Olde Brooklyn - 5 Reviews

People over the age of 50 and those in their 20s and 30s have very different prospective on Brooklyn. The place has changed through the decades, as has much of New York. It's been cleaned up. It's been gentrified. It's had most of its seediness removed. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. Sure you can feel safer walking down the street to buy a slice and a soda, but wasn't the danger part of the adventure? Actually, I have no idea. The first time I went to Brooklyn was 1997 and things were well on their way to becoming what it is today. I'm sure if I lived there I would want it to fall somewhere in the middle. I don't have to step over dope fiends on my way home, but I also can afford to live here and don't have to annoyed by all the trendy youngsters. I am officially an old man.

I will say that if the taste of this soda was any indication of the old days, I would take them. This is a really solid birch beer, that's a tad on the sweeter side of things. It's important to note that it is a red birch beer, and there is an almost fruity hint to it. It's also got a nice amount of wintergreen in the mix. I would love to be hanging out on a stoop with a “ghetto blaster” eating a slice and washing it down with a bottle of this soda. Oh man, I'm an old man that really wants pizza.

I have never been to Brooklyn. It's true. I have been to New York City a handful of times and have only really done Manhattan. I know that I would like the taste of Brooklyn to wash that clichè from my mouth because something about a city made to be an advertisement just doesn't suit me. So, since I've never been there, here is my "dream Brooklyn". Let me know if I'm close.

I'm walking down the street. I've got a bitchin' pair of Wayfarers on. Probably tortoise shell if I know myself well enough. Everywhere is the sound of the Beastie Boys, only up to Ill Communication, of course. Everyone is riding fixed gear bikes, has an ironic beard or mustache, and is eating pizza. Yes, some of it's vegan. Everything is brick. No aluminum or vinyl siding in the entire borough. Paired with the pizza is Old Brooklyn soda. It's only fair. It's not a dictatorship over there. Sure, Power Pop Pop Pop has a bit of weight even though he's all the way in Newbridge, NJ, but Brooklyn is not his home.

Am I far from the truth? Possibly. Possibly not. Were the Ghostbusters from Brooklyn? That's just more of a question for myself.

As for this pop, it was good. It wasn't syrupy at all and that's all thanks to the cane sugar. The sweetness isn't too much and the actual flavor is the aftertaste, which is nice for a change. Oh, you like black cherry pop? You'll love this. Oh, you've never had black cherry pop? You could love this. You don't like black cherry pop, Jay? That's why I'm reviewing this.

I went for a nice long bike ride today. When I got home I got a call from some friends inviting me over for an impromptu barbeque. Seeing as it was my first BBQ of the year I decided I needed to accompany it with some orange soda. I don't know when I started associating grilling with orange pop, but I feel like it had to have been in the last 10 years. I don't remember ever drinking it when I was a kid. It doesn't really matter because it accompanies it perfectly.

I stuffed myself with veggie dogs, fruit salad and asparagus then washed it all down with a. cold bottle of Olde Brooklyn. As far as orange sodas go it was fairly standard. Nothing stood out bad or great about it. The same company that makes Sioux City also makes this soda, so I always expect greatness from it. The three flavors I've had so far have been fairly average. There's nothing bad about that. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do, just not going above and beyond.

I just went to the toity and the smell of my pee took me by surprise. You win this round asparagus.

Dear Olde Brooklyn,
I marked this correspondence as private and personal, so I hope you took the proper precautions before opening it. I don't know how to tell you this without shocking your system, so I'll just come out with it. You have a spy in your product line. No, I don't mean a pointy nosed fella wearing all black or white. I'm talking about real deal espionage here. I would have called you, but I fear our phones may be tapped. This is serious business. Who knows how far their plants go into your company.

I blame the youth culture that has taken over the once fair neighborhood of "Billysburg." I believe they may have used their terrible sense of irony and love of PBR to work their way into your company. As far as I can tell, once they gained access to your factory, they found the barrels that you store your root beer in (Root beer is always stored in barrels right? Candy wouldn't lie to me!). They dumped out your supply of precious root beer and replaced it with root beer scented cola. While it may be a decent enough cola, and the little root beer that was left in the barrels flavored it slightly, it still clearly tastes like cola.

I can hear the sound of fixed gear bikes closing in on my office. I fear they may be on to me. I don't know what end these spies are working towards, but please use the knowledge I have passed onto you in whatever manner you see fit.

Sincerely,
I. M. Fletcher


ps. This message will self destruct in five seconds.

I had high expectations for this cream soda. I'd be lying if I said this didn't have to do with the drawing of a bridge on the bottle. Why do I think good packaging equals a tasty beverage? I have no clue.

Sadly, this isn't as good as I thought it would be. It has a nice vanilla flavor, but the after taste is pretty bland. While not the worst cream soda, definitely not something I'd go out of my way to buy again.