Last month, I promised to taste and review some of Old Northwest’s mnay, many pops. So while visiting Indianapolis, I stopped by Rocket Fizz in Greenwood, Indiana. After picking out three flavors there and getting another one at a grocery store, I assembled an expert panel1 to give their opinions.
A few notes:
Only pops that originated in or are currently made in the Old Northwest count. So no Pepsi.
There are a lot of pops that meet the above criteria. If your favorite isn’t on here, know that part two will come out in November. (Please leave your suggestions in the comments.)
There are no pops from Indiana or Minnesota. If you know of a pop from either state, please tell me in the comments.
I’m from Michigan. So is everyone in my panel. While I'd like to say we're impartial—we aren't.
None of these brands are sponsors, nor are any of the links to the pops affiliate links.
Alright, now to get into it.
Illinois
Green River
Green River is a lime flavored, green pop. Yes, green.
It was invented in Davenport, Iowa, and is manufactured in Glendale, Wisconsin. So why is it under Illinois? In 1919, Chicago’s Schoenhofen Edelweiss Brewery purchased the rights from its inventor, Richard C. Jones. Why did a brewery buy a soft drink? Prohibition.
Under Schoenhofen Edelweiss, Green River became a Chicago icon. And According to this article, it was once second only to Coca-Cola in sales. But Prohibition ended, and Schoenhofen Edelweiss went back to making alcohol. They went bust in 1950. The pop bounced around several companies before being acquired by Sprecher Brewing Company, who still makes it.
What The Panel Thought
R. “I kinda taste the lime.”
S. “I like it.”
J. “A better version of 7 Up. I like the color of it.”
A. “I like it. Don't know what the taste is.”
What I Thought
The green color is awesome. It's pretty fizzy, not too sweet, and the lime flavor is strong. Next time you're in Chicago, buy a bottle.
Rankings
J. 8/10
S. 8/10
R. 8/10
A. 9/10
W. 7/10
Michigan
Faygo Rock N Rye
Faygo’s website says it’s “Like cream soda, but with a delicious ¿¿cherry, maybe?? twist.”
Faygo was started in 1907 by Ben and Perry Feigenson in Detroit, Michigan. The brothers, who came from Russia, ran the company until retirement and passed it to their sons. They sold it; then it got sold again to the National Beverage Corp., who still owns it. Due to its many years in Detroit, Faygo is a Detroit and Michigan icon.
Rock N Rye dates back to the 1920s during Prohibition.
What The Panel Thought
J. “You can definitely taste the berry flavor, but it has a nice balance of flavors. You can never go wrong with Rock N Rye”
S. “Has a berry taste to it. It tastes good.”
R. “It's good. Has a coconut and berry taste. I like it.”
A. “A carbonated, fizzy berry drink.”
What I Thought
Fizzy and smooth. I don't know how to describe the taste, but I do know I could drink it all day.
Rankings
J. 8/10
S. 8/10
R. 9/10
A. 8/10
W. 9/10
Ohio
Bawls Ginger Ale
Bawls is a “highly caffeinated premium beverage”.2 The company started in 1996 and uses Guarana berries in its drinks. Unlike the previous pops, Bawls isn’t associated with a city but a subculture: gamers. Still, it’s headquartered in Ohio, so it counts.
What The Panel Thought
J. “7 Up, but sweeter”
S & R. “Watered down 7 Up”
G. “Drinkable”
What I Thought
More tart than sweet, with a subdued ginger taste. Low fizz. The bottle design is epic.
Rankings
J. 6/10
S. 4/10
R. 4/10
G. 6/10
W. 6/10
Wisconsin
Bulldog Root Beer
Bulldog is a root beer that's different from other root beers. They use cane sugar and honey over corn syrup, and they actually brew their root beer. The company started in 1997.
What The Panel Thought
J. “Not a bad Root Beer”
S. “Tastes like honey”
R. “Tastes like tea and honey. Tasted flat.”
A. “Doesn't taste like root beer when you first taste it. Has a root beer after taste. Very bizarre.”
What I Thought
If you like honey, you'll like this. As a drink, it's good. As a root beer, it's so so. Root beer was originally root tea. I suspect this is closer to those early recipes. Little fizz.
Rankings
J. 7/10
S. 4/10
R. 6/10
A. 3/10
W. 6/10
Have you tried any of the above? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or, why not share what your favorite pop is?
Pop: part two will come out next month. But before that, the Old Northwest will look into the mysterious death of history's greatest magician…
Oh, and if you’d like, you can now buy me a coffee.
Links To Where You Can Purchase The Above Pops
Sources And Further Reading
By expert, I mean people I know who enjoy drinking pop.
I haven't heard of any of these before, but I enjoyed the exploration via very official expert panel. Excited for the next part of this pop saga!