Sometimes Foodie: Limited Edition Stars and Stripes Cranberry Ginger Ale -

Cranberry Ginger Ale - Dollar Tree
I was at Dollar Tree grabbing holiday giftbags, (because if you're paying more than a dollar for a giftbag, you're insane,), and I spotted giant bottles of soda. They're like 2.5 Liters and only a dollar, so you know it's not the best quality, but they'll do in a pinch when you're having cheap at-home birthday party in the 90's. Anyway, I was going to walk right by them, when I noticed a limited edition flavor.

Since when has that been a thing? I was intrigued, and it was only a dollar, so let's see if it's any good! (At the very least it should make for a fun season-appropriate post.)

Right off the bat, this bottle is huge. Ridiculously huge. It barely fits in my fridge standing up, and I am way too nervous to ever put it in there on it's side. (Just thinking about it makes me feel sticky.) The label is super no-frills, and the liquid inside is a bright cranberry-red. Other than that, there's not much to report.

I opened the bottle and poured myself a glass.

When opened it smells slightly less sweet than typical ginger ale, and there is a faint fruitiness, but nothing out of the ordinary or off-putting. We're off to a good start.

I took a sip, and nope.

Not sure how something that smells so decent can taste so "not-right," but here we are. There's no sugar coating it, it's not good.

As a ginger ale it's really weak, which isn't a complete deal breaker for me, but the cranberry flavoring is more like cough syrup than anything else. Seriously, it slightly burns the back of my throat in a way that numbing cough sprays or medicated throat drops did when I was a kid. Thankfully the flavoring doesn't linger, and the carbonation practically disappears in the blink of an eye.

I only managed three sips so I could write this post for the rest of you. It tastes like something high school kids mixed up, or like I imagine spiked punch tasted like in all those 80's movies.

This is some kind of Flaming Moe nonsense, but in the worst way.
Do I recommend this? No, sir. I do not. But I am not here to shame Dollar Tree sodas entirely, their giant bottles of normal generic cola honestly aren't that bad. Stick to classics, and maybe stay away from the limited edition stuff.