Ironbeer
What a name for a soda.
When we first saw it at our local grocery store (which has a lot of ethnic goods available), I saw how much it was. It costs something around $3.50 for a six pack. Of course I expect to pay more for a unique and/or ethnic product. Then I saw the story on the side of a can:
On a summers afternoon, in 1917 a mule-drawn, wooden wagon arrived at a popular cafeteria in Havana, Cuba. It delivered the first four cases of a new soft drink that would soon be called “The National Beverage”. Now more than 80 years later, IRONBEER is still enjoyed for its refreshing flavor with just a hint of island spices. A lot can change over the years - but not the original flavor of IRONBEER!
I thought to myself - oh yeah. This might be hard to swallow, but I have to taste it. I’ve had some very difficult drinks before. Ginger beer for instance. I expected something similar - harsh on the palate, very earthy. But I had to try it - it was unique.
I got home, poured a can of Ironbeer over ice, and the first thing I noticed was the aroma. Unlike the semi-sweet aroma of other sodas - uniqueness is good. I took a sip and it DEFINITELY wasn’t ginger beer. It was sweet, but not overly so. It had a cola taste, but it wasn’t just cola. It tastes really good. The best description is that it tastes like a fruit Dr. Pepper.
I made the mistake of letting my kids try it, and letting them know what the name was. They are 5 years old, and they were running around the house screaming “I want some more Ironbeer!” “Mom, can I have some Ironbeer?” “No, I want Ironbeer!”
Of course I dreaded going to a restaurant and have them asking “Do they have Ironbeer here?” “I love to drink Ironbeer, it’s my favorite!” Since most people are unaware of the brand, I’m sure to get looks from strangers worried about us giving our kids some kind of alcoholic beverage. Luckily they aren’t fascinated with it anymore, unless they see some on the kitchen counter. But now it’s just another good drink.
Anyways, my wife packed me an Ironbeer in my lunch today, and I shared the Ironbeer gospel with a few coworkers. One gave me some money to get her a 6-pack, and she hadn’t even tried it. I was sad to not have a full can of it to myself, but I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do.
If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. You can get some here, or you might be lucky enough to find it at your local Winn-Dixie, Publix, Fiesta, or other grocer near you.
