Our first experiment in gourmet, crafted soda taste testing came last night at about 10:30 pm MST. At that time we decided to begin with the category of "Cream Soda." We included five fun brands purchased at BevMo. Our reviewers included Sweet Soda Sue, Popa Pop, and Sarsaparilla Sam. Here is what we had had to say about the following brands of vanilla flavored Cream Soda beginning with a bottle cap rating from each reviewer:

Jones Cream Soda

This brand is straight-up fizz, not draught-style or foamy. Ingredients include: carbonate water, inverted cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, calcium disodium EDTA

COMMENTS

3.5 Sweet Soda Sue: This beverage is somewhat reminiscent of carbonated wedding cake.

3.5 Sarsaparilla Sam: I like its kick!

4 Popa Pop: The aroma is divine. It really swings in your mouth.

Virgil's Cream Soda

We love this brand because it is micro brewed and made with real vanilla beans and other natural ingredients. It is draught style and quite foamy. Ingredients also include: Purified carbonated water, unbleached cane sugar, caramelized unrefined cane sugar, vanilla extract, natural flavors. This soda is gluten free.

COMMENTS

4 Sweet Soda Sue: The vanilla is quite subtle and charming in flavor.

4 Sarsaparilla Sam: It is smooth and creamy

3 Popa Pop: The presentation on the label is pleasing.

Sprecher Cream Soda

This is a cream-colored frothy brew that definitely tastes of sweet honey. Ingredients are: carbonated water, glucose syrup, malto-dextrin, Wisconsin raw honey, vanillin, vanilla, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, quillaia/yucca extract, carmel color, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride

COMMENTS

3 Sweet Soda Sue: The honey definitely influences the overall texture and taste.

2 Sarsaparilla Sam: A little heavy on the honey. It is more of a honey drink than a cream soda, I think.

4 Popa Pop: I'm always a fan of honey. This is a heavy soda I would say.

Goose Island

This Chicago-style, craft soda made with 100% cane sugar. It was first brewed in Lincoln Park in 1988. Ingredients: triple filtered carbonated water, cane sugar, natural flavor, citric acid, sodium benzoate, caramel color.

3 Sweet Soda Sue: It has an unusual initial taste. This brew definitely tastes like butterscotch

3.5 Sarsaparilla Sam: I like the smooth after-flavor

3 Popa Pop: It feels good going down.

Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Cream

This soda first appeared during prohibition. It is a smooth, low fizz drink that tastes a lot like bubble gum. It is also super sweet. Its ingredients includes: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, pure vanilla bean extract, citric acid, sodium benzoate, botanical extracts, caramel color, honey, natural flavors.

COMMENTS

1 Sweet Soda Sue: The bubble gum taste is overwhelming

1.5 Sarsaparilla Sam: I get bubble gum.

1.5 Popa Pop: I want to like this soda, it just tastes a lot like bubble gum.