# Big Red Soda - Last seen in... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [August 29, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254 "2015-08-29T06:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/21 "2015-08-30T21:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **usedtobe** : > > Mountain Dew’s “Code Red” is a dead ringer for it, but the flavor is not even close. I don’t understand this sentence. If the flavor is not even close, then in what sense could they be dead ringers? Just the fact that they’re both red? That doesn’t sound like it even rates a comparison, to me: Lots of things are red. And I might be mistaken, but I thought that Big Red was one of the brands that was sold in a 3-liter bottle, not 2. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/22 "2015-08-30T22:03:35Z")
The visual of the label is so close I thought maybe Mtn Dew had bought it and did a piss-poor job of re-branding. The first sip disproved that thought. I was wondering if the withdrawal from the Sacto area was part of an overall market shrinkage, or just a moving distribution. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/23 "2015-08-30T22:07:49Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > I found [this](http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=740). According to[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Red_%28drink%29), this is the retro bottle. I also found it, as well as Big Blue, [by the case](http://www.amazon.com/Big-Red-Sodas/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_8451244011?ie=UTF8&node=8451244011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Big+Red+Sodas) on Amazon. Personally, I never was a fan. The one time I tried it, it tasted mediciney and weird to me. Yeah, I know it is available at 12/12 for $20. A tad pricey for soda, isn’t it? If you went into the grocery and saw a box of 12/12 Coke at $20, how many would you buy? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/24 "2015-08-30T22:22:54Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Mountain Dew’s “Code Red” is a dead ringer for it, but the flavor is not even close. What does “dead ringer” mean to you? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/25 "2015-08-30T23:59:12Z")
“Looks like”. Most commonly, in my experience, used to describe people. In this case, the label is close enough to cause confusion. Once home, in a side-by-side, the Mtn Dew is a bit different in color and clarity. But, when sitting next to colas, it was very close. I mentioned the resemblense for the benefit of those who may have never seen Big Red, ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/26 "2015-08-31T00:12:57Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > “Looks like”. > > Most commonly, in my experience, used to describe people. dead ring·er noun a person or thing that seems exactly like someone or something else. “he is a dead ringer for his late papa” That pesky word “exactly” makes us expect it to taste exactly alike as well. Anyway… Big Red is easily found here in central Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/27 "2015-08-31T00:43:22Z")
Big Red’s corporate HQ is in Austin. I think there was a San Antonio connection but don’t know the details. It’s distributed by Dr Pepper/Snapple.[Check the website](http://bigred.com/) to find out where you can buy it & allied products… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/28 "2015-08-31T03:13:44Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > There’s also “Big Blue”, which is also cream soda, except it’s blue! They used to have store-brand cream soda like this at Super America in Minneapolis. An acquaintance of mine loved the stuff, but I could never get over the feeling that I was drinking Windex! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/29 "2015-08-31T06:31:41Z")
This is getting annoying - Big Red’s “Find a Product” will show stores in Elk Grove - but only if you specify “Stockton” and “Within 200 miles”. Elk Grove is the name of the southern part of Sacramento County. Asking for “sacramento ca” gets you “Not Found”. They seem to need a basic geography lesson. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/30 "2015-08-31T06:33:37Z")
I love cream soda, but ‘blue’ + ‘beverage’ = ‘irrational input’ to me. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/31 "2015-08-31T06:46:55Z")
I’ve seen it at the local Winn-Dixie and Walmart. (Tuscaloosa, AL) [http://www.walmart.com/ip/Big-Red-Soda-12-Oz-12ct/16918635](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Big-Red-Soda-12-Oz-12ct/16918635) ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/32 "2015-08-31T07:18:18Z")
Now I find that Wal-Mart is now showing the 20 oz in the same store which dropped the 2 liter about a year ago. A bright red soda is hard to miss - but I keep checking the soda section on the hope it would re-appear. I suspect WM is lying about the ‘in stock’ flag. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/33 "2015-08-31T13:43:51Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I love cream soda, but ‘blue’ + ‘beverage’ = ‘irrational input’ to me. When I was a kid, the cream soda I had was always light brown/amber, the way vanilla is supposed to look. I bought some Crush brand cream soda not too long ago, and it’s bubble-gum pink! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/34 "2015-08-31T14:09:18Z")
It’s common in Southeast Michigan. I didn’t know it was rare or something to note. ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/35 "2015-08-31T14:35:05Z")
Big Red has always been a beverage staple in San Antonio, but I always thought it was rather Texas-regional, so I am surprised to see it spoken above as being available over a wide part of the country. To “older” San Antonians, Big Red is a cultural things since they were the main sponsor of **Swingtime** , a local Saturday TV show in the 1960s where a local disc jockey played the current top 40 hits and the camera showed teens dancing. Most local teen venues sold Big Red, so it was always around. If the family went out to eat Tex-Mex at a local restaurant, the adults drank beer, the kids drunk Big Red. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/36 "2015-09-01T03:58:13Z")
> [@stanger](#): > > Big Red has always been a beverage staple in San Antonio, but I always thought it was rather Texas-regional, so I am surprised to see it spoken above as being available over a wide part of the country. Well for the longest time it was. Around 2005, Big Red was introduced to Western Washington. And you could only find it at 7-11 in craft-style 12 ounce bottles. When I visited the Brownsville area in 2007, I was astonished to find it all over the place and in multiple flavors. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/37 "2015-09-01T05:34:25Z")
I can attest that it was in a least one ‘mom-and-pop’ grocery in Dayton OH in 1959 - and probably longer, but I wasn’t born much earlier… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/38 "2015-09-01T15:21:36Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > I see it at convenience stores all the time here in Houston and I see 2L at some grocery stores/Walmarts. Once in a while I do get a 20 oz at a convenience store and take a swig and remember why I don’t really drink it anymore. (Because I’m not seven.) It does take me back to my childhood in Kentucky when that was my favorite soda! You see 2 liter bottles of Big Peach? I can’t say that I’ve ever seen that. Big Red is ubiquitous though; I’m pretty sure I can get it in 2 liter bottles or 12 packs of cans at any local grocery. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/39 "2015-09-02T03:51:18Z")
Huh, I _thought_ I’d seen it recently! Yup, the two-liter of non-cola currently in my refrigerator is Big Red. Dollar a bottle at Walgreens, in the same display rack as the RC cola (including cherry RC: Why didn’t anyone tell me earlier that existed!?). ---
**Author:** ![missouri65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@missouri65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missouri65)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254/40 "2015-09-02T04:44:55Z")
It’s in the vending machine at my work, and we don’t even have either Sprite or lemonade. They also had it in the machines at my last job. I hadn’t had one since I was a kid and tried one the other day. It tasted like medicine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-red-soda-last-seen-in/729254.md?page=3)