Best Soda Pop in the USA!

Yes, I forgot! Sprecher root beer is wonderful. It's been a while since we were in Wisconsin. Last time we were there, Sprecher was hosting an outdoor festival with all their beers on tap. Good as the beer was I couldn't stop drinking that root beer.

I like Big Red.You can find it everywhere around here.
I like Dad's Rootbeer.I saw it somewhere,maybe at Walmart,no wait,Dollar Tree.Need to buy some for old times sake.
Someone mentioned Milwaukee. I recall my dad talking about Grandpa Graff's Rootbeer.But that was back in the 1930s,don't know if they make it anymore.

Don't see much Shasta soda around here anymore.H.E.B.Grocery Stores sell soda under their own HillCountry Fare brand name that's not too bad.Don't know who makes it for them.

We don't have Dad's in Northwest Florida (or anywhere close)....except for the
unlikeliest of all places: Rahal Chevrolet, in Marianna, Florida; when we took
the car in for its oil change, while in the waiting room, I happened to take
notice of the vending machine, and sure enough, 20 oz. bottles of Dad's, and
another scarce soda, Ski (supposedly like Mello Yello; and I have seen billboards
for that in Dothan, AL), for $1 apiece

Unfortunately, I didn't have any ones on me that time!

We see Dad's in the 'budget' cooler at the supermarket checkouts... One Coke cooler, One Pepsi cooler and the Budget cooler with Big Red, RC Cola, Sometimes Dr Pepper (in this area it is bottled and sold with the Pepsi brands) Cheerwine & Ale 81 are usually there too.

Walmart has expanded it's soda rack to include a section for independents..Stewarts, I B C Dad's and a couple of others that escape my memory at this point. The Dad's is in One and Two Liter bottles. The IBC and Stewarts are various flavors in 4 packs of 12 oz bottles.

I haven't seen it mentioned here, but I have loved white birch soda since I was a child.It's available but hard to find in New Hampshire from Polar who also makes a very refreshing cranberry soda.

Barq's Root Beer, Mountain Dew and Coke!

Mayor Al, Stewart's & IBC have been at Wal-Mart for years. Add Crush in the glass
bottles to that list (Crush in cans is in the regular soda aisle along with RC,
Dr. Pepper, Big Red (surprised it survived the purge when Cheerwine & Sun-Drop
vanished from the shelves here earlier this year), Squirt, A&W &, on an irregular
basis, the 2-liter bottles of Vernors, which disappear as fast as they arrive.)

[|)] (The coffee hasn't kicked in yet this morning!)

Back in upstate NY there was a company in Kingsto, Zeeh's Bottling, and they had the best white birch beer, root beer and red saspirella sodas in the world....wonder if they are still in business?

What ever happened to Jolt? "All the sugar and twice the caffeine... ?"

Matilda
I see Jolt sitting over on the 'Energy Drink Cooler' along side the 'Thrust' and 'Whoop Ass'(I bought one of those just to have the can sitting on my desk!! Anyway, Jolt is still around, it just jumped to another 'group'

Cheerwine is in the vending machines at the Kroger Distribution Center where one of my sons works...but it isn't in the Kroger markets anymore. Most supermarkets stock Vernors in 2 liter, but only a couple will get the 12 packs of 12 oz cans

The big guys do a lot of bottling of some of the smaller brands. Out west I recall Dr Pepper being delivered to our local maket by the Coke Bottler. Here in this area Pepsi bottles it. Barq's and Pibb come from Coke, Sunkist and Dr Pepper from Pepsi here.

Thanks for the info!
I also enjoy YooHoo. Does that count?

Hehe, Yeah, It counts. It isn't on my list, thats for sure. I never have been able to choke "YooHoo" down...but I wasn't a chocolate milk lover either!

Vernors is still numero uno for me!

Is there anyone else who considers the "Burn Factor" as one element of the quality of a carbonated beverage? Fire Capt and I exchanged comments on this thread about Vernor's changing it's recipe...being sweeter now than it was at some time in the past, but what I meant to try to describe was that Vernor's had lost some of it's "Burn Factor".

"Burn factor" is measured by the ability of the drinker to gulp down certain sodas. At one time there was no way I could gulp down a 12 oz can of Vernor's "non-stop", the carbonation would "burn" my throat and force me to "come up for air". Coke would do that to me also, Pepsi never did. I may reach the "full mark" on a Pepsi, but it won't be because of the "Burn Factor"! Some sodas push the ability of the drinker to gulp down large volumes of the beverage easily. Mellow Yellow advertised their "Chug a Lug" bottles that encouraged one to consumme 16oz non-stop. A few others followed that marketing scheme. Some of todays more popular drinks Pepsi, Mr.Pibb, Mountain Dew, Sunkist and many others have cut the carbonation level to increase the 'speed' of consumption and thus increase sales.

That is why I seem to remember the "Dry Ginger Ales" Canada Dry, Cott's and Polar, and Cliquot Club all had Ginger Ales labeled extra dry...They had outstanding "Burn Factors". Anyone else thinking along these lines???

quote:

Originally posted by Robearjr

My vote will go to Ale-8-One. No soda mixes better with Bourbon.

I have to go with the Nehi vote, strawberry and peach flavors. It's no where to be found here any longer.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


Is there anyone else who considers the "Burn Factor" as one element of the quality of a carbonated beverage? Fire Capt and I exchanged comments on this thread about Vernor's changing it's recipe...being sweeter now than it was at some time in the past, but what I meant to try to describe was that Vernor's had lost some of it's "Burn Factor".

"Burn factor" is measured by the ability of the drinker to gulp down certain sodas. At one time there was no way I could gulp down a 12 oz can of Vernor's "non-stop", the carbonation would "burn" my throat and force me to "come up for air". Coke would do that to me also, Pepsi never did. I may reach the "full mark" on a Pepsi, but it won't be because of the "Burn Factor"! Some sodas push the ability of the drinker to gulp down large volumes of the beverage easily. Mellow Yellow advertised their "Chug a Lug" bottles that encouraged one to consumme 16oz non-stop. A few others followed that marketing scheme. Some of todays more popular drinks Pepsi, Mr.Pibb, Mountain Dew, Sunkist and many others have cut the carbonation level to increase the 'speed' of consumption and thus increase sales.

That is why I seem to remember the "Dry Ginger Ales" Canada Dry, Cott's and Polar, and Cliquot Club all had Ginger Ales labeled extra dry...They had outstanding "Burn Factors". Anyone else thinking along these lines???

I understand but feel just the opposite on Pepsi and Coke. Pepsi is my favorite and Coke always to me has been the sweet less biting one.
Isn't that odd.

AL!,
I know exactly what you are talking about, and now that I think about it, the last time I had Vernors, it didnt have that "snap", or "burn factor" you speak of.
Why oh why do people have to mess with things?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

AL!,
I know exactly what you are talking about, and now that I think about it, the last time I had Vernors, it didnt have that "snap", or "burn factor" you speak of.
Why oh why do people have to mess with things?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I agree that the current version of Vernor's is nothing like the stuff I was getting 20-30 years ago. (Strangely enough, I could only find it in neighboring Pennsylvania, even tho' it was canned only 15 miles east of me in Asbury Park, NJ). I've attributed the "taming" of the brand to it now being just one more of the dozens of soda pops (including many hard-to-find classics)owned by Schweppes/Seven-up/Dr. Pepper.

http://www.dpsubg.com/brands.asp

I do not think that Diet Coke jumps to the head of the list because it is not everything every one wants but it is necessary for me. I have several every day. It may not be the best but it works for me.

I do not enjoy a breakfast without one.

Paul E. Smith
knxoville, TN

Am I the only person in the universe that doesn't care for Vernor's? To me it tastes like perfume! I love Squirt--it's tart and refreshing. And I go to the Tienda for green bottle Cokes. They are imported for Mexico and made with cane sugar. Yum!

It seems like alot of our foods are becoming sweeter. Foods are losing strong and pungent flavors and while spicyness (is that a word) seems to be increasing, foods are having less bite or acidity.

Allyk---Yep, You are a very Special Person!!!

quote:

Originally posted by allyk

Am I the only person in the universe that doesn't care for Vernor's? To me it tastes like perfume!

I've never cared for it either.

My favorite is still Nehi Peach. I cant get it in Northern West Virginia, but my brother and I found a small gas station in North Carolina (my sister lives there) that carries it and when we go down, I buy all that he has. Usually a case or better.

quote:

Originally posted by El Guapo

But my real addiction is to a New England regional soda, Polar Orange Dry, which is available in both regular and diet versions. The soda, made with 10 percent orange juice, is reminiscent of Orangina, but I prefer the flavor of the Polar version.

Oh yes, "addictive" is the only way to describe Polar Orange Dry. What do they put in it? Gold? Drugs???

I'm also a fan of Dad's Honey Lemonade. Goodsoda.com used to carry it, but I don't see it there any more.

Fanta Red Creme. I miss it, a lot.

Haven't seen ANY cranberry ginger ale this year.

They sell Vernor's on tap at a hot dog stand @ Detroit's airport.

Oh & someone mentioned Grandpa Graf's, yes they still make the root beer.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Sprecher's root beer.

The best pops are at JB's house

Anyone from the Detroit area remember Towne Club soda??? My dad used to take us there as kids and we got to take our pick from what seemed like 30 different varieties!! This was awesome pop!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towne_Club

Mt. dew Do the Dew

Big fan of Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer. I ususally pick up a few 12 packs when I am in NJ/PA. When I dont have it in the house I get the Polar Birch Beer.

I just love those old flavors.

Gone but not forgotten....White Rock.

quote:

Originally posted by wmceaton

Gone but not forgotten....White Rock.

Not gone, just harder to find: http://www.whiterockbeverages.com/