15 Popular Grape Soda Brands, Rated From Worst To Best
Grape soda has always had a berry special place in beverage history, with its bold purple pop and sweet, fizzy flair that’s been raisin’ smiles for generations.
I’ve had a crush on these bubbly grape concoctions ever since my childhood days at the corner store, quarters in hand and dreams of sugar on my tongue. After grape-fully sipping my way through countless brands over the years, I’ve uncorked this definitive ranking to help you spot the true vine stars from the fizz that falls flat.
15. Whirly Pop’s Artificial Nightmare
Holy grape-flavored disappointment! Whirly Pop tastes like someone dissolved a handful of those cheap Halloween candies in carbonated water.
The flavor screams artificial with a sweetness that makes your teeth hurt just thinking about it. I once brought this to a picnic and watched as even the sugar-loving kids took one sip and quietly set their cups down.
14. Spindrift’s Identity Crisis
Spindrift seems confused about what grape soda should be. It’s like that friend who promises grape but delivers something weirdly citrusy instead.
Any trace of grape flavor is overpowered by the acidity. I thought I had found a deal when I purchased a six-pack on sale, but I ended up giving the majority to my neighbor, who strangely likes this barely-grape imposter.
13. Nehi’s Sugary Disappointment
Nostalgia can’t save Nehi from its thin, one-dimensional flavor profile. Grandpa might wax poetic about this vintage brand, but today’s palate demands more.
The sugar-to-flavor ratio is totally out of whack! I cracked one open during a movie night, hoping for that classic taste, but found myself reaching for water instead. Its historical significance outweighs its actual taste.
12. Culture Pop’s Grape-Adjacent Experience
Culture Pop deserves credit for trying something different, but calling this a grape soda is like calling a chihuahua a wolf. The lemon and spice notes completely hijack the grape experience!
Sure, your gut might thank you for the probiotics, but your taste buds will be thoroughly confused. I served this at a family gathering and watched everyone’s faces contort in bewilderment.
11. Zotz’s Candy-Like Concoction
Remember those fizzy Jolly Rancher candies? Zotz basically liquefied them and called it soda. The first sip hits you with such artificial grape intensity that your face might involuntarily pucker!
Kids absolutely love this stuff, though. My nephew guzzled an entire can and proceeded to bounce off the walls for hours. Parents, consider yourselves warned about this liquid sugar bomb.
10. Fanta Grape’s Nostalgic Mediocrity
Fanta Grape is the comfort food of sodas – not amazing, but reliably familiar. In the finest conceivable way, the taste shouts “school cafeteria vending machine”!
That said, the sweetness can be overwhelming after a few sips. During my college all-nighters, this purple potion kept me company, though I’d often find half-finished cans scattered around my desk the next morning.
9. Frostie’s Time-Traveling Flavor
Frostie Grape transports you straight to a 1950s soda shop with its charming vintage vibe. Adding to the experience is the vintage glass bottle, which gives you the impression that you are the star of “Back to the Future.”
Flavor-wise, it’s pleasant but not mind-blowing. I discovered this gem at a retro diner road trip stop and now keep a bottle in my collection – though I enjoyed the nostalgia more than the actual taste.
8. Olipop’s Health-Conscious Compromise
Olipop boldly attempts the impossible: making grape soda somewhat good for you. With prebiotics and way less sugar, it’s the grape soda you drink when adulting hits hard.
The flavor is surprisingly decent but definitely lighter than traditional brands. My fitness-obsessed friend introduced me to this during our movie night, and while my taste buds weren’t doing cartwheels, my conscience appreciated the healthier option.
7. Sunkist Grape’s Vibrant Punch
Sunkist Grape comes at you with all the subtlety of a purple paintball! Its strong taste profile that defies disbelief is matched by its vivid color.
While undeniably tasty, the syrupy finish can be a bit much. Last summer’s backyard BBQ featured these as mixers, and they disappeared faster than the hot dogs – though several guests mentioned the sugar crash that followed.
6. Crush Grape’s Balanced Bliss
Crush Grape nails the perfect middle ground in the grape soda universe. Not too artificial, not too bland – it’s the Goldilocks of purple fizzy drinks!
There is just enough sweetness in the fruity flavor without being overbearing. A recent revisit to my first childhood grape soda, a Crush, satisfied my adult palate while bringing back a flood of playground memories.
5. Faygo Grape’s Cult Following
Juggalos know what’s up! Faygo Grape has achieved cult status for good reason – its bold, unapologetic grape flavor takes no prisoners.
The sweetness hits hard but somehow avoids being cloying. At a midwest music festival, I witnessed fans practically worshipping this purple nectar, and after one sip, I understood the devotion – this stuff delivers grape flavor with rock star intensity.
4. Boylan’s Sophisticated Sipper
Fancy pants alert! Boylan’s grape soda is what happens when grape soda goes to college and comes back with refined taste.
Compared to most competitors, the natural flavoring produces a cleaner, crisper experience. Even the wine snobs were caught sneaking second pours of this elegantly carbonated purple delight, which I served in fancy glasses at my sister’s garden party.
3. Grapette’s Concord Classic
Grapette tastes like someone liquefied actual Concord grapes and added just the right amount of fizz. Most other grape sodas taste like fakes compared to this smooth, real flavor!
There’s a hint of tartness that balances the sweetness perfectly. During a road trip through small-town America, I discovered this gem at a vintage gas station and bought every bottle they had – it was that good.
2. Grapico’s Southern Charm
Y’all haven’t lived until you’ve tried Grapico! This Southern treasure delivers grape flavor with such depth and character that it makes you wonder what everyone else is doing wrong.
Its crisp, energizing carbonation wonderfully balances the richness. I’ve been getting cases mailed to my house in the North ever since my cousin from Alabama introduced me to this during a family reunion; it’s well worth the exorbitant shipping fee.
1. Stewart’s Grape Soda Supremacy
Grape soda perfection exists, and its name is Stewart’s! This champion consistently wins blind taste tests for good reason – it captures the essence of grape without going overboard.
The fizz-to-flavor ratio is absolute perfection. I once served unlabeled cups of various grape sodas at a party, and Stewart’s was unanimously declared the winner. Even my wine-snob uncle couldn’t stop raving about its balanced sweetness and authentic grape notes.