Polar Cream Soda

I am not partial to Polar despite them being local because I am not a huge fan of seltzer water. In addition to that, I find that their line-up of sodas is not as familiar as brands I've been drinking my entire life, even though Polar has been around since 1882. With their home being Worcester, MA, I know that eventually I will tour their facilities and write about it here on this blog. And while I'm spitting out Polar information, a surprising fact I recently learned while watching Chronicle is that the owners of Polar's brothers and sisters own Wachusett Mountain, which is a small, but local, ski mountain in Massachusetts. Soda and skiing, that's the life.

"My uncle Roger said that he once saw
an albino polar bear." - Alan

I can't describe Polar's phenotype in any unique way: its color is basic caramel and the label is nothing fancy. It is worth noting that Polar's labels bear a polar bear named Orson, the company's mascot since 1902, pre-dating Coca-Cola's use of polar bears in their advertising.

Breaking the seal on the bottle elicits a quick burst of vanilla in the air, however, that is where the vanilla ends. The first sip is smooth and there is a thin layer of bubbles that cascades across the tongue but there is a distinct absence of vanilla. It could be a week of testing cream sodas has made me immune to a vanilla taste but I really don't think that is it. I believe that this cream soda just lacks a strong vanilla taste which is sad because in other areas, this soda is on par with others. There is a modest but apparent amount of carbonation and the way this soda bubbles is tangible, small ones that tickle the tongue. But this soda begs for more, more vanilla, more taste, and because of this, it does not deliver. It could be a perfect beverage for someone looking for a subdued cream soda but is anyone looking for that when it comes to cream soda? I hope the owners of Polar don't read this but I'm being honest after a week of rating cream sodas and this is just how I feel. I would hate to be banned from their facilities and even worse, the ski mountain.

Smoothness: 7.0 - This soda does not lack a smoothness
Overall Taste: 6.0 - Light on the vanilla, light on flavor, a weak cream soda
Fizz Factor: 7.0 - Not much head, bubbles are small and uniform, but gets watered-down towards the end
Appearance: 6.5 - Nothing unusual, nothing special, but still has that caramel clarity
Flavor: 5.5 - Possibly the least flavorful of the sodas tested

From the company: 8 oz has 120 calories, 0g of fat, 30g of carbs, 30g of sugar and 0g of protein.

A&W Cream Soda

A&W stands for Allen & Wright, a fact I did not know until writing this post and a fact that maybe you, the reader, did not know either. Tuck it away in the back of your memory to be pulled out later during trivia. Much of America's familiarity with A&W comes from it's root beer stands and restaurants, which serve classic American burgers and other delicious food and according to their website, still make root beer in store. Growing up I was only exposed to one A&W and trips there always meant a root beer float. I'm looking at their website now and drooling over their freezes and floats and burgers and chili dogs and...

But the cream soda. Right off the bat I'm stating this is the darkest cream soda I've tested. With the lighting, it is truly hard to tell, but I think everyone can see the dark brown tornado center within the middle of the glass. Even coming out of the bottle it looks more like molasses than caramel. The bottle itself is nothing amazing, drawing on only the iconic A&W logo, but within...within is that All-American soda.

Remember: A&W = Allen & Wright

What can I say about the first sip other than it is all encompassing. It blasts your nostrils and almost pops in your mouth. The whole sensation is balanced, with no flavor, or bubble, truly dominating but existing within the whole experience is a slightly new taste. Like Stewart's, it appears A&W's secret recipe incorporates something different and looking at this label I see "yucca extract." Now, like with the Stewart's, I'm not going to definitively say this is what makes it unique, but what I will say is that A&W has an aftertaste that almost craves for a food compliment. I'm not sure if it is my memory but sipping this soda I begin to want a burger to go along with it. My mind is almost demanding french fries, which is an obviously sneaky request initiated by my stomach. From a fizz factor standpoint, the soda is, like with the taste, balanced. It is not overpowering but it does bubble and you will feel it inside you as you chug more and more.

After 5 different cream sodas, I'm beginning to find a clear front runner in my mind. A&W right now is not it, but it does offer some things that others can't. First, it might be the perfect one to drink with a meal. Second, it has a unique aftertaste. Third, it is widely distributed and easy to find. Lastly, it delivers on the vanilla taste demanded by cream soda enthusiasts. The soda is not only a must try because of the different taste, it is also a classic American beverage brewed by a classic American company.

Smoothness: 7.5 - Smooth...bubbles and vanilla are balanced

Overall Taste: 8.2 - Unique aftertaste and fountain style beverage

Fizz Factor: 7.5 - They are there and part of the overall style of this soda

Appearance: 7.8 - Dark, but minimal bubbles and no head, the soda is almost a uniform caramel color

Flavor: 8.3 - This is cream soda from the makers of an All American root beer...so you know it's good.

From the company: 12 oz has 170 calories, 0g of fat, 46g of carbs, 45g of sugar and 0g of protein.