About the only soda I drink is root beer, and that rarely happens because soda and I aren't very compatible. In traditional brands, the syrup makes everything taste extra sweet and the syrup leaves a terrible aftertaste. Never mind what the acid does to my innards. I actually find this amazing because when I was younger, I used to be a Dr. Pepper addict. I could drink two Circle K Thirstbusters (44oz each) a day, easy. I can probably still remember the words to one of the Circle K marketing songs.
The 44 ouncer, the 44 ouncer. Twelve whole ounces bigger, it's a much much bigger swigger! And refills only cost 99 cents. Go Figger!
Seriously brilliant marketing if I can remember the song still today. Of course, I now believe no one should be drinking that much soda even in a month. I know, I'm no fun.
Anyway, I often have company over and they enjoy soda, and well, every once in a rare while I want a soda too. And I'd prefer my soda as healthy as possible. So I decided to give Oogavé a try, particularly Esteban's Rootbeer. All of the Oogavé sodas are sweetened with agave nectar instead of high fructose corn syrup or sugar.
Esteban's Rootbeer tastes like root beer, but slightly different than the usual suspects (Mug, Dad's, A & W...and nothing like Barq's). I think the agave is why, plus the lack of chemicals. But it's not bad, just different. I find the taste pleasant and light, not overwhelming at all. Which is perfect for me, because I cannot handle regular sodas anymore. Hardcore soda drinkers might not approve, but I say give it a shot anyway. If you like it, you could save some calories (though probably not money).I hear Oogavé Esteban's Cola and the Watermelon Cream are awesome. Some other flavors: Mandarin Key Lime, Ginger Ale, and Grapefruit. I've also tried the Grapefruit at one of those taste-testing stands at Sprouts and I enjoyed it for sure.
Oogavé Esteban's Rootbeer
Ranking: ****
***** awesome! Highly recommended.
**** hey, this is pretty dang good.
*** not bad at all.
** eh.
* bad. Keep looking for alternatives.
[Oogavé can be found in bottle form at Green, Sprouts, and Whole Foods; and in fountain form at Nourish.]
2 comments:
I don't like soda much either. I'm a whore for a Perrier though. And truth be told I like Coke (though I rarely drink it); I love the burning sensation when you take that first gulp. Causes me to make a face that the husband refers to as, "the raptor".
Have you ever tried making your own root beer? It's actually pretty easy depending on the method you use. It can be made the old time way by brewing up the roots and seasonings yourself or you can buy the syrup on the internet. Root beer syrup comes unsweetened. It is just concentrated flavorings.
Either way, sweeten to your own tastes using whatever sweetner you prefer, bottle it, and add carbonization either by natural yeasts, or from a CO2 cartridge.
Making your own root beer is a fun hobby plus you can get something all natural. It will be as strong as you like it and sweetened to your personal tastes too. What I made was much better than any commercial brand I've ever bought.
Another option is homemade root beer from a local micro-brewery. We have one here that makes fantastic root beer. My friends make fun of me because I order it when we drop by for a beer. Heck, I can get pretty good beer plenty of places but that's the only place in town with fantastic root beer.
I's recommend you try making some yourself. It's fun, easy, and great quality.
Post a Comment