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dirty soda
dirty soda
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Lifestyle

All The Dirty Soda Shop Chains You Need To Try

Dirty soda is a booze-free drink made with soda, cream, syrups, and juices popularized in Utah. 

Dirty sodas have grown in popularity over the last few years, gaining attention all over social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. They have roots in Mormon culture, particularly in Utah where there is a large Mormon population, because members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints typically do not drink alcohol or coffee. So instead, they drink fancy soda. With the popularity of shows like The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and other large creators who share their soda orders, chain shops like Swig and Sodalicious that offer custom versions of dirty soda have become a hotspot. Different soda shop chains have popped up all over the country, mostly in states like Utah, Arizona, and Tennessee, but they’re gaining popularity elsewhere as well, which is a pattern that will no-doubt continue. 

There’s plenty of soda shop chains taking over the drink market in the country, but what makes each of the big-name brands unique? Here are all the dirty soda shop chains you need to check out.

Swig

Swig pulls out all the stops for the perfect soda crafting experience. With a seemingly endless selection on their menu — countless flavors, rotating seasonal options, and a make-your-own option, you can get exactly what you like when you stop at a Swig. 

You can get a Reviver, made with Reviver Energy and your choice of add-ins — like the Weekender, which is made with Reviver Energy, Sprite, strawberry, coconut, and coconut cream. The chain offers Refreshers too, made using water, combining it with flavors, fruits and creams. You can even get hot chocolate or frozen hot chocolate, cookies, and pretzel bites at swig. 

Swig was founded by Nicole Tanner from St. George, Utah in 2010. According to the New York Times, Swig has a plan to open up up to 15 new stores every year, and Tanner hopes to have 200 stores open in two to three years (2026 or 2027). There are 62 stores open now across 7 states, with contracts for 500 stores. The company is using Starbucks as an example, which increased in popularity at lightning speed between 1987 and 1992.

Swig has absolutely boomed over social media lately because of Hulu’s hit reality show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, who stop at Swig for their daily pick-me-up. Because of these wives, now everyone wants to try the sweet taste of a dirty soda!

Find a location near you here

Sodalicious

Partnered with Pepsi, Sodalicious is another staple in the dirty soda game. Founded by Annie and Kevin Auernig in 2013, the company opened up in Utah and now has additional locations in other states. Sodalicious has grown to 25 locations and is still expanding. 

Sodalicious has alternating seasonal specials and collaborations.This past August they had the Sugar Cookie (Taylor’s Version), a classic sugar cookie with lavender frosting and glitter sprinkles! Their selection of cookies will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!

This soda shop has a wide selection of flavors like english toffee, lavender, coffee, or lime, as well as various purees you can add to a drink, like mango, peach, or pina colada. And it doesn’t stop at soda — you can use anything as a base: energy drinks like Monster or Redbull, sparkling or still water, sweet iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch, Code Red, and Orange Bang. 

Find a location here

Fiiz

With around 60 locations from Washington to Ohio, Fiiz wants  “everyone to do Fiiz their way.” There are thousands of different drink combinations at Fiiz to suit every customer’s taste. You can choose a base of a soda, Red Bull or Monster energy drink, sparkling or still water, lemonade, Powerade, or Italian soda.

Fiiz has a sour flavoring that just adds a bit of a kick to your classic drink — the Sour Head, for example, is made with Mountain Dew, sour syrup, and any choice of one flavoring. The chain offers frozen drinks and lemonades, and even has a separate menu just for kids. Don’t want a cold drink? Fiiz offers a wide selection of hot chocolates, too. You can even grab a coffee at Fiiz with a wide selection of customizations, hot or iced. 

This Halloween, you can pick up a Pumpkin King, made with Orange Fanta, pineapple flavoring, whipped cream, and halloween sprinkles. 

Find a location here.

Soda Shops In New England

As a lifelong Bostonian, I wondered if I could grab a dirty soda somewhere in my area. Soda shops are a cornerstone for the Midwest, but has the influence of the internet phenomenon made its way all the way to the East Coast? While big soda shop brands are slowly making their way up to the Northeast, the business hasn’t quite broken through yet. 

Still, there are some places hopping on the trends, some offering a classic “soda shop” style feel and taste, with some others more akin to the dirty soda from a shop in Utah. 

Here are some locations to get your soda fix if you’re in New England: 

Bittersweet Newbury, Boston, MA 

Dow’s Soda Fountain, Lowell, MA

Cool Sips, Rockefeller, NewYork 

A&C Soda Shop, Portland, ME 

Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, VT

Emrey’s, Hartford, CT

Meg Carey is a writer for Spoon University’s National Writers Program, covering all things food-related with a particular interest in coffee and all coffee-adjacent beverages (especially matcha!). They are currently studying creative writing with a minor in publishing at Emerson College. Meg has a serious passion for finding the best vegetarian and vegan eats in the area, and they are always excited to share those finds with the world. Beyond Spoon University, Meg also works as the Copyeditor for Concrete Magazine, the Design Manager for Wilde Press, and this past spring semester, they were Head Designer for Black Swan, another Emerson publication. They are currently interning at Campus Clipper, and have interned with Publishing Solutions Group in the past. Their works of fiction and poetry have been featured in Generic Magazine, 365tomorrows, and The Underground Literary Magazine. Meg can usually be found writing in a cafe (their substack is https://substack.com/@megcarey), hanging out with their cat (her name is Bunny!), or working out (probably either listening to an audiobook or to Britney Spears). They love reading sci-fi, horror, and romance (bonus points if it’s all three), as well as poetry in their spare time.