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02/04/2007: New Article? Yes! About old soda!

There was a time, many, many years ago, when I wrote these things called “articles.” I was feeling nostalgic, so I decided, what the hey? Let’s use, a lot of commas, and see if it still feels, okay, to write articles.

Today’s feature chooses “eleven” as its arbitrary token number and examines “eleven” different soft drinks that are no longer with us, running the gamut from Surge to Strawberry Burst Pepsi and beyond. It’s my way of getting a return on the many thousands spent to amass a ridiculous collection of old, sealed soda cans.

I hope you find the article to your liking, because I gave up watching Wolf Creek to write it, and I really wanted to see that “head on a stick” part.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 486 comments

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What about Holiday Spice Pepsi?

Ghosted by ytsohptwhere @ 02/08/2007 5:36 PM EST

Don’t worry Matt, Cry Wolf is nothing special.

I’m actually kind of shocked of people mentioning sodas that they can’t find anymore, but they seem to be plenty of here. Slice, Vanilla/Lime Pepsi, Rite Cola, and a couple others are still plentiful here. On the other hand, Vault seems to have disappeared around here.

I once went to a restaurant that made specialty sodas, including a chocolate coke. I didn’t have that one, but I had the strawberry coke. It was good.

Did anyone have one of those “make your own soda” machines? They came in fruit flavors plus root beer. We used to and they were good to.

Does anyone know why they don’t make diet fruit pop? Every other flavor has a diet version, except fruit ones (strawberry and grape especially). I would buy that religiously.

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 02/08/2007 5:44 PM EST

Man, for some odd reason, I enjoyed the hell out of your ‘article’. I’m one of the few who actually liked Blue & Crystal Pepsi, but hated Surge (and Vault. And Mountain Dew.), so now I’m kinda sad.

Anyways, make a part 2 man, this was great. Also, it got an ungodly amount of comments allready.

Peace.

Ghosted by Dunlap @ 02/08/2007 5:49 PM EST

Snapple use to make soda, Tru-Root Beer and clear Cola…. Those were great sodas…..

Ghosted by Rick @ 02/08/2007 6:00 PM EST

Pepsi One are a good line of diet sodas. Made with Splenda and come in Orange, Grape, Strawberry, and Pepsi. Sometimes seen in Wal-Mart in two-liter bottles.

The safari ended before it began. A whole herd of Matt stampeded the HoverJeep, turning it over. Then, made off with the sandwiches. I’ll have to postpone until another time.

Ghosted by kingklash @ 02/08/2007 6:23 PM EST

I’m surprised that in your review of sodas that have gone bye bye, you entirely neglected “New York Seltzer” and it’s many varieties of flavored “seltzer” water.

Cheers

Ghosted by rick @ 02/08/2007 6:57 PM EST

Muppet Baby I know what you mean! I was out grocery shopping today, and felt like I was on a mystic quest when I hit the soda aisle. I stood there for a good 2 minutes staring at the new design for the Cherry Coke wondering if it was looking so fine for Valentine’s Day or if it was in some way trying to seduce me. Upon looking online, the new designs are by Jay-Z’s design agency, Rocawear. Kinda weird.

kingklash Pssshhhhh… safari? I’ve got all my Matts captured here, in my Illustrated WildMatt Treasury. It says here they sleep standing up and they only eat at night.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 02/08/2007 7:09 PM EST

You forgot about OK Soda

Ghosted by baldkat @ 02/08/2007 7:17 PM EST

RED FUSION FOREVER!

Ghosted by zack @ 02/08/2007 7:18 PM EST

I too, was in Iowa (Cedar Falls) during the Pepsi AM testing. Pepsi was giving that stuff away for what seemed like a year. By giving, I mean literally giving, by way of free coupons every sunday newspaper or weekly advert.

Crystal also was there, and they also tested the new Mt Dew can (had mountains on it) while I lived Iowa.

To this people think I am insane when I mention Pepsi AM; I guess it was not distributed all that widely.

Ghosted by consumer @ 02/08/2007 7:20 PM EST

I still miss Josta. Purple, tasted like pears, yummy and got you wired!

Now if I want Guarana I have to settle for MDX. It’s just not the same.

Ghosted by revdon @ 02/08/2007 8:51 PM EST

Has anyone here heard of 7Up Mint? Can’t find references to it anywhere. I saw it in the stores back home (Saudi Arabia) for about two weeks. Then it disappeared. It was an utter failure. Tasted like bubbly cold peppermint tea.

Ghosted by InvisibleLunatic @ 02/08/2007 9:16 PM EST

Hold up you for got Citra,Mello Yello cherry,Mello Yello melon,Pepsi free,Pepsi max,Fruit Works,Fruitopia,Tab,Mr.pibb,Nugrape,RC edge,Squirt ruby red,Sun Drop cherry lemon,Sprit remix berryclear ,Sprite remix tropical,Sprite remix ruba jam,Jolt citrus climax,Jolt cherry ,Jolt white lightning,Jolt electrick blue,Jolt orange blast,SoBe MR.Green cola,Moxie cola,Sprite cherry,7UP cherry.

Ghosted by stephen @ 02/08/2007 9:53 PM EST

ok, I haven’t read the comments yet so I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned this… but I had to say it after reading the article. in China you can buy Icy Mint Sprite and Fire Sprite… I’ve tried both. Icy Mint leaves an aftertaste that’s oddly as if you’d just brushed your teeth… and Fire is slightly cinnamon-y and has a delayed reaction in your stomach that makes it feel a little warm… weird stuff.

Ghosted by Sarah @ 02/08/2007 10:02 PM EST

don’t forget about Josta!!! From the info you give in this article about being in 5th grade in 1990, that would make us the same age. Josta got me through my first two years of college! It was that refreshing motivation to get through the day – I would have one every evening and just relax. I have photos of my roommate and I enjoying one of our last cans of Josta. It was a sad time when it was gone. I have one can left, but it sprung a leak as soft drink cans tend to do (at least in my experience!).

Ghosted by Erin @ 02/08/2007 10:15 PM EST

One of my friend’s sent my an email. “Hey man, there’s this really cool article about old sodas on this one site.”

Yeah, I think I got it covered…

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 02/08/2007 10:18 PM EST

Nice article. But it’s missing one of my fav’s for the short while it was around- Mr. Green. Sobe’s version of a ginseng infused Dr. Pepper. And what about the RC Draft colas from years ago? I recall being stopped several times by the cops as a teenager while drinking them because they resembled beer bottles.
Great job as always though.

Ghosted by msterscary @ 02/08/2007 10:31 PM EST

About Surge: I loved the stuff, back when it came out, I was in middle school. Does anyone remember the CD promotion Surge sent out? It was 2 music CDs that came together in the mail. One was for you, and the other, you were supposed to share with a friend. I got one, and my brother got the other, and incidently I remember it was the very first CD I ever got. (I still just had a cassette player) The songs were actually very good. I would list them here but I dont remember exactly what the songs are called and who sings them. I do know that the Surge CD was the start of my love for Jimmy Eat World. I still have the CD and listen to it quite frequently. I’m interested to know if this was a nation-wide thing, or what.

About Jolt: I loved that stuff too. I remember when Episode 1 came out, I went to the midnight showing, but had school the next day. To keep myself awake I drank like 2 bottles of Jolt. I was seriously bouncing off the walls all day at school. Crazy stuff.

And I love Ramune, in all shapes and forms! Has anyone tried Ramune flavored Hi-Chew? It is a Japanese taffy-like candy. Tasty!

Ghosted by mpkalypso @ 02/08/2007 10:34 PM EST

Good info–great site…would like to see you add the years of production, along with the number of cans made (if you can find the info).

Ghosted by d @ 02/08/2007 10:36 PM EST

uhmm hellooo..? OK soda???
The hardest soft-drink of all time.

Ghosted by skyl @ 02/08/2007 10:56 PM EST

just wanted to know if you have any info on the energy drink Woopass

Ghosted by Daniel @ 02/08/2007 10:59 PM EST

Anyone remember LIKE? it was like 7up. Early 80’s.
Town Country Soda too

Ghosted by hockeydino @ 02/08/2007 11:55 PM EST

Back in the day, I used to settle back every Saturday night and watch S.N.I.C.K. with a Peach Vanilla Mistic and a bag of microwave popcorn (but not Pop Qwiz, which was reserved for T.G.I.F.). So that’s my deepest “old-soda” connection.

Great article, Matt. I’m glad to see that you’re back into the writing mood, and I can’t wait to see more of your stuff when you find the time.

Ghosted by Spoodles @ 02/09/2007 12:04 AM EST

That’s really neat, in a weird way, Manimal. None of my friends have done that yet. I suppose most of my friends who would be interested have already been referred here by me. (big goofy grin)

Matt–you shouldn’t write about OK soda just to SPITE people. C’mon, it would be fun!

Ghosted by Katherine @ 02/09/2007 12:11 AM EST

I know from personal experience that Japan’s 7-11s are more infested with a million flavors of Kit-Kats and Pringles. Also I try to have a new soda every month and most of them have been foul.

Come to think of it, the Kit-Kats have been foul too. Particularly the Cherry Blossom flavored one. I don’t know how or where it went wrong, but it really did. Whereas Cherry Blossom flavored everything else is fabulous.

However, if you can find the Final Fantasy potion and force people to drink it, I think they would be in a neck and neck competition for foulness with some of the most gross Jones’ holiday flavors.

Like drinking vomit. If vomit was light blue and promoted by Squeenix.

Ghosted by vermaxen @ 02/09/2007 12:18 AM EST

Surge was invented for Surge Floats. These were SOOO good. Unfortunately I discovered them about 6 months before the soda was pulled. I wish they’d make it available like they do Tab, somewhere.

Ghosted by speedeep @ 02/09/2007 12:18 AM EST

What about “Jolt Cola” in your list.
Double the sugar and ten x caffeine to keep you awake at the jobsite.

Ghosted by ace @ 02/09/2007 1:25 AM EST

Man, I remember Pepsi Blue. After drinking a bottle of that stuff, it would turn your crap green. Seriously, it make your poop green and your pee a slight greeny yellow colour.

Ghosted by NerfHerder @ 02/09/2007 2:44 AM EST

Thanks for the entertaining read, man. Just what I needed tonight. Nice work.

Ghosted by taj @ 02/09/2007 3:09 AM EST

You can actuilly get Surge from a company called Real Soda in Spokane, WA. I drop by there all the time for odd sodas…

Ghosted by Drew @ 02/09/2007 6:02 AM EST

Dude the cool cans commercial was sung by young m.c.

Ghosted by Joe W. @ 02/09/2007 11:06 AM EST

dude how about nitro cola? that was good stuff is it still available any where?

Ghosted by Joe W. @ 02/09/2007 11:08 AM EST

What about Pepsi Kona

Ghosted by Lindstor @ 02/09/2007 11:34 AM EST

You should ad OK Soda to your collection: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_Soda

Ghosted by Gromper @ 02/09/2007 1:18 PM EST

Great article!

I remember Crystal Pepsi like it was yesterday. I actually liked it. Isn’t it ironic that the old bottle in your post has started to turn vaguely traditional-soda-color?

SURGE came out when I was a senior in high school. The taste was almost as bad as the “brand personality.” My friends and I relentlessly made fun of it anyone seen using the huge, flourescent vending machine. We’d walk up and go “SURRRRRRRRGGGGGGGE!” in our best Macho Manâ„¢ voices. Ahhh, good times.

Ghosted by Matt von K @ 02/09/2007 1:42 PM EST

Thanks for the entertaining read, sodadude. Just what I needed tonight. Nice work.

Ghosted by Ed @ 02/09/2007 2:44 PM EST

I wish Barr would make Ice by Tizer again… that was my all time favourite drink of all time! (sic)

Either that or this mysterious store-brand drink that, as kids, we always said tasted like bubble-gum. I think it was blueberry flavoured or something. It was awesome anyway.

Ghosted by a_lost_hero @ 02/09/2007 3:49 PM EST

Great, great stuff. Made me nostalgic for Crystal Pepsi. I remember that they also sold it in cans. It confused me because why would you want a Crystal Pepsi you cant see???

Ghosted by Sweetie Guy Hutchinson @ 02/09/2007 4:12 PM EST

great article. My personal favorite of course is Surge. I remember I was in middle school when it first came out and they handed it out like halloween candy to little kids. I remember going home from school with probably 24 cans jammed into my book bag after ditching my books and folders in my locker and saying “fuck homework, i’m taking as much as I can of this shit home” lol

Ghosted by Trish @ 02/09/2007 4:17 PM EST

Did you have Josta? No one else seems to remember that one. It had that crazy panther on the label. “with gaurana” was part of the ad campaign.

Ghosted by Lady Yate-xel @ 02/09/2007 7:00 PM EST

Did you personally ever have it, I mean. Not, ‘was it on the list’. Just to clear that up.

Ghosted by Lady Yate-xel @ 02/09/2007 7:03 PM EST

My mother still has at least three cases of TAB left in her basement from the stock she laid in when it started to go away. She put away so much that she had to throw out christmas decorations and various childhood memorabilia-type crap to make room for it. My brother and I were profoundly changed when she did it, I distinctly remember standing with him in the yard watching the TAB-childhood crap swap (neither of us has ever gotten over it, either, he’s a scientist now, works with weird germs, and I live in a cemetery) I blame TAB.

Ghosted by Pam @ 02/09/2007 8:09 PM EST

Lol! I remember those Pepsi fire and pepsi ice in the UK about five years ago. Never tried one though!

Ghosted by Daniel M @ 02/09/2007 8:37 PM EST

Surge has been reborn into Vault, i always knew it when i came and coke, they seriously just started making it againa and renamed it

Ghosted by Will @ 02/09/2007 8:47 PM EST

mpkalypso I had that CD. Man, I had forgotten about that!

Whoever mentioned NITRO cola, well done. I didn’t reference it because I didn’t know how well-known it was.

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 02/09/2007 11:24 PM EST

I didn’t read the hundreds of comments left so far but the article forgot Pepsi Clear! not that weird orangy one you mentioned, but the one that was actually clear! it was the best! it was testes for about 6 months in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and somewhere else. When they stopped making it loaded up on 12 packs for like 2 bucks each.

Ghosted by codereddude @ 02/10/2007 1:14 AM EST

Josta was awesome. It tasted so weird but good. I would get it on break in high school. I think they still have TAB in some stores. I know my grandma drank it a few years ago.

Ghosted by code red dude @ 02/10/2007 1:16 AM EST

yes, they still have TAB around. I just saw it in Albertsons tonight when I was shopping.

Ghosted by snowfire @ 02/10/2007 1:38 AM EST

Hey Matt— Long time reader, first time poster. I really hope you’re going to start up with the articles again. It’s been waaaay too long.

Ghosted by Undercover Artist @ 02/10/2007 8:27 AM EST

http://monstermania.net/Convention7Guests.htm

Matt, are you going to Monster Mania in NJ? Check it out if you have not heard about it. The cast from Monster Squad is having a 20th year reunion and some of the cast from Friday 13th part 2 will be there. I wish I could go. Stupid work.

Ghosted by Bill @ 02/10/2007 4:00 PM EST

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