Update: July 16, 2020
Islla Street Brewing Company recently announced that the name for "Big Rojo Beer" has changed to Wild Rojo due to "lawyer things"."It's the SAME recipe made with THAT soda," Islla Street Brewing wrote online. The brewery hosted a pre-order yesterday and plans on hosting one every week.
The original article continues below:
Ask a Texan what their favorite soda is and the answer is usually Dr Pepper or Big Red Soda. Both created in Texas, the two sodas are a big part of Texas culture. Whataburger sells limited time Dr Pepper milkshakes, Krispy Kreme sells limited-edition Big Red doughnuts. So it was a matter of time before a Texas brewery started making a Big Red flavored beer named Big Rojo Beer.
Texas Brewery Makes Big Rojo Beer
According to My San Antonio, Islla Street Brewing Company decided to try something unusual and add actual Big Red syrup to a batch of beer. Described as a "subtlety tart Berliner body finished with REAL Big Red syrup for the iconic sweet smooth finish of the soda that was made for Texas," the new beer is the perfect mix between the delicious taste of beer and Big Red Soda.
The craft beer's first batch was initially released to a limited group, some of which got the chance to take home the beer for free via an online contest on their Instagram page. A few lucky drinkers also got the chance to taste the beer at Big Hops on Bitters before Gov. Greg Abbott closed the bars on Friday due to the pandemic. The bar had planned to host a barbacoa and Big Red event before they were shut down.
Thankfully a full-scale release of the beer is set to launch in July.
What is Big Red Soda?
Created in 1937 in Waco, Texas by Grover C. Thomsen and R.H. Roark, the red cream soda was originally called Sun Tang Red Cream Soda. While many think the flavor is bubble gum, it is actually a mixture of orange and lemon mixed with vanilla. Each year San Antonio hosts The Barbacoa & Big Red Festival to showcase two Texas specialties. This year due to rising covid-19 cases, the festival was canceled.