Subscribe now

Surge Gets Surprising Reception From Panel

Rick Bonino Food Editor

We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we served the old fogies on our food panel some Surge, Coca-Cola’s new, high-caffeine Mountain Dew imitator that’s targeted at teens and young adults.

To our surprise, they liked it pretty well - although opinions were somewhat mixed among our junior members.

“Addicting, makes you want to gulp it all down,” said Christie Coleman, our since-departed teen representative, who guzzled several six-packs of the stuff with friends at her going-away party.

But Helen Span, our resident Gen-Xer, wrote: “I loved this when I first tried it, then bought a few cases. Now I’m really tired of it.”

Surge Citrus Soda

Price: $1.09 for 1 liter.

Nutrition: 120 calories (no fat); 25 milligrams sodium in 8 ounces.

Taste: ****

Value: ***

Comments: “Not too sweet, a bit zippy - good, clean taste.” - Karen Buck

“Nice flavor, but I will get my caffeine from coffee.” - Bob Bates

, DataTimes MEMO: Products sampled by The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel are prepared according to package directions. Panelists are not aware of a product’s brand name or price until after they have tasted it. Products are rated from one to five stars for taste and for value, based on quality compared to price.

Products sampled by The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel are prepared according to package directions. Panelists are not aware of a product’s brand name or price until after they have tasted it. Products are rated from one to five stars for taste and for value, based on quality compared to price.