# Nostalgic American Beverages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 21, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350 "2021-03-21T16:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/161 "2021-04-03T18:37:58Z")
Jarritos is made in Mexico, not South America. 12 flavors and the only one I’m not too fond of is the guava. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/162 "2021-04-03T18:49:58Z")
I understand that, but wasn’t sure it was worth pointing out. I haven’t tried most of the flavours. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/163 "2021-04-03T18:58:30Z")
I’d rank their Top 5 as: Cola, lime, pineapple, Jamaica and strawberry. My local groceries stock variety cases around May 5th. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/164 "2021-04-03T19:46:51Z")
I try to limit sugary beverages. It’s a shame because they are probably delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/165 "2021-04-03T20:59:23Z")
I’m still addicted to root beer Kool Aid, which was discontinued about half a century ago. I’ve found a way to make ersatz root beer Kool Aid: get the cheapest generic root beer, bring it to a simmer and then rebottle it. Boils the fizz right out of it. Enjoy over crushed ice. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/166 "2021-04-03T21:03:07Z")
I last saw root beer Kool Aid around 1980 but did not much like it. However, the blueberry stuff gave you fascinating emerald stools. Of course, that appealed to me much more then, than it would now. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/167 "2021-04-03T22:49:38Z")
This is the honest truth: Root Beer Kool Aid needed to age at least a day, and then it was delicious. I suspect most people drank it right after mixing which wasn’t optimum, taste-wise. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/168 "2021-04-04T00:00:41Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > There used to be an orange soft drink called Bireley’s, What was unusual about it was that it came in a bottle with a crown seal like a carbonated drink, but it had no carbonation. I liked the stuff. Apparently the brand has been kept alive by the Asahi company in Japan. I don’t know whether what Asahi makes is similar to the old stuff. I used to drink Bireley’s in Japan and had no idea it was a U.S product since it has the Asahi label on it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/169 "2021-04-04T00:08:49Z")
[Fizzies Drink Tablets](https://www.oldtimecandy.com/pages/fizzies-drink-tablets) > Once upon a time in the '50s -'60s there was a popular drink tablet that fizzed when placed in water. FIZZIES® were invented by the Emerson Drug Company. The idea derived from scientists working with chemical formulas similar to “Bromo Seltzer” and wondering if a fun, fruit flavored drink could be developed the same way. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/170 "2021-04-04T00:09:50Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Saranac is upstate NY. I think Utica. > **[Saranac Brewery - Utica NY](https://www.saranac.com)** > > The focus of the company for the last 135 years has been to create beverages that delight our customers. The best part is enjoying one of our beers with you! Yep. Both the Saranac beers and the Saranac sodas are brewed at the F.X Matt Bewery in Utica, historically most well known for making Utica Club beer. They got into soda making in Prohibiton, and then brought it back in the 90s. The Ginger Beer is really good. They make some unusual flavors like Shirley Temple and Black Cherry Cream. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/171 "2021-04-04T00:15:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Jarritos is made in Mexico, not South America. 12 flavors and the only one I’m not too fond of is the guava. I like the tamarind because it is a unique flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/172 "2021-04-04T00:48:43Z")
I remember FiZZIES. We used to eat them like necco wafers despite warnings about blowing up our intestines. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/173 "2021-04-04T01:44:56Z")
Yeah, the fizzie challenge, swallow a tablet down, then burp amusingly at others for 10 minutes ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/174 "2021-04-04T01:58:48Z")
Or just hold it in your mouth and take a mouthful of water. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/175 "2021-04-04T02:07:43Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I remember FiZZIES. Did you ever drop a truckload of Fizzies in the swim meet? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/176 "2021-04-04T02:18:40Z")
those are great … pass on the tamarind tho … ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/177 "2021-04-04T02:22:01Z")
i remeber apple koolaid too which was around the same time as rootbeer koolaid You know you can still get root beer that way in some places? look for it in the milk jugs near the juice ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/178 "2021-04-04T02:23:28Z")
one thing thats died out is the fruit drinks that used to come in ilk jugs for 89 cent -1.25 that was right next to the milk … ---
**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:** [April 4, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/179 "2021-04-04T02:29:34Z")
Root beer and cherry Fizzies were my favorites! I think they made a cola one too. I haven’t seen them around since I was in maybe first or second grade. I used to love soda fountain phosphates. Cherry and lime were my favorites. The last time I had one was around 1985, at a Bridgeman’s ice cream parlor in St Paul. I’ve looked for them in Toronto, but I think they’ve gone the way of Fizzies. If I can give a plug here to my current favorite ice cream parlor, check out Bean and Baker if you’re ever in Totonto. They make their own soda pop. I just hope they’ll still be open when all this lockdown business is over. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/180 "2021-04-04T05:02:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Anyone remember the original Mello Yello? Coke brought it out in 1979 to compete with Mountain Dew. Citrus with extra caffeine. Still available from [amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Mello-Yello-Soda-Can-Pack/dp/B002U56KFM) I had it in 2012. Not in a can though. Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington DC offered it as a fountain beverage. I ordered it specifically for the nostalgia value. They had the logo up on the menu board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350.md?page=10)