September 18, 2019
Live Soda Ginger | A Review
Trevor Ross of Austin, Texas lost his sister to breast cancer and vowed to do what he could to help himself and his surviving family stay as healthy as possible. A landmark moment in that process came when he found himself newly hooked on kombucha. Its unusual and divisive flavor proved an obstacle for him though as his family wanted no part of it.
He took inspiration from his dad. The man was an admitted soda addict and Trevor saw that as an opportunity. He began brewing his own kombucha with a new idea: what if it could be made to taste like soda? After trials and errors and much tinkering, in 2012 Live Beverages came to life. Trevor had finally developed a kombucha that tasted much like soda. His dad embraced it and never looked back.
On the subject, their kombucha still tastes like kombucha, but that flavor rides shotgun with the soda flavor behind the wheel. The sharp edges normally found in the taste are sanded down, making what is oftentimes a distasteful beverage quite delicious.
Live Soda came next. By reversing his thinking Trevor created a soda with probiotic content like kombucha. Several flavors are now on offer like Cola, Root Beer and this, Live Soda Ginger, which is said to ride the line between ginger ale and ginger beer.
It’s worth mentioning that the claimed benefits of probiotics are questionable, but one thing Live Soda has going for it in that regard is that, unlike a lot of other probiotic foods, it contains bacteria that actually are a member of the human gut flora ecosystem.
The packaging is excellent. Live Soda won a BevNet award for their rebranding and it’s understandable why. The clean and attractive logo features prominently on the two-tone can. “Ginger” slashes in a stylish typeface across a golden background filled with bubbles. It’s all very modern and enticing and clearly communicates what makes this soda different from its shelf companions. Full marks.
As the can proclaims, Live Soda Ginger contains no calories. Instead of sugar, erythritol and monk fruit extract perform the sweetening duties. Accompanying them are carbonated water, natural flavors, citric acid and the probiotic bacillus subtilis. Quite concise.
The liquid appears a robust bronze color with moderate carbonation and without sediment. It smells only weakly of ginger. The initial taste sensation is stark dryness, almost as if sipping carbonated water. Ginger then unfurls, not prickly yet tactile, carrying a bright tartness but no heat. There’s no evolution to the finish; the flavor just attenuates until it’s gone.
Live Soda achieves a hybridity between ginger beer and ale but it stands dryer than either one. Without the sweetness, it feels unsatisfying, a reminder that this is supposed to be good for you. There’s nothing about it that feels like an indulgence.
What’s more, the flavor profile is simple to the point of being uninteresting. Without a unique and attractive taste, to choose this beverage is only to choose the probiotics. It struggles to compare favorably to otherwise similar ginger soda options, like those low in sweetness or calorie count. If it’s a practical decision, then it’s not much of a decision at all. But if it isn’t, then it might be best to explore elsewhere.
Final Decision: Fourth Tier – Passable
Purchased locally at: HEB
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