More on Aspen Soda

Monday October 28, 2002 at 9:01 pm | Filed under General

Awhile back, I posted an entry about Manaza Mia apple flavored soda. In that entry I mentioned how it didn’t stack up to the now discontinued Aspen Soda that was around back in the late 70’s early 80’s. This entry has become quite popular and it’s still getting comments to this day, in fact, I just received an e-mail about it from a reader named Vincent:

“I just thought that you would like to know that I found out who made Aspen soda. If you check your site regarding Mananza Mia, you will find there are quite a few other people who have been wondering about Aspen. Pepsi Co. made Aspen soda back in 1978 as a test market flavor. I went to ( webmaster@pepsi.com ) and got the phone number to their consumer relations department. I was informed to call if I had any suggestions or comments regarding my request. Let’s see what we can do to get Aspen back again. Consumer relations dept. can be called between 9AM-6PM EST. Mon.-Fri. “

Thanks Vincent! It’d be great to see Aspen on the store shelves again! While I have found similar pop drinks (Green Apple flavored Jones soda) but none have compared to Aspen.

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52 Responses to “More on Aspen Soda”

  1. C. Murcray Says:
    January 30th, 2004 at 3:49 pm

    There is an online petition trying to bring back
    Aspen soda. I would love to see it come back. I’ve read that there was a problem with the soda that caused some medical side effects (hallucinations for one), and that was what derailed it. I don’t know if this is true, but if it is and they could correct this problem, I would love to see this soda come back.

    Here’s the link to the petition:
    http://www.petitiononline.com/aspen/petition.html

  2. georgia coody Says:
    April 9th, 2004 at 1:00 pm

    I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO

  3. Sean Says:
    June 26th, 2004 at 5:07 pm

    There is a soda currently being marketed in Utah called Apple Beer. It is probably the closest thing I’ve tasted and the best Apple soda I’ve had since Aspen was around. I’ve found it available at a supermarket called Macey’s and on tap at a restaurant called Wallabey’s. Any questions please feel free to email.
    Sean

  4. Sean Says:
    June 26th, 2004 at 5:11 pm

    The Apple Beer can be found on it’s web-site.
    http://www.applebeer.com

  5. Jeremy Says:
    September 2nd, 2007 at 7:48 pm

    I just bought a case of apple soda under the name of Manzanita Sol. I remember Aspen pretty well and believe this may be the same formula. I just checked the can and guess who makes it? Pepsi. I don’t know if it is a test run, but I found it at Albertsons. FYA

  6. Sharee Says:
    September 10th, 2007 at 10:34 pm

    Thanks for this site ! I grew up on Aspen soda & miss it truly. I will now check Albertsons’s soda Manzanita Sol.

  7. David Says:
    October 7th, 2007 at 7:57 pm

    I too found the Manzanita sol Apple Soda at Stater Bro’s in California. Its a Pepsi product and its pretty good a liitle diferent than aspen soda though….

  8. Jay Says:
    October 9th, 2007 at 4:11 pm

    I was just discussing with my wife how much I wish I could find Aspen Soda. My best friend of 28 years and I used to drink it by the case over the hot California summers. Even now, when we start telling stories of our youth we always bring up Aspen. I did a search on the net and found the petition to bring it back. I didn’t hesitate in submitting my signiture. I could use a can of Aspen right now!

  9. suzanne Says:
    October 17th, 2007 at 11:13 am

    The Manzanita Sol apple soda is not the same, it doesnt taste the same, and it doesnt look the same! It is a brown colour where as Aspen was clear. I remember buying it at the local dairy and at Clark Drugstore. There wasnt a problem with people hallucinating as much as it wasnt profitable enough. However with the beverage market the way it is now for new and intruiging flavors now is the Perct TIME to bring back Aspen Soda.

    I think it would make a perfect sparkeling appletini, or apple and vodka drink!

    There wasnt another soda like it if I think real hard I can even remember the taste, which is why I can tell ya Manzanita Sol doesnt taste anything like it!

  10. michelle Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 2:54 pm

    i remember like it was yesterday the aspen soda i was hooked i loved it so much i really would love to see it come back jones apple soda reminds me a lot of aspen soda but its stll nothing like aspen that was best soda pepsi came out with.

  11. Mike Says:
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:29 pm

    I search online for it every few years. I do miss this soda.

  12. ycmejia Says:
    November 28th, 2007 at 10:09 am

    I have wondered about Aspen for years..nice to know I am not the only one.
    On a recent trip to Mexico I tried a product produced by Coke..if I remember correctly it was called Manzana Rojo (Red Apple). It is not available in the US. However in most Hispanic grocery stores you can find Manzana Sol..it is pretty good…still not Aspen, but it will do since I seriously doubt they will ever bring it back :(

  13. Kevin Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 11:26 pm

    I really do miss Aspen. I still have an unopened six pack (evaporated sadly) in the original plastic wrap. As far as Apple Beer, there was once such a product in the sixties. I remember Ralph’s markets carried it. I wonder if it this one is coming back, or an entirely new product?

    Here’s the link for a review of apple Beer:

    http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/apple_beer/

  14. Lene' Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 9:49 am

    LOL..It is funny I see this on the web now. A year or two ago I looked on my search engine to see if I could find out anything on Aspen soda. I even made a thread about if anyone remembered it on a site I go to. For some reason I looked it up again today and am happy to see that I am not the only one that thinks it would be a hit nowadays. I was pretty bummed when they took it off the market..lol In light of all the soda flavors they market now, some that are aweful, I think they should bring Aspen back. Would love to taste it again.

  15. Lene' Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 9:57 am

    As far as side effects that the first poster mentioned. I have never had any ill effects from it. It doesn’t sound like anyone else here has either. Iy would be nice to know why they took it off the market. I always thought that it had something to do with the time period it was marketed in and that people were not ready to try something different? I dunno, but I agree with that I have always remembered the soda. Another thing I miss that they took off the market were Willy Wonkas Oompa Loompas. They were an M&M shaped candy but were much larger. It was half chocolate and half of the best peanut butter filling there was coated with a candy shell like an M&M. How come they always take the good stuff off the market?

  16. Lene' Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 10:02 am

    If I remeber right is also the first time I remember the bottles being the shape they are to this day. It was a marketing gimmiic if I remember right for Aspen the bottom of the bottle depicting an apple.

  17. MATT BROWN Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    I used to love Aspen. It was my favorite soda when it came out and one day it just disapeered. Anytime I mention it to people now, it seems no one remembers. It was very crisp and had a nice carbonated bite. I signed the petition, and would love to see it make a comebacl.

  18. Jay Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Was this soda only in California?

    I’m from LA and remember as a wee lad drinking Aspen soda. I was probably 5 or 6 the last time I had it. I do remember the green can, the diagonal ‘ASPEN’ in white and a red apple towards the bottom.

    The taste WAS crisp…the carbonation wasn’t as bubbly as Pesi, but rather a sharp “bite” mucj like an ice cold Coke (in a can, not a bottle).

    So not that I’ve grown up and can spend my money on whatever I want, I decided to see if I could order a case of Aspen. Unfortunately, the first time i search I find all these blogs and sites telling me the sad news that my childhood cornerstone is barely a fond memory for most.

    I’m not sure if online petitions actually do anything, but I think I’ll sign it just in case.

    Ahhh….ASPEN!

  19. ken Says:
    March 30th, 2008 at 1:25 am

    we had it on the East coast also, I use to get it at Gino’s (it was a one off of KFC)

  20. Randy Says:
    April 17th, 2008 at 7:53 am

    I truly miss Aspen soda, it was the best apple soda ever. I worked at drive thru dairy as a teen and we stocked this soda. We figured out just how much time in the freezer it took to get this pop to the state where it was still a sloshing liquid before your popped the bottle cap, but once you opened it the top 1/4 of the contents turned to slush. So refreshing on those hot summer days in Compton Ca. They really need to bring this one back.

  21. Melissa Says:
    May 15th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    I drive my husband nuts whenever we pass by a place that has “old” sodas! I always look for the Aspen, it’s never there, and I always say, I wish they had Aspen! Maybe we need to just start writing to Pepsi every month about it. They might get tired of listening to us and just put it out! I tell you what, if they ever did, I would buy as many cases as I could afford!

  22. Keith Says:
    May 18th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    I FOUND AN EQUAL!!!!!!!!

    The color is wrong (light green) but it’s taste is RIGHT ON. The Manzanita Sol apple soda is more a carbonated apple juice flavor, what made Aspen so great was that it was more a sour apple candy flavor. Like the Jolly Rancher candy. So ASPEN fans I give you MANZANA VERDE MUNDET apple soda
    Manzana Verde (Green Apple soda) made in Mexcio distributed by Tipp Distributors I.P. in El Paso Tx the manufacture website is http://www.sidralmundet.com.
    I was on my 3rd bottle when I remember all of you here lamenting our lost flavor of youth!!! It’s fantastic!!!

  23. julie Says:
    August 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    i hope they bring aspen back i miss it

  24. phil Says:
    August 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! BRING ASPEN BACK!
    IT WAS MY TIME FRAV!
    BRING IT BACK AND MAKE IT TASTE THE SAME, AND I WOULD BUY IT BY THE CASE! IT WILL BRING BACK A TIME
    WHEN I LIVED IN HOLLYWOOD, CA.
    DID I MENTION PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. Liz Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    Aspen was my favorite soda!! I have wanted to have it back for years!! I to got excited when Pepsi made the new apple soda, but it does not taste a thing like Aspen.

  26. Shannan Says:
    September 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    I am also a huge fan of Aspen soda. I have recently found IZZY Sparkling Apple Juice. It was a good alternative although not quite to Aspen’s standards

  27. bob Says:
    September 13th, 2008 at 10:15 am

    I loved Aspen. I I miss it so much that even though it’s been gone for over 25 years, it still comes to mind at least once a month.

    It paired very well with the short-live Sour Cream and Onion Doritos.
    Now I’m stick with the Manzanita Sol drink, which does not compare, but gets the job done. all of my nieces and nephews are into Manzanita Sol. I buy a case every other week. But if Aspen were brought back, I would immediatly fill my garage with it. NO KIDDING.

  28. john Says:
    October 15th, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    Funny coming across this blog. I was a principal actor in a couple of the Aspen drink commercials in 1980 that were filmed at Aspen Highlands and Ashcroft. They actually had to hold up shooting for a while because my skin turned blue from the near 0 temps. My kids wanted to see them, if anyone by remote chance has a line on the commercials, let me know. Good luck with bringing Aspen back.

  29. Lori Says:
    November 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am

    I remember when they started to take Aspen off the shelves, I would drive farther and farther away finding little liquor stores that still carried the soda. I would stock up and buy all that they had. Then it was gone forever. Jones soda is close but it is not the original Aspen soda. Please bring back Aspen soda.

  30. mike Says:
    December 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    I recently found a picture of myself in the back of my grandfathers pickup truck chuggin a big can of aspen. My god I loved that stuff. BRING IT BACK!!!

  31. Ben Says:
    January 10th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    I was a new immigrant to the US (Calif.) in the early seventies and sampled every flavor of drink I had a chance taste. Aspen became my favorite. I have since moved to the mid-West but have thought about Aspen occasionally. I was just scanning images that I took at the Long Beach Grand Prix race and there in one image I noticed a bright green can of Aspen which led me to do a web search for the drink. Glad to see that I’m not the only one who misses it.

  32. Kim McCollum Says:
    February 10th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    I loved Aspen. My friends and I would always go to our local market before heading to the beach. We’d buy a sandwich, a bag of Cheese Dorritos (new at the time) and Aspen soda! It was the perfect combination! It was so refreshing and I would love to see it come back. I’m usually a “Coke” girl, I love Diet Coke with Lime. But I might just trade that in for Aspen :)

  33. Lanny Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    My sister and I LOVED Aspen soda. Please bring it back. And please don’t change a thing.

  34. Jeff Says:
    March 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 am

    I went to Galco’s today in Los Angeles where they sell old sodas. I asked about Aspen and they confirmed it was a Pepsi owned drink whos formula has never been released but my curiousity didn’t end there. I remember getting Aspen from Carls Jr for quite a few years around 1980 or so. I happen to work for a subsidiary of PEPSICO so I will start an inquiry and see what I can find. I miss it too.

  35. woodpenny Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 1:24 am

    I absolutely LOVED Aspen. I remember guzzling it at work all night long on my first job back in the late 70s/early 80s. I had to have a sixpack on hand at all times. I was really unhappy when they stopped making it. I would really like to see them bring it back. It couldn’t have been just a test flavor, it was around too long.

  36. woodpenny Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 1:25 am

    I absolutely LOVED Aspen. I remember guzzling it at work all night long on my first job back in the late 70s/early 80s. I had to have a sixpack on hand at all times. I was really unhappy when they stopped making it. I would really like to see them bring it back. It couldn’t have been just a test flavor, it was around too long.

  37. Valerie Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

    This is a beverage that I enjoyed very much as a teen and I have told my children about. They would love to see this on the shelves so they can try it.

  38. Michelle Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    I too loved aspen and I found while in Puerto Vallerta (SP?) they had both kinds of apple pop and I believe they were made by Pepsi of Mexico. There was green apple and red apple! The green apple was to me, exactly what I remembered! I hoped I could find it here in some of the Mexican grocery stores but they only carry the red apple pop. I cannot remember if it was the same label as I saw in Mexico. I also have a cousin who works for Pepsi and every time I ask about Aspen, he tells me it will never come back. I refuse to believe… Pepsi just came out with Throwback Pepsi which is made with real sugar like it used to be and it tastes AWESOME!! I figure if that can happen, then just maybe….. fingers crossed!!!

  39. Bryan Says:
    May 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    I was probably 3, living in Arvada, CO (just outside Denver) and my older sister and I would walk up to the grocery store every day, and she would buy me a can of Aspen. Like everyone else it seems, I too, am always looking for a substitute until Pepsi decides to bring the real thing back. Before Manzanita Sol, they had an apple soda that they did exclusively for 7-11 called Frogg (I think). It wasn’t even as good as Manzanita Sol, and no where close to the delicious crispness of Aspen. Maybe if we all started calling Pepsi on a daily basis, we could persuade them to bring it back…Here’s hoping!!

  40. Von Says:
    June 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Bring Aspen back now!
    We love it!
    It’s the very best!!!

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  45. Jewel Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 am

    I to miss Aspen and not other apple soda compares to the taste. Doritos brought back the taco flavored chip you too can bring back Aspen. As you see it is well missed and needed. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BRING IT BACK.

  46. gradiaraw Says:
    July 4th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    А как на вашу рсс-ленту подписаться? что то не пойму

  47. Tina Says:
    July 15th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    I remember being a kid and they passed out 2 cans of Aspen in a plastic bag attached to our front door. I was hooked from that point on. I even asked around the neighborhood for any that people didn’t want. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago!!! Like someone else had said, I can still imagine the taste. Nothing made since can match that crisp apple taste. Jones soda apple just tastes like carbonated granny smith apples. Sooo not the same. Too bad the online petition only allows you to sign once or I’d be there daily!!! They need to bring it back!!!!!

  48. Shazam Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    Growing up in Colorado in the 1970’s, I always thought of Aspen soda as something unique to us and named after a town in the mountains. Little did I know it was so popular in the continental US! I really cannot forget the taste, oddly so many, many years later. Pepsi really would have a market for this soda as many retro items are back. I want to sit back, play some Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. kick off my Red Nike Swoosh tennis shoes, while drinking a can of Aspen!!

  49. Erika Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    I have been searching the internet for any info about Aspen soda for a few years now n I finally found that I am not the only one who misses this soda. this was my absolute favorite soda as a child and I would love to see it back on the market! The Manzana sodas on the market now are awful, nothing like Aspen soda. my grandfather always bought me this soda when I would go anywhere with him n I want to love to drink one with my granfather again n just reminise together, that would be sooo cool. so lets all contact their Consumer Relations Department and get Aspen back on the market!!!

  50. Cheryl Says:
    October 16th, 2009 at 12:53 am

    I don’t know why just now I thought of Aspen Soda!! I could not sleep and and up late at night doing work on my PC. I thought I was the only one in the world who loved that stuff!! I have never been a big soft drinker, especially since Aspen went away. I remember walking home from Jr. High up 2 VERY steep hills when I lived in Santa Clarita, Ca. On really hot days, all I could think about for the journey home was to stop by the dairy at the bottom of the hill to get 1-2 cans of Aspen. You are all so right! NOTHING has ever compaired to it!! It is hard to describe it to someone when you tell them it was “apple” flavored since that sound like sparkling Martinelli’s. I don’t know how many times I have told my kids about this stuff, trying to share with them the flavor and how good it tasted. They just look at me like I am nuts. I have NEVER-EVER been able to drink 3-4 cans of soda in a row EVER in my life EXCEPT for this stuff!! It was more thirst quenching than Gatoraid, wouldn’t you say? I can’t understand if Pepsi does not want to resell it again, why not sell ME the formula Pepsi Co!! Or give it to me and I will give you a cut of the profits! After all, Coke and Pepsi have both exhausted the “cola” with lemon, lime, zero, free, and now with nutrients. Why not go WAY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX and bring back an old favorite. You won’t be disappointed!!! I too bought as many 6-packs that my allowance could buy when I heard they were discontinuing it. They were like gold. I tried to save them as long as I could…..Funny….the reason why I think about it so much, as I am sure others do too, is because I can REMEMBER THE EXACT TASTE of it like it were yesterday as if my brain can even recall the smell of it! So crisp! Funny….I can’t remember any other food item that I have not tasted since childhood that vividly.
    Bring it back and you have a GUARANTEED BUYER FOR LIFE. But DON’T CHANGE IT!!
    WE REMEMBER THE TASTE, THE LOOK, EVERYTHING!
    NO ASPERTAME!!

  51. pix Says:
    October 16th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    I just went on my first trip to Yosemite and got a chance to see a few groves of beautiful aspens… that’s when I started thinking about Aspen soda and wishing I had a can of it. I’m from socal, and it was definitely my favorite soda in the 80’s when I was a kid.

    I see I’m not the only one missing it. I’m sad it’s nowhere to be found. If anyone has a picture of an Aspen can, I’d love to see it.

  52. Ronnee Says:
    January 3rd, 2010 at 2:05 am

    I just want to say that i have always wonderd what had happened to ASPEN. Aspen was the best soda the whole time it was out. .my brothers and i use to walk up to the store every saturday morning and buy aspen soda and then one day it was gone. To this day we talk about about aspen wanting and wondering when it will come back. Pepsi please bring aspen back, ylou think you make money now with pepsi and the other pepsi products, bring aspen back and sit back and watch. Aspen will be the biggest selling soda out there. I dont doubt that at all. Everytime i look at Manzanita i wish it was aspen and i always say it is no where close to being as good as aspen was and my brothers agree. Aspen was the best apple soda there was and ever will be. So please pepsi bring it back. I was 10 years old then and now im 41 and i have never forgotten about aspen never and i would like to taste it again.

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