Americana Honey Lime Ginger Ale

I was pleased with Americana's black cherry soda, which we reviewed at the Heart of Weirdness on Earth, the Madonna Inn. When I picked it up at Galco's, I noted that Americana also made a root beer and a ginger ale. We now have both, and tonight I'll try the ginger ale.

The bottle is interesting. The label is metallic green and gold--pretty--with a portrait at the top, over the brand name. In this case, the portrait is of Ulysses S. Grant, and is titled "Portrait of Americana". I'm not sure Ulysses S. Grant is, in and of himself, representative of all Americana, but we'll take him as a single datum in the Americana set.

The label also includes a blurb/history, which begins with the sentence "The era of soda poppery began in the early 1900s." I have several reactions to this. First, I intend to start using phrases like "the era of soda poppery" as often as possible. Second, I have seen several examples of soda poppery which claim to be from the mid-to-late 1800s, which brings the claim of soda poppery commencement as circa 1900 into question. I foresee a conflict between young-Poppery and old-Poppery Soda Creationism (along with the Carbonated Evolution faction).

The label further designates this soda as being a "Spicy Ginger Blend" with "Zesty Ginger Ale Flavor". I'm beginning to think I should be drinking this with some fried calamari rings.

The Kibbitzer-in-Chief is intrigued by the soda. "Honey lime ginger ale..." she muses. "What an interesting combination of flavors. I might even go so far as to describe it as a 'union'."

Where and when: purchased August 2009 at Galco's, Los Angeles, CA
Color: Ginger ale colored. Maybe slightly darker than some.
Scent: Like an extra-gingery ginger ale.
K-i-C: "Mmm. It smells good from here." (picks up the glass, smells) "Aah. Not so good from up close. It stabbed me in the nostril!"
Taste: Initial taste is fairly sweet, with a moderate ginger bite which comes in a few seconds after the initial taste. There's an odd feeling; I taste it mostly on the sides of my tongue. Not sure why.
K-i-C: "Very pointy."
I think I get the honeyish taste just after the ginger bite, which does linger and burn a bit. The ginger is most prominent on the soft palate and back of the throat.
The ginger is surprisingly strong, as it comes forwrd.
Punctilius says she gets something cherryish (but not really) in the taste.
K-i-C: "The honey and lime might interact to make that...in their union."
Unions seem to be on the K-i-C's mind. It must be the portrait of Grant on the bottle.
I'm still trying to figure out the unusual taste which comes between the initial sweetness and the ginger bite. It's mostly sweet, but with a little bit of earthy or savoriness to it. It's very faint. I'm not sure why my brain wants to call it "cardboardy", but it does.
Bad brain. Bad!

It's pretty nice. A pleasantly sweet, interesting ginger ale. Quite gingery. The ginger is quite strong in the middle and later tastes, and lingers long. In fact, it's still getting stronger. Punctilius is commenting that her lips have begun to burn--five minutes after she finished her cup.
The Zestiness is around me
The Zestiness of the brew!
The Zestiness is inside me
The Zestiness has control!
The Zestiness is inside me...
THE ZESTINESS HAS MY SOUL!

Quaff rating: 3.5. A nice taste.
Cough rating: 1.0. Poked the K-i-C in the nose, which was rude.