PSA: Crystal Pepsi is back on store shelves

[Jon]

Just noticed them over the weekend.

I bought a few of them to try out. They're very similar to Pepsi...but, with kind of a Sprite aftertaste.

Definitely better than buying a vintage one for $100+.

Jon

EDIT: Thus far, I've only seen 20 oz. versions.

 

[norton9478]

I wonder how bad does the vintage one tastes.

I still have a full can of Billy Beer. When I used to hang out with alcoholics, I used to hide it because I was afraid that they would start drying out and crack it open.

 

[lithy]

I just bought some orange soda at Aldi the other day, the cans say its made with "Invisible Oranges" which means its just orange soda without the dye. Invisible Oranges also contain 0% juice just in case you were wondering. I guess maybe that penny of dye per hundred thousand gallons of orange pop really helps them keep the cost down.

 

[DNSDies]

I wonder how bad does the vintage one tastes.

I still have a full can of Billy Beer. When I used to hang out with alcoholics, I used to hide it because I was afraid that they would start drying out and crack it open.

You mean when it was released, or now that its had time to "Mature"?
When it was released, it tasted like pepsi, but slightly less acidic and slightly less sweet.

There's an easy to find video that shows what they taste like today. It ends in projectile vomit.

 

[smokehouse]

I picked some up at a local Wal Mart last week...

All-in-all...pretty meh. Pepsi typically has less acidic "twang" the Coke, but this has even less than Pepsi. I'm not a huge fan of it...and it's sweetened with HFCS, which doesn't taste as good as the Sugar Pepsi.

The current "real-deal" that I find to be outstanding is the under the radar Pepsi 1893, which is fantastic. I highly recommend find some of it, which shouldn't be hard.

 

[Jon]

The current "real-deal" that I find to be outstanding is the under the radar Pepsi 1893, which is fantastic. I highly recommend find some of it, which shouldn't be hard.

I've tried both the Cola of the 1893 Pepsi (in black cans) and, the Ginger Beer, as well. They are pretty good. My only complaint is that, sometimes, you may get a can with too much aromatic bitters, ie. way too bitter. The ginger in the Ginger Beer is very strong, too...it'll burn your nose hairs off strong.

Jon

 

[Fygee]

I picked some up at a local Wal Mart last week...

All-in-all...pretty meh. Pepsi typically has less acidic "twang" the Coke, but this has even less than Pepsi. I'm not a huge fan of it...and it's sweetened with HFCS, which doesn't taste as good as the Sugar Pepsi.

The current "real-deal" that I find to be outstanding is the under the radar Pepsi 1893, which is fantastic. I highly recommend find some of it, which shouldn't be hard.

I need to pick some of the Pepsi 1893 up. Haven't seen it in supermarkets here in Vegas, though I haven't looked very hard.

Nabbed some Crystal Pepsi last week, and it tastes just like I remember it (although I had long forgotten). I really like the taste as it finishes cleaner. My complaint is similar in that its sweetened with HFCS, which makes it way too sweet. I would have liked a diet version to go with it (it used to exist). They also added caffeine to it, which I'm not a fan of. If it was diet and caffeine free, I'd buy it by the truckload.

Speaking of which, this release is only lasting six weeks, so it would behoove folks to stock up on it. Could be worth a pretty penny on eBay next year.

 

[smokehouse]

I've tried both the Cola of the 1893 Pepsi (in black cans) and, the Ginger Beer, as well. They are pretty good. My only complaint is that, sometimes, you may get a can with too much aromatic bitters, ie. way too bitter. The ginger in the Ginger Beer is very strong, too...it'll burn your nose hairs off strong.

Jon

Yeah..the ginger is too strong with the gold can version, and I like ginger based sodas (like Reeds...oh so tasty). It stands out in front way too much for me.

I was surprised to see that they are selling the black can by the 12-pack case, just noticed that the other day.

My complaint is similar in that its sweetened with HFCS, which makes it way too sweet.

I agree 100%. I'm definitely not a "sweetener snob" but the sugar versions just taste better. My go-to is either the throwback Pepsi or Mexican Coke (depending on my mood).

 

[Fygee]

Sounds right up my alley. I love super strong ginger flavor.

 

[Jon]

Speaking of which, this release is only lasting six weeks, so it would behoove folks to stock up on it. Could be worth a pretty penny on eBay next year.

Was not aware of that...

I will definitely make a point to buy a bit before they sell out completely. Six weeks is way too short.

Jon

 

[norton9478]

You mean when it was released, or now that its had time to "Mature"?
When it was released, it tasted like pepsi, but slightly less acidic and slightly less sweet.

There's an easy to find video that shows what they taste like today. It ends in projectile vomit.

I was talking about the rotten shit.

As for how it tasted back in the day, I remember it tasting like zima.

Or more appropriately, I remember zima tasting somewhat like a dry version (IE not sweet) of Crystal Clear Pepsi.

 

[uiengineer]

I saw a huge bin of 20oz at Walmart yesterday. Didn't like it back then; don't want to bother with it now. Mostly b/c I haven't drank pop since 2005 (there were a few here and there in between, but nothing regular).

 

[ki_atsushi]

I picked some up at a local Wal Mart last week...

All-in-all...pretty meh. Pepsi typically has less acidic "twang" the Coke, but this has even less than Pepsi. I'm not a huge fan of it...and it's sweetened with HFCS, which doesn't taste as good as the Sugar Pepsi.

The current "real-deal" that I find to be outstanding is the under the radar Pepsi 1893, which is fantastic. I highly recommend find some of it, which shouldn't be hard.

I've tried both the Cola of the 1893 Pepsi (in black cans) and, the Ginger Beer, as well. They are pretty good. My only complaint is that, sometimes, you may get a can with too much aromatic bitters, ie. way too bitter. The ginger in the Ginger Beer is very strong, too...it'll burn your nose hairs off strong.

Jon

Fuckin' A, 1893 cola is great! I like the original kola nut flavor it has, reminds me of Red Bull + Cola which sadly didn't clear the test market phase. Probably because it had coca leaf in it too, lol. (I hear they still have a simply cola version, but fuck that)

The ginger beer version is shit though, the ginger is so strong it burned my throat.

 

[DNSDies]

I've never had a Zima. It was discontinued when I was 25, and I was deep into homebrewed beer and mead since I was 19

You know what soda I miss from my school days?
JOSTA. It had a cool red can with a freaking PANTHER on it.
There was a vending machine outside the gym at my school that sold it. It was either middle or high school. Can't remember which.

I used to get a bottle every day for $0.75 to drink as I walked home.
I loved that stuff.

 

[Fygee]

Was not aware of that...

I will definitely make a point to buy a bit before they sell out completely. Six weeks is way too short.

Jon

I figure that if its popular enough, they might extend the release time, but that's their current stated release period.

 

[Jibbajaba]

I have yet to see it for sale anywhere. I'd definitely pick up a bottle just out of curiosity.

 

[smokehouse]

I was talking about the rotten shit.

As for how it tasted back in the day, I remember it tasting like zima.

Or more appropriately, I remember zima tasting somewhat like a dry version (IE not sweet) of Crystal Clear Pepsi.

That was probably the second "formula". The initial Crystal Pepsi release was just that, Pepsi minus the coloring. It didn't do well, so they reformulated it and that sold even worse.

The re-release of it had a "citrus taste" flag on it:

Personally, I liked it...but I was obviously in the minority.

 

[sylvie]

im all about this shit. im drinking it like im a sponsored porn star

 

[JoeAwesome]

im all about this shit. im drinking it like im a sponsored porn star

You're not sponsored?

 

[NGCDFreak]

Got some at my College but haven't drank one yet maybe later on.

 

[ChopstickSamurai]

If you are in the Midwest and have a Meijer store in your town, I bought a couple bottles there this past weekend.

 

[herb]

Its pretty mediocre imo. It reminds me of Pepsi One from back in the day.

 

[Stellarola]

Would buy...but too many calories. I always feel close to death after drinking a non-diet soda.

 

[Fygee]

Would buy...but too many calories. I always feel close to death after drinking a non-diet soda.

260 calories and 69g of sugar in one bottle.

 

[smokehouse]

260 calories and 69g of sugar in one bottle.

It is mind boggling how much sugar they can cram in one bottle. 69g...reall chew on that. 4g = 1 teaspoon. So 17.25 teaspoons of sugar in one bottle.

If I took 20oz of water and dissolved over 17 teaspoons of sugar in it, it would be sickeningly sweet...