Topo Sabores Apple

Here's another bottle of fruit soda from Topo Sabores following their orange soda, seen here.

This is not a natural soda, so you won't find real apples being used to make it. This is perhaps the reason this soda smells more like a combination of citrous and grape flavors. Did the folks mixing this base it off of an odd strain of apple because it does not taste like apple either. I'd classify this flavor close to a pear flavor. Both pears and apples are pomaceous fruits, but apples are typically more acidic lending to a sharp taste. This soda is smooth. If you're after a pear flavored soda, which I should note I've never seen, then snap up a bottle of this from the ethnic foods section of the grocery store. Skip it if you want the taste of apple. It is however, an interesting taste.

Dang! That's Good Butterscotch Root Beer

Dang! That's Good is a brand name of soda produced by Imperial Flavors, a family-owned business out of Milwaukee that's been around for over 45 years. I was unable to find any specific year that business began or how they entered the beverage market. 

Although better known for their root beer, they also offer this butterscotch concoction. It smells sweet and sugary and reminds me of pudding. I like the level of carbonation and I'm surprised by how much a like it. I was never big on butterscotch pudding as a kid and I think those little candies are kind of gross, but I like this. The smoothness is pleasant but makes me wonder what it would taste like with a sharp flavored root beer behind it. I really don't get a root beer flavor in it, just butterscotch. I find this drink sweet and smooth. This would make a great choice as a dessert drink. 

Shirakiku Pineapple

Another bottle of Japanese ramune. If this is the first of these you've seen then check out the first post about this particular brand and bottle style at the link here. There are a few other posts on ramune you can explore by using the article "tags" at the bottom of each post.

I was looking forward to trying this drink because I've liked many previous ramune beverages from the Shirakiku line-up, but this one is strange. It smells more like a melon flavored drink. Indeed, there is also a touch of melon in the flavor as well as that of apple juice. But it doesn't invoke any sense of pineapple to me. I'm not saying it is necessarily bad, but it's just not very crisp, no very carbonated and not like pineapple. I can't recommend it, but if you're curious, try it.

World Market Pomegranate

This bottle of Pomegranate soda is the third World Market beverage to appear here. There really isn't a history to discuss as these are a line of private label sodas created by the World Market stores.

The drink itself has a rich cranberry coloring to it and smells like fresh fruit. It's carbonation is even but slight. It's taste is like cranberry and lime juice. I say this because it's a deep fruit pulp flavor but quite tart with a lime-like aftertaste. It's also a very natural product as no chemicals are included as ingredients. It's an interesting flavor but I usually prefer pomegranate mixed with other flavors. Because of it's pucker inducing nature I, personally, would only drink this in small amounts.

Sioux City Birch Beer

In 1987, White Rock Beverages, who had already been producing spring water and soft drinks since the 1800's, created the Sioux City line of sodas with a western theme. Although the bottle says Sioux City, which is located in Iowa, White Rock Beverages hails from New York.

Wow, what an aroma. Opening this bottle unleashes the scent of cinnamon and peppermint. It is only lightly carbonated but it's very refreshing. Although a birch beer should taste more like root beer, so I'm not sure how it ended up tasting this way, but it is nice and brings to mind a Lifesavers breath mint. In my opinion you should grab a 4-bottle pack to try.

Topo Sabores Orange

Topo Sabores is a Mexican made soda under the umbrella of the Topo Chico company that began in 1895 to bottle mineral waters. The late 1800's were the hey day of consumer use of "healing waters" before people understood what was in the mineral springs being ingested and/or bathed in. The company was also the first Mexican bottler of Coca-Cola, though it is unknown when they began making their own brand of sodas under the name of Topo Sabores.

It carries a sugary orange aroma like that of orange-flavored Smarties. The bottle is thick and carries a considerable heft, which I like. The taste immediately reminds me of cheap orange popscicles as a kid during the summer. It seems a bit odd though that they would use cane sugar, rather than corn syrup, but then include so many chemicals in the ingredients. Maybe high-fructose corn syrup isn't as cheap in Mexico? All in all, it isn't bad but I'd like for them to increase the carbonation just a bit. If you're interested, this brand can be found in many grocery store ethnic food sections here in the states.

Jones Soda Blue Bubblegum

Another incarnation from Jones Soda. Jones has been around since 1987 and you can read more on them at this post.

This particular blend comes in an unholy bright blue color more reminiscent of a sports drink than a soda. It is well carbonated and does smell of bubblegum. If I had closed my eyes I might have thought a piece of Bazooka Joe's was under my nose. Unfortunately this does not taste as much like bubblegum as it smells. The bubblegum flavor disapates quickly and I'm left with a slightly chemical taste in my mouth and taste buds that feel the slightest bit numb. Once again Jones misses the mark in my opinion. I have to assume that their user-submitted bottle and print ad photos are the only thing selling these sodas from Jones. Better luck next time.

Faygo Black Cherry

Here's the second Faygo flavor to be reviewed on this blog. You'll find more about the history of Faygo on the first appearance here.

Although most of the carbonation has seeped out of this bottle, indicating it's been around a while, it tastes like a black cherry soda should. It actually smells a bit like cough syrup. But the dark cherry flavor hits true. Dark fruit flavors just seem a bit more brooding and complex than some of the bright and cheerful flavors don't you think? I'd like to try this one again with it's appropriate carbonation, but I'd say give this one a go.

Refresco Goya Cola Champagne

This is the second Refresco Goya soda to be featured on the blog, after pineapple appeared here.

For your average American this is an unusual flavor, but this is not my first "champagne" soda. It's scent is that of a red cream soda, but it is orange like Irn-Bru. This offerring does not tastes like a cheap vanilla cream soda. It has no bite or crispness to it and is only moderately carbonated. This is a pass for me as I can think of better choices from the cream family of sodas. It's pretty to look at but that only goes so far. 

Hank's Gourmet Vanilla Cream Soda

Out of Philadelphia, Hank's Beverages has been producing "gourmet" soda since 1996. The company's website will tell you they have been in the beverage industry for 40 years, however I was unable to discover what they were doing in the years prior to releasing these sodas in the 90's. As to what makes their sodas "gourmet" is debatable. Many soda producers use pure cane sugar, aside from this they state to use only premium ingredients. What comprises qualifies as "premium" in the soda business aside from sugar is up to you I guess. One thing is for sure, people will usually spend more on something if it's labeled gourmet than not.

It does have a welcome vanilla scent when opened. It has an average carbonation level. While drinking you can taste cream flavor but the vanilla is there too, just harder to find behind that cream flavoring. While a decent choice, it's not memorable and a bit on the dull side. I would pass on this if you have the choice for something with a little more zip.