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American Inventor Spot did a taste test of several types of non-name brand sodas, not comparing them to the major brand equivalents, but just to see how they stood on their own. After all, you can get quite a deal when you buy the store-brand soda instead of a national brand. With brands from Albertsons and Wal-Mart, they rated each soda on flavor, aftertaste, scent, consistency and design before giving it an overall score. Their favorite was Dr. Bold, a Dr. Pepper facsimile from Albertsons.
The problem with generic sodas is that because they vary from place to place, it's hard to know when you're going to get a good one. Fortunately, they're usually inexpensive enough that even if the soda isn't that great, you're only out about a quarter, but I still like to know where I can get a good one. For example, Safeway Select sodas are always on sale and are very good, not to mention that they seem to come in an almost endless number of flavors (though you might want to think twice before buying the diet orange). It's worth picking up a six pack or four when you have a chance.
Do you buy store brand sodas, and if so, tell us where in the comments.
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9-01-2006 @1:03PM Zachary said... There used to be a great website at fakedrpepper.com that had reviews, rankings, and photographs of an overwhelming number of store-brand Dr. Pepper flavored sodas. The website is apparently no longer in operation, but it was a fun read.
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9-01-2006 @12:18PM calamari said... The ultimate "Dr. Pepper clone" site is:
http://www.marion.ohio-state.edu/fac/schul/drp/dr.html
Moi, I was glad to find Diet Shasta at 99 Cents Only for 99 cents a six-pack. I have no idea if it's good, but I drank a lot of it as a child, so it's nostalgic. Not exactly a store brand, but lacking the cachet of a major brand.
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9-01-2006 @1:07PM Ryan Cates said... Target's diet soda and rootbeer are the best store brand soda I've had. I actually prefer these to the major labels and at $2 a 12 pack it's great.
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9-01-2006 @3:14PM peggy said... i think safeway has the best diet cola. it's as good as diet coke i think. i just don't go to safeway all that often, oh well.
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9-01-2006 @9:32PM Colin said... I don't drink a lot of soda but I'm so cheap that when I do I gladly buy store brand. It all tastes pretty decent to me. Besides, nearly all store brand soda is made by one company called Cott.
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9-01-2006 @11:31PM Sera said... I've always loved the "Adirondack" brand you can find in stores all throughout Upstate New York.
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9-02-2006 @1:49AM Paul S. said... Good article, though I'm sad it didn't include Save-A-Lot's "Bubba Cola." Which is a pretty sweet deal at 17 cents a can.
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9-02-2006 @10:31AM Kat said... Not a Soda but a beverage - my mom loves the Sam's Choice Tea-On-The-Go packs, even more than Lipton's.
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9-07-2006 @2:22PM Kelly said... I think that Kroger brand soft drinks are just as good as name brands. Their diet cola doesn't have the horrible aftertaste that Diet Coke has. They also offer flavors of black cherry soda, grape, orange, strawberry, etc.
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9-07-2006 @2:25PM Dianne said... HEB grocery store (in Texas) has a store brand that is actually "made by" Coca-Cola Co. Tastes as close to the original as Ive ever had!!
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9-07-2006 @2:32PM Kathy said... Dr. Thunder is Wal-Mart's (and Sam's Club) alternative to Dr. Pepper. Both the regular and diet versions are very tasty...and reasonably priced.
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9-07-2006 @2:30PM Jinx said... Hey Aldi's is good and large diet and not diet selection
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9-07-2006 @2:34PM Sarah Morales said... HEB in Texas has a Dr. B. (Dr. Pepper taste alike). I think it is so close that you probably wouldn't know the difference if you didn't see the can.
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9-07-2006 @3:05PM Mary smith said... I agree with you on the HEB brands, they are great and you really can't tell the difference.
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9-07-2006 @2:36PM Art Cross said... I drink diet Dr. Thunder from Wal-Mart(58cents for 2 liter). Can't tell the difference from Diet Dr. Pepper.
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9-07-2006 @3:09PM Cindy said... I like Wal-Mart sodas. I've tried quite a few since I've lived all over and they're the best for the price and availability.
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9-07-2006 @2:38PM Samantha Gregson said... do yourselves a favor and stop drinking soda. it's horrible for you. have a glass of water instead. water's cheaper, better for your skin, waistline and overall health. cheers
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9-07-2006 @3:31PM Mike H. said... Sam's (Walmart) Clear American naturally flavored sparkling water beverages are hard to beat for price and taste. On top of that they contain no sugar, no calories, no sodium, and no carbs. They come in several flavors (my favorites are Key Lime and Mandarin Orange), Black Cherry, White Grape, Mango Peach, and Kiwi Strawberry to name some that come to mind.
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9-07-2006 @3:01PM Gary Brainard said... I wonder if the situation is the same for the cola business as it is for other store product lines. I know that most dietary supplements are made by a very few companies which distribute their product to the stores under store brand names. Ergo you can get the same product at several different stores under the various store names. How vast is Coca Cola's reach in this regard, I wonder?
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9-07-2006 @2:50PM Steve said... The largest impact on the quality of Soda is the sweetener. Any soda you find that has real cane sugar instead of corn syrup is ten times better tasting. It gives you the zing and taste. Why don't the manufacturers produce the best quality possible? Is it all about greed? Or is the public not informed about what tastes the best.
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