Petey's Bing Raz

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Imagine the my luck.  I found two “Delicious...Refreshing” soda within two weeks of each other.  Of course they’re the same brand of soda, Petey’s Bing, but the flavor of the day...vor is Raz.  Being in tune with the advertising world I can tell you that Raz probably means that raspberry is involved.  A quick look at the ingredients tells me I’m right.  Both raspberry and cherry juice concentrate are involved so I look forward to my first swig.

His nose is stuck.

Smells like a candied raspberry, but thankfully not one of the blue variety.  This smells like red.  That’s a confusing sentence out of context, but you get it.

Petey’s Bing Raz just slapped my taste buds to the floor.  Raspberry flavor shows up immediately and forcefully.  It’s tart, sweet, and tangy tastes last throughout the duration of the sip.  A highly consistent beverage throughout in terms of taste, Bing Raz leaves little aftertaste on the backside and does most of it’s talking/walking up front.  

I haven’t said it yet, but I like this soda.  You don’t get many raspberry sodas with the power this one has behind it.  It’s brash and unapologetic for the tingly ride it takes my tongue on.  The only downside I can find is that the flavor wavers a small amount at the very end.  Now it doesn’t change so much that I’d retract my “consistent soda” statement, but it is a little different.

Some might find Petey’s Bing Raz a bit too pungent for the pallet.  I personally believe it’s too strong to be refreshing, but not every soda out there is supposed to refresh….oh awkward.  I just remembered the word “Refreshing” is on the can.  Ok, so it’s not refreshing in a “just went for a run let me get something to drink” sense.  Perhaps it’s refreshing in a “my mouth is dry and I just need liquid” sense.

Ah well, buy some and ignore this abrupt ending.

~A

This soda was purchased at Sprouts groce

Coca-Cola Life

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Those of you who read this site like a blog instead of a review site (thank you, btw) know that I don’t really dabble in the mainstream unless asked.  The three of you who fit the former descriptor also know I’m not really fond of stevia as a sweetener.  So why then did I purchase a bottle of Coca-Cola Life which is sweetened with stevia?  Sorry, let me rephrase that to get more clicks…

YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHY AARON DRANK COKE WITH STEVIA!  REASON NUMBER 4 WILL SHATTER ALL OF REALITY!!!

So I bought it because when I’m on the soda aisle I’ve seen numerous folks stop and stare at it.  Then they have a conversation with their significant other about it, then they walk off without trying it.  I’ve tried to help people understand what it was, but I honestly couldn’t tell them if it was good or not which is what you’re looking for in that situation.

People love Coke and even though this version of Coke is sweetened with stevia it’s also sweetened with cane sugar.  Previous reviews of mine have shown that a Cane Sugar/Stevia mix is usually a pretty good way to reduce calories and keep a nice flavor.  My 8oz bottle has 60 calories and 16 grams of sugar… less than the yogurt I just ate, but that’s not saying much.

"Life" Why Life?

Smell wise it’s a little weaker than regular Coca-Cola, but the scent is still unmistakable.  If this does indeed taste like regular Coke I’ll fully get behind this product.  Other than the fact that it’s called Coca-Cola “Life”.  That’s a bit pretentious to me.  Your soda is called “Life”, take it down a few notches.

So it tastes like a reduced calorie cola.  Granted, it tastes like a Coke brand reduced calorie cola, so they nailed that aspect of it.  Initially you get the quick bite of Coca-Cola Classic, but mouthfeel is really where the two sodas are most similar.   

There is limited flavor on the front end and the sweetness also kind of drops off on the back side, which makes the included stevia a bit more noticeable.  The “after sip” mouthfeel is a little sticky and hugs my teeth and tongue in an unpleasant, but tolerable way.  It’s not great, it’s not bad, it’s just kind something I’m drinking.  

Personally I’d choose Coca-Cola Zero over this every time as I think it gets closer to the Coke taste than “Life” does.  That kind of makes me feel that this may be a wasted product.  Does Coca-Cola Life fill the “wants to drink healthier soda without aspartame” crowd?  If anyone has the money to create something in that market it’s certainly Coca-Cola.

~A

This was purchased at my neighborhood Wal-Mart.​

Petey's Bing Black

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What if I were to tell you that there’s a soda out there that’s both “Delicious” and “Refreshing”.  Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well according to the labeling of the can in front of me, Petey’s Bing Black is just exactly that… both delicious AND refreshing.  

The soda at hand seems to be what we would classify as a “Lifestyle” beverage.  One that gets you your ginseng, your B vitamins, your C vitamin and the like.  It’s also, and this is a personal perk for me, make with blackberry juice.  I’m going to go out on a very sturdy limb and say that’s why it’s called Bing “Black”.  

According to the ingredients it has both blackberry and cherry juice from concentrate.  It’s sweetened with cane sugar and… yup, it has Guarana seed extract in it which confirms my “Lifestyle” beverage theory.

Smell wise you get a nice mixture of blackberry and cherry aromas with the edge going to blackberry.  This makes me a little excited to try it, but I’m still quite cautious.  

Pouring my friend a cup I see that Petey’s Bing Black has a great maroon coloring to it that begs for me to drink it.  This seems like the beverage equivalent of judging a book by its cover, but we all like visual stimuli around here, right?

The finish is considerably better than the start in the case of Bing Black.  Starting off the soda seems a bit empty and almost tinny to me.  Then the script is quickly flipped and my mouth is filled with the natural flavor of blackberries with a hint of cherry.  Being that the transition is so immediate the reaction my tongue has includes a little bit of confusion.

Confused my tongue isn’t sure what to expect next and ends up with a bitter finish and a fruit juice taste on my lips.  Petey’s Bing Black doesn’t tell a cohesive tale, but it knows some interesting short stories.  While I ultimately like to read short stories, I’m not big on drinking them.  Perhaps my tongue just isn’t smart enough to enjoy this beverage as it should be, but that shouldn’t stop you from giving it a try.

~A

This soda was purchased at a Sprout’s grocery store​

Original New York Seltzer Lemon and Lime Soda

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Got myself another tiny bottle of fun. Fun in this case comes in the form of a Original New York Seltzer Lemon & Lime Soda.  Last time I enjoyed a tiny bottle of ONYS I had the bizzare experience of drinking a clear root beer.  Today’s flavor, like all their others, is represented in a clear variety but Lemon & Lime is a flavor that is most often clear.

Ingredient wise this 10oz bottle houses carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, natural lemon and lime flavors with other natural flavors and ascorbic acid.

I really hope Twist takes care of this hippo somehow.

As I’m sure you’ve predicted here’s where I tell you to be wary of where it says “natural lemon and lime flavors” without actually saying that lemon and lime are involved.  Such a sketchy thing to me.

Scent wise a nice strong candy lime scent jumps out of the bottle.  Like a puppy the lemon aroma tags along, but is smaller than Big Dog Lime.  For those of you who know my flavor preferences you’re aware that this excites me.  #TeamLime

So the flavor is a little generic, but my first impression is that it’s better than Sprite.  Initially lime is the predominant flavor as the smell test said it would be.  This is a more subdued lime taste than I thought it would be, less candied than the scent led me to believe.  

Swiftly the flavor you’re greeted with transforms into the generic lemon & lime taste I expected.  While it’s not as bitey as 7up, of the three big “Lymon” sodas that’s the most similar.  The fact that it’s a seltzer is noticeable only in the finish.  As effectual as a fly landing on your potato salad then buzzing away is the bitterness of Original New York Seltzer Lemon & Lime Soda.  You don’t like that it’s there, but since it doesn’t linger too long it’s easy to forget.

So there you have it, a very generic citrus soda (except for that lime intro) in a cute little bottle.  All in all a good purchase, but I think I’m good with one.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Cock 'n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer

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Why wouldn’t you pick up “The Extra Cherry Ginger Soft Drink”?  The bottle even has a cartoon bull and chicken on it for the kids.  For labeling purposes technically it’s Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer.  According to the label this beverage is a “liquid treasure” that contains “natural ginger flavor” and “natural cherry flavor”.  

A glance at the ingredients shows that there are “natural flavors” but doesn’t really specify how they are obtained.  I’ve always said that if a bottle says “natural cherry flavor” on it, yet the ingredients don’t include “cherry anything” to be skeptical.  I’m sure they aren’t lying, but they aren’t telling the full truth either.

Cock 'n Bull 'n Hippo

That said I must give them some recognition for being the first cherry ginger beer that actually has a cherry smell to it.  Most are so lightly flavored with cherry your olfactory glands have to broaden their imagination to even being to detect the scent.

Very nice.  The cherry taste is noticeable, but doesn’t get in the way of the ginger beer.  It’s a fairly candied cherry taste, but honestly it makes the drink more fun.  

It’s within the front and finish of the drink… I like that terminology pairing so I’m going to rewrite the sentence.  The front and finish of Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer is where you get your cherry taste.  Sandwiched in the middle is gonna be your Ginger Spice.  As a child this was my favorite of the spice girls, but as I grew up I started leaning more toward Scary.

Ginger does it’s job, giving my mouth a quick sizzle that’s strong enough to linger long enough to be memorable.  This seer of the tongue lasts well into the final cherry aftertaste, culminating in a well paired “Buddy Cop Flick” of flavors.  

The biggest downside to Cock ‘n Bull Cherry Ginger Beer is that the cherry flavor tastes a bit more medicinal with each sip I take.  It doesn’t make me dislike the soda, but it certainly diminishes some of its initial charm.  Aside from that though it’s definitely something I’d recommend.  In fact I’ll do that right now.

~A

This was purchased at World Market

Paulaner Spezi

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I have a German soda in front of me called Paulaner Spezi.  The flavor, according to the can, is Coffeinhaltige Orangenlimonade mit Cola.  I took and failed German so my best guess is caffeinated orange soda with cola.  It is sweetened with Zucker or sugar if you like and includes Orangensaft which I think is orange juice concentrate.  The label also says that citrus is involved in some way.  So it’s not a complete mystery to me, but this should be a hoot none the less.

It smells like orange juice and cola, so I think I’m on the right track.  The scent is faint, but I bet the flavor won’t be.

Orangensaftkonzentrat is a fantastic word

The color is a light orangey brown and the taste, and according to Buttons, “starts off dull, gets bright, and then just dulls out big time at the end.”  

The dull he speaking of is a somewhat bitter orange/cola mix that swishes past your tongue.  This quickly transitions into a burst of citrus cola that refreshes and then disappears just as suddenly.  Sadly what you end up with is the taste equivalent of an empty room with a chair in it. It’s sad, it’s a little bitter, and you don’t want to stay in there very long.

It’s a roller coaster with one good drop, fun but ultimately disappointing.  The mild bitterness of the final taste dampens your excitement for another swig.  

All in all an interesting beverage that I might give a try if I were in your shoes.  If you aren’t bitter about bitter than perhaps you’d enjoy it a bitter more.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Bundaberg Passionfruit

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I don’t think I’ve ever had a passionfruit outside of a soda.  Obviously I’m not going to do the research on this, but for the sake of this review let’s just assume I’m correct.  Today won’t rock that hypothesis either as I’m going to hopefully enjoy a bottle of Bundaberg Passionfruit.  

The ingredients say I’ll enjoy it as they include real passionfruit juice and cane sugar.  There’s even a touch of passionfruit puree… which explains why I need to “invert bottle before opening”.

Tiny orange hippo was hidden by the bottle

Wow, that is a pungent soda… in a good way of course.  The escaping aroma is very rich and full of passionfruit goodness, which smells a little like a peach if you ask me.

I’m good with that.  This tastes like I’m eating a passionfruit.  Please remember I’ve never actually had one, but if I had I imagine this is what it would taste like.  It just tastes juicy.  

Along with this juicy passionfruit taste (again, think tropical peach) there’s a nice burn on the back end that reminds me I’m alive.  The almost nectar sweet taste of Bundaberg Passionfruit lives on my lips well after each sip.  It’s an enjoyable experience each time I bring it to my taste buds.  The sweetness paired with the tart burst of bubbles makes for a fantastic mouthfeel and all around good experience.

~A

This soda was purchased at World Market

Original New York Seltzer Root Beer Soda

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Confused, I stare at a tiny bottle of clear “root beer soda”.  It’s made by Original New York Seltzer so I’m going to assume that it’s seltzer water flavored with root beer.  Even if that’s true I’m still looking at this bottle with a tilted head... because I’m confused and because the ingredients are written sideways.  Carbonated water, cane sugar, citric acid, and natural flavors are what make up this 10oz bottle of mystery.  

Original New York Orange Hippo

Flavored seltzer water is usually on the bitter side, but this one has 33 grams of sugar in it so I’m hoping it’ll be quite sweet.  The bottle cap states that “The choice is clear” and that’s enough for me to already love this beverage.

Ok, so Original New York Seltzer Root Beer Soda smells like a root beer, but it’s a thin aroma so I’m not sure how rich the taste is going to be.  I suppose I shouldn’t assume a rich taste because this isn’t a root beer… it’s root beer flavored seltzer.  New things are so much fun to try.

That’s so very odd.  The powerful fizz of seltzer paired with the taste of root beer barrel candy.  Each sip starts off crisp and refreshing before introducing the root beer flavoring and then eventually fading away somewhat.  As far as aftertaste goes it’s fairly honest to the original flavor, but holds on longer than I appreciate.

I’m not sure how to say this, but it’s definitely not root beer… yet it’s root beer flavored.  On the sugar front it’s quite the sweet soda.  Only a the smallest amount of bitter taste is created by the seltzer, but the crisp mouthfeel is still present.  

Such an odd combination yet it works.  It’s not going to replace root beer or anything crazy, but at least now I can look fancy whilest enjoying a tiny clear soda.  This coupled with a short ingredient list will assure I pick up another bottle or two next time I see them.

~A

This was purchased at World Market

Earp's Original Sarsaparilla

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The bottle in front of me is sort of amazing.  First off it features an “actor” dressed us as Wyatt Earp.  How do you get that gig?  “Hey, we need someone for the role of Earp.”  “I’m an aspiring actor, I’ll fill your roll.  Where will this be broadcast?”  “Oh, no you aren’t performing… we’re just gonna take your picture and put it on a bottle.”

Hippo butt.

Speaking of the bottle again, this is called Earp’s ORIGINAL Sarsaparilla.  The capitalization is for emphasis, but “original” makes one believe there are other variations of Earp’s Sarsaparilla out there.  I’m not 100% sure they’re aren’t, but I’d put down $10 that says I’m right.

For real now, let’s get this review underway.  Earp’s Original Sarsaparilla is made with cane sugar and some artificial/natural flavors.  Nothing too crazy going on here.

The aroma has more of a licorice kick than I thought it would.  Root beer of course is another scent I’m experiencing, but that’s to be expected as sarsaparilla is its cousin.

That’s average.  On the bite/cream scale this seems to lean more towards bite, as there’s a good amount of burn and fizz, but the flavor itself is unmistakably average. 

Surprisingly the licorice taste isn’t very noticeable either which kind of disappoints me.  Well now that I said that my last sip had plenty of black licorice goodness.  So Wyatt Earp has made me a liar and I’m ok with that… because it’s still average.

So you have a bitey root beer with the taste of licorice.  This flavor is hanging out in my mouth for longer than I appreciate it to.  “Hanging out” is a fairly nice term as it just won’t leave due to it’s somewhat syrupy feel.  

Earp’s Original Sarsaparilla is alright, but nothing special.  If offered one take it.  If you want to try one do so, but don’t expect to be blown out of the water.

~A

This soda was purchased at a Shell Gas Station