Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Follow the Leader Episode 159: All About those Refreshing Beverages...



Redartz:  Greetings gang! This week sees some unanticipated distractions (like, our power is out for days), for your humble  host, so BitBA assembled is counting on one of you to step up with a great topic for the week! Our group appreciates it, I appreciate it, and  (I assume) the Leader appreciates it...

28 comments:

Colin Jones said...

Which are your favourite non-alcoholic drinks (both hot and cold)?

And can YOU taste the difference between Coke and Pepsi?

Redartz said...

Hi Colin! Good question. Hot drinks- hot tea, and hot chocolate- both help me get through those chilly winter nights. I was never a coffee drinker until just a couple years ago. Now a cup of hazelnut in the morning, or French Vanilla, hits the spot.

Cold drinks- sweet tea, cut half and half with unsweetened (have to watch the sugar these days). But now and then I'll indulge in a root beer, preferably Barq's.

In the town where I grew up there is a drive in root beer stand of great local fame. Their recipe makes the greatest root beer I ever had. Goes great with a hot dog.

Oh, and at least to my taste buds, Pepsi is a bit sweeter than Coke. Coke has a little more 'bite'...

Mike Wilson said...

Does water count? I don't usually bother with soft drinks these days, and I stopped drinking anything with caffeine in it almost twenty years ago. Lemonade is nice if it's not too sugary. I do like non-alcoholic beer (O'Douls, Heineken), but it's usually just plain old tap water for me.

I used to be able to tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke, but it's been a while.

pfgavigan said...

HIya,

Well, coffee for the hot beverage and Diet-Rite for the soft as it's not as sweet as Pepsi nor as bitey as Coke.

Actually, one of my must have beverages is sweetened tonic water, but more to control leg cramps than the pleasure of it's taste. It works for me and several months ago I was praying that a certain individual would stop touting the unproven benefits of quinine variants as a treatment for a certain communicable illness because it was getting a little hard to find.

Seeya,

pfgavigan

Humanbelly said...

My favorite cold non-alcoholic drink for my entire LIFE was chocolate milk (and since I don't/never did drink at all, it's the defacto winner via a victory in the Primaries. . .!). However, now that we've been cutting WAY back on the consumption of animal-based products in our household, I've switched over to chocolate almond milk. . . AND NEVER LOOKED BACK! That is a darned tasty beverage, it is-! Not wonderfully sustainable, tho, so now I'm lookin' at chocolate soy milk. . . Neither one is actually very healthy, sure, but still a kinder alternative to factory dairy farms.

Hot drink--- hmmm. I'm not much of a sipper, so I always burn my tongue or lips on the tastier hot beverages. However, hot apple cider holds a special place in my heart.

In the grand competition between Coke (Ginger) and Pepsi (MaryAnne), I'm slightly inclined toward Pepsi. And I liked both back when I was drinkin' pop (soda) a lot. But there's something about an RC Cola over crushed ice that could make THAT my true dark horse preference. That, or the way Dr Pepper tasted back in the 60's/early 70's. . .

And like Mike, I'm starting to fall into the "Water IS the beverage of adults" camp as time goes on. . . heh. . .

HB

Killraven said...

Wow, Humanbelly and I have almost identical tastes!

Cold drink- Chocolate milk, but not just any . Belgium chocolate milk is my favorite, cold almost to the point of starting to freeze and thick as possible. Think melted fudgicle.

Hot drink- Hot chocolate maybe twice a year that's it.

I haven't drank pop in about a decade, but I could tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke. Coke seemed thicker and used to make me belch, Pepsi was sweeter.
Though RC beat them both as my preferred cola, it was kind of in between the other two in taste which made it perfect for me.

Humanbelly said...

@Killraven-- I have now been craving a fountain-poured RC Cola all day. . . sheesh!

"Pop" likely identifies you as a midwesterner, naturally. Took me a LOOOONG time to start referring to it as "soda" once I'd settled in the DC region. . . (I'm trying to remember-- were you an Indiana native--?)

HB

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Hmmmm....

I lean towards RC Cola vs. Coke /Pepsi. Glad a few others of you feel same! (How bout a Moon Pie to go with it?)

I lean towards malted milk shakes vs. chocolate

Like Red, every now and then I crave a good root beer!

But if I am going to be honest, I seldom drink those things anymore and if possible will drink a half apple juice half soda water. Known as, perhaps, Spritzers here.

Disneymarvel said...

I rarely drink sodas these days. When I was a kid, we were allowed one soda per week, on a Friday night. My sister always got a Pepsi, but I got a Sundrop, which is a citrus flavored soda. It leans more toward orange than lemon-lime, though not as orange as Orange Crush. I think I preferred Pepsi over Coke, but don't really remember now.

I started drinking one cup of coffee, black, in the morning, about 7 years ago. After 52 years of thinking it was too bitter, my wife pointed out how much I like dark chocolate, so I should actually be fine with it's bitter taste. I can't say that I drink it for the taste or for the caffeine, but I do join her for our morning coffee, now that I'm retired. I would probably prefer it with cream and sugar, but don't need the calories, so stick with black.

Mike Wilson said...

HB - We say "pop" up here in Canada too, though I'm not sure why ... British influence maybe?

Humanbelly said...

Disneymarvel-- that is a quietly hilarious interaction-with-wife you paint, there. An almost universal one, I daresay.

"I don't like [example A]."

"No Honey-- I have decided that you DO like [example A], because you love the taste of [example B]- which is superficially similar in flavor to [example A] (which I happen to love), ergo you DO, in fact, love [example A]."

"But I don-*"

"You're welcome. Now drink your bitter, black coffee..."


HB

Colin Jones said...

So you all know the word "pop" for fizzy drinks in the US and Canada? I thought you all said soda.

I think I've probably tried every non-alcoholic drink in existence (and plenty of alcoholic ones too) but my favourites are:

COKE
PEPSI (I've never been able to taste any difference).
IRN BRU (this fizzy Scottish pop is the 3rd best-selling soft drink in the UK after Coke and Pepsi).
GINGER BEER
ROOT BEER
DANDELION & BURDOCK (similar to Root Beer).
SARSAPARILLA CORDIAL
ORANGE CORDIAL
LEMON CORDIAL
BLACKCURRANT CORDIAL
DR. PEPPER
GRAPEFRUIT POP (the brand is called TING).
BLACK GRAPE POP (the brand is called KA).
...and loads of others.

As for hot drinks, I used to be a tea drinker but I got fed up with the hassle of recycling the tea bags so last year I switched to coffee - the brand is KENCO Millicano Americano Intense (not Intenso?)

I must admit that water hadn't occurred to me but I drink plenty of water. When I was a teenager I read an article in a magazine about the amazing benefits of drinking water and I started that very day and have drunk at least a pint of water every single day ever since. And I also drink milk for the calcium. That's why I couldn't be a vegan - where would I get my daily calcium from?

When I mentioned coffee I forgot about the sachets of cappuccino that I buy - 8 sachets per box of NESCAFE GOLD. I have a special coffee cup for my cappuccino which says COSTA COFFEE on the side (COSTA is a British chain of coffee bars).

Humanbelly said...

A very thorough and informative report, Colin J-! "Cordials"-- I feel like that's something you hear mentioned in passing a LOT in, like, classic British murder mysteries (both in novels and TV shows--). To my mind's-tastebuds it evokes a painfully sweet, syrupy drink that would be hard to get down-- possibly an unjustified prejudice?

A couple of other side-notes:

A regionalism I'd forgotten (at least in the 60's/70's)-- in the NW corner of Arkansas (Paragould, Jonesboro, Crowley's Ridge) soft drinks were always called a "sodie". Never heard that anywhere else.

And Root Beer should almost come with a caveat that it is totally brand-specific. 'Cause that is a drink with a WIDE range from best to worst. A&W -AT THE DRIVE-IN ITSELF- is the gold standard by which all others should be measured, of course. That is just as good as the beverage can possibly get. Bottled IBC Root Beer would probably be next on my list. At the bottom, I will nominate flippin' Hires Root Beer. It was the one we bought because it was cheap and fit a kid's meager budget--- and then we'd complain all the way through chokin' it down. "This stuff's AWFUL!" "It tastes like seawater!!" Etc, etc---

HB

pfgavigan said...

Hey Humanbelly

The A&W that my family stopped at every Saturday after a day of 'trading', IE shopping, in the city (population 8000) nearest to where we lived is one of my earliest memories.

Strangely enough, for me the best part of the experience was licking the frost off the outside of the tiny mug I was granted before moving on to the wonderful bounty of the interior.

It's just not the same.

Seeya

pfg

Colin Jones said...

Actually, HB, I'd normally use the word "squash" rather than cordial but I wasn't sure if anyone overseas knew what "squash" meant. Squash/cordial is just a concentrate so the more water you add the weaker the drink is. Most cordials aren't particularly sweet - the one exception is RIBENA, a blackcurrant cordial which is horribly sweet and yet promotes itself as a health drink!

I forgot to mention natural fruit juices such as mango, apple, orange and grapefruit. A couple of years ago I saw a carton of banana juice in my local supermarket and intended to buy some on my next visit - only to discover it had been a one-off batch and no more were ever seen (this also happened with Twinkies - at Christmas 2018 I was amazed to discover the legendary cake on sale in my local supermarket so I bought two boxes (two Twinkies per box) but no more Twinkies have ever appeared).

Redartz said...

Hi guys, loving your discussion! I'm pretty much out of the loop right now, big electric problems, no power in our house (hence no internet) until next week. Have been reading old horror comics by candlelight, just for the mood.

Couple quick comments:

Colin- truly fascinating info! So many cordials. And I've gotta try that Irn Brew...

HB- oh man drive in root beer. The best, wish you could try that which I referred to above. And yes, root beers vary widely. My least favorite is "Mug", believe it's a Pepsi product. Quite unremarkable. But as a kid, I used to love "Mason's Root Beer". It's long gone...

Humanbelly said...

Red-- And yet, Mug was still WAY preferable to Hires---!

On a sort of related tangent--- is there anyone else who could not STAND the taste of Ginger Ale as a child, but found it to be delightful as an adult? I believe I've read that our tastebuds do have a dramatic evolution as we grow up and then get older (sadly getting deadened in my own case--), and I wonder if Ginger Ale is kind of a litmus test for that?

I mean, part of the reason I don't drink any alcoholic beverages at all is because. . . I could never stand what the alcohol itself tasted like. Champagne? Blick. Sparkling cider? Chug it, baby! Even in sweet cocktails where the flavor is "masked"-- it was always still there a couple of seconds later. Nothin' wrecks a frozen pina colada more than the rum (or whatever). And lordy. . . I just gave up on beer entirely after a couple of well-intended efforts on the part of college pals. After choking down a half can of Miller Lite I was, like, "Why on earth would anyone WANT to drink this?" And a buddy says, "Well, ya gotta build up a TOLERANCE for the taste, see--" And I'm thinking that if I have to develop an immunity to the taste, I'm failing to see the upside to this adventure. . .

Chocolate Milk
HB

PS-- pfg, I will admit that I had a fondness for A&W's own menu of greasy burgers and fries as well-- Today I would probably opt for them over most fast-food fare. . . if I were still eating fast-food fare. . .

Colin Jones said...

On the subject of squash/cordial - one of the most famous brands (along with RIBENA) is called ROBINSONS and I happen to currently have a bottle of their lemon squash. But, on examining the bottle I notice that neither "squash" nor "cordial" appears anywhere on the label.

The usual size for soft drink cans is 330ml and I pour their contents into a special green glass/tumbler which gets filled to the very brim. But for 500ml bottles I use my Coca-Cola Christmas mug, adorned with the famous Coca-Cola Santa - that also gets filled to the brim.

Does the U.S. use litres and milli-litres or pints and fluid ounces when it comes to measuring liquid? The UK officially abandoned the old Imperial system (pints, fl ozs) in order to fit in with the rest of Europe - and that won't change despite the Brexit lunacy.

Killraven said...

Colin, despite the governments best effort in the 70's, still on the Imperial system here, maybe the last place on the planet!

HB, I'm a Michigander! Which means homegrown Faygo pop and Vernors ginger ale hold a special place in my heart.

pfgavigan said...

Hey Killraven;

I'll see your Faygo and raise you one Jolly Good.

Apparently that's being produced again.

And as John Cleese would say . . .

Seeya
pfg

Humanbelly said...

Killraven-- I'm SURE we must have covered this before--- which part of the Pleasant Peninsula do you hale from-? (Go ahead and use the secret indicator with your up-raised right palm as a map, eh?) Man, Vernor's was just too-flippin'-sharp for me my entire childhood. And Faygo's discount cans of pop were a staple of many-a-birthday party. There was one particular store that carried their "Diet Chocolate Cream Soda"-- which sounded so good. . . and then tasted SO bad. . . And yet I would try it again and again. . .

PFG-- am I remembering you're from the other side of Lake Michigan?

HB (all up in everyone's business--- it's the social isolation, I tell ya---)

Killraven said...

HB- South Eastern (pointing below the thumb almost at the wrist).
Yeah, Vernors used to be served to us kids warm when we were sick. It's potency has decreased over the years, I think Vernors has gone thru 3 different bottlers since the original, every time getting weaker.
Speaking of MI pops, did you have Towne Club in your area? The Peach pop was yummy!

Humanbelly said...

Killraven-- Ah, north of Toledo/south of Detroit-area, yes? Like--- Monroe-ish?
And Towne Club. . . I remember soda water/seltzer water, but no flavored sodas over on our side of the Wrist. (SW region; Cassopolis. . . just above Elkhart/Mishawaka/South Bend, Indiana---)

Interesting about Vernor's evolution! I guess I wasn't the only one who had trouble getting it down. . .

HB

pfgavigan said...

Hiya,

Hey HB, you're pretty much on the ball with that, Wisconsin originally, then Minnesota and now Illinois.

Hey Killraven, one of my local grocery stores is open 24/7 so I like to shop there real late at night . . . or very early in the morning from your perspective. Down here in Illinois it carries Faygo as it's lower cost soda. Up in Wisconsin Jolly Good occupies the same space.

Back to you HB, when you commented about having an A&W greasy burger but now prefer to have something healthy as opposed to fast food, I nearly replied that fast food was the healthier alternative to my favorite. I was even going to post a link to the bar/pub/restaurant on line menu so everyone could rejoice in the products of a kitchen that measures the grease that they produce in a weekend by the barrel.

Hmmm . . . links to menus that are delicious but potentially fatal. That might prove a good topic.

Seeya,

pfg

Redartz said...

Hi guys! Have net for a few so a quick comment. We had Faygo in our area of central Indiana growing up, and it's still available. Also had Coke affiliated Fanta, and also Shasta ( whose Cherry Cola was a rare treat back then). But the ultimate was Crush. Orange, Grape or Strawberry, Crush rules. Especially if imbibed from the ribbed glass bottle...

Humanbelly said...

Forgot about Shasta--- good call, Red!
I feel like that brand was in the same cheap-pop niche as Faygo. . .

Man-- bottled Orange Crush was truly its own special flavor of orange drink. It was better than all the rest.

Has anyone else been noticing a slight resurgence of soft drinks sold in glass bottles? There's no question in my mind anymore that it JUST TASTES BETTER than plastic bottles or cans. Not sure why that's the case, mind you. . .

HB

Killraven said...

Oh, we're on Red!
Faygo Red Pop kicks Strawberry Crush's butt :-)

HB, I have noticed more glass out there, seen dimpled Sprite bottles recently.

Humanbelly said...

Oh.
Wow.

Totally forgot how much I also couldn't stand Red Pop--!
Geeze-- and that was indeed the staple of elementary school birthday parties.
Nightmare beverage scenario: Red Pop, Hires Root Beer, and Vernor's Ginger Ale---!

Ha!

HB

(Literally off-camera in a ZOOM rehearsal while typing this!)

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