Favorite type of soda?

[SP Cook]

Also, I've noticed that Pepsi and Coke are marked as Kosher, I don't know if that applies elsewhere,  and about five years ago there was actually a 'Kosher Pepsi', labelled as such sold to the religious community.

In the regular part of the year, regular Coke can be kosher if the bottler is willing to pay one of the several Jewish orginizations to certify it as such.   Paying up is obviously a different business decision in NYC than in other places.  During Passover, regular Coke is not kosher because it contains corn syrup, so a special "Kosher Coke" is made from real sugar. 

The, at least to me, ironic thing about the two competitors relates to the Arab League's boycott of companies that delt with Israel.  Pepsi, based in NYC and with many prominant Jews in its ownership history, stayed out of Israel and was sold in the Arab world; Coke, based in (then segregated) Atlanta did the opposite.  The boycott ended decades ago, but even today (and outside North America the difference in popularity betwee Coke and its immitator is much greater) one of Pepsi's few bright spots is in Arab countries.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Chain pop: Pepsi, occasionally Dr. Pepper.

Craft/mom and pop: Spring Grove Soda Pop. They're based in the town of Spring Grove, MN just a few miles north of the Iowa border. It was love at first sip when I discovered their stand at the MN State Fair a couple years back. They've expanded to distribute their product in a number of Twin Cities grocery stores, though I used it as an excuse to go down to Spring Grove late this winter to pick up some wares. It's the best cream soda I've ever had, by far. I also enjoy their strawberry flavored pop.

[oscar]

I'm definitely a caffeinated Diet Pepsi addict, at least in the morning where it's my wake-up beverage instead of coffee. But there used to be some U.S. regional blends I didn't like, and I still don't care for the Canadian blend, so when I travel there I try to bring in enough from the U.S. to get by. I can't stand Diet Coke, and de-caf Diet Pepsi doesn't work for me either.

I also drink a lot of Diet 7-Up in the afternoon/evening, so I don't have enough caffeine in my bloodstream to wire an elephant. For that, I'm less choosy about the brand, and if Diet 7-Up is unavailable or at a much higher price. I can get by with Coca-Cola's Sprite Zero instead.

[SP Cook]

Well, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar showed up at my local Kroger. 

It has the same bar code as Coke Zero, meaning it is not really considered a "new" product.  It has a label saying "improved taste".  My opinion?  It does have a very slight flavor difference from the previous, slightly less "artificial sweetener" aftertaste.  My guess is they have varried the ratio of the sweeteners, using more of the more expensive Ace-K, and added a little more phosperic acid.

[paulthemapguy]

The best cola is the Puma Kola made by Sprecher in Milwaukee, famed for their root beer.  It's awesome because you can actually taste the honey, root extract, and other ingredients in the concoction.  My favorite is probably the seasonal apple-flavored release that Sprecher does each year.  The funny thing is that they brew beer, but I haven't liked a single beer they've produced.  Their sodas is where it's at.

[ColossalBlocks]

Dr. Pepper.

[on_wisconsin]

Funky Buddha- Floridian
New Glarus- Two Woman
Fulton- Lonely Blon....

Oh, what? Your talking about that carbonated sugar-water stuff... well ummmm....

Anything that doesn't have the words "Diet", "Zero", and/or "Fire" in the name is okay. I guess.

[Takumi]

Funky Buddha- Floridian
New Glarus- Two Woman
Fulton- Lonely Blon....

I could go for a craft beer thread.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Funky Buddha- Floridian
New Glarus- Two Woman
Fulton- Lonely Blon....

I could go for a craft beer thread.

We'd have to ban roadgeekteen from posting in that one.

[paulthemapguy]

Could we do a favorite beer thread?  Or would that not be kosher for this forum?

[MNHighwayMan]

Funky Buddha- Floridian
New Glarus- Two Woman
Fulton- Lonely Blon....

I could go for a craft beer thread.

We'd have to ban roadgeekteen from posting in that one.

Not sure it matters–underage drinkers don't go for craft beer anyway. They go for the cheapest hard stuff they can find to get as smashed as possible. Not that I would know anything about that. 

[formulanone]

Funky Buddha- Floridian

Three Degrees of Side Factoid: I went high school with the founder of that company, and he absolutely did it all on his own dime.

Proof that overnight success takes ten years.

Could we do a favorite beer thread?  Or would that not be kosher for this forum?

Kosher Beer Thread

[english si]

We'd have to ban roadgeekteen from posting in that one.

Drinking is illegal for under 21s in the US, but surely talking about it isn't

Or are the moralistic prigs that extreme.

Says the guy who could legally drink aged 5...

[bandit957]

Or are the moralistic prigs that extreme.

Actually yes, sometimes.

[Indyroads]

I prefer Baja Blast. And real colas made the old fashioned way with real cola nut extract.

[Jardine]

Favorite soda ??


NOT DIET

[sparker]

What has gotten my interest in recent weeks -- particularly during our local heat wave a month or so ago -- was a particular drink from Talking Waters called "Classic Lemonade", part of that company's "Sparkling Ice" line of "flavored waters" (i.e., soda!).  It's pretty carbonated, but has maybe the best balance of sweet (it's calorie-free) and tart that anyone has achieved in a carbonated lemonade.  Trouble is that it's not cheap -- a buck for a 17-oz. bottle -- but occasionally Grocery Outlet has gotten their hands on some, and they sell it at half price -- which is when I stock up; maybe 30 bottles at a time.  Good stuff -- highly recommended! 

[Roadgeekteen]

Favorite soda ??


NOT DIET

I like diet better than normal.

[JMoses24]

Diet Mountain Dew is preferred. I will go for a Diet Coke if I cannot get Diet Mountain Dew.

HB mentioned Ale-8-1, which I have occasionally gone for to soothe my stomach. Another favorite of mine along that same line is Gosling's Ginger Beer (yes, that IS a soft drink, even if its primary use is as part of a mixed alcoholic beverage).

[Otto Yamamoto]

Diet Mountain Dew is preferred. I will go for a Diet Coke if I cannot get Diet Mountain Dew.

HB mentioned Ale-8-1, which I have occasionally gone for to soothe my stomach. Another favorite of mine along that same line is Gosling's Ginger Beer (yes, that IS a soft drink, even if its primary use is as part of a mixed alcoholic beverage).

Any time I've ever had it, ginger beer is sold as a standalone beverage. I've never heard of it as a mixer. I have had alcoholic ginger beer; which is decent, a bit expensive.

P00I

[MNHighwayMan]

Any time I've ever had it, ginger beer is sold as a standalone beverage. I've never heard of it as a mixer. I have had alcoholic ginger beer; which is decent, a bit expensive.

Never had a Dark 'n Stormy or a Moscow Mule?

Edit: Also, ginger beer is sold next to the other mixers at my local supermarket.

[Otto Yamamoto]

Any time I've ever had it, ginger beer is sold as a standalone beverage. I've never heard of it as a mixer. I have had alcoholic ginger beer; which is decent, a bit expensive.

Never had a Dark 'n Stormy or a Moscow Mule?

Edit: Also, ginger beer is sold next to the other mixers at my local supermarket.

No, I'm not one for mixed drinks, I prefer beer and  wine, anyway,  on the rare occasions that I do drink. We have a significant Jamaican population in NYC, and Ginger Beer is a standalone beverage in that culture.

STV100-2

[formulanone]

Another favorite of mine along that same line is Gosling's Ginger Beer (yes, that IS a soft drink, even if its primary use is as part of a mixed alcoholic beverage).

We have a significant Jamaican population in NYC, and Ginger Beer is a standalone beverage in that culture.

Reed's is pretty good, too.

[bandit957]

Back in the '90s, when this area was in the throes of prohibitionism, I used to think the height of comic genius was to drink root beer, cover up the word "root" on the can, and say, "Look, I'm drinking beer."

[jp the roadgeek]

Any time I've ever had it, ginger beer is sold as a standalone beverage. I've never heard of it as a mixer. I have had alcoholic ginger beer; which is decent, a bit expensive.

Never had a Dark 'n Stormy or a Moscow Mule?

Edit: Also, ginger beer is sold next to the other mixers at my local supermarket.

No, I'm not one for mixed drinks, I prefer beer and  wine, anyway,  on the rare occasions that I do drink. We have a significant Jamaican population in NYC, and Ginger Beer is a standalone beverage in that culture.

STV100-2

Tried ginger beer once, thinking it would be like ginger ale.  It is, if you put an habanero pepper in there.