Boom Chugga Lugga Cherry Root Bear

One thing I love about visiting different grocery stores is discovering new products I have never seen before. I imagine it's the same feeling archaeologists get when they discover a new find or when a movie pirate discovers buried treasure. I discovered a new find on my own yesterday, while visiting Westborn Market in Berkeley, MI. This market has a section completely dedicated to Michigan made products - it's pretty cool! One of those products was a variety of cherry sodas distributed by the Cherry Republic and made by Northwoods Sodas. The sodas have the name "Boom Chugga Lugga" proceeding the flavor on the label.

They had several choices, so it was hard to narrow down a single selection. I decided to try their Cherry Root Bear. Not thats not a typo, I did mean to write bear there. This root beer contains cherry juice from cherries harvested in Michigan. It has been sweetened with cane sugar. I have never seen a cherry flavored root beer before. Everyone knows the relationship cherry has with cola. Why not with root beer as well? Does it work too?

Move over cola, your not cherry's on companion. This was very good. The cherry did work well with the root beer flavor. The cherry didn't overwhelm the root beer, it just added to it. The drink has a nice, light carbonation, that just flowed off the tongue without burning like most name brands do (I am looking at you Coke!). The cherry flavor lingers in your mouth, giving you one of the best aftertastes I have seen in a drink. I am excited about trying more from this company!

The yummy selection of soda pop at the Cherry Republic store in Ann Arbor, Michigan shortly after they opened their doors.

Where to Buy

You can purchase their sodas as well as many other products that include Michigan cherries, online from their website or visit them in stores. They have 4 Michigan locations: Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Ann Arbor.