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About This Quiz
Since this is a quiz about the Midwest, we're going to call soda by the commonly used Midwestern name – "pop." "Soda" is predominately used in the Northeast and California. In the South, there is a tendency to say "coke" for any carbonated beverage.
While you can get Coca-Cola, Pepsi and other products distributed by both companies all over the country and the world, there are hundreds of regional pops that don't get much attention outside of their area. There are a few pops that don't have huge distribution but have still made a name for themselves. Cheerwine has a following outside of North Carolina, and Juggalos the world over have a taste for Faygo, even if they don't live in the Detroit area. If you're from the Midwest, you may find a few local favorites on this list or discover that a nearby state has a pop you'd love to try. If you're from another part of the country, you may want to stop by a local establishment and order one of these pops the next time you're in the area or find a website that will ship a case to you.Â
Have you tasted a lot of sodas from different parts of the country, or are you interested in unique sodas? Take this quiz to find out how much you know about Midwestern pops!Â
Blueberry Breese
Blueberry Breese was created in 1936. The pop's tagline is "get swept away."
Green River Original
Capt'n Eli's Blueberry Pop
Dr. Brown’s Root Beer
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Berghoff Black Cherry
Jolly Good Sour Pow'r
Dang! That's Good Butterscotch Root Beer
In 1964, Dang! That's Good was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to root beer, the company also makes Dang! That’s Good Italian Cherry Soda, which tastes like maraschino cherries.
Goose Island Vanilla Cream Soda
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Dr. Brown’s Root Beer
III Dachshunds Old Fashioned Root Beer
Baumeister Root Beer
Heine Baumeister created Baumeister Root Beer in 1907. It can be found in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area.
Filbert's Old Time Draft Root Beer
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Caruso's Legacy Gourmet Black Cherry Soda
Capone Family Secret Black Cherry
Jolly Good Sour Pow'r
III Dachshunds Old Fashioned Root Beer
III Dachshunds also makes alcoholic beers, which continue the dachshund theme. The company sells Ankle Biter Ale and Howling Hounds Honey Wheat. It's only other non-alcoholic product is Otto's Classic Orange Cream.
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WBC Goose Island Vanilla Cream Soda
In 1988, Goose Island Brewery was founded. The brewery used to license its name to the soda company. When the license expired, the sodas were rebranded as WBC.
Berghoff Black Cherry
Lost Trail Root Beer
Blueberry Breese
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Baumeister Root Beer
Caruso's Blood Orange
Caruso's Blood Orange Italian Soda is part of the WBC brand. The company has been around since 1961 and makes all its sodas with cane sugar and from family recipes.
Berghoff Black Cherry
Flannel Fizz Rhubarb Soda
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Capt'n Eli's Blueberry Pop
Dad's Root Beer
Berghoff Root Beer
This root beer was created in 1887 by Herman Berghoff and his three brothers. In the 1920s, Herman Joseph Berghoff couldn't brew his beer because of Prohibition. Instead of going out of business, he decided to shift to making sodas.
Vernors Ginger Ale
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Green River Original
Rummy Grapefruit Soda
Capone Family Secret Strawberry Soda
While Al and Frank Capone had nothing to do with this soda, the soda's origin story does have to do with the brothers. The story goes that police raided Frank Capone's warehouses 137 times, but all police ever found was soda.
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
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Dream Lode Golden Ginger Ale
Lost Trail Root Beer
Green River Original
Faygo
Faygo was created in 1907. It was based on Ben and Perry Feigenson's cake frosting recipes. Juggalos, by the way, are fans of the Insane Clown Posse.
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Tree Fort Root Beer
Goody Yellow Pop
First created in Nebraska in the 1920s, the Goody Yellow Pop is a super sweet retro soda. Willow Springs Distillery began making sodas as an alternative to alcohol during Prohibition.
Dr. Enuf – The Original Energy Booster
Black Bear Very Berry Blue Raspberry
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Green River Original
Green River Original was created in Chicago, Illinois. Since 1919, the pop has been caffeine free.
Dad's Root Beer
Izze Sparkling Pomegranate
Flathead Lake Huckleberry Soda
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Ski
Sun Drop
First made in 1930, Sun Drop started in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2011, Dr. Pepper took over the soda and re-branded it with a "Drop it like it's hot" viral commercial.
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
Jackson Hole Huckleberry Soda
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Jackson Hole High Mountain Huckleberry Soda
Jackson Hole Soda only makes caffeine-free flavors. Besides High Mountain Huckleberry, the company makes Buckin' Rootbeer, Grand Teton Grape, Jackson Ginger and more.
Flannel Fizz Rhubarb Soda
Caruso's Legacy Gourmet Black Cherry Soda
Jolly Good Sour Pow'r
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Dream Lode Golden Ginger Ale
Fitz's Cardinal Cream
South Fork Strawberry Rhubarb
Jackson Hole Soda also makes Snake River Sarsparilla and Cowboy Cream Soda. The company proudly bottles and brews everything in the United States.
Tom Tucker
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Vernors Ginger Ale
lll Dachshunds Old Fashioned Root Beer
Dr. Enuf - The Original Energy Booster
Chicago chemist Bill Swartz created Dr. Enuf because his co-workers complained about the lack of vitamins in food products. He eventually created a carbonated vitamin drink that became popular.
Filbert's Old Time Draft Root Beer
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Frostop Root Beer
Sprecher Cream Soda
Sprecher Cream Soda is flavored with vanilla and local Wisconsin honey. The pop is made by Sprecher Brewing Company, which was founded in 1985.
Faygo
Sun Tang Red Cream Soda
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Tree Fort Root Beer
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
Flannel Fizz Rhubarb Soda
Dad's Root Beer
On February 14, 1939, Dad's Root Beer received its first trademark. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Coca-Cola distributed Dad's Root Beer.
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Dr. Enuf - The Original Energy Booster
Tree Fort Root Beer
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
In 1987, the Sioux City brand was created. The soda was mentioned in "The Big Lebowski" by Sam Elliott's character, the Stranger.
Polly's Pop
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Lost Trail Root Beer
Blueberry Breese
Vernors Ginger Ale
The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group currently distributes Vernors. The ginger ale was created by James Vernor in 1866.
Dad's Root Beer
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Green River Original
Dr. Wells
Buddy's Strawberry Soda
Tree Fort Root Beer
Tree Fort is found mostly in Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest. The brand also makes Juicy Orange, Classic Cola and Ginger Ale.
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Izze Sparkling Pomegranate
Dr. Wells
Frostop Root Beer
Frostop Root Beer was created in 1926. It is available at Frostop Drive-Ins.
Jolly Good Sour Pow'r
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Jolly Good Sour Pow'r
Jolly Good is based in Random Lake, Wisconsin. The company also makes Fruit Punch, Cherry, Grape, Orange, Cream Soda, Blue Raspberry and Pina Colada pops.
Fitz's Cardinal Cream
Capone Family Secret Black Cherry
Lost Trail Root Beer
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South Fork Strawberry Rhubarb
Ski
Ski originated in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1956. However, the soda is available throughout the Midwest, Southeast, California and Alaska.
Flannel Fizz Rhubarb Soda
Dream Lode Golden Ginger Ale
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Polly's Pop
Polly's Pop is available in Missouri and Kansas. The company makes fruit flavored sodas, Root Beer, Ginger Beer and Glazed Donut pops.
Filbert's Old Time Draft Root Beer
Buddy's Strawberry Soda
Capone Family Secret Black Cherry
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Baumeister Root Beer
Filbert's Old Time Draft Root Beer
In 1926, Charlie Filbert began making homemade root beer. The pop calls Chicago, Illinois, home.
Tree Fort Root Beer
III Dachshunds Old Fashioned Root Beer
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Izze Sparkling Pomegranate
In 2002, Todd Woloson and Greg Stroh founded Izze in Colorado. Four years later, PepsiCo bought the company.
Fitz's Cardinal Cream
Lost Trail Root Beer
Flathead Lake Huckleberry Soda
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Ski
Dream Lode Golden Ginger Ale
Faygo
Lost Trail Root Beer
The Louisburg Cider Mill, which produces Lost Trail Root Beer, was founded in 1977. The company is headquartered in Louisburg, Kansas.
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Fitz's Cardinal Cream
Fitz's was founded in 1993 in University City, Missouri. The company's root beer recipe, which pre-dates the company, was created in 1947.
Ale-8-One
Red Ribbon
Black Bear Very Berry Blue Raspberry
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Flathead Lake
The Flathead Lake Gourmet Soda company has seven flavors. They are Wild White Grape, Granny Apple, Strawberry Orange, Blueberry Pomegranate, Sour Cherry, Huckleberry and Black Raspberry.
Ski
Faygo
Jic Jac
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Red Ribbon
Red Ribbon calls the Pittsburgh area home. The brand is available in Vanilla Cream, Grape, Almond, Birch Beer, Cherry, Root Beer and Pennsylvania Punch.
Ale-8-One
The Pop Shoppe
Faygo
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Buddy's Strawberry Soda
Red Ribbon
Ale-8-One
Ale-8-One is pronounced as "A Late One." In the 1900s, the first pop recipe was created by G.L. Wainscott.
The Pop Shoppe
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WBC Goose Island Vanilla Cream Soda
Vernors Ginger Ale
The Pop Shoppe
The Pop Shop makes eight flavors. They are Black Cherry, Lime Ricky, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Grape, Pineapple, Cola and Orange.
Caruso's Legacy Gourmet Black Cherry Soda
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Baumeister Root Beer
Big Red
In 1937, Grover Thomsen created Big Red. While the soda was founded in Texas, it is available in a number of states.
Flannel Fizz Rhubarb Soda
Jic Jac Raspberry Soda
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Canfield's 50/50
Dr. Wells
Ski
Jic Jac Raspberry Soda
Jic Jac was started in St. Louis, Missouri. The company makes Black Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, Grape and Lemon Lime pops.
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Tom Tucker
Black Bear Very Berry Blue Raspberry
Rummy Grapefruit Soda
Excel Bottling, which produces Rummy Grapefruit Soda, was started with reward money. In 1936, Edward "Lefty' Meier was rewarded for catching a bank robber.
Frostop Root Beer
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Canfield's 50/50
The A.J. Canfield Company created Canfield's 50/50. In 1924, the company was founded in Chicago, Illinois. Keurig Dr. Pepper now manufactures the brand.
Ski
Sioux City Sarsaparilla
Faygo
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Jic Jac
Buddy's
Green River
Tom Tucker
Sidney Harris founded the Tom Tucker Beverage Company with his mother. The company's first two beverages were Tom Tucker's Mint Ginger Ale and Champayno, which was similar to nonalcoholic champagne.
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Red Ribbon
Dr. Wells
In 1935, Dr. Wells was created. It is currently owned by Dad's Root Beer Company.
Dream Lode Golden Ginger Ale
Vernors Ginger Ale
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You Got:
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