Review: Fitz’s Hard Root Beer
Fitz’s Hard Root Beer was just released. It is the result of a collaboration between the O’Fallon Brewery and the Fitz’s Bottling Company. The O’Fallon Brewery was founded in 2000. Fitz’s Root Beer first appeared in St Louis at a local drive-in in 1947. After disappearing for several years Fitz’s Root Beer was brought back in 1993 with the original recipe. Fitz’s Hard Root Beer is blended and bottled at O’Fallon’s new 40,000 square foot Maryland Heights Missouri Brewery. The beer is brewed with malted barley, caramel malt, hops, and yeast. During the final stage of brewing a special blend of Fitz’s Root Beer made with pure cane sugar, sassafras roots, vanilla, and a spice blend is added to capture Fitz’s distinct and creamy flavor. Read more 
Review: Sprecher Hard Orange Cream
Sprecher Hard Orange Cream is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by the Sprecher Brewery in Milwaukee Wisconsin. While Root Beer is by far the best selling hard soda flavor, you may be surprised when I tell you there are at least five different Orange Cream Hard Soda brands on the market today. Besides Root Beer no other flavor has more. For the record that includes Hard Ginger Ale. I don’t consider Ginger Beer a hard soda. Sprecher also crafts 14 zero alcohol sodas including their Orange Dream flavor. Orange Dream is made with natural orange flavors, honey, and vanilla. On the bottle Sprechers Hard Orange Cream lists malt beverage, natural and artificial flavors as their ingredients. Read more
Review: Sprecher Hard Cola
Sprecher Hard Cola is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by Sprecher Brewery. They list six flavors in their hard soda category, including Root Beer, Cherry Cola, Orange Cream, Ginger Beer, and Apple Pie. They also craft 14 zero alcohol sodas including a Puma Kola. The Puma Kola is made with kola extract, real vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon, and pure honey. Sprecher Hard Cola is described as a malt beverage with natural flavors. Read more
Review: McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda
McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda is one of four hard soda flavors produced by McAles Brewing Company in Los Angeles California. It is contract brewed in Lacrosse Wisconsin by United Brands Company. While Root Beer is the undisputed hard soda leader with at least 13 brands, this is the fourth Hard Orange Cream Soda Brand I’ve reviewed. A fifth is coming next week. McAles Hard Orange N Cream Soda is brewed using natural citric ornge and cream flavors and natural vanilla extract. It is sold in individual 23.5 oz. cans and 4 packs of 16 oz. cans. Read more
Review: Sprecher Hard Cherry Cola
Sprecher Hard Cherry Cola is one of three new hard soda flavors just released by the Sprecher Brewery. The Sprecher Brewery was build by Randall Sprecher in 1985. It was Milwaukee’s first craft brewery since prohibition. While several of the other hard soda breweries produced soft drinks during prohibition, Sprecher has a more recent history. They currently produce several craft sodas including a Cherry Cola flavor. Their Cherry Cola soft drink is made with Door County Cherry Juice, raw honey, the finest cola extract, and a handful of spices. Their Hard Cherry Cola is described as a malt beverage with natural flavors. Read more
Review: Not Your Fathers Vanilla Cream Ale
Not Your Fathers Vanilla Cream Ale was just released. This follows the release of their Root Beer and Ginger Ale flavors. I am careful not to describe them as hard soda flavors. While Not Your Fathers Root Beer launched the hard soda revolution, I have not heard them describe their products as hard soda. Most hard soda flavors are brewed and then have the flavor stripped before adding flavor. Not Your Fathers Vanilla Cream Ale is a beer brewed with natural Madagascar vanilla and other natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, and quillaia. Read more
Review: McAles Hard Cola
McAles Hard Cola is one of four hard soda flavors produced by McAles Brewing Company in Los Angeles California. It is contract brewed in Lacrosse Wisconsin by United Brands Company. The other flavors include Root Beer, Orange N Cream, and Ginger Ale. With 13 Hard Root Beers on the market already, its a little surprising this is the first Hard Cola. Coke, Diet Coke and Pepsi are the top three selling soda’s in the US. These three cola flavors combined with Diet Pepsi account for 64% of the soft drinks sold in the US. McAles Hard Cola is a malt beverage with kola and other natural flavors and caramel color added. Read more
Review: Over The Barrel Blueberry Hard Soda
Over The Barrel Blueberry Hard Soda is one of five hard soda flavors recently released by the Rhinelander Brewing Company. The Rhinelander Brewery opened in 1845 and like many breweries at the time, they remained open during Prohibition making non-alcoholic root beer. While the brewery closed in 1967 their beer continued to be contract brewed in Monroe Wisconsin. I’ve never tasted a soft blueberry soda, but I’ve seen a couple, including Fanta, and Izze. Over The Barrel Blueberry Hard Soda is batch brewed with the finest 2 row malted barley and real cane sugar. Natural and artificial flavors and artificial colors are added before bottling in 11.16 ounce bottles. Read more
Review: Over The Barrel Black Cherry Hard Soda
Over The Barrel Black Cherry Hard Soda is one of five hard soda flavors recently released by the Rhinelander Brewing Company. The other flavors include Root Beer, Cream Soda, Grape, and Blueberry. Long before Cherry Coke was launched by Coca Cola in 1985, several manufactures produced a black cherry flavored soda. I always wondered why the different brands were all Black Cherry Soda, instead of just Cherry Soda. The truth is there are two main types of cherries, tart and sweet. The sweet cherries are commonly called black cherries. The main difference is tart cherries are used primarily for baking, while the black cherries are the cherries most people snack on. Over The Barrel Black Cherry Hard Soda is batch brewed with the finest 2 row malted barley and real cane sugar. Natural and artificial flavors with caramel and artificial colors are added before bottling in 11.16 oz. bottles. Read more
Review: Seagrams Grape Hard Soda
Seagrams Grape Hard Soda is one of four hard soda flavors Seagrams launched their line with in March of this year. The other flavors include Lemon N Lime, Orange Cream, and Cherry Cola. Seagrams Grape Hard Soda is brewed at the Genessee Brewery in Rochester New York. Artificial flavor and artificial color are added. It is available in the Seagrams 12 pack variety packs with three bottles or cans or each flavor included. Read more