# Your favorite non-mainstream soda **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528 "2010-05-24T01:59:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/61 "2010-05-24T19:21:06Z")
I will take a bit of liberty here, I love Vanilla Coke, and it seems to be harder to find than some of the less mainstream, if you will, sodas. ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/62 "2010-05-24T19:32:17Z")
I think Izze is the one that I drink the most since they sell them in boxes of 12 at my Costco. For root beer, I love Dr. Tima’s bit of honey root beer, but it’s pretty hard to find. Bubble-up tastes just like 7-up but has a much cleaner flavor and is less sweet. I have a bottle of Inca Cola in the fridge right now. The flavor reminds me of childhood, but I can’t drink it just by itself since it’s so sweet. It’s the perfect drink when you’re chowing down on Peruvian style fried rice though. There’s a Taiwanese apple soda called Apple Sidra. I always wondered why it went so well with Mexican food. I’ll have to try Sidral Mundet and compare. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/63 "2010-05-24T20:28:35Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Root beer from [the Root Beer Stand](http://www.therootbeerstand.com/) Used to go there all of the time, especially when we lived in Blue Ash. Not sure I had just root beer when the root beer floats were so awesome. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/64 "2010-05-24T21:11:46Z")
While in New Zealand, the wife and I became beig fans of [L&P Soda](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_&_Paeroa). It’s like a carbonated lemon juice and mineral water thing. Excellent stuff. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/65 "2010-05-24T21:47:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer and AJ Stephan’s Ginger Beer. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/66 "2010-05-24T21:56:33Z")
Manhattan Special. [This](http://www.manhattanspecial.com/products_pure_espresso.html) stuff. It’s heaven in a 10-ounce bottle. Red Bull? Nasty swill for kids. Manhattan Special is the _original_ energy drink. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/67 "2010-05-24T22:01:29Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Wow! Thanks! I’m emailing them now. And, I got a reply! (It may be a holiday here, but it isn’t in LA!) I asked whether they had some regular sales outlets in Toronto, but they just suggested that I ask my regular store to order some. _sigh_ Time to see whether Harvest Moon can satisfy my thirst. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/68 "2010-05-24T22:25:32Z")
Stewart’s Key Lime flavor. Yum. I’ve tried various Jarritos flavors and have been disappointed. Happily, my local grocery store chain has recently restocked an Italian soda under their own brand name (after a gap of a year in which is completely disappeared) which is very yummy…unfortunately the Sicilian Lemon variety apparently sells out quick because I rarely see it on the shelves. Apparently this [Facebook campaign](http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=23298700957&topic=17368) was successful. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/69 "2010-05-24T22:48:09Z")
I’ve lived in the southwest for 14 years, but have just recently become addicted to Cactus Cooler, an orange-pineapple soda made in Texas. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/70 "2010-05-24T23:08:44Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I will take a bit of liberty here, I love Vanilla Coke, and it seems to be harder to find than some of the less mainstream, if you will, sodas. They still make Vanilla Coke? I loved it, but I haven’t seen it in a couple of years and assumed that they stopped making it. I know it went away and then came back, so I figured it’s now gone for good. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/71 "2010-05-25T13:52:35Z")
I used to like Schweppes Bitter Lemon. It has a quinine/lemon taste. [When I look around for it, I see others looking also.](http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/406068) ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/72 "2010-05-25T14:05:43Z")
Red Bull Cola. It’s just a cola, not an energy drink. I love the stuff. And yes I know Red Bull is very much a mainstream brand but they aren’t really known for cola so I think it fits. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/73 "2010-05-25T14:24:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I used to like Schweppes Bitter Lemon. It has a quinine/lemon taste. [When I look around for it, I see others looking also.](http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/406068) Even better is their Bitter Orange, but it’s only bottled in the UK and they don’t export it. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/74 "2010-05-25T16:44:53Z")
> [@ScatteredFrog](#): > > - Green River. Basically, fizzy lime Kool-Aid. I didn’t know it’s a Chicago invention, but it is. Most stores only sell it around St. Patrick’s Day, but Ultra Foods, Binny’s, and the indie places typically keep it in stock fairly regularly. I know it’s also on the menu at Heaven On Seven and Hackney’s here in the city. They also have it on tap at the suburban [Doggie Diner](http://www.doggiediner.net/) chain of dog/burger/gyro/beef joints. I always get one when I’m there just 'cause when else am I gonna get a cup of Green River with my gyro? ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/75 "2010-05-25T19:55:48Z")
Faygo Red Pop was my favorite growing up, but I haven’t had any sugared sodas in probably 20 years, so I can’t say for certain I’d still like it. I like to think that I would. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/76 "2010-05-25T20:43:57Z")
Frankie’s Cinnamon Cola, Creme Soda and Root Beer - artisan colas produced in the Natal Midlands, and fortunately now available in my town, yay! ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/77 "2010-05-25T21:40:30Z")
[The Pop Shoppe](http://thepopshoppe.com/). When I was a kid there used to be Pop Shoppe stores where you could mix and match your own case at prices a lot cheaper than brand name soda in supermarkets. The original chain is defunct, but the brand has since been brought back as a private brand, similar to RC, for example. It’s bad for you though. One 12 oz bottle has almost twice as many calories as a 12 oz can of non-diet soda. This past year, they re-introduced stubby bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/78 "2010-05-25T21:47:27Z")
Bahama’s Goombay Punch. Available only in the Bahamas, bottled by Coca Cola. Sort of like Pineapple Fanta, with some other fruit flavors tossed in there for good measure. So sweet it’ll make your teeth hurt, but so good! ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/79 "2010-05-25T21:54:45Z")
Green River Soda Faygo pops Cinnamon Coke - I only ever had it at hambruger stands growing up in Montana I assumed it was a home made concoction. I’d be remiss if I didn’t plug this local bit of coolness- Galco’s. [www.sodapopstop.com](http://www.sodapopstop.com) ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528/80 "2010-05-25T23:14:45Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I’d be remiss if I didn’t plug this local bit of coolness- Galco’s. [www.sodapopstop.com](http://www.sodapopstop.com) Galco’s is pretty awesome. The owner loves to talk about his favorite sodas and make recommendations. They also have a small deli in the back that makes a decent sub. I found the prices to be a little higher than other places, but it’s worth it for the selection. It’s the only place that I’ve seen [Leninade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leninade). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-non-mainstream-soda/540528.md?page=5)