Sprite

The lemon-lime soda known as Sprite was born out of the Fanta brand in the late 1950's, in what was then West Germany. The dink was launched as Fanta Klare Zitrone (Fanta Clear Lemon) in 1959. If you recall from the original post on Fanta Orange, Fanta was a subsidiary brand of Coca-Cola. In 1961, Coca-Cola rebranded the drink as Sprite in the U.S. to better compete against 7 Up. 

The name itself comes directly from Coca-Cola advertising history. While Coca-Cola is often credited with creating the common depiction of Santa Claus, based on advertising beginning in 1931... there was another character associated with Coca-Cola year-round beginning in 1942, and created by the same artist. Sprite Boy was an elfin-like character depicted wearing either a bottlecap hat, or a soda jerk's cap. No advertising ever included Sprite Boy's body, just a disembodied head and hands. His image faded from use in 1958, but three years later a new lemon-lime flavored soda would bear his name. 

In 2022, after decades of being packaged in green glass and green plastic bottles, it was announced that the soda would change to clear bottles. This was stated to be due to the fact that green polyethylene cannot be recycled, a move that unfortunately means losing green glass bottles as well to maintain a consistent look. While Sprite is caffeine free, the standard Sprite flavor contains high fructose corn syrup. 

Something I can say for Sprite, is that it always has plenty of carbonation and a strong lime scent. However, as I've mentioned in some posts in the past, Sprite is not my favorite lemon-lime soda. I find it a touch too syrupy, sickeningly so if I drink too much of it. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent enough soda, but personally I prefer 7 Up. I do find lemon-lime sodas "lighter" than a cola or root beer and when you consider the citrus aspect of it I think they often go well with light meals or as a morning soda. 

Sprite Boy pictured on Coca-Cola sign

Dr Pepper

Like several of the more popular sodas I often put them off just because most people already know what they taste like and/or have an opinion about them. But they are necessary to eventually get to, especially before I go about reviewing some of their varietal releases.

Dr Pepper is one of the oldest sodas in U.S., and like several others has a history rooted in a pharmacy (see earlier posts for Moxie, and Coca-Cola for examples). In this case, it was one Charles Alderton, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., but who studied at the University of Texas, who developed the formula while working at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas in the 1880's. The store owner, Wade Morrison, agreed to began selling it in 1885 and it gained local popularity. Morrison was believed to be the person who coined the name Dr Pepper for the drink, though there are other stories claiming the naming as well. Similar to other upstart sodas nearby soda fountains purchased the syrup to serve at their own soda fountains. Surprisingly, Alderton, the creator of the drink, did not wish to continue developing the beverage and marketing it, preferring to work as a chemist in the drug store. Morrison and another beverage maker, named Robert Lazenby, formed a company to make the syrup and market the drink. 

Lazenby would move operations of the business to Dallas in 1923. Lazenby and his son-in-law, J.B. O'Hara, launched the drink to a wider audience at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exhibition World's Fair in St. Louis. The same one depicted in the movie classic "Meet Me in St. Louis", and which began the wide spread popularity of ice cream on the go, via something called the ice cream cone. The brand continued to grow and entertained several slogans. The one most commonly seen on vintage advertising came as a result of research showing that sugar provided energy and that workers routinely hit "slumps" during the workday at 10:30, 2:30, and 4:30. So a slogan of "Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4" came about, later you'd find bottle caps and signage that simply showed the numbers 10, 2, 4 on it. They had many brand slogan changes, but perhaps one of the more well known in modern times is the "Be a Pepper" or "I'm a Pepper" tag. 

Dr Pepper has a very unique taste to it, one of those that's hard to describe if you've had no reference, so the recipe is every bit as top-secret at Coca-Cola's, though they don't make quite the show of it with a giant vault like Coca-Cola. Dr Pepper and Coca-Cola have had a tumultuous history. In 1951, they sued Coca-Cola over the market price. Considered a non-Cola drink, in 1969 Dr Pepper convinced Coca-Cola Bottling of New York to distribute Dr Pepper too in the New York City area. Then in 1972, Dr Pepper sued Coca-Cola for trademark infringement over a similar drink named "Peppo" forcing Coca-Cola to change the name of the drink and thus the most popular Dr Pepper knock-off was born dubbed Mr. Pibb. In the 1980's the company faced financial woes and Coca-Cola attempted to buy them, but the Federal Trade Commission nixed the deal. They then merged with the recently acquired 7 Up to form the Dr Pepper/Seven Up company. This process somehow led to Coca-Cola purchasing the non-US branding rights, and Pepsi acquired the non-US 7 Up branding rights. The concept of a "Pepper" category of sodas has played prominently in their history (see note above from 1969) because the FTC blocked a later merger in the 90's with Coca-Cola over similar grounds, to prevent a monopoly of the "pepper" soda brands. 

I've always enjoyed Dr Pepper. It has a cherry aroma to it. I've always enjoyed that it has ample carbonation, which coincidentally really allows more of the flavor to develop on your tongue. Today, you can visit the Dr Pepper Museum located in downtown Waco, in the bottling plant building built in 1906.

Starry

If you don't pay close attention to the soda aisles at your local grocery store you'd be forgiven for not noticing that Sierra Mist is a soda of the past. Launched in 1999, PepsiCo created the lemon-lime flavored Sierra Mist to compete with Coca-Cola's Sprite. Well, as of last week, PepsiCo has unceremoniously dropped the Sierra Mist brand. The replacement, branded Starry, is now here. Upon last weekend's trip to the store I was encountered with a stand full of the drink. Now, I'd not heard of the brand before and to be honest the label, design, even the name of it are down right generic. I had to inspect the bottle to find it was a PepsiCo product. Sierra Mist never sounded or looked like lemon-lime to me, it's packaging always made it look like it was more in competition with Fresca. That name and packaging design could very well have fought against its success for all we know. I fear looking at "Starry" the same fate might await, particularly since I've seen nor heard of an ounce of marketing for it. And the name! What were they thinking with a name like Starry? It sounds more like an animated character from Rainbow Bright.

In any case, the beverage is sparklingly clear, resembling the new clear packaging of Sprite. It has a lemon-lime scent no different from Sprite. I've never been very fond of lemon-lime sodas myself. My personal favorite was always 7 UP because that's what my grandmother always had and to this day I find it more crisp than the sticky sugariness of Sprite. But, eyes closed, you'd be hard pressed to taste the difference between this bottle of Starry and a bottle of Sprite. But PepsiCo's marketing department has their work cut out for them, I think they've already got an uphill battle. 

Crooked Oak Root Beer

There's surprisingly little information out there about Crooked Oak Soda. Even their own website has a cryptic About page, which doesn't tell visitors anything about them and they have just three flavors. The bottle reads "Crafted by the fine people at Columbus Brands," a generic enough name that I can't find anything about it among search results out of Los Angeles. The label and language on it seem to try to impart some concept of small batch creation and product scarcity, but with nothing online to back that up it could all be hot air for all we know. The address on their website leads to a non-descript warehouse-like structure in L.A. with a sign for LA Bottleworks that probably just private labels dozens of sodas for many customers. Nevertheless, I picked it up to add the crown cap to the collection.

Nothing unique about the smell. A creamy root beer scent that should be expected. You know for "craft, small batch" beverage I'd sort of expected something a little more special. It's still an average root beer that isn't unpleasant at all to drink but the finish could feel fuller. It falls a bit flat at the end. 

Dry Zero Sugar Mountain Berry

Here's another flavor from the folks at Dry. I did not find this particular option in a bottle, like the others I've reviewed in the past. The Dry website seems to have undergone yet another makeover in combination with their bottles and cans. I'm starting to think maybe they are still, after several years, trying to find their identity. 

I find the scent distinctly similar to blueberries. I don't know why I keep trying these flavors from Dry since I've never found one I liked. Again though, they were originally created as mixers and cooking ingredients. Shame though that I don't find them likable on their own. The taste of this one is bitter and not blueberry-like but more like weak pomegranate. 

Diabolo Tangerine Pomegranate

Diabolo is the name of a drink popular in France made with lemonade and simple syrup that comes in many flavors. The Diabolo brand began in 2010 after the founder moved from France to the U.S. and wanted to bring the drink too. 

I am not certain if the original mixes from France are carbonated, but Diabolo provides carbonated, caffeine free versions of the drink in several flavors. Sadly, cracking open this can I don't get a fruity scent from it. As far as the taste goes, it's light but bitter. The pomegranate flavor is too light, while the tangerine is lost to a more lemon-like flavor. Someone who likes seltzers and flavored sparkling waters may like it more than myself. Strangely, the can reads "Natural Flavors", but the ingredients say "Contains No Juice" and reads like a list from a chemistry lab. I'd expected much different both in flavor, but also feel like the packaging is made to dupe you into thinking its a more natural beverage.

Boylan Sparkling Cider

I've reviewed some other flavors from Boylan in the past, the first being back in 2010. They've proved to have some decent options and I've seen their bottles pop up in some specialty restaurants from time to time. 

I'd actually expected a crisp apple aroma from this bottle since it has that clear amber color that evokes fresh apple juice. Instead, the scent is much more like the kind of fresh pressed cider pulp you might get from a refreshment stand at an autumn fair, a touch woody. Once I taste it, I find it's bringing me somewhere in the middle. More crisp like an apple juice but still hints of an October cider press. The tiny bubbles of carbonation and a touch of sweetness, rather than sour, provide a nice little lift at the end of each sip. 

Mountain Dew Fruit Quake

A surprise pickup last week from the grocery store was this bottle, yet another Mountain Dew flavor variation and makes me feel like this blog has nearly been taken over by Mountain Dew's varietal flavor releases. Trust me when I say, I'm planning to get back to other labels here quickly. This is another holiday themed creation, which by the name and label design I can assume is given flavors like that of a holiday fruit cake. I like the cranberry coloring of the drink itself. 

The scent is a little hard to place. It has notes of cherry and grape and something else sweet almost like a licorice but not licorice, maybe gummy bear-like. It's certainly an explosion of tastes. A quick swig has my taste buds all over the place. I do get a cherry-like flavor, a touch of lemon, and I'm picturing those white grape gummy candies in that order as it crosses my palate. No real taste of anything close to a bread, though these fruity/candy-like flavors start a little dark and heavy and become lighter as it finishes in the mouth. It's a perplexing flavor combination I'd recommend trying just for the novelty. 

Mountain Dew Gingerbread Snap'd

I'm always in the mood for ginger sweets and this release from Mountain Dew seems apt for a holiday evening. I really like that strong ginger aroma it has. Feels like walking into one of those Christmas themed home décor shops. No notes on changing the amount of carbonation, but what I get from swigging this is an upfront gingerbread taste, which is nice. Unfortunately, it's followed up with a slight citrus flavor reminiscent of, what else, Mountain Dew. I'd have liked this as a straight gingerbread soda without the Mountain Dew. So it's a miss for me, disappointingly so since I had high hopes for it. Good thing I can make a great ginger snap cookie. 

Dragon Tail Energy Lightning Cola with Tea

I'm not a fan of energy drinks, but there exists this blurry line where sodas and carbonated energy drinks mix that sometimes leads me to picking up a bottle to try. Dragon Tail is apparently another drink coming from the folks at Orca Beverages, in Washington state, that we've mentioned in several previous posts. While it contains cane sugar over high-fructose corn syrup or other alternative sugars, it also contains high levels of caffeine and guarana, both commonly found in a wide variety of "energy" drinks on the market. 

The scent of tea is the first thing you get when opening this bottle, along with a hint of something close to cinnamon. The color is a rich brown you expect from cola and it has adequate but not strong carbonation. How do I describe this flavor? There is a touch of cola in it, that's true. But you also pick up a taste of green tea as well as earthy tones like you get when smelling the inside of an old antique furniture shop or opening an old Chinese armoire. It's an interesting flavor, but definitely not something I'd personally consider sitting around sipping on, let alone ever enjoying with a meal.