When it comes to soda, I have some serious brand loyalty. I will opt for Coca-Cola over Pepsi every time. 7Up is far better than Sprite (and I’ll die on that hill). MUG root beer is the only brand I’m using to build a float. But as strong as my opinions are, I’m still open to exploring new drinks on the market.
Someone across the pond must have been paying attention, because a new soda has officially made its way Stateside. Spezi, a cult classic German soft drink, was first trademarked by Brauhaus Riegele in 1956. The combination of cola and orange soda became wildly popular, and for over 50 years, the name has been licensed to different brands to make versions of their own.
One of those brands, Paulaner, is best known in the U.S. for its beer. But now, it’s also the first German brand to sell Spezi to an American market. The drink, renamed to Paulaner Sunset, made its U.S. debut late last year.
It’s the same recipe that Germans know and love and is imported straight from Munich—but how does it hold up for American soda lovers? I decided to try it and find out.
First, let’s break down what’s in each can. Like with most soft drinks outside of the States, Paulaner Sunset isn’t sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. But it’s not made with cane sugar, either—instead, the soda is naturally sweetened with beet sugar.
The citrus flavor is all natural, too. Aside from water and beet sugar, the next ingredients on the label are orange juice and lemon juice. It’s a far cry from the highlighter orange sodas I grew up drinking, so I went into this experiment with high hopes.
Unsurprisingly, the citrus addition makes Sunset lighter in color than your standard cola. The fizz is also fairly gentle (good news for people who don’t like their soda too spicy).
How does it taste? Good, but I think there should be an important disclaimer: if you go into this hoping it’ll taste like American cola, prepare to be disappointed.
I’m used to cola having a deep, syrupy kind of sweetness. Paulaner Sunset, on the other hand, has hints of those same flavors but is primarily light, crisp, and refreshing. The best way I can describe it is if you ordered a Mexican Coke at a fancy restaurant and it arrived served in a glass over ice with a lemon wedge.
The citrus seems to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting to make this drink so refreshing, but the zesty flavor is mostly only noticeable at the back end. It’s unlike any cola I’ve ever had; it took a few sips, but it quickly grew on me. Even Delish Digital Director Katelyn Lunders—a devout Diet Coke drinker—kept going back for more.
Will Paulaner Sunset become your new favorite soda? If you already have strong loyalty to American cola, probably not. But I can easily see myself reaching for this as an extra-refreshing summer soda.
Paulaner Sunset is currently only available at retailers in California (plus one lone store in Utah). So if you want to try it for yourself, you can order a case online.
