Dang! Butterscotch Root Beer (#25)

Overall Rating: 7.90 out of 10

Imperial Flavors

Website: http://dangthatsgood.com/

120 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 31g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting dark amber bottle with paper label = 7.0

• Color: Deep Brown = 7.6

• Taste:  Deep and sweet root beer with a sweet butterscotch taste   = 8.5

• Experience: Great treat on a cold night   = 8.5

• Sweetener:  Sugar

    To start, I can’t ever remember having a Butterscotch Root Beer, so this is a first for me. Tried this on a cold winter night, and have to say “Dang” that’s a great soda! At first twist of the cap, you can smell the aroma of a butterscotch candy. At first sip, you get that root beer taste and with a sweet ending of butterscotch. Looking at the label, it was hard to believe this soda is only 120 calories and 31g of Sugar. Pretty low for such a sweet taste. Label also mentions that it is Caffeine and Gluten free. How can you go wrong with this soda.

Saranac Ginger Beer (#24)

Overall Rating: 6.18 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 42g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard bottle with clean with paper Label. = 6.0

• Color: Murky color = 6.0

• Taste: Great deep Ginger taste = 6.5

• Experience: Again, Not much of a Ginger person = 6.2

As I mention before, I’m not a big ginger fan. But with that being said, I still did enjoy the taste of the Saranac Ginger Beer. This soda seems to have the right amount of sugar. If your ginger person, give this one a try!

Squirt (Mexican) (#23)

Overall Rating: 7.00 out of 10

Dr. Pepper/7up  Plano, Texas

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 38g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall green twist bottle with authentic painted Squirt yellow label. = 7.0

• Color: Refreshing Citrus yellow = 7.0

• Taste: Great refreshing citrus taste = 7.0

• Experience: Great treat after washing the car  = 7.0

• Notable Ingredients: Grapefruit juice

• Sweetener: Sugar

I really can’t remember drinking Squirt as a kid, but always had the opinion of it being much like a Mountain Dew. After washing the car a few Sundays ago, I had the opportunity of choosing this Mexican Squirt at my local convenience store, and have to say this soda hit the spot! This soda has a refreshing citrus taste with a little sweetness at the end that calms down the tart. The bottle is pretty much the same as it was 30 years ago. Really enjoyed this one and looking for another one.

Barritts Ginger Beer (#22)

Overall Rating: 7.05 out of 10

North American Beverage  Ocean City, NJ

Website:  http://www.bermudasgingerbeer.com/

200 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 49g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall clear bottle with clean font Copper Label. = 6.5

• Color: Refreshing murky color = 7.0

• Taste: Great sweet Ginger taste = 7.5

• Experience: Not much of a Ginger person, but enjoyed this one  = 7.2

• Notable Ingredients: Extract of Quillaia Bark, (interesting)

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

I have to first omit that I’m not a big ginger fan. But with that being said, I actually enjoyed the Barritts Ginger Beer. For sure Barritts provides that deep ginger taste throughout the experience, but with the right amount of cane sugar, it is toned in a natural refreshing way. I can see the real ginger lovers clear this one off the grocery store shelves. Also check out Barritts site as they have some great mixer recipes for their ginger beer. Looking forward to trying their diet ginger beer up next in my refrigerator.

Saranac Shirley Temple (#21)

Overall Rating: 3.95 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

190 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 45g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall clear bottle. = 5.0

• Color: Watered down fruit punch look = 3.8

• Taste: Watered down fruit punch  = 3.5

• Experience: Never had much a taste for Shirley’s  = 3.5

• Notable Ingredients: Sodium benzoate

• Sweetener: HFCS

Never had many Shirley Temples in the past, but I get it. A non-alkee drink to enjoy while your parents are having the real deal. With that being said, it gives me that picture of a bartender mixing up a watered down soda water fruit punch mix. Well that is what you get here, so I guess this goes with the theme.  My take: Don’t waste your money on 6 pack of this one.

Jones Strawberry Lime Soda (#20)

Overall Rating: 5.75 out of 10

Jones Soda Company, Seattle, WA

Website:  www.jonessoda.com

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 39g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Jones standard tall clear bottle with typical photo. Twist top = 6.5

• Color: Fruit punch red = 6.0

• Taste: 50/50 mix of Hawaiian punch and soda water   = 5.5

• Experience: Typical manufactured Jones soda mixture. = 5.0

• Notable Ingredients: Always tasting that Sodium benzoate in Jones soda. Seems to be there trademark.

• Sweetener: Inverted cane sugar. still need to figure this one out

As mention, another average Jones soda. The berry taste kinda gave me a remembrance of my Hawaiian punch days as a kid. Finding out that just about all the Jones Soda contain the Sodium benzoate. All thou classified a safe in food products, still really makes you think on this one. Read up on it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_benzoate

Saranac Sparkling Lemonade (#19)

Overall Rating: 6.0 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

202 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 54g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall clear bottle with basic paper label. = 5.0

• Color: Refreshing Lemon looking = 6.5

• Taste: Over all surprising, great lemon taste  = 6.5

• Experience: As mention, I was surprised and really enjoyed the lemon flavor.  = 6.0

• Notable Ingredients: 54 grams of sugar says it all. Very sweet but a bit too much here

After trying many other Saranac beverages, at first I thought this would be a let down, but for sure this is their best that I have had so far. At first twist of cap, this soda provides a refreshing lemon scent and taste. This soda is overly sweetened, but it’s the sugar that really stabilizes the tart lemon providing an inviting drink. Again, this is a great product from Saranac so give it a try after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day.

Virgil's Root Beer (#18)

Overall Rating: 8.40 out of 10

Reeds, Los Angeles, CA

Website: www.virgils.com

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 42g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting dark amber bottle with a label in gold trim. Also a nice matching wrapper around neck = 8.4

• Color: Deep Brown = 8.0

• Taste:  Deep and sweet root beer a bold taste  = 8.7

• Experience: Check out their website for that root beer float recipe   = 8.5

• Sweetener: Unbleached Cane Sugar

    Was able to pick up a 4 pack of the Virgil’s Root Beer, and glad I did. I have been drinking one of these a day recently and have to say, this is a great root beer. I was really impressed with the overall appearance of the bottle and gold labeling. Very detailed to the listing of the all natural ingredients and the mention of “Served Chilled (Without Ice)”. Not that’s how you should serve a root beer. This root beer has a strong root beer grab at first sip, but then goes down sweet and smooth making you want a another sip. Looking forward to trying more of the Virgil’s soda. Try this root beer using the float recipe that can be found on their website. Enjoy!

IBC Black Cherry (#17)

Overall Rating: 7.45 out of 10

Dr. Pepper/7up Bottlers

Website: www.ibcrootbeer.com

180 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 44g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting clear squat bottle = 7.5

• Color: Deep red = 7.2

• Taste:  Refreshing cherry taste  = 7.5

• Experience: Pairs great for the late evening snack   = 7.6

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

    IBC has maintain to be a leader in the soda industry for decades. The Black Cherry is a great example with sweet bold taste. The Black Cherry provides that perfect about of cherry and the cane sugar is just the right amount to give it that sweet after taste. Try the IBC Black Cherry as late night snack during that movie.

Stewart's Orange'n Cream (#16)

Overall Rating: 7.77 out of 10

Dr Pepper/Snapple

Website: http://www.drinkstewarts.com/

180 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 45g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting clear squat bottle = 7.5

• Color: Crush Orange = 7.8

• Taste:  Fresh Oranges and ice cream  = 7.8

• Experience: Reminds mean of that orange grove shop swirl ice cream   = 8.0

• Notable Ingredients: Orange juice concentrate and sodium benzoate

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Found a 4 pack of the Stewart's Orange 'n Cream and have no regrets on that purchase. At first taste, this soda reminds me of a orange and vanilla swirl ice cream that I used be able to get from a local orange grove shop. Growing up in Florida I have come to love both the orange taste and anything related to the citrus industry. Back to the soda, again this is a great refreshing soda on a summer afternoon.  If you like oranges, you will like this one!  

IBC Cream Soda (#15)

Overall Rating: 7.72 out of 10

Dr. Pepper/7up Bottlers

Website: www.ibcrootbeer.com

180 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 44g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting clear squat bottle = 7.5

• Color: Sandy = 7.6

• Taste:  Deep and sweet ice cream  = 7.8

• Experience: Pairs great with that football game   = 8.0

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

    IBC has maintain to be a leader in the soda industry for decades. The cream soda is their next best to the root beer. The cream soda goes down sweet and smooth with a bit of ice cream after taste. The cane sugar is just the right amount to give it that sweet after taste. Try the IBC Cream Soda while watching that Saturday night football game.

IBC Root Beer (#14)

Overall Rating: 7.85 out of 10

Dr. Pepper/7up Bottlers

Website: www.ibcrootbeer.com

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 40g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting dark amber bottle with IBC name = 7.8

• Color: Deep Brown = 7.6

• Taste:  Deep and sweet root beer with perfect bite  = 8.0

• Experience: That fitting drink for an ice cream float   = 8.0

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

    IBC has maintain to be a leader in the soda industry for decades. The root beer is their main staple and for sure its ranks among the best. It has a strong root beer grab at first sip, but then goes down sweet and smooth. The cane sugar is just the right amount to give it that sweet after taste. Try the IBC Root Beer with a few scopes of ice cream in a tall cold glass. Enjoy this one!

Jones Green Apple Soda (#13)

Overall Rating: 6.45 out of 10

Jones Soda Company, Seattle, WA

Website:  www.jonessoda.com

170 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 41g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Jones standard tall clear bottle with typical photo. Like the color matching of label to  the soda = 6.5

• Color: Green apple green = 6.8

• Taste: Like a basket of Granny Smith apples   = 6.5

• Experience: Great green apple taste with a nice fizz. = 6.0

• Notable Ingredients: sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (as preservatives), calcium disodium  :(

• Sweetener: Inverted cane sugar

For a Jones soda, the green apple is also a good selection. This soda has a great green color to start. Twisting off the lid, you can smell the green apples. Has a great apple flavor and maintains a good fizz on each drink. 

Abita Root Beer (#12)

Overall Rating: 8.20 out of 10

Abita, Louisiana

Website: www.abita.com

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 45g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Fitting dark amber bottle with embossed name = 8.3

• Color: Deep and Dirty Brown = 8.0

• Taste:  Deep and sweet root beer with perfect bite  = 8.5

• Experience: That fitting drink to go with those alligator bites   = 8.0

• Sweetener: Louisiana Cane Sugar

    I have tasted several of the Abita beers in the past and have always enjoyed them. Well their root beer lives up to that reputation. It has a strong root beer grab at first sip, but then goes down sweet and smooth. The cane sugar is a relief after drinking a few fructose sweetened sodas. Ready to try the other Abita flavors!. Try the Abita Root Beer with some alligator bites on a hot southern night on the Bayou!

Saranac Black Cherry Cream (#11)

Overall Rating: 4.62 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

172 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 46g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall clear bottle with no trills label that was not glued on very well. = 5.0

• Color: Modestly deep red = 5.0

• Taste: Not much of it    = 4.5

• Experience: Reminded me of drinking Kool Aid  = 4.0

• Notable Ingredients: Sodium benzoate

• Sweetener: HFCS

As a kid back in the late 70s, I always remember mixing those packets of Kool Aid in my mom's plastic tupperware pitchers. They always gave the taste of flavored water, butmore the water part of it. Drinking the Saranac Black Cherry reminds me of the black cherry Kool Aid from the past. In summary, This did not have the taste of soda, but that of flavored water. 

Jones Cream Soda (#10)

Overall Rating: 6.62 out of 10

Jones Soda Company, Seattle, WA

Website:  www.jonessoda.com

160 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 38g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Jones standard tall clear bottle with typical photo. Like the clearness of the soda = 6.5

• Color: Super clear = 7.0

• Taste: a quick vanila kick   = 6.5

• Experience: Great hint vanila and goes down smooth. A good selection on a work break = 6.5

• Notable Ingredients: sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (as preservatives), calcium disodium  :(

For a Jones soda, the cream soda is decent selection. This soda is a crystal clear bubbly soda that as a nice hint of sweet vanilla. I have given this an above average and is a nice selection.

Saranac Root Beer (#9)

Overall Rating: 6.00 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

188 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 46g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall amber bottle with no trills label that was not glued on very well. = 5.0

• Color: Modestly dark brown = 6.0

• Taste: Deep full root beer taste    = 6.0

• Experience: So far this is the best Saranac beverage I have had  = 7.0

• Notable Ingredients: Sodium benzoate, hmm

• Sweetener: HFCS

As I mention, this is a decent root beer that provides a nice foamy taste that reminds me of A& W root beer. This root beer has an upfront bite, but then goes down smooth. Looks like Saranac got this one right!

Boylan Creme Soda (#8)

Overall Rating: 8.25 out of 10

Boylan Bottling, Paterson, New Jersey

Website:  https://www.boylanbottling.com/

155 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 39g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Simple clean design smooth clear bottle with twist off cap = 8.0

• Color: Honey brown = 8.0

• Taste: Like a scope of ice cream half melted   = 8.5

• Experience: Delightful as a bowl of ice cream  = 8.5

• Notable Ingredients: Pure Vanilla Extract saids it all!

• Sweetener: Cane Sugar

Here we go again, another great soda from Boylan. This one tops the list of many with its smooth and sweet ice cream flavor.  From the twist of the cap, you think your eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Goes down smooth and leaves that sweet vanilla taste with a lite fizz. Suggestion being is that there is no going back after this one. Enjoy a bottle for that late nite treat!

Saranac Orange Cream (#7)

Overall Rating: 4.50 out of 10

Saranac  Utica, NY

Website:  https://www.saranac.com/

180 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 45g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Standard tall clear bottle with no trills label that was not glued on very well.. = 5.0

• Color: Modest orange = 5.0

• Taste: Can taste the orange but very lite on the creme    = 4.0

• Experience: Decent but needs more creme in its soda  = 4.0

• Notable Ingredients: Natural Constituents of Orange, Ester of Wood Rosin

• Sweetener: HFCS

This was the first time I have tasted a Saranac beverage and at first sight, I give it a "Okay" First, They need to invest in their marketing as the label is very boring and was peeling off on all corners. I like the deep tase of the natural orange in this soda, but there was not much a creme sickle going with it. Reading up on Saranac it seems like their mainstream is beer, so maybe soda is just a side gig. 

Jones Berry Lemonade (#6)

Overall Rating: 4.37 out of 10

Jones Soda Company, Seattle, WA

Website:  www.jonessoda.com

190 Calories (12oz) , Sugar 47g

• Label and Bottle Appearance: Jones standard tall clear bottle with typical photo. Twist off cap = 5.0

• Color: Deep mystery blue = 6.0

• Taste: Bubblegum-ish tart berry   = 3.5

• Experience: Confusing on this one, reminds me of a science project  = 3.0

• Notable Ingredients: Phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (as preservatives), calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor.) (As I mention, it sounds like a science project)

I'm a big fan of Jones soda, but at the twist of the cap of the Berry Lemonade, I thought I was opening up a pack of Bubblicious bubble gum with a hint of cotton candy. Tasting this soda gave me that feeling as if this was a 7th grade science project and the student thru in every ingredient that was in his reach, including that pack of gum in his pocket. Maybe because I'm of an older generation, I just couldn't dig this flavor. Suggestion being have your child give it a try and get their take!