Dayton’s new craft soda brand debuts

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

From the minds of some of Dayton’s most creative foodies and entrepreneurs comes a brand new, fizzy business.

Rock, Paper, Soda is a brand new craft soda brand that will launch Thursday, Nov. 18, at a pop-up food event at Yellow Cab Tavern from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Founders of the new soda brand are Brian Johnson, The Pizza Bandit partner, Shane Anderson, Ghostlight Coffee founder and owner, and James Burton, The Pizza Bandit chef and partner.

The founders said they’re going to start off by offering their unique soda creations at local holiday events before starting a wider distribution and collaborative campaign with local bars and restaurants.

“With the rise of interest in non-alcoholic options, we’re very excited to finally get our soda project off the ground,” said Johnson, Rock, Paper, Soda’s head of marketing and sales. “There are so many exciting and delicious ways to approach craft soda. This Thursday we’re launching our first flavor, Orange Winter Chai, a gourmet take on classic orange soda with chai spices and Juniper”

The sodas will be available at a number of pop-up events this holiday season and continuing through the end of the year. In 2022, the brand’s goal to become a reliable, non-alcoholic option for people going out to dinner or to an event will begin.

Johnson said he’s always been intrigued by chefs and bartenders who create unique flavor profiles using their expertise and artisanal ingredients. The founders of Rock, Paper, Soda say they will do the same thing with their soda brand for people striving for a non-alcoholic lifestyle or for soda fans in general.

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Johnson, Anderson and Burton will meet every week to test new flavors and experiment with small batches before releasing new Rock, Paper, Soda flavors on a regular basis. Johnson said they will also introduce seasonal flavors in addition to flavors that will become the brand’s “standards.”

The partnership between the three entrepreneurial friends just makes a lot of sense, according to Johnson.

“I have great confidence in James’ flavors (knowledge),” Johnson said. “He’s willing to experiment and try new things. Shane owns a coffee shop. His expertise in the beverage industry is one of the highest in the area.”

Thursday’s Rock, Paper, Soda pop-up at Yellow Cab Tavern, located at 700 E. 4th St. in downtown Dayton, will be joined by Kung Fu BBQ’s weekly pick-up pop-up, Ghostlight Coffee selling individual pies, and, of course, The Pizza Bandit selling pies and pizza snacks.

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