Dogfish Head ApriHop

I anticipate reviewing many of the Dogfish Head line of beers, because they are known for their unique brews. And unlike some other experimental breweries out there, Dogfish is almost always guaranteed to produce some amazing beers. First up is Dogfish Head's ApriHop, an IPA brewed with real apricots.


ApriHop, as the name suggests, is an interesting combination of IPA hoppiness and sweet apricots. The flavors mingle well together and it is surprisingly smooth for an IPA. It's fruity and refreshing, and therefore perfect for a warm summer evening. I've always enjoyed fruity flavored beers, and now I have a new favorite that I don't have to be ashamed of drinking.
Overall Grade: B+

Sioux City Cherries n' Mint

I think I've tried the enitre line of Sioux City sodas out there and Cherries n' Mint is definitely their most unique.


The Cherry and Mint flavors work together here because the mint is rather subtle. The overall flavor in fact is pretty mild. It's more of a hint of mint rather than a 50/50 mixture. This touch of mint actually makes the soda pretty refreshing. It's also made with real cane sugar, which is a bonus.
Overall Grade: B

Dry Rhubarb Soda

Yes, this soda is called Dry Rhubarb Soda and no, it does not sound very appealing. Dry Soda is actually the name of the company, which is based out of Seattle and focuses on a line of all-natural, somewhat healthy carbonated beverages. They also have lots of unique flavors, such as Lavender, Juniper Berry, Lemongrass and Blood Orange.


Well, just like the name says this soda is rather dry. The tartness of the rhubarb is overpowering and the sweetness is very subtle. But the lack of sweetness is what makes this soda somewhat healthy. Each bottle has only 16 grams of sugar, compared to the 30-50 grams found in most other sodas. So if you're looking for a healthy soda, this may be the one for you. But if you're looking for something a bit sweeter and more flavorful, try something else.
Overall Grade: B-

Wells Banana Bread Beer

Just in time for the holidays (although brewed year-round) comes Wells Banana Bread Beer from Wells & Young's Brewery out of England. I'm generally a fan of sweeter tasting beers, so whenever I see a dessert-inspired beer, I have to try it.


Not surprisingly, this beer smells like ripe bananas. As expected, this is a sweeter tasting beer, but the sweetness is not overwhelming. The sweet banana flavor is nicely balanced with a little bit of hoppy bitterness and a hint of cinnamon (and possibly nutmeg). Much like the previously reviewed Creme Brulee Stout, I would not want to consume more than one bottle of Wells Banana Bread Beer in a single sitting. Still, it is a very tasty and flavorful brew that I will look forward to drinking again someday.
Overall grade: B+

Jelly Belly Blueberry Soda

I've tried about 4 or 5 of the Jelly Belly sodas so far, but I've yet to come across a flavor that I would enjoy drinking on a consistent basis. Adding to that trend is the Jelly Belly Blueberry Soda.


One thing this and the other Jelly Belly sodas have going for them is that they do taste very much like the jelly beans. But other than this similarity, the drinkability quotient here isn't very high. The blueberry flavoring is very artificial tasting and awfully sweet. For a better blueberry drink, try this sparkling juice instead. Again, the novelty behind the Jelly Belly's line of sodas is great, but I wouldn't recommend buying them in bulk.
Overall Grade: B-

Mr. Q. Cumber Soda

Yes, cucumber soda. As much as I love cucumbers, the thought of drinking cucumber-flavored soda was not very appealing to me. But seeing as unique sodas are my thing, I did not hesitate to pick up a bottle (purchased at Gene's Delicatessen here in Chicago).


Upon twisting off the cap, my first reaction was "wow, this REALLY smells like a fresh cucumber." And after my first sip, the reaction became "wow, this really TASTES like a fresh cucumber too." I was not surprised to read the words "All Natural" on the bottle. The flavor is sweetened a little but also has a slight bitter aftertaste. Imagine biting into a cold cucumber (skin and all) dipped in sugar. As gross as that sounds, Mr. Q. Cumber soda isn't too bad and is surprisingly refreshing.
Overall Grade: B

Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock drink

I found this at World Market here in Chicago and I had no expectations whatsoever seeing as I have no idea what dandelion and/or burdock taste like. Fentiman's is a British company that offers several unique botanically brewed beverages from Victorian Lemonade and Ginger Beer to Shandy and Curiosity Cola.

Dandelion is a flower/weed and burdock is a flower/thistle, but this drink doesn't really taste at all like flowers. Thankfully, the drink is sweetened with pear juice and ginger and anise are also added. The pear and ginger are the two stand-out flavors, but there's a lot more going on. It's certainly not your typical one-note carbonated beverage. This drink is sweet, spicy and refreshing. Definitely a must try!
Overall Grade: B+

Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout

After reviewing a handful of unique sodas, I finally have a chance to review a unique beer: Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout. I picked this up at a wine and beer store called Armanetti's here in Chicago, and though it cost $10 for a 22 ounce bottle, this beer was well worth the steep price.


The first deliciously noticeable characteristic of this stout is the smell. The aroma screams caramel and vanilla and it is perhaps the best smelling beer I've ever smelled. After enjoying the sweet aroma for several seconds, I took my first sip and my taste buds were just as satisfied as my sniffer. The vanilla and caramel flavors dominate, but there are also hints of chocolate and coffee. I was surprised to read the 10% ABV on the bottle, as the combination of sweet flavors mask the alcohol pretty well. The sweetness may be overwhelming for some, but just as creme brulee isn't an everyday dessert, this certainly isn't an everyday beer. One glass per sitting was enough for me as this beer is a dessert in and of itself.
Overall Grade: A-

Jeff's Orange Dream Soda

I normally wouldn't consider an orange cream soda as being unique, but Jeff's Orange Dream Soda isn't your ordinary orange cream soda. Jeff's Orange Dream is an egg cream soda and among its ingredients are milk and cream. While most sodas are fat-free, Jeff's Orange Dream is not, though it contains a mere 1 gram of fat.

So what exactly is an egg cream soda? Egg cream sodas were invented in Brooklyn, New York and contained neither eggs nor cream, but are similar to ice cream sodas. A traditional egg cream relied on a mixture of three ingredients: chocolate syrup, seltzer and whole milk. You can check out a video here to see how to make your own egg cream soda.


While traditional egg creams do not contain cream, Jeff's Orange Dream does, and as you can see from the photo, this soda is thick and creamy. The carbonation was almost non-existent but I was hoping for something a little fizzier. The consistency is a little thick which made the soda more filling and less refreshing. It felt more like eating dessert than drinking a soda. Despite this, the orange cream flavor is pretty delicious. I just didn't have a desire to drink another. It's a unique and tasty soda, but not something I'd want to drink all the time.
Overall grade: B+

Jelly Belly Sour Cherry Soda

It's no secret that I love Jelly Bellies, so when I spotted Jelly Belly Soda at a nearby Walgreens, I knew I had to try it. Sour Cherry was the only flavor at the time, but they have since added Green Apple and Lemon Drop. And according to this website there are ten flavors total, including french vanilla, crushed pineapple and juicy pear! I can't wait to try them all!


Starting with the Sour Cherry flavor, there are two adjectives to describe this soda: sour and cherry. Eating sour candy is one thing, but drinking sour soda is another. Let's just say that it's unique, and one must love sour flavored things in order to enjoy this soda. The good news is that it absolutely tastes just like the sour cherry jelly belly, which is good news for the other flavors I want to try. This wasn't a detestable soda, just something I wouldn't want to drink all the time.
Overall Grade: B