Apples. Soda. A combination that doesn’t have quite the US popularity one would expect outside of Jones Soda’s Green Apple flavor. Apple cider has been on the rise, and with it, sparkling apple cider; but what of the apple soda? Lucky for the US, apple soda is more popular in Latin countries, so the rising Latinx population has resulted in greater access.
Based on the calorie content, I’d guess that this soda will be a tad less sweet than other sodas, but sugar levels are typically different when there’s actual fruit juice involved. I’m fairly certain I’ve had this particular soda before and had a favorable opinion of it, but my memory is like Beijing’s air: hazy. Now, onto the soda…
Place of Acquirement: Kroger, Gahanna, OH
Drinking Vessel/Portion: 12oz clear bottle, glass
AROMATICS: 6/10
Aromatics are questionable. There’s almost a bit of bitterness to it, but it’s definitely apple-y.
FIRST SIP: 7/10
Ooh yeah, definitely better than the scent. Sweet, but not an absurd amount of body at first.
TASTE: 7.5/10
My feelings about the soda body have been confirmed, it’s weirdly light; not in a negative way. You can definitely tell that there is *actual apple juice* in this, as opposed to other sodas that may have “natural flavors”.
AFTERTASTE: 8/10
Aftertaste is really nice. It’s sweet and sticks around.
MOUTHFEEL: 8.5/10
Very nice, less acidic than other sodas.
DEPTH OF FLAVOR: 6/10
I mean, it’s an apple soda. You get what you expect with this, nothing too out of the ordinary.
SWEETNESS: 8/10
I actually expected this to be less sweet than it is, but I think that it’s really a testament to 1. The lack of acidity, and 2. The fact that the apple flavor naturally brings out the sweetness. Either way, it hits a very good mark for me.
FLAVOR(S) TASTED: Apple.
LAST SIP: 7.5/10
Retains the sweetness and flavor excellently, and carbonation stays pretty decent as well.
OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10
This soda straddles the line between 7.5 and 8. Comparing it to Apple Beer, my favorite apple soda, it falls down a bit. Grading on a curve hurts it, but the soda still shines. Comparing it to a major competitor, Pepsi’s Manzanita Sol (which has yet to be reviewed), Sidral Mundet easily comes out on top.
Taking all of that into account, Sidral Mundet is still very delicious and readily available (at least in the midwest) for typically very reasonable prices (this bottle cost me $0.79). That’s where it currently has, and likely always will have Apple Beer beat. As the Lord God Almighty says to Samson in the bible, “You can’t love a soda you can’t purchase.”
