Review - NuGrape Soda

Bottler: Orca Beverage Soda Works

Calories per Ounce: 16.7

Caffeine: No

Aaron's Comments: Of all the grape sodas I have tried, NuGrape Soda is the one that tastes the most like actual grape juice. It has a very rich, full-bodied grape flavor with just enough carbonation to make it a soda rather than imitation grape juice. The flavor of the soda is strong enough and good enough that adding ice does nothing to diminish it. As it is a grape soda, it makes about as good of an ice cream float as one would expect a grape soda to make - although it is the very best grape soda ice cream float that I have had. On a final note, I will point out that NuGrape's rich grape flavor does seem to come at a price, as it packs 200 calories in every twelve ounce bottle, which is a fair amount more than the average soda.

Review - Grape Crush

Bottler: Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

Calories per Ounce: 14.2

Caffeine: No

Aaron's Comments: Of all the fruit flavored sodas, grape always seems to be the most elusive when it comes to actually replicating the flavor of the fruit it is named after. Grape Crush is no exception, tasting more or less grape-like, but not really like grapes at the same time. The flavor of grape Crush certainly tastes like grape soda is supposed to taste, but that isn't exactly what an actual grape tastes like. Even so, the flavor is quite good as grape sodas go. The flavor isn't changed appreciably when ice is added, although as usual, the flavor of the soda is slightly muted. Grape sodas don't usually make for particularly good ice cream floats, and Grape Crush isn't an exception here. The combination of ice cream and artificial grape flavor simply doesn't mesh well. It isn't particularly bad this way, it just isn't particularly good.

A Big Thank You to Dustin

I went to Gen Con this past week and received a gift that I knew was coming and yet was entirely unexpected. Dustin of the Undergophers was involved in the discussions that led to the creation of this blog. Prior to Gen Con, he told me that he intended to bring me a care package of sodas from various outlets near where he lives. So I knew he was bringing me some sodas to review. What I didn't know was that he was bringing me two whole boxes of sodas. I simply didn't know the scale of his generosity, and I am so very grateful to him. This gift is without a doubt the most substantial gift anyone has ever given me as a result of my blogging. On my book blog Dreaming About Other Worlds I frequently get offered (and often accept) review copies of books. But those aren't gifts. The books are being offered to me with the expectation that I will read and review them - a benefit to the publisher and author. So there is something of a quid pro quo there. But this gift from Dustin is in a completely different category, and I am using this post to publicly express my gratitude at his magnanimity.

Review - Fanta Grape Soda

Bottler: Coca-Cola

Calories per Ounce: 15.8

Caffeine: No

Aaron's Comments: Like all grape sodas, Fanta Grape doesn't really seem to taste all that much like grapes. Or at least it doesn't really taste like most grapes I have eaten. Fanta Grape has the fairly familiar artificial grape flavor that is common so grape sodas, a taste I would describe as somewhat grape-like, but heavier and stronger. With ice, the core of the flavor is essentially unchanged, albeit somewhat weakened. As with Orange Fanta, the soda did not immediately foam up when ice cream was added, but had a delayed reaction and foamed up considerably a minute or so later. I'm not sure why, but I can only guess that it is because of the use of sugar as a sweetener instead of corn syrup. Although I wouldn't normally match grape soda and ice cream, it works about as well as one would expect and makes a reasonably good ice cream float.

Angela's Comments: It tastes like wild grapes.