Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jordan Michael Rapp — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 03:36:00 -0000

A few miles from my house is a shop called Rocket Fizz. They have a large selection of sodas along with candies and vintage gags. I don't know if they have expanded into a chain or not.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jordan Michael Rapp — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 23:36:09 -0000

A few miles from my house is a shop called Rocket Fizz. They have a large selection of sodas along with candies and vintage gags. I don't know if they have expanded into a chain or not.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

MadMonk67 — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:16:00 -0000

I feel pretty lucky to live near by Pop's in Arcadia. I didn't realize how rare such a shop is around the country.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

MadMonk67 — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:16:00 -0000

I feel pretty lucky to live near by Pop's in Arcadia. I didn't realize how rare such a shop is around the country.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

MadMonk67 — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:16:32 -0000

I feel pretty lucky to live near by Pop's in Arcadia. I didn't realize how rare such a shop is around the country.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jquinn — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:18:08 -0000

Actually your body can't tell the difference between high fructose corn syrup and pure cane sugar the reason the rise in HFCS correlates with the rise of obesity is the price we can get junk food to be by using the much cheaper HFCS this mean that if you had 3 dollars you could get 3 cookies now 3 dollars can get you a package of cookies. Junk food is one of the few things that has gotten cheaper.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Eric — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 06:51:28 -0000

Great article!

I've recently stopped drinking alcohol, almost completely. I'll allow myself an occasional glass of whiskey (and I love whiskey flavored things) and when I go home to Texas, I'll probably have a good Shiner Black, but for the most part, I've left alcohol behind.

In lieu of that, cokes have been a good replacement. I've been considering making my own root beer and cream soda. This history has been insightful, though. Thanks again.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Ashley — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 18:00:49 -0000

I know this is an old post but I have to add my favorite place in San Francisco, The Ice Cream Bar. They do old fashioned lactarts and phosphates with a plethora of tinctures. It's an art and a science and I highly recommend it!

theicecreambarsf.com

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Kirk — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:19:31 -0000

http://reedsinc.com/product...
Virgil's is some of the best soda I've ever had

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jaymes A — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:03:17 -0000

Does anyone know where I can find information about Maris Cola? I have searched all I can on google and can not find anything about this company. I have come to find the whereabouts of around 30 full glass jugs of this cola with labels presumably printed around 1920-1940. Would like to know more info about it.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Michael Gonsalves — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 14:43:41 -0000

Not to dredge up an old article, but for anyone in Connecticut, I recommend Hosmer Mountain Soda. They have 2 locations (Willimantic and Manchester) and are served at a decent number of smaller non-chain restaurants across the state.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Shawn humphrey — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:01:47 -0000

Brett,

I have enjoyed your soda reviews and articles. Would you consider doing reviews on Birch Beer and Sarsaparilla? Also possibly Ginger Beer? I noticed that The Soda Shop in AZ carries all of the above, and it may not hurt to support the AZ economy (sorry to all of you who are boycotting them at present).

Thanks Brett, and keep up the good work!

Shawn

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Mark — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:21:04 -0000

Greetings :-),

I picked up something interesting tonight on the way to work: Mountian Dew Throwback. Apparently, Pepsico is at least experimenting with returning to sugar in sodas. Wikipedia cites rising corn prices due to the use of corn in biofuel generation (reversing the rising sugar price trend that prompted the original switch in the 70s/80s) as a possible cause: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

I shouldn't be drinking either, being significantly overweight ;-). However, nobody's perfect and I like the odd soda here and there. I definitely noticed the difference in tase.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Bob Mcfly — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:28:46 -0000

Saranac Root Beer from Utica,NY = awesome

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Gerald D. Swick — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:52:09 -0000

Ryan, you're right about Griffith & Feil, but you failed to mention that they top their wonderful ice cream with what seems to be home-made fruit toppings. I make a point of stopping there whenever I go back to West Virginia.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

stepcoach — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:21:38 -0000

Thanks for a very enlightening and well-written article. Since developing diabetes a couple years ago (partially from years of drinking Coke, etc) I've pretty much given up soft drinks. I use a soda water mixer to make my own fizzies (?) from 100% fruit juice, and have become fairly good at combining to get a good taste. But I did not know about the micro-brewery move back to pure cane sugar. I'll investigate as whether that makes a difference over HFCS for my - and millions of others' - conditions.
Either way, please keep up the good work. My friends and I really enjoy the AoM.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Ryan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:17:35 -0000

Just wanted to say thanks for the awesome article, and add in one that's within a short drive of parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Griffith & Feil Pharmacy is in Kenova, West Virginia and still doing Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and a few other drinks the old soda-jerk way (namely orange cream and root beers). They also have an absolutely amazing version of most diner foods.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jeff — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:47:03 -0000

http://www.thesodagallery.c...

The Soda Gallery in Dallas is about as good as it gets when it comes to a craft and obscure soda selections. It's right down the street from my house, so I love to stop by and see the newest choices.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

John — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:07:05 -0000

For those of us who've had the good fortune to live in certain urban areas with large concentrations of Orthodox Jews, there are also "kosher for Passover" versions of many mass-market sodas. The essential difference is that they are made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (don't ask me why; I'm no expert on kashruth), so we get to have Coke the way it used to be!

So if you're in New York City around Passover, look for the 2-liter bottles of Coke with the yellow cap printed with Hebrew letters. It's the REAL real thing!

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Gene Schubert — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:39:31 -0000

Great website. Pure cane sugar sodas blow away that corporate crap on the shelfs.
I enjoy Boylan, and have had a good Hank's too. Loved your articles on best colas and best root beers, gave me some ideas. Keep'em coming!

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Darryl — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:41:30 -0000

Unfortunately up here (In Toronto) There's really no independent soda manufacturers anymore. they all either went bankrupt or moved away...a pity.

I'm stuck drinking Jones' Soda, which is fine but still I'd like to have variety than just being stuck with the same old sodas (Pepsi , coke, et al. ad infinitum)

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Greg Warwick — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:31:10 -0000

Thought you'd like to be aware of another soda of historical and taste significance. Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages were established in 1905 in Northern England when Thomas Fentiman acquired a ginger beer recipe from a fellow tradesman that gave it as a security to a failed loan. The Ginger Beer was sold in stoneware jugs called "gray hens" for years, delivered door-to-door for decades until 1992 when Eldon Robson, Thomas' great-grandson introduced the first custom bottle for the beverage. Over the next 10+ years he introduced other varieties using the same 7-day fermentation and brewing process that resulted in beverages with layers of flavour and aroma, unlike any other. Perhaps you've heard of the slow food movement? Well, these were the some of the first slow sodas. They have less then 1/2% alcohol, having been fermented, but these can still be consumed by persons of all ages and bought in every type of store and restaurant. Other varieties beyond the original Ginger Beer include Curiosity Cola (much like what you'd find at an apothocary decades ago), Victorian Lemonade, Madarin & Seville Orange Jigger, Dandelion & Burdock and Shandy. A Tonic Water, Ginger Beer and Curiosty Cola are also available in 125 ml mixer sizes. No HFCS, just all-natural ingredients and flavours.

In the quest for sodas of substance, these are truly worth checking out. You can firnd more information on them at www.DrinkFenimans.com or www.fentimans.com. Check out the link to Furtling, too. Real Victorian era humor and real hoot!

Cheers!

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

r.blondie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:41:14 -0000

Your site is priceless guys. So enjoyable and done with great humor. I have just started a similarly named site that you might want to take a peek at.
Good luck to you.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

Jonathan Rose — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:13:01 -0000

Great article and very illuminating for someone moderating and limiting there alcohol intake, such as myself. I am adopting the philosophy of temperance in my life as part of a strong, concerted effort to succeed at the goals I have in life. Alcohol is such a damaging drink - lifestyle even - and it is hard to find alternatives without loosing social grace. Like Marcel though, I simple cannot find the options and varieties in London, UK, where I live. Anyone have any suggestions, other than ordering online? It would be great to see an article on alternative drinking that catered for Londonites.

Re: Tired of Beer? Become a Soda Connoisseur

PK — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:22:50 -0000

Tired of beer?...........no