Jelly Belly

This house is no stranger to Jelly Belly jelly beans.

So when I got a text from my daughter a couple months ago asking if I wanted her to pick up these three Jelly Belly sparkling waters I said, "Sure!"  The Jelly Belly brand is known to be very flavorful, but I have to mention she found these at one of those stores where everything's $1. 

These are "sparkling waters," which a lot of people consider bland and tasteless.  The three flavors here are orange sherbet, very cherry, and watermelon.  The initial taste of each one didn't disappoint... much.  I could definitely tell what each flavor was, but it didn't last long and then turned into slightly-flavored water.  But I did drink them all.

And if you want to learn more about the Jelly Belly brand, I recommend a 2010 documentary called "Candyman" that explores the history of Jelly Belly.  It prominently features David Klein, the man who invented them.

Paid in Yerba Mate

While lending a hand at the local food pantry yesterday, something caught my eye:

It was a stack of cans.  I noticed two things about them: 1) They were all the same  2) It was a can I didn't have in my collection.  So as payment for my assistance, I took a can home with me.

I was torn.  I really like strawberry, but I don't really like pomegranate.  So this was going to be a toss-up.  But it didn't really matter since I was only interested in the can itself, not the drink inside.

And if you want to know a little more about this drink, here's the text on the back of the can.  After reading it I was even less enthused than before about trying the beverage.

And to leave things on a cliffhanger, I still haven't tried it.  It sits in my pantry waiting to be bottom-opened and sampled.  And if I take a couple drinks and realize this stuff is delicious, I know where to get more of it.  See picture #1.

I Got the Right One, Baby

Earlier this year someone I know was at a huge flea market and sent a picture of a Pepsi can featuring Ray Charles.  I had never seen one before, so I knew I didn't have it.  They didn't say how much it cost, in fact, that was the last I heard from them that day.

A few days later, I was at their house and they handed me the can.

This was a limited edition set of 3 cans Pepsi released in 2018.  The other two cans featured Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

Doing a quick search on this blog revealed a post I made in June of 2018.  What do you know?  I had the other two cans in the set all along!  I just didn't have Ray Charles.

So now my set is complete.  Accidentally.  I was afraid to ask how much they paid for the can, I was going to pay them back.  They said it was only $2 and it was their treat.  How neat.

Vanilla Sky

There was a cloudy, dreary sky this evening.  But the silver lining is that I got a new can for my collection.

Not the best pic, but it shows the Nitro Pepsi can of Vanilla Draft Cola.  I posted about Nitro Pepsi just last month, and this is my second Nitro flavor.

My daughter said these Nitro sodas are real good, real smooth.  Until I try one myself, I'll have to take her word for it.  And her used cans.

Bang Dew

After starting a new job last year, it took me this long to finally make this fantastic discovery:

I've mentioned in a few posts that I've received cans from some of my new co-workers, but it isn't widely known yet at work that I have a collection of trash aluminum cans in my basement and garage.

But this recycle bin was a great find.  And inside I was able to find 5 cans to clean up and bring home.

Obviously someone needs help with their energy level.  But these four bang energy drink cans and Baja Blast Mtn Dew can are now in my collection where they can be appreciated.

New weekly reminder: check the trash recycle bin for treasure.

H A P P Y   E A S T E R

Casey's

In this part of the country, there's a Casey's in almost every town.  So I shouldn't have been surprised to find out they have their own brand of beverage.

Casey's is a convenience store.  I never go inside, I just "pay at the pump" when I get gas there.  That's why I wasn't aware of this brand of drink.

But someone I know must have needed a pick-me-up one morning and bought this Mocha-flavored coffee energy drink there.  They saved the can for me.  And now I wonder what other flavors of coffee energy and other Casey's-branded beverages in general they offer.

I suppose I could just walk into one of the stores and see for myself what cans they have, but "ain't nobody got time for that."  Especially me.  Plus, that would take me out of my routine of: 1-stop, 2-refuel, and 3-go.

cW4k

cW4k

Canned Water for Kids

cannedwaterforkids.org

It was almost 3 years ago I posted about getting a can of water at a parade.  A couple of weeks ago I found the same design on an aluminum bottle, so I grabbed it for my collection.

After all, water isn't just for kids any more...

Nitro Pepsi

I had never heard of Nitro Pepsi until a friend sent a pic of his can and asked if I needed it for my collection.  Yep!

The can says it's a draft cola that has smaller bubbles because it's nitrogen-infused, creating a smoother taste than regular carbonated soda.

In fact, the back of the can shows instructions on how to prepare this smooth, creamy, easy to drink beverage:

1. Chill can
2. Pour hard
3. Admire & enjoy

I think the step that's often skipped is the "Admire" step.  But I wasn't there when this can was poured, so I have yet to admire one.

Is it a gimmick or is it the canned soft drink of the future?  Only time will tell...

Thrashed Apple

 I recently decided to start eating an apple a day again.  

So it's funny that someone gave me a Thrashed Apple Mtn Dew can.  Side note: this isn't the kind of "apple a day" I meant.

But an apple flavored soda?  Not real common, but I was told tastes really good.

This can portrays an apple tree with, assumedly, one of its offspring performing as some crazy rock band.  The tree is thrashing on the guitar while the angry green apple tears up the drums.

I guess it's true.  An apple (Mtn Dew) a day keeps the doctor (pepper) away.

Monster from Down Under

 Yesterday someone gave me this new Monster Energy Drink can.

The flavor is called Aussie Lemonade.  The can is decorated with various sea life images.

And it's part of the Monster Juice line.  I asked the person what was different about this lemonade flavor for it to be called "Aussie" lemonade and they said it wasn't quite as tart or lemony as regular lemonade.

With a warmer week predicted for my area and being given this summery-looking can I think I'm about ready to say goodbye to winter.  My sister just had an inground pool built so I can't wait to invite myself over whenever I feel like swimming.

Spark

 Another new Dew can.  This one is called Spark.

It's a raspberry lemonade flavor.  Sounds so good.

And if this artwork is any indication, it also makes your car look meaner.

Keep the new cans coming, Mtn Dew...

Green Pepper

I was at an event recently and noticed one of the people I was with drinking from a dark green can.  What an odd color for a soda can.

It's the new Cherry Dr Pepper can design.  "Wow, I want that!" I said.  They gave the empty can to me when they were done, but where we were and with all that was going on I wasn't able to tote an empty soda can with me all evening.  But they had more at home.

So this weekend I received a full can from them.  After bottom-opening the can and having my son drink the soda, the can is mine.

Wouldn't you like to be have a green pepper can too?

Me and My RC

 The title says it all.

I got this can from my son, so technically it should be "Me and His RC."

Valentine's Day Crush

 Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and it's true... I have a new Crush...

I saw someone at work drinking one of these a couple weeks ago.  I had no idea Crush had a new can design.  So after a lengthy explanation of my can collecting hobby, I was able to score a can for myself from them.

So what does Valentine's Day have to do with this soda?  Nothing, unless you really love Orange Crush.

Harley-Davidson Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about taking some old beer cans to a collector at work.  It was during the search in my garage for those cans that I also found this Harley-Davidson beer can.

There is another person I work with who rides a Harley and has a collection of Harley-Davidson memorabilia and collectibles.  I figured they didn't have a beer can, so I took it to them and they loved it!!

Collecting isn't just about receiving things to grow your own collection, it's also about giving to help others' collections grow.  It's really fun when it's a community effort.

[And now I step down from my soapbox to prepare next week's post...]

A New Big K

 One of my new cans from the guys at work:

Sure, I have a lot of Big K cans.  But this caffeine free diet cola was a can design I didn't have yet.  And now I do.

One thing about leaving my previous job was losing access to new soda cans because they provided drinks for the employees.  But whether a company provides the drinks or not, workers will drink soda.  And that means there will always be a chance of finding a new can...

Out with the Old

A few weeks ago a couple people at work found out I have a can collection.  Since then, they've both contributed cans I didn't have.  And in return, I was able to help one of them with their collection.  But first, a little history...

Years ago I decided not to collect beer cans, mostly because there are even more beer cans than soda cans and I had to draw the line somewhere.  So when I answered a Craigslist ad for 800+ cans, most of them were soda cans but there were some beer cans included.  The soda cans were added to my collection and the beer cans were put in boxes in the garage.

So when one of the guys at work told me he collects Budweiser things, I told him I had some cans for him.

He specifically collects the Budweiser and Busch brands, so I went through my beer can boxes and took him over a dozen older cans for his collection.

You never know when or where you'll meet another collector.  And by giving him some cans I didn't even want, he's going to keep an eye out for special edition or novelty cans I may not have.  

Hey Franklin Covey, THAT'S how you network!

Happy Anniversary

 Someone gave a can to me last week I hadn't seen yet...

It's actually from 2021 and marks Pepsi's 85th anniversary.  Started in 1936, Pepsi has been one of the Big Boys in the soda industry for decades.  

And unless it gets added to the list of people and things that have recently been cancelled, Pepsi should be here for decades to come.  As the can says, "85 years and counting."

Too Soon?

 

With A Great Can Collection Comes Great Responsibility

 It's true.  

What's the hot thing right now?  Spider-Man No Way Home.  

My son saw these limited edition G FUEL energy drink cans and had to buy them.  Spider-Man has been his favorite in the Marvel universe for a while.  And of course we both loved the new movie, which is what these cans are based on.

They are both Radioactive Lemonade flavored, so any day now my son should start showing some signs of superhero powers.  But it's ok if he doesn't.

Happy New Year!