Review - Virgil's Cream Soda

Bottler: Reed's, Inc.

Calories per Ounce: 13.3

Caffeine: No

Aaron's Comments: I am generally not a huge fan of cream sodas. Because modern root beer is primarily flavored with vanilla, most cream sodas seem to me to be nothing more than weak root beer. Virgil's Cream Soda bucks this trend by making the vanilla flavor so strong that it is anything but weak and yet is different enough from root beer to be worth drinking. Served over ice, Virgil's Cream Soda suffers from the usual problem of having its flavor diluted, and as a result it suffers from the same problem that most cream sodas suffer from - it tastes like watered down root beer. When used in an ice cream float, the powerful vanilla flavor of Virgil's Cream Soda jumps forward and enhances the ice cream, making for an excellent experience. Of all the cream sodas I have ever had, this one makes the best ice cream float.

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 - I.B.C. Cream Soda

Bottler: Dr. Pepper

Calories per Ounce: 15

Caffeine: No

Aaron's Comments: Odd as it may sound, cream soda is not one of my favorite sodas. I love root beer, and most modern root beers use vanilla as their dominant flavoring. So one would think that cream soda, which is explicitly just a vanilla flavored soda, would be right up my alley. And yet so many cream sodas have such a weak flavor that they just remind me that I'm not drinking root beer. And I.B.C.'s cream soda isn't really an exception. It is sweet enough, and you can definitely taste the vanilla flavor, but it seems to be lacking something. With ice added, the vanilla flavor feels slightly more full-bodied, but the soda still seems like weak root beer. When used to make an ice cream float, the vanilla ice cream seems like it should overwhelm the flavor of the soda, but the soda holds up adequately, resulting in an decent, albeit somewhat thin feeling, ice cream float.