Last Updated on April 29, 2026 by Brian Kachejian
Feature Photo and design by Brian Kachejian
You don’t usually think of root beer as something healthy, but once you step into the world of probiotic and prebiotic sodas, everything changes fast. “In this first part… focused on probiotic and prebiotic root beers along with other healthier soda alternatives, my son Cole and I focused on probiotic, prebiotic, and other “better-for-you” root beers to find out which one actually tastes the best. We kept this completely real, no edits, no second takes, just honest reactions as we worked our way through some of the most talked about healthy root beer alternatives on the market.
This whole series came from a simple idea. We wanted to find the best root beer out there, not just the big-name brands, but everything we could get our hands on, from supermarkets, convenience stores, dollar stores, and even a few we ordered online. There are hundreds of root beers out there, so we broke this into rounds. This first round focuses strictly on probiotic and prebiotic sodas, those marketed as better for gut health and lower-sugar alternatives.
The winner of this round moves on to face the winners from the traditional canned root beer round and the bottled root beer round. That is where things are going to get really interesting.
The Brands We Tested
This first round included a mix of probiotic, prebiotic, and health-focused root beers that are becoming more popular as people look for alternatives to traditional soda.
Lollipop Probiotic Root Beer is a probiotic soda designed to support gut health, featuring live cultures.
Poppi Prebiotic Root Beer is one of the most widely recognized prebiotic soda brands, known for its apple cider vinegar base and low sugar content.
Nixie Root Beer is an organic and zero-sugar soda brand that focuses on clean ingredients.
Olipop Root Beer, a prebiotic soda brand that markets itself as a “new kind of soda” with plant fiber and digestive benefits.
Reed’s Root Beer, a long-established brand known for using real ginger and natural ingredients, offers a different take on traditional root beer.
Bloom Pop Root Beer Float is a prebiotic soda with a cream soda-style twist and added gut-health benefits.
Zevia Root Beer is a zero-sugar soda made with stevia and marketed as a clean alternative to traditional soft drinks.
Cove Probiotic Root Beer is a probiotic soda brand focused on fermentation and gut health support.
Taste Test Results
We scored each one from zero to ten, and right away, things went off the rails in a way we did not expect.
Lollipop Probiotic Root Beer
Brian: 0
Cole: 2
This one came out of the gate with a strong reaction, and not in a good way. The flavor leaned heavily toward something medicinal, and both of us picked up on that immediately.
Poppi Prebiotic Root Beer
Brian: 2
Cole: 2.1
This was better than the first one, but still very light and lacking the kind of flavor you expect from a root beer. It felt more like a hint of root beer rather than the real thing.
Nixie Root Beer
Brian: -5
Cole: 2.5
This one split us completely. I thought it was one of the worst sodas I have ever tasted, bitter and unpleasant. Cole found something in it that worked for him, which made this one of the biggest disagreements in the entire round.
Olipop Root Beer
Brian: -2
Cole: 2
This one had carbonation, but very little flavor. It felt flat in terms of taste even though it had a decent fizz. Another one that just did not deliver what you want from root beer.
Reed’s Root Beer
Brian: 1
Cole: 2.8
This one introduced a strong ginger element, which made it very different from the others. It was more balanced than the earlier entries, but still not something that fully worked as a root beer.
Bloom Pop Root Beer Float
Brian: 4
Cole: 3
This is where things finally started to turn. The root beer float style introduced a vanilla-caramel element that actually worked. It was smoother, more enjoyable, and the first one that felt like something you would want to keep drinking.
Zevia Root Beer
Brian: 0
Cole: 2.9
This one played tricks on your expectations because of its clear appearance. The flavor just did not hold up, especially on the second sip. Cole rated it higher, but for me it dropped off quickly.
Cove Probiotic Root Beer
Brian: -10
Cole: 2.5
This was the lowest point of the round. The aftertaste stood out immediately and did not recover. This one was a clear miss.
Final Results
Winner, Bloom Pop Root Beer Float
Runner-up for Brian, Poppi
Runner-up for Cole, Zevia
Bloom was the only one we both agreed stood above the rest. It had actual flavor, a smoother profile, and something that felt closer to a real root beer experience.
Final Verdict
This round proved something pretty quickly. Just because a soda is marketed as healthier does not mean it is going to deliver on taste. Most of these struggled to capture what makes root beer great in the first place.
Bloom Pop was the exception. It found a way to balance the idea of a healthier soda with something that actually tasted enjoyable. That is why it moves on to the next round.
Now comes the real challenge. Bloom is going to face traditional root beers in the next part of this series, and based on what we tasted here, it has a tough road ahead.
If you enjoy soda and candy taste tests like this, check out our Which Cheez-It Flavor Is the Best? 9 Varieties Tested and Ranked and our Best Haribo Goldbears Flavors Ranked Taste Test.
Watch the Full Video
Check out the full unedited video below to see every reaction as it happened in real time.
