Exploring the Dirty Soda Trend in the Pacific Northwest

Last year, a wild reality show on Hulu called The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives put dirty soda on the map. In one episode, the cast of TikTok stars was caught guzzling massive cups of Swig’s signature drinks, such as Berry Boujee and Life’s a Peach.

Since then, the dirty soda craze has taken off, with major chains like Taco Bell, Burgerville, and Dutch Bros jumping on the bandwagon. But what exactly is dirty soda, and is it just a fancier version of Italian sodas from places like Olive Garden?

To get to the bottom of this fizzy trend, my colleague Whitney McPhie, a former member of the Mormon church, and I embarked on a tasting tour of Portland’s dirty soda scene. Neither of us were regular soda drinkers, so we were in for an interesting experience.

Our first stop was Fizz N Sip, a North Portland soda fountain that was inspired by The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The owner, Veronika, guided us towards trying the popular 1851 and Farmer’s Choice drinks, which were a mix of different sodas, fruit flavors, and creams. While the 1851 was a hit, our DIY concoction was a major miss.

Next up was Dutch Bros, where we were warned about the dangers of the sweet cream topping on their drinks. We tried the Blue Oasis Dirty Soda, which was reminiscent of classic Italian sodas and had a refreshing taste. Our broista recommended the Pink Flamingo for a more complex flavor profile.

Lastly, we swung by Burgerville to sample their BV Bevies, a twist on dirty soda with unique flavors like cherry seltzer and pomegranate cherry limeade. Unfortunately, the iced peach green tea fell short of expectations, looking appealing but lacking in taste.

Overall, the dirty soda trend is a fun and unique twist on traditional sodas, with each chain offering its own spin on the concept. Whether you’re a seasoned dirty soda pro or just curious to try something new, it’s worth exploring this bubbly trend for yourself.