Where can I find quirky sodas in the Bay Area?

[archagon]

LA has Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. Does the Bay Area have any smaller-scale equivalents? I know BevMo has an okay selection, and Sam's Market in Berkeley has a bunch. What are some other stores that sell interesting, little-known sodas?

[pauliface]

European Food at 3038 clement has some interesting sodas.
They've got kava, which is a yeasty tasting russian thing that I am not crazy about.

But there's also a really nice cucumber soda and from that brand there was another interesting one I forget the flavor though...

[AntarcticWidow]

Cost Plus has a large soda selection. I've seen Fentimans brand, Shandy, in particular. Not sure if it's considered quirky, though.

[Allfrog68]

Here's a SF Chronicle news article about local soda makers. This might give you some leads. I've had some really great soda's from Drinkwell, part of my CSA Eatwell. They were very good.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-08-04...

[jman1]

Anyone know of a cola with 1/2 usual amount of sugar? perhaps about 70 calories per 12 oz?

[jman1]

Found GUS Cola has 95 cal. It's pretty good to my taste. Perhaps the bitterness of cola requires a bit more sweetener than other flavors.

[TerriL]

I really like GUS cola. It's basically high-quality Coke diluted with more carbonated water.

[mamachef]

Try ethnic grocery stores, and try the Russian deli/store/restaurants in the SF Ocean Beach area. BevMo; I've found Cheerwine, Espresso soda and Ting there.

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BevMo
1301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA

[sugartoof]

Second Andronico's and Bevmo selections.

[rubadubgdub]

I was surprised by the Andronico's (Berkeley) selection the other day. My personal quest is for Mr. Q Cumber. It's served at Noodle Theory and they say they actually drive it up from LA! If you see it in the Bay Area, let me know.

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Noodle Theory
6099 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

[chocolatetartguy]

Bevmo has a lot of boutique sodas. I mainly buy root beer: Sioux City, Faygo, Sprecher's, Abita. They have an island devoted to sodas by the bottle and part of a shelving unit for 4 and 6 packs. They have had Faygo flavors Rock and Rye, Red Pop, Cream Soda, Orange, Grape, Cola and Sioux City (made by White Rock) birch beer and sasparilla.

Where is Sam's Market?

[archagon]

Berkeley, on Telegraph Avenue.

[chocolatetartguy]

Thanks. I'll be up there today for lunch and will check it out. That spot used to be a drugstore from which I bought the fountain signs and chrome plated stools.

[BernalKC]

I'm curious to try SodaCraft sodas (http://sodacraftsf.com/) just because I've been reading the proprietor's beer blog (Beer & Nosh) for years and like what he has to say about beers, beer dinners, and food in general. Plus the info he posts about his seasonal sodas sound intriguing.

Has anyone sampled their sodas?

[JasmineG]

I had the Blackberry Fizz soda at the FPFM a few weeks ago, and it was really great. Full of flavor, not too sweet, a good amount of fizz. I rarely drink soda, though, so it's not something that I'd get all the time, but it was great on a warm day.

[Fig Newton]

I've had several of the sodas and really like them. He now has bottles available for takeaway -- I have a new habit of taking one home from the Thursday FPFM and then drinking it over the next few days. Because it's naturally fermented, it stays fizzy and really nice for quite a few days.

The ginger is good -- very, very gingery, though he's been playing with the balance a little bit. I had a lemon ginger a few weeks ago that I loved. Last week, I brought home the grape which was outstanding. My hands-down favorite was a strawberry / smoked vanilla that he had around May or June. I hope he plays with unusual flavors like that again sometime -- the smoke was really unusual and enjoyable.

[jfriedman]

Hi - I'm Jesse from SodaCraft. Thanks so much for your kind words about my drinks! I just wanted to chime in, and offer to answer any questions any of you have about my sodas, process, or the sourcing of my fruit.

and @ Fig Newton *Warning: Shameless Plug* I'll be making the Smoked Strawberry Vanilla again this week for Brisketfest. http://sodacraftsf.com/post/960631415...

[hazel1]

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Store in downtown Campbell (220 E. Campbell Ave.) has the most incredible collection of sodas that I have ever seen - little-known ones from every part of the country and several imported types as well. The variety they carry is truly astounding. The candy selection is amazing, too, but oh, the sodas....you name it, I'm pretty sure they'll have it.

[gordon wing]

http://rocketfizz.com/index.php?optio...
Rocket Fizz has 13 locations in CA but most in SoCal. Lot of sugar in one place! ( Soda and Candy)

[Spatlese]

Powell's Sweet Shop on College in north Oakland stocks a bunch of different sodas, including my personal favorite, Blenheim's.

[dephal]

Anyone know where to find Irn Bru soda in Northern California? My daughter became addicted to it during a recent trip to Scotland.

[majordanby]

not a store, but saul's in berkeley sell homemade sodas

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/606901

[Mission]

Star grocery on Claremont in Berkeley has lots of unusual sodas.

and a very nice craft beer selection maintained by a enthusiast.

[zin1953]

+1

[soupçon]

Fog City News used to carry a bunch of heirloom and obscure sodas.

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Fog City News
455 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105

[Windy]

For a high and unmarked price.

[gordon wing]

We need a Galco here! Grocery Outlet is where I've bought the Jones Thanksgiving (turkey & gravy,corn on the cob, broccoli casserole, pecan pie ..... ) and Chanukah (latke, applesauce, jelly donut ...)assortment packs. I've also seen cans of Tahitian Treat there - but it's more like an occasional find - not a regular broad selection.