Soda Pop! Jones Soda Crema De Pina

What:  Pineapple Cream Soda

Where:  Jones is based in Canada but I think these are the Mexican/Latin American varieties.

Why Should I Care:  I freaking love Jones Soda.  Not only do they have some really unique flavors, but they also use real cane sugar.  I mean, Pineapple isn't that exciting (it is, but I've seen other sodas with that same flavor), but I think Jones is the company that made apple soda popular in Pittsburgh.  Plus they have flavors like Berry Lemonade, Bubblegum and Fufu Berry (which is a mix of strawberry and raspberry).  However, I don't really know what to expect with this one.  It's not that I dislike cream soda or pineapple, but is it going to have that same bite that pineapple does?  Is it going to be too sweet?  Is their coconut in it?

Packaging:  It's in an awesome glass bottle with someone's photo on the front.  The caps have a saying on them too.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's bright yellow and it smells like pineapple candy

Taste:  So, this tastes like a really smooth pineapple soda.  It has the perfect amount of fizz (fizzy but not bitey), it's not too sweet and the pineapple flavor focuses on the sweet as opposed to the sour.  There is a bit of a cream soda base to it, but that mostly helps with the smoothness and if you dislike cream soda, you probably wouldn't even notice it.

Overall:  So, I'm honestly a little surprised at how good this is.  I love Jones Soda but the whole creamy pineapple seemed a bit iffy.  But Jones passed with flying colors.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the site.  They also have all kinds of other stuff like submitting your photos for them to put on their bottles and random special editions.

Soda Pop! Cascal Fine Dark

What:  Fermented Soda with hints of Malt and Honey

Where:  California

Why Should I Care:  So, I got a four-pack of this (and the apple one) when it was almost expired.  That was about four months ago.  Granted, I had this back then and I hope the only thing that has changed is that there's less carbonation.  Cascal is a soda that tastes very simular to a wine except it's non-alcoholic and doesn't have the sweetness of sparkling juices.  I actually do enjoy these in between teas for those reasons although the new ones drop the ball by adding Stevia to it (which leaves an aftertaste as opposed to leaving a nice clean palate).  So, what do I think about the Fine Dark with its hints of Malt and Honey (more of a beer rip-off than wine but I actually prefer a good beer to cheap wine).

Packaging: It's in a glass bottle, adding to the sophistication.  It also has a twist-off cap.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's kind of this dark amber/light brown color with a slight murkiness to the liquid.  You can smell the honey pretty strongly

Taste:  I'd like to say it's aged to perfection, but it really could use a bit more carbonation.  I'm actually a huge fan of the mixture of honey and malt, which gives it a slightly heartier taste while still having a lightness with the carbonation.  Also, this tastes so much better without the Stevia.  It's still sweet but it's not overly sweet.  If you're going to serve it (especially if it's four months past expiration), you need to serve it cold.

Overall:  Why'd you have to get rid of this flavor, Cascal?  It's good and I highly recommend people try it if you can find it somehow.  Or write them and tell them to bring it back.  I can't recommend this for everyone, but it's pretty fantastic.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site!

Soda Pop! Cascal Berry Casis

What:  Fermented Soda with blackcurrant, tangerine and lemon.

Where:  California

Why Should I care:  For some reason, this seems a lot more mainstream than their other sodas (which tend to have some kind of flower in their flavor profiles).  Blackcurrant is a little questionable but everyone knows what tangerine and lemon are.  I also thought it was called "Berry Crisis".

Packaging:   It's just a boring aluminum can.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's pinkish and smells slightly berry-ish.

Taste:  This has stevia in it.  It's something I noticed in the mango one but was willing to put asside, but that Stevia extract is the lone factor that turns this from a good drink to something that I can't completely recommend.  Here's the thing.  I have the bottles still.  They have 70 calories per bottle for a drink that is a less sweet version of a soda.  Yeah, you only have 60 calories in these cans but it doesn't have that "clear" taste.  Stevia leaves this sweet aftertaste in my mouth which makes me want to eat something or more likely, drink something else.  If I ignore that, which is difficult, it really is great.  The citrus cuts the sweetness of the berry to give it this perfect balance.  It's not overly sweet, it would go great with meat but nooooooo, we need to make it sweeter.

Overall:  I guess I'm disappointed but I honestly can't give it a pass.  It's worth a try and if you can get it cheap, I'd recommend trying all the flavors.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

Soda Pop! Cascal Fresh Tropical

What:  Naturally-flavored tropical fake wine

Where:  California

Why:  Cascal is a brand that delivers on making something that isn't too sweet while still being flavorful.  Like I said before, their products taste a lot like a non-alcoholic wine and that's great for a lot of people, whether you're pregnant or a special occasion for a family or just if you want that kind of taste without the alcohol.  Also, it's in mango and I just can't see that being bad.

Packaging:  I got the canned version so it really isn't too exciting.

Non-taste senses:  It has a simular color to mango juice and it smells like mango.

Taste:  I think out of all the ones I've tried, this is my favorite (the malty Fine Dark is a close second).  The mango flavor is strong but not too sweet and is reminiscent of a sparkling juice.  There's also a mix of other flavors including the lime, that makes it a nice blend as opposed to just mango.  The level of carbonation is nice too, not being too strong but still feeling like you're drinking a soda as opposed to juice that's been shaken in your backpack.

Overall:  It's worth a try.  I've had mango beer that's tasted better, but it's a nice blend.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.  Something that's kinda nice is that they give you food pairings when you look at the flavors.