Soda is probably not the first beverage of choice around Christmas time, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you want a yuletide-inspired pop.
And this battle of the dishes not only involves two sodas you've likely never tried, they're both probably a lot older than you: Julmust versus Frostie Cherry Limeade Soda.
Julmust is a malt-flavored beverage from Sweden that's been in existence since 1912. And Frostie's practically a baby, having been introduced in 1939 (it's now owned by Leading Edge Brands in Temple, Texas). So for this battle of the Christmas sodas, we've got a domestic and an import, and both must be traditions in somebody's household.
Even if Julmust didn't say "Christmas soda" on the label, then the Santa preparing a list by candlelight would be a dead give away. Made by Gutsa Kalla, the traditional Swedish Christmas soda has the smell of cough syrup or plastic and the ink brown color of dark caramel. However, the explosion of carbonation and the intense smell were ultimately the scariest things about the drink.
Julmust has all of the properties of old-style root beer -- like the kind on tap at McCoy's -- without the sweetness. There's a bite of sassafras or chicory and the malt taste is strong. It feels like the kind of drink that could very easily have been heated and spiked at a holiday party a long time ago. If you're a beer drinker, you'll be intrigued by the taste. If you're not, you'll think it tastes like flat, unsweetened root beer.
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