REVIEW: Berries and Cream RC Cola

Berries and Cream RC Cola Can

RC Cola used to be my favorite soda growing up. I remember it tasting sweeter and had more of a bite than Coke and Pepsi. But then it just disappeared out of my life. I’m not sure what happened. Maybe Coke and Pepsi conspired to make sure RC Cola never got shelf space, or perhaps my parents received bribes from Big Cola to make sure during my formative years that my allegiance would be with Coke or Pepsi.

Since then, I’ve had RC Cola a few times, but it doesn’t taste as good as I remember. Maybe it’s the high fructose corn syrup, or perhaps my tongue has been washed with Coke and Pepsi so often that my taste buds can’t bring themselves to relive the good times they’ve had with RC Cola.

RC Cola is still around, kicking, and according to Instacart, available at a grocery store near me. But the cola is not only alive, but it also has a new limited time only, Dollar General exclusive flavor — Berries and Cream.

Berries and Cream RC Cola Pour

The can has a retro look, and its muted colors make it look even more so. Its vanilla-heavy aroma is inviting, and it smells like what you’d get cracking open a can of Vanilla Coke or Pepsi Vanilla. However, I don’t notice any berry scent.

Berries and Cream RC Cola Red

Thankfully, a syrupy berry flavor comes through the cola taste with the very first sip. I thought it was a bit odd at first, but subsequent sips weren’t weird. Although its name contains the vague “berries,” the only one I taste is raspberry. The cream flavor is also around, but I wouldn’t call it “cream” because it reminds me of the vanilla flavoring in other colas.

Berries and Cream RC Cola Glass

Overall, Berries and Cream RC Cola is tasty enough that I think it has the power to raise the brand up and out from behind Coke and Pepsi. Just kidding. But it’s definitely good enough to prevent RC Cola from sinking lower.

Purchased Price: FREE*
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: eBay (available exclusively at Dollar General)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, 57 grams of sugar (57 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 57 milligrams of caffeine.

*Thanks to the mnmtwinz, known for their fantastic Instagram, for sending this (and a few other extras) with the Mtn Dew I purchased from them on eBay.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem

Mountain Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem Bottles

It feels like it’s been a Flamin’ Hot minute since I’ve done the Dew.

I’m jealous of all you hardcore Dew heads out there who manage to track down every flavor (I imagine you call yourselves “Dewds and Dewdettes,” naturally.) I know there are grinders out there who don’t let any regional release or store exclusives stand in the way of their doing of the Dew.

Me? I’m a big Mountain Dew fan, but at this point, half the names feel like fever dreams. Every time I turn around, there’s a new one on the market. It’s hard to keep track. The last Dew I had was red, but it wasn’t Code Red. You know the one! When was that released? Am I way behind?

Either way, I liked it. It was a headache in a bottle, but it tasted good. What can I say? I’m getting old, and the sugar rush goes straight to my dome. Actually, I think Mountain Dew could use that as a slogan. Mtn Dew: It’s a headache in a bottle, but it tastes good! Enter the two new Dew – Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem. Guess what? They’re no exception.

Baja Gold is pineapple flavored, while Baja Mango Gem tastes like mango, with zero gem flavor to be found anywhere. I can honestly say I’ve had maybe two pineapple sodas and no mango. Couple that with the fact I’ve been a fan of the Baja variants since the OG at Taco Bell, and I was fired up to try these.

Mountain Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem Glasses

Well, what I can tell you upfront is, yeah, both of these are cloyingly sweet – too sweet if I’m being honest, but we all know what to expect from Mountain Dew. I couldn’t fathom drinking a full 20 ounces of either of these in one sitting, let alone both, but they were delicious in moderation.

Mtn Dew Baja Gold Label

Baja Gold tasted like the ripest chunk of pineapple you’ve ever had, inexplicably rolled in pure cane sugar. It’s essentially pineapple Life Savers in liquid form. My only real frame of context when it comes to pineapple sodas are Goya and Jarritos, and I think this stacks up pretty well in comparison. It’s vibrant, smells incredible, and has that tiny, almost peppery bite on the finish like the best pineapple usually has.

Pineapple is criminally underutilized by soda companies, and this lived up to the hype I built up in my head. I know Dew had a pina colada-inspired flavor at one point, and I’m really bummed I missed it.

Mtn Dew Baja Mango Gem Label

Baja Mango Gem didn’t pack as much as a punch, but it was equally good.

Finding super ripe mangoes near me is always a total crapshoot, so I am a big fan of dried mango, and this soda tasted just like that. It didn’t pop quite like Gold but had a nice sweet mellow flavor that really made me think of those little dried fruit jerky pieces.

Mango and orange aren’t exactly similar, but this had a similar sensation to a less intense orange soda. It kinda falls somewhere between the typical orange soda and those creamsicle-flavored novelty sodas. It’s not “creamy” per se, but sweet and smooth.

It’s admittedly dumb even to mention this about a Mountain Dew release, but they still caught me a bit off guard with the sugar content. The fructose corn syrup in these drinks is higher than Snoop Dogg.

In the end, both are really nice, but they’re a headache in a bottle. I say definitely do these Dews, but don’t be shocked if you polish off the bottle and have a stomach ache soon after.

Purchased Price: $2.29 each
Size: 20 fl oz bottles
Purchased at: Quick Chek
Rating: 7 out of 10 each
Nutrition Facts: 280 calories, 0 grams of fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 74 grams of total carbohydrates, 74 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Typhoon (2022)

Mtn Dew Typhoon  2022 Can

Mtn Dew Typhoon is a Dew with a blast of tropical punch, and it’s only available online via the Dew Store. It’s a returning flavor that made its debut in 2010. A 16-ounce can six-pack will cost you $12 (not including $8 ground shipping). Plus, to purchase it, you have to be a Dew Nation HQ member, which I’m not sure comes with a membership card you can flash to access some auDEWtorium if you sign up. Is it worth spending an Andrew Jackson and sharing your email and birthday to get your hands on something that initially existed over a decade ago?

Well, it’s much cheaper and easier than building a time machine from scratch, let me tell you. But if you’ve already got one, go with the time machine because sodas were cheaper back then. If not, I think it’s worth getting the six-pack of Mtn Dew Typhoon because it’s a mid to maybe upper-mid-tier Dew flavor.

Here’s what I wrote about it back in 2010, when the flavor debuted as part of the DEWmocracy promotion: “While those who live in the western part of the Pacific Ocean probably don’t like its name, I thought its pineapple and citrus flavor was the best tasting and most unique of the three DEWmocracy flavors. Although, as much as I liked it, I wasn’t completely blown away by it.”

Mtn Dew Typhoon  2022 Glass

After tasting it again in 2022, that last sentence still rings true. It has a tasty fruit punch flavor with a noticeable pineapple kick, but it’s not so great that I want it available year-round or in brick-and-mortar stores. It’s been over a decade since I last had the chance to try Typhoon, and over that time, I haven’t really thought about it, unlike Mtn Dew Pitch Black, which I dream about multiple times a year.

With that said, I do like the idea of getting the opportunity to go back into Mtn Dew history and try flavors from its past, even if that involves creating a password for the Dew Nation HQ website. I hope this leads to the selling of other discontinued flavors. Can you imagine trying Johnson City Gold or Mtn Dew Pitch Black I AND II again? That would be awesome!

So, I guess what I’m saying is, buy Mtn Dew Typhoon. By doing so, you’ll be getting a fine tasting Dew, and we all might get the chance to wrap our lips around more discontinued Dew flavors in the future.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product samples from Mtn Dew. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz cans
Purchased at: Received from Mtn Dew
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 230 calories, 0 grams of fat, 65 milligrams of sodium, 61 grams of carbohydrates, 61 grams of sugar (61 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, 72 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles

Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles Pouch

What are Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles?

It’s Sour Patch minus the Kids, and this time they’re soda flavored.

How are they?

Sometimes I eat a new snack and genuinely enjoy it, but it still ends up bumming me out for reasons beyond its control. I’ll get to that later, but first? These are really good.

I can go in-depth about Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles’ flavor, but it just kinda boils down to “Sour Coca-Cola.” They’re exactly as advertised.

Everyone knows Sour Patch Kids start sour and become sweet, and these are no different. The initial sour sensation is very similar to that of a lemon or lime SPK, but it mellows into a moderate level of sweetness that I’d compare to watered-down cola.

Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles Glass Wht

Both colored bubbles have the same flavor, which I thought would pop (no pun) a bit more, if I’m being honest. That’s not really a complaint, though.

It’s akin to when you pour Coke over ice and take that first foamy sip as the bubbles settle around the cubes. Am I making sense? I find that to be the best and least cola flavor heavy sip. There’s obviously no effervescence here, but the taste gives off that sensation.

I couldn’t help but wonder how successful a “Sour Cola” would be after eating these. Maybe Pepsi could give that a trial run. I think it would be good, especially for a cocktail mixer.

Anything else you need to know?

So, I mentioned earlier how bummed these made me, and I’m probably dating myself here, but they reminded me of a candy that hasn’t existed in close to two decades – Betty Crocker Sodalicious Fruit Snacks.

If you know, you know.

I won’t dwell on that too much, and I encourage you to Google ’em because, man, they were an elite childhood snack, and these were semi-close to what I remember Sodalicious tasting like.

I also think Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles are better than Haribo Happy Cola gummies.

Conclusion:

Sour Patch Kids Cola Bubbles Glass Bag

These are legit, and I’d argue the little bubble form is a more satisfying bite than the usual flat kid shape.

I think these could and really should become standard movie theater candy. You can sub ’em in for the massive Coke and family-sized bag of Sour Patch Kids you usually get and just focus on your garbage can full of popcorn.

Purchased Price: $1.25
Size: 3.61 oz
Purchased at: Dollar Tree
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (24 pieces) 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, 25 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 23 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade

Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade Can

What is Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade?

Over the past several years, Canada Dry has made our summers a bit less ginger ale-y and a bit more ginger ade-y with new citrusy flavors. So far, the brand has combined its tummy-soothing moneymaker with lemonade, orangeade, and limeade. Since there are no more single-word untrademarkable beverages that end with -ade, this year, raspberry lemonade gets to do a beverage do-si-do with the popular soft drink.

How is it?

Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade Glass

It smells completely unremarkable. However, its flavor makes up for its lack of an alluring aroma. Though, if you’re a huge fan of lemonade, this one might be a little disappointing because it’s hard to detect it. The raspberry flavoring, which brings Lipton Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea to mind, is definitely noticeable, but it muddles everything, making the citrus flavor almost non-existent. There is a slight sourness, but that could be mistaken as the lemonade or berry flavoring. Basically, if you told me this was raspberry ginger ale, I wouldn’t doubt you. I know there has been a raspberry-flavored Canada Dry, but I haven’t tried it, so I can’t compare.

With that said, it’s a pleasant and refreshing beverage, but it didn’t blow my mind as much as Canada Dry’s Ginger Ale and Lemonade did when I first tried it. Maybe after three other vADEriations, the novelty of these citrusy ales has worn off.

Look, I’ll happily drink all twelve cans I purchased. Actually, it’s eleven due to a shipping issue that involved the twelfth can leaking while in the hands of the USPS.

Anything else you need to know?

Like all other Canada Dry Ginger Ale mixed with a citrus beverage that ends with an -ade, there’s a minuscule amount of juice and no caffeine.

Conclusion:

Canada Dry’s Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade is a nice addition to the summer beverage line, but it’s not as good as the lemonade and orangeade versions (I haven’t tried the limeade one). But now I’m curious to know what -ade comes next.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 12 oz cans/12 pack
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 36 grams of sugar (including 36 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.