Thirsty Dudes :: Sweetener :: Pure Cane Sugar

Red Rock Golden Ginger Ale

At least one person on this planet is going to be real bummed when they buy this soda. I feel like most people think of ginger ale as something completely different than those of us who scratch the surface of the soda world a little more. Companies like Vernors and Schweppes, while making decent products, have led the world to believe that all ginger ale is sweet and smooth. Here is a news flash folks; "real" ginger ale has a kick to it. If you've ever tasted actual ginger you know that it has some spice to it. When made into a soda properly it can have quite a burn. That burn is not for everyone, but those of us who like it really, really love it. Usually ginger sodas that have this kick are known as ginger beers nowadays. Sometimes companies still call them ginger ale, and I'm fine with that. Red Rock is one such company.

It doesn't have the strongest burn I've ever experienced in a ginger soda, but it's stronger than I had expected. This is a slow sipper with a lot of flavor. So when aunt Milda ventures to the store to buy some ginger ale to sooth her upset stomach, she is going to be in for a shock when she takes a swig of this. Her stomach will probably be all the better for it though.

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed By: Jason Draper on 5/29/2011

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Red Rock Premium Cola

Apparently I just drank history. After drinking this bottle, I decided to do a little research and I found out that Red Rock is one of the oldest carbonated beverages in the United States. It was founded in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. This probably is why it has a very classic cola taste to it. It's not trying to be fancy (despite the "premium" label), and it really works. If you like Pepsi Throwback, you'll love this.

The most interesting thing I found out was that Babe Ruth endorsed this soda. This is a big deal because this was the only product he ever personally endorsed in his lifetime. Look at this iconic poster and tell me it doesn't make you want to try it:

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop

Rating: 3/5

Reviewed By: Derek Neuland on 10/17/2011

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Buy Now: Red Rock Premium Cola Bottle

Rocket Fizz Mud Pie

I thought I knew what Mud Pie was but to make sure, I had to Wiki it. It was just what I thought it was. Chocolate with crispy chocolate. One place said that it had whipped cream in it, so I thought it would be like a chocolate cream pop. My mom said that she used to make it by putting chocolate pudding in a piecrust. All of these options sounded great and I had to get this pop in me.

First sip was a bit awkward because it tastes like there is a coffee taste to the pop, and two other people agreed. The chocolate is a good chocolate taste, and that in itself, although not technically "mud pie", would have been good. This tasted like a chocolate, coffee drink. It was good, but I wanted a bit more chocolate, no coffee, and maybe some cream. I wouldn't have been mad if there was cream in there. Much like in real life, if there is whipped cream on a dessert; I'm not going to get mad at you.

Website: http://www.rocketfizz.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop

Rating: 3/5

Reviewed By: Mike Literman on 11/3/2011

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Romano's Italian Soda Vanilla Bean

I'm not that familiar with Italian sodas, but this one is delicious. It's one of the strongest vanilla flavorings I've ever tasted in a soda. This is like a cream soda with extra vanilla flavor. I'm excited to try the other flavors Romano's makes.

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop, Sparkling

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed By: Derek Neuland on 9/28/2010

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Romano's Italian Soda Marionberry Lemon

Even though I have an extreme hatred for Ray Romano, I still really enjoyed this beverage (which I assume he has absolutely nothing to do with).
It really tastes like something you would order in a coffee shop. I mean let's be honest coffee is disgusting, so why order that at a coffee shop, especially when you have bubbly fruity goodness to chose instead.
I learned something new today when I learned that marionberry is a type of blackberry and not just the former mayor of DC who was arrested for use and possession of crack cocaine. Yes, he still won future elections with the slogan "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for D.C."

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop, Sparkling

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed By: Jason Draper on 10/21/2010

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Romano's Italian Soda Orange Cream

Go back in time to when you were in second grade. Don't think of the future. After all, you're 7. What do you care about the economy, career, marriage, responsibility, or basically anything? There is one thing you care about...

It's time for lunch. You and your class walk down to the lunchroom and wait in line. You get a boiled hot dog, chocolate milk, apple and one more thing. You go over to the ice cream freezer and get an orange creamsicle. You eat everything on your plate and then you silence the world around you as you eat that creamsicle.

Do I need to say that Romano's Orange Creme tastes just like that? I hope that I don't.

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop, Sparkling

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed By: Mike Literman on 10/25/2010

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Romano's Italian Soda Raspberry

I really want to get one of those machines that let you carbonate anything. How great would that be? I would carbonate the dumbest stuff, just because I could. Carbonated chocolate milk? Sure it would be gross, but I'd still do it.
This tastes like it was home carbonated, and I mean that in a good way. I know it's just some sort of syrup in carbonated water, but it's great. I feel like I'm drinking it in a little cafe somewhere in Italy.
Now bring on the carbonated soup.

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop, Sparkling

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed By: Jason Draper on 11/5/2010

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Romano's Italian Soda Creamy Strawberry

Go to your gramma's house. Go in her candy dish: old M&M's, old Reese's Pieces and old Werther's Originals. Also found in said candy dish are those strawberry hard candies wrapped in strawberry looking foil. That candy is exactly what this pop tastes like. It's very sweet and very potent of candy strawberries. It's not bad, but it's a bit overwhelming and ambitious if you planned on drinking the entire bottle.

I will say that it has been my favorite Romano's beverage I have had thus far. I know a lot of people would like this so if you like those candies, or just want to try another strawberry pop that isn't just sugar and strawberry flavor, try this. It's smoother than "standard" strawberry pop, hence the "creamy" prefix.

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop, Sparkling

Rating: 3/5

Reviewed By: Mike Literman on 11/24/2010

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Romano's Italian Soda Sour Apple

Once in a while, it's fun to eat extreme things. Oh, what do I mean by extreme things? I mean things that are so flavorful that it actually hurts. Super sweet cranberry juice that tarts up your cheeks, overly hot-sauced chicken wings that clear your sinuses, and sour apple Jolly Ranchers. All three of these are like an exclamation point to your taste buds. Problem is, you only want a little bit at a time before the novelty wears off and you are wondering why you're torturing yourself.

This sour apple pop tastes like a seemingly endless sour apple Jolly Rancher. It's good at first but then, quite promptly, it overstays its welcome and leaves you with the decision of what to do with a perfectly fine 3/4 full bottle of pop. I shared mine with friends and the best they could do was bring my percentage to 50%. This was simply too much for me.

Website: http://www.romanossoda.com/

Country: United States

Sweetener: Pure Cane Sugar

Categories: Soda Pop

Rating: 2/5

Reviewed By: Mike Literman on 2/8/2011

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Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate

Vegans, you're getting luckier by the day. Your hatred of animals and animal by-products is getting easier stronger and more beneficial. You are no longer segregated to the underground seed and nut parlors of old but now you are welcomed into the sunlight and above ground stores and restaurants. You are treated special without questions asked. Your influence is growing. Soon, no one will look at a cow the same way. Soon, Morrissey will have one less thing to be sad about.

This totally animal free drink is pretty great. Almond milk is thicker than soymilk so it's more "milkshakey" which means "better" in layman terms. I don't get a lot of dark chocolate but I might get "slightly shadier chocolate." I wouldn't give it the credit that it asks for since I am allowed to be critical on my own soapbox. That being said, it's still good.

Vegetarians and vegans, you may dance until the sun comes out for this drink passes the test of a carnivore. I have spoken and it has been said. I hereby sanction this drink as acceptable to all parties.