McDonald's is at it again

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:00 am

I said Coke has the licence to it.

<a href="http://www2.coca-cola.com/brands/brandl ... D">SEE?</a>

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:34 am

Same deal here-- Dr Pepper is owned by the Coca Cola Company in the UK. I've even had an argument about it on IRC.

But Popcorn didn't.

Post by **Delphine** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:10 pm

chriscaffee wrote:Honestly soda is soda. I hear the shape of the glass that alcohol is served in can alter the taste, or the shape of noodle used in a pasta. It's all bullshit to me though.

To the discerning palate, there is a difference. But not everyone notices or cares. *shrug*

Popcorn said that Dr. Pepper is owned by the Coca Cola company in the UK. Not in the US. Bit of a difference, there.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:39 pm

That doesn't make any sense and it's not true. A London-based company bought Dr. Pepper in 1995. That company is not Coca-Cola.

Post by **Esrever** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 3:36 pm

I'm sure he probably meant distributed.

I think it's crazy that Dr Pepper is distributed by Coke in some countries and Pepsi in others. I guess... I guess it likes it both ways. Woo!

C-Plus is an orange pop. And even though Cherry Coke doesn't taste much like Dr Pepper, in Canada it is marketed as it's main competitor. They even redesigned the packaging so that it is the same colour and style as Dr. Pepper's. Weirdness!

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:32 pm

Popcorn wrote:I've even had an argument about it on IRC.

Heh, I remember that.
<img src="upload/files/pop7.gif">

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:12 pm

I remember that too, being the one that sparked it.

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:40 pm

Is the GHZ irc still up? I checked the other day and I couldn't get in.

Oh and whoever was arguing about cans making soda taste different, they totally do. Fountain soda is the best.

Double-S- · Post by **Double-S-** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:02 pm

Aluminum is the suck.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:30 pm

I think you're just oversensative girls. Seriously.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:59 pm

I can't tell the difference from cans to bottles to fountains.

Kishi · Post by **Kishi** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:01 pm

That's fairly bizarre.

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:21 pm

The only time I can tell the difference is when some idiot doesn't mix it right in the fountain. Yech!

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:23 pm

Some fountains you get all syrup, others you get all carbonated water.
Sometimes, you'll get half and half, and it's just nasty.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:02 pm

Eww. Ever drink expired soda? So that the syrup sits at the bottom of the thing and it tastes like you're drinking soap? That's nasty.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:50 pm

My rule of thumb for Coke and Pepsi is that Pepsi tastes great out of a can, but shit in a bottle or fountain and Coke tastes like shit in a can but great in a bottle or fountain.

I've been trying to stop drinking pop/soda completely lately, or at least limiting it to less than one a day. I used to be a junkie as far as that stuff goes.

-wyvern · Post by **-wyvern** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:17 pm

I still am a junkie, although iron bru is my carbonated heroin. Coke, pepsi, and 7up are so fizzy you can't taste them, which also tends to make you belch extravagantly in public. Of course, iron bru is like that as well, but it has the unique aftertaste that comes from eroding the metal from the inside of the can - adding a unique piquancy depending on how long you leave it open on the windowsill.

Incidentally, it also makes very nice ice cream. Seriously.

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:44 pm

...So, what would compel you to drink the equivilant of Coke with iron filllings thrown in there?

Protodude · Post by **Protodude** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:44 pm

What exactly is Iron Bru? I've never heard of it, because it's probably an English only thing.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:50 pm

What exactly is Iron Bru? I've never heard of it, because it's probably an English only thing.

Irn Bru is the most popular caffeinated soft drink in Scotland. It is made by A.G. Barr plc, of Glasgow. Barr's Irn Bru is available throughout the British Isles, Russia and Canada. Its advertising slogan used to be "Made in Scotland from Girders", although the closest one can come to substantiating this claim is the 0.02% ferric citrate listed in the ingredients (although this could also be seen as a pun on the name of the manufacturer: Barr). The US formula contains 10% of the USDA recommended daily allowance of iron in 500 ml. In Scotland, it is even more popular than Coca-Cola.

Indeed, the "other amber nectar", "Scotland's other National Drink", is so popular that it has started its own religion; the Church of Irn Bru. Only semi-serious, and with no real official doctrine apart from the one Commandment: "Thou Shalt not drink of the demon's urine 'Coca-Cola.'"

The drink was first produced in 1901 under the name Iron Brew. Other soft drink manufacturers in Scotland, such as Hays or Sangs, produce their own versions of Iron Brew and keep the original spelling, but only Barr, the major vendor, changed to the phonetic spelling in 1946 ostensibly to circumvent government regulations on product naming.

Irn Bru is most famous for its eccentric bright orange colour, making it easily recognisable even when not in its packaging. Other, similarly orange, drinks are available (often called 'Iron Brew') but none taste even similar to the original drink (its formula is a closely-guarded secret, known only by two of Barr's board members).

Due to its high caffeine content, it is widely reputed to be an excellent cure for hangovers, although dentists frequently scorn the drink as its high sugar content is widely cited as a reason for Glasgow's dismal dental health record. According to some, especially those of the 'Church of Irn Bru,' Irn Bru is also an excellent remedy for illness and ailments, either as-is or heated in a microwave. Some also claim that it reduces sensitivity to cold and improves reflexes (which may be due to the caffeine).

Diet Irn BruIt also makes an excellent mixer with vodka, which may explain why it sells more in Russia (a country in which vodka is an extremely popular drink) than Scotland (although this information may be out of date, and the fact that Russia's population is 20 times that of Scotland may just be a contributing factor). Indeed, popular British alcopop WKD was originally launched as an alcoholic version of Irn Bru; Barr's retaliated by launching a drink combining Irn Bru and Bell's whisky which proved to be somewhat unpopular, and was quickly discontinued. A later attempt came in the form of an official Irn Bru flavour in the Red Square line-up of vodka-based drinks; however this too has been discontinued.

In 1972 Barr acquired Tizer Ltd and began producing Irn Bru at this company's plant in Atherton, near Manchester. This perhaps explains the drink's extraordinary popularity in the northwest region of England, compared with other areas (where it does not sell so well, despite heavy marketing).

Aficionados are known to preferentially drink Irn Bru sold in chilled, glass bottles, which, according to them, tastes much better and stays fresh longer. Extreme connoisseurs buy glass bottles by the crate (12x 750cl glass bottles)

When McDonald's restaurants first opened for business in Glasgow they did not serve Irn Bru. This was seen as an insult by some Scots, who picketed many restaurants until McDonald's relented.

Irn Bru's advertising campaigns have always been very different to those of other commercial soft drinks. Perhaps the best-remembered are the long running series of television and billboard adverts in black-and-white, including the billboard with the grim reaper saying "Don't be scared. You'll still get Irn Bru on the other side." and the supposed-advert for a cleaning product called "Jef", which consists of a small boy in a box, who sucks Irn Bru stains out of clothes.

Irn Bru and other Barr brands including Tizer, Red Kola, Barr Cola and Limeade are still available in refundable glass bottles. The current conversion rate is 1 Full bottle (75p) for 3.75 Empty Bottles (20p a bottle).

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:05 pm

That's all well and good, but can they see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

shadowman · Post by **shadowman** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:40 pm

They dont care if kids do love that stuff.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:56 pm

I can't believe that two posters have already let this slide past:

a cleaning product called "Jef", which consists of a small boy in a box, who sucks Irn Bru stains out of clothes.

Those must be awfully popular at the Vatican. As long as they can get Irn Bru-flavored condoms, they're golden.

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:57 pm

Zeta wrote:I can't believe that two posters have already let this slide past:

tl;dr =ÃƒÅ¾

-wyvern · Post by **-wyvern** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 10:41 am

Oh, irn bru would never lower itself to such lechery. It is a HOLY drink, after all.