What’s the first thing that pops to mind when you hear “cream soda”? You probably picture a bright pink, syrupy-sweet fizzy soda that tastes like the cough syrup your grandmother forced you to drink when you were ill. 

So it might surprise you to hear that cream soda, or ‘creme soda,’ is having a renaissance, like root beer’s recent resurgence. You can find regional variations that combine traditional recipes with locally-sourced ingredients and micro-brewing techniques to craft delicious, thirst-busting beverages to suit every palate. Even more exciting, these small-batch producers brew their cream sodas without preservatives, artificial color, or GMO ingredients.

The next time you feel like drinking something carbonated, why not bypass your usual Pepsi, Sprite, or ginger ale and reach for a cream soda? Let’s look at some of the best cream soda brands available, both handcrafted and mass-produced, to quench your thirst and indulge your sense of nostalgia – all without grandma’s fussing.

1. Virgil's Cream Soda 4pk 12oz Btl

Made with all-natural ingredients, Virgil’s is the purest, creamiest cream soda around! This premium cream soda brings back the smiles with a bold version of the classic cream soda that uses vanilla beans and unrefined cane sugar to pack a flavor punch. Micro-brewed for an intense flavor free of preservatives, artificial colors, and GMO-sourced ingredients.

$6.99

2. Dang Red Cream Soda 12oz

Indulge your sweet tooth with Dang! Red Cream Soda. Combining the flavors of bubblegum and cotton candy, this lightly carbonated yet refreshing confection will transport you back to the days of bobby socks and soap-box racers.

Dang! That's good!

$1.99

3. Stewart's Orange Cream Soda 4pk 12oz Btl

Who doesn’t love a creamsicle on a hot day? Now you can enjoy one in liquid form with Stewart’s Orange Cream soda. Vanilla and orange balance the sweet with the tart for a thirst-quenching beverage. Stewart’s is made the old-fashioned way — smooth, creamy, and caffeine-free.

$5.99

4. Boylan Cream Soda 12oz Bottle

Boylan has been brewing refreshing beverages since 1891. Starting with birch beer, they have since expanded their line of handcrafted sodas to include their delicious take on cream soda. Traditional vanilla extract combines with coffee and chocolate flavors to create a uniquely refreshing take on the classic.

$1.99

5. Jones Cream Soda 4pk 12oz Btl

The candyfloss flavored cream soda that we loved as kids grew up! Jones Cream Soda combines the cotton candy taste you remember with pure cane sugar for a clear, crisp soda experience that you’ll love. Cool off and enjoy a trip down memory lane with Jones Soda.

$6.99

6. Rocky Mountain Soda Orange Cream Soda 12oz Btl

Rocky Mountain Sodas makes the highest quality, most unique sodas in the world, and their Orange Cream Soda is no different. Lusciously sweet orange flavor combines with just the right amount of velvety cream to create the perfect summertime refreshment. 

Custom crafted in small batches and bottled by hand the day it’s made, Rocky Mountain Sodas are all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan. Kick back and enjoy the love in every sip you take! 

$2.19

7. Dr. Brown Diet Cream Soda. 6pk 12oz Can

A staple of New York City’s delicatessens, Dr. Brown’s sodas are found throughout the United States. This low-calorie version of the kosher favorite has all the fantastic vanilla flavor of the original to enjoy, imported from the old neighborhood. Combine it with black cherry juice and vodka for a refreshing grown-up beverage that’ll knock your socks off.

$5.99

8. Frostie Blue Cream Soda 12oz

Brewing root beer and soda in an abandoned jailhouse may not be everyone’s idea of an auspicious beginning, but you can’t argue with Frostie’s success. In business since 1939, Frostie’s has been churning out this bright blue beverage that has been a hit with cream soda lovers everywhere. Made with pure cane sugar, this soda is fabulous on its own, as a vanilla ice cream float, or used as a creative cocktail mixer.  

You’ll love its fizzy, velvety sweet taste.

$1.79

9. Sprecher Craft Soda Cream 16oz Btl

Take a sip back in time with this artful regional cream soda. Sprecher’s brewing process takes place in a gas-fired kettle that delicately caramelizes raw Wisconsin honey and pure vanilla into a richly flavored vanilla cream soda with an exceptionally velvety mouthfeel.

$1.99

10. Dad's Creamy Red Soda12oz

You’re probably familiar with Dad’s classic root beer, but have you tried their Red Cream Soda? This old-fashioned soft drink combines the sweet flavor of bubble gum with the refreshing taste of cherry cream, all caffeine-free. Thanks to reduced carbonation, Dad’s Cream Soda is smoother and creamier, with less fizz. It’s the perfect soda to bring back summertime childhood memories and create new ones.

Pop the cap on Dad’s Old Fashioned Red Cream Soda today.

$1.99

11. Hank's Vanilla Cream 12oz Bottle

What’s rich, creamy, and slightly carbonated? Your next bottle of Hank's Vanilla Cream. A light and easy drink for vanilla lovers everywhere. This gourmet soft drink is bound to become a favorite of soda connoisseurs everywhere.

$1.99

12. Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Cream 6pk 12oz Can

Henry Weinhard began brewing root beer and other sodas during Prohibition. Every soda’s hand-finished with the freshest ingredients. Their vanilla cream is blended from only the highest quality, all-natural honey and vanilla to give it a superior cream soda flavor.

$9.99

13. Swamp Pop Praline Cream Soda 12oz

Looking for something out of the ordinary? Swamp Pop Praline Cream Soda combines the warm brown sugar, toasty butter, and pecan flavors of the creole confection, pralines, with a traditional Cream Soda recipe. Swamp Pop sodas are preservative and caffeine-free and use only 100% Pure Louisiana Cane Sugar for an authentic down-home taste.

$1.99

14. Americana HNY Cream Soda 12 OZB (12 OZ)

This handcrafted retro-style soda hearkens back to a simpler time of rockabilly music and soda fountains. Americana Honey Vanilla Cream combines creamy vanilla flavor and pure cane sugar with locally harvested honey to craft a beverage with a refreshing velvety finish. The cherry on top is the vintage long neck bottles, a throwback to yesteryear that preserves both freshness and flavor.  

$1.69

15. Thomas Kemper Cream Soda 4pk 12oz Can

This isn’t your typical soda. Naturally caffeine-free and made from pure Northwest honey, Thomas Kemper cream soda is a mouth-watering traditional treat. Every batch is handcrafted from scratch using natural flavors and ingredients for a truly indulgent beverage. Heads up, this soda has pop. 

$6.49

16. Dr Pepper & Cream Soda Zero Sugar 20oz Btl

What do you do if you’re craving cream soda and your only option is the local convenience store? Dr Pepper has you covered! This brand-new duet combines the beloved Dr Pepper brand soda with the richness of cream soda for a taste sensation like no other. Indulge often with a zero sugar option that blends your two favorites sodas into a classic combination.

$2.49

FAQ

Is cream soda still made?

Cream soda continues to be produced by both large mass-market manufacturers and small handcraft brewers. Though it has a lower national profile than big-name sodas like Coca-Cola or Mountain Dew, you can always find a few varieties on your local supermarket shelves.

The market is steadily growing among audiences looking for more boutique soda brands. Boylan Cream Soda and Jones Cream Soda have found their audience in this space and are pretty popular. In addition, there’s a niche for brands that craft products for a conscientious and discerning audience. They incorporate dietary concerns in their products and create sodas using all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free ingredients that are kosher and vegan. Rocky Mountain Soda Orange Cream Soda is your go-to if these are your criteria.

Cream soda isn’t going anywhere. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a brand of cream soda out there that’ll quench your thirst and tickle your taste buds.

What is the most popular cream soda?

The best cream sodas come in all shapes, forms, and flavors. Some top brands’ recipes have been around for years, while others are new variations of old favorites. What’s agreed upon is the ‘cream’ aspect of cream soda. You’re forgiven for thinking this might come from adding dairy products to the recipe, and the original version did include milk. But vegans rejoice! Modern cream sodas derive their signature velvety mouthfeel from the addition of vanilla, not dairy. Adding vanilla to any flavor triggers our taste buds to identify it as “creamy” without any textural changes to the recipe or the addition of milk products.

Two of the most popular cream soda brands incorporating the traditional vanilla flavor include Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Cream and Boylan Cream Soda. Some craft producers have experimented with adding honey to the mix for a truly distinctive taste, but the variations don’t end there. Manufacturers have been creating additional cream soda flavor variations for years. The most popular include the famous orange version, black cherry, or the bubblegum and cotton candy combination that most associate with cream sodas from childhood.

Another popular and fun cream soda variation is color. Generally, coloring varies from clear, to a light amber hue, to caramel. But that can be boring, particularly if you’re making an ice-cream float using vanilla ice cream. For a greater visual impact, try using Frostie’s Blue Cream Soda in an unorthodox electric blue, shocking orange with Stewart's Orange Cream Soda, or opt for the more traditional fuschia color with Dang! Red Cream Soda. These are bound to brighten your day with a dash of vibrant color.

Where is cream soda most popular?

Like micro-brews, many popular and nationally available cream soda brands started out as local favorites. And there are so many different flavors and brands to choose from, we could never choose just one.

Regional craft brewers often incorporate locally sourced ingredients into their recipes to give them a unique hometown taste. If you love Wisconsin honey, give Sprecher Craft Soda Cream a try. Looking for a cream soda with a southern twist? Swamp Pop Praline Cream Soda from Louisianna incorporates the traditional creole flavors of brown sugar and pecans into their brew. 

Finding a new favorite cream soda can be a geographic and a taste adventure. Grab your traveling shoes and have fun!