Soda pop review: Dublin Dr. Pepper

This is the first of my video posts. It's pretty shabby but I'll get better with time. 

Soda pop review: Fizzy Lizzy Yakima Valley Grape

Where I got it: I found this soda at Liberty Heights, which is a little market specializing in local and organic food. It looks to be in an old garage because the entrance is gigantic (and therefore is probably a garage door). This place is great; in addition to the soda I bought some heirloom tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and pepper to make a veggie sandwich. It was delectable. I would suggest visiting this place if you haven't already. 

History: Fizzy Lizzy is actually the name for several drinks produced by the company. Inspired to mix juice and seltzer water, inventor Lizzy Morrill began selling the drink eight years ago. It is touted as being healthier than soda, with no extra sugar or corn syrup added. The drink actually has 40 calories less than the drink I reviewed last week, as well as 11 grams of sugar less. Curiously, it has slightly more sugar than the Dublin Dr. Pepper. 

Appearance: The label is clear plastic with a design on it. On the front there is a girl (Lizzy?) who looks maybe Turkish or slightly Middle Eastern to me. The lettering also conveys that idea. You could also describe it as looking Art Deco. On the neck of the bottle it says, "Gently shake my hips before placing bottle to your lips". Awesome. 

Taste: The flavor was unmistakably grape. I don't usually like grape sodas, but this one has a sharp and rich taste. The seltzer water instead of carbonation made the drink less fizzy, but still with enough zing to make it fun. It didn't feel as heavy as the other drinks. I didn't get a sugar buzz from this drink, so I also didn't get the corresponding crash. 

Verdict: This drink is definitely healthier than soda. It contained 51% juice, which is a step up from traditional soda. I don't know if Coca Cola would taste as good with seltzer water, but maybe they should give it a try. I would recommend this drink for someone who wants something healthy but still fizzy. The drink would be good to take for a picnic on a hot day. 

Soda pop review: Fitz's Root Beer

Where I got it: Soda gallery, again. I'm going to try to get some Mexican soda for next week. 

History: Fitz's Root Beer is bottled by Fitz (wow) in St. Louis. It's actually microbrewed in the restaurant.

Appearance: The label is paper, which looks cheaper than labels printed directly on the bottle. The design itself reminds me of burger places from the 50's, and that was the environment in which the root beer was produced. I like the name Fitz; it sounds like fizz or spritz.

Taste: I am seriously considering writing a letter to my congressman to advocate the return to cane sugar to sodas. Fitz was much sweeter than the A&W root beer I'd had earlier. The soda had a creamy head as well. The soda tasted crisp. It was even better once I began my dinner of macaroni and cheese. I know beer goes well with food, but I never thought about root beer being the same way. 

The verdict: There wasn't anything that seriously detracted from this soda. It was sweet and thirst-quenching. I enjoyed it, and I hope to be able to find a tasty root beer bottled near me. 

Soda pop review: Cheerwine

 I have decided to write a review of a new soda every week. My requirements to try a certain soda will include the following:

• It must be a soda I haven't tried before, or in a different form than I've tried
  
• It must be exotic or a limited edition
  
• It must be soda, not alcohol

Cheerwine will be my first review.

Where I got it: I got this soda, and four others, from a website called thesodagallery.com.

This is the web component of an actual store in Texas that sells all sorts of regional soda. All of 

the sodas are in glass bottles. 

History: Produced by the Carolina Beverage Company since 1917, Cheerwine is named for it's

cherry flavor and burgundy color. It has an unusually high amount of carbonation. The

product is primarily sold in the South, but as I said, you can get it from the soda gallery. Cheerwine

sold in glass bottles contains sugar cane, unlike the soda in plastic bottles.

Appearance: As you can see from the picture, the bottle is larger than average and has a shape

similar to Coke bottles, except the sides are straight. I like the logo; to me it looks very 1930's. 

The label itself is painted or printed on the bottle, which looks better than paper labels. 

The taste: This soda has a cherry flavor, much like Dr. Pepper. It is a little more fruity and less 

sour than said cola. The aftertaste also has more cherry to it. This soda is made with sugar cane

instead of processed corn syrup, so it tastes sweeter to me. It wasn't so fizzy that it felt like

mouthwash or anything, which was a plus. The high amount of carbonation did mean that it was

difficult to drink quickly however.

The verdict: Cheerwine tastes better than its major company competitors for several reasons. 

I could taste cherry much better than I can with Dr. Pepper. It is also less fizzy, which makes it 

easier to drink. The only major drawback was that the soda was pretty sweet and I couldn't drink 

it all at once. A good soda to try out, but maybe not one to quench your thirst. I would definitely

drink it again.