RC, Shasta, "generic cola's"
Most of these "generic" soda's are given/sold to hospitals.....although I remember my first real job at a local amusement park which sold only RC cola products.
And I used to live in the town which produced/distributed Shasta Cola, Hayward, CA.:)
Anyone else like the old fashioned generic cola's??? your reviews??? Thx.
-
Reviving this (again):
To the RC drinkers (current or past)--do you think the formula has changed over the years? I bought a bottle a little while ago and thought it tasted bland, not the "bright" taste I recall from, say, the mid- to late '80s -- when I was just out of college and recall walking to a convenience store near my first apartment and buying a bottle or can of RC -- or even when my dad used to get it when I was a bit younger. Maybe it's the difference between a pure cane sugar base and high-fructose corn syrup? Or maybe my tastebuds have just dulled now that I'm older...
(I recall Cott soda--I grew up in West Hartford; we also had soda delivered from Pequot, glass bottles in a wood crate, and seltzer--in the real "trigger" seltzer bottles--from a company in New Britain.)
›1 Reply-
re: pammyfay
monkeyrotica
Dec 16, 2010 03:59 PM
I agree the taste of RC is not as bright as it once was. I recall it having a stronger cola flavor than either Coke or Pepsi. Not quite as "medicinal" as Dr Pepper or the root beers, but RC's cola flavor was distinct, whereas Coke/Pepsi have a dull, syrup flavor.
-
-
Hi guys, if any of you still visit this article or if you're just finding it, I know what the OP is saying. Before I read the comments I too thought that RC and Shasta were generic. I haven't seen RC in stores or vending machines since I was a young tyke and Shasta is only found in a few places around here (mainly in Dollar Tree). So just forgive him for his mistake. I think it's because we're on the East coast. As for the question, I'm drinking a Shasta right now, lol.
-
-
-
-
RC is a "branded" product, but much of the generic cola sold in North America is actually RC Cola. Cott Corp makes most of the generic colas on the market and has the rights to use the RC formula. President's Choice cola (the original version) is actually RC cola. The formulas Cott bottles may vary from store to store, but I suspect that the RC version is very common among the generic cola brands.
›1 Reply-
re: embee
monkeyrotica
Mar 31, 2008 08:33 AM
That's interesting. I've tried many house brands of generic colas, but I have yet to encounter any that taste like RC. To me, they all tend to taste like weak Pepsi.
-
-
To me, RC always had a kind of "one-note" taste -- I'd drink it in a pinch, but: 1) Coke 2) Pepsi.
I like Shasta's fruit flavored sodas.
›2 Replies-
re: hveagle
monkeyrotica
Mar 29, 2008 05:36 PM
Interesting. What "notes" do Coke or Pepsi play? Because to me, they're indistinguishably corn syrupy.
-
-
RC is so good. Used to love those blue cans as a kid.
Wish Ralphs (Kroger) still made "private selection" (ps) cola. Had the sweetness of Pepsi and the bite of Coke. Good stuff.
›2 Replies-
re: Oh Robin
Since this thread has touched on other generic sodas (rather than just cola) I would like to broach the subject of Mountain Blank soda's (Just what is the taste classification for Mountain Dew type sodas, poly-citrus? (as opposed to lemon-lime) In the case of these I actually prefer ANYTHING to Mountain Dew which i do not like at all (I think it has a bitter, grapefuit aftertaste) I like Mello Yello, but don't live in one of the regions where it is sold by Coke (does anyone know why Coke doesnt sell Mello Yello nationwide. You'd think they want their Mountain Dew analouge availble wherever Dew is sold to compete but I digress) My current generic "Mountain Blank" of choice is Mountain Charge, the the generic put out by Shoprite. I also used to enjoy Stop and Shop's Mountain Frost but I think the stopped making it when they struck a deal with Faygo whose version I find too watery (ditto problem with Frosh) Mountain Ramp (Top's Food brand) was alright too. Beyond this I'm drawing a blank (a lot of supermarkets don't have a Dew version in thier generic line)
-
-
-
-
monkeyrotica
Mar 27, 2008 07:43 AM
When I buy cola, it's RC or nothing. Tastes more cola-like than Coke or Pepsi, which to me just taste like sugar water. But I like Moxie, so there it is.
-
-
PommeDeGuerre
Mar 26, 2008 11:24 AM
The house brand of soda sold at Whole Foods is made with sugar instead of corn syrup. Delicious.
-
-
WCchopper
Mar 25, 2008 09:21 PM
If we're talking regional and not generic (RC not being generic) how about Cheerwine and Sundrop!
›2 Replies -
i love RC you can still get it in stores here (western NY ) and also at various restaurants. I find that alot of BBQ restaurants serve RC.
However, when I was younger we always teased the kids that brought Shasta. Presumably because their parents couldn't afford Coke/Pepsi. Horrible I know. -
marmite
Mar 24, 2008 01:54 PM
I used to drink RC at my friend's house growing up and really loved it (though that might also have had something to do with not being allowed soda at home). I still really like it! And I believe Diet Rite is their diet version, which is my super-favorite diet cola.
›3 Replies-
-
re: aelph
-
re: aelph
alkapal
Mar 27, 2008 06:13 AM
i've only had the diet rite cola, but it was probably the best diet cola at the time (this was long after diet coke was introduced, even with the lime, etc.). (tho' i am liking coke zero -- just wish it were fizzier).
does pepsi still make diet pepsi with lemon? i liked that!
-
-
-
ccbweb
Mar 21, 2008 09:25 PM
I'm a big fan of Shasta. Haven't had much RC.
They're not "generic" soda...they're just other brands. Shasta has been around since before 1900 and has had a soda flavor since like 1930. RC has been around since just after 1900 with their first cola. Not sure why you think that "most" of these are given/sold to hospitals; they're readily available in stores all over the country.
›18 Replies-
-
-
-
re: Emme
Catskillgirl
Mar 26, 2008 11:16 AM
I grew up drinking a grapefruit soda named "Squirt". Wonderful stuff. It's not available in NYC (or wasn't in 2001 when I moved out). I still miss it and buy cases when I visit the Buffalo area.
-
-
-
re: Catskillgirl
ccbweb
Mar 26, 2008 04:45 PM
I remember when I was a kid they had "Teem" on the fountain at the snack bar at the pool we swam at during the summers. I've seen a sign for "Teem" in front of a now closed old restaurant on Rt. 64 toward Skyline Dr. in Virginia, but I've never actually seen a bottle of "Teem."
-
-
-
-
-
re: alkapal
Catskillgirl
Mar 31, 2008 10:42 AM
When I was in high school and experimenting with alcohol (at 17 it was so sophisticated, don't you know) my friends and I consumed a ton of Squirt with sloe gin. Now the thought is nauseating - then it was cool. *G* Then again, those were the days of tequila sunrises.
-
-
-
-
-
-
re: ccbweb
mamachef
Dec 16, 2010 08:48 AM
I used to love that stuff, and drank it by the case, but then Ruby Red grapefruit soda came out and i've never looked back. Back to the OP though; I'm completely brand-loyal to Pepsi (I said, Pepsi! Not coke!) but if the difference is more than a buck when Pepsi's not on sale, though it frequently is here, I head straight for a low-cost brand called Stars and Stripes, and it'll do!
-
-
-
-
Yeah...in the Midwest RC(didn't realize it's a generic) is pretty ubiquitous. Don't know about the hospital distribution.
›6 Replies-
re: aelph
Shasta is favored by some hospitals because they package their product in 8 oz cans which fits on the hospital trays a lot better.
You will find RC/7up products in hospitals as in some hospitals, the dietary department is required to seek competitive bids on all food items. Whatever beverage company is the cheapest gets the contract.
-
-
It's been a long time since I drank RC Cola, but I do remember that it was the official cola of the New York Mets and was served exclusively at Shea Stadium for several years. I also remember C&C Cola, which my grandfather used to drink. I was not a fan. These days I am strictly a Coke drinker when it comes to cola.
›2 Replies-
re: xnumberoneson
That's a while back. Do you still remember the words to the Rheingold song?
Man, I'd forgotten all about C&C Cola. Mom used to get that ALL the time because it was so cheap. But, it was still better than the generic cola from First National and A&P. That stuff tasted like they left the nut shells in. I also recall our uncle had Hoffman sodas delivered to his house and we loved every variety except the cola.
-
re: Panini Guy
fromagina
Mar 27, 2008 08:42 AM
"My beer is Rheingold, the dry beer
Think of Rheingold whenever you buy beer
It's not bitter, not sweet
Extra dry-flavored treat
That is why I drink dry Rheingold beer"
(or something like that)Just looked it up.. I was a bit off..:
"My beer is Rheingold the dry beer.
Think of Rheingold whenever you buy beer.
It's not bitter, not sweet,
it's the extra dry treat --
Won't you try extra dry Rheingold beer?"
-
-
-
About 12 years ago, my Mom took us to the grand re-opening of th Jewel grocery store in a suburb of Chicago. They enhanced the store greatly and hosted quite a swarye. They gave away tons of samples and if you spent X then you were given certain free items. I remeber among the items we recieved was a case of President's Choice cola. It was so delicious and such a treat from the TAB we were allowed to drink!
-
