balk a little at the definition of "major" soda companies since really Pepsi and Coke are the giants but doesn't really matter I guess, the intent of the thread is cool. Not going to be changing my mind about anything since I'm also on Dr. Pepper (and A&W rocks too) for life, already know original pure sugar sodas were better etc... but still interesting. The only supposed underground/nostalgic/whatever sodas I'm familiar enough with other people around are RC Cola (which still is around enough places in the US, just small market share/old school compared to Pepsi/Coke) and Jolt, supposedly a better precursor to nasty modern energy drinks.

However the real thing that motivated me to post was not a soda per se but managing to find a brand of juices I'd had a few times before that were amazingly amazing. Don't know where one could find these in person now and not about to order that much online but still, Hawaiian Sun it was, really really good fruit juices. http://www.hawaiiansunproducts.com/guava_nectar.html

 

[jojorah]

I dunno l like jones soda, the bubble gum one becuase of its exotic taste

 

[Hygro]

My favorite soda is beer

 

[ZeletDude]

Mexican Coke (it uses the original recipe, with real sugar; much much better) And Dr. Pepper..

 

[Joecoolyo]

Mexican Coke (it uses the original recipe, with real sugar; much much better) And Dr. Pepper..

Actually, thank you Zelet, you jogged my memory.

I have had this Mexican soda before, and its flavor was godly, but now I can't for the life of me remember it's name. I think it started with a J...

 

[bombshoo]

Good root beer with vanilla ice cream.

 

[Perfection]

I think it started with a J...

Jarritos?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarritos

 

[Hygro]

I'm not a huge fan of colas. I like root beer and citrus sodas.

Honestly there's too much sugar in soda (diet sodas are not an option ). I remember a small brand that had a low sugar drink with a tagline like "soda for adults". My somewhat younger girlfriend at the time reported that she didn't like, drawing snickers from me and my oh so mature same aged friend. It was pretty delicious none-the-less.

I would love it if redbull made a non-caffeinated version. I think that stuff is delicious but the energy aspect is a little much.

 

[Camikaze]

I have to say, Cadbury-Schweppes is perhaps the best company on the face of the earth. I mean, chocolate and soft drink?

 

[azzaman333]

I have to say, Cadbury-Schweppes is perhaps the best company on the face of the earth. I mean, chocolate and soft drink?

They're pretty good like that.