Cleveland craft soda means small-batch soda made or based in Northeast Ohio and sold through independent grocers, cafes, taprooms, and farmers markets rather than national distribution. The local shelf skews tart, lower in sugar, and colored without dyes. Here is what to look for.
What counts as craft soda here
There is no legal definition, which is worth saying plainly. "Craft" on a soda can is a marketing word, not a regulated one. In practice, the Cleveland sodas people mean when they use the term share a few traits: small production runs, a real sweetener named on the label instead of a blend you have to decode, natural coloring, and a flavor that does not lead with sugar.
The useful test is the back of the can, not the front. If the ingredient list is short and you recognize what each item does, you are probably holding the thing you were looking for.
The Northeast Ohio shelf, honestly
It is a small scene, and that is part of the appeal. Sixth City Beverage has been making craft soda in the region and has built a real local following. Several area breweries produce their own root beer alongside their other work. Reckon is a tart craft soda from Joy Filled Beverages, based at 1975 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, inside the Cedar Lee district.
A brand being local does not automatically make it good. But local does mean you can usually find out who made it, ask them a question, and get an answer from a person. That is not nothing.
Where to actually find it
| Where | What to expect | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Independent grocers | The widest steady selection, usually near the kombucha rather than the cola | Ask the beverage manager what came in this month |
| Cafes and coffee shops | One or two cans as a non-coffee option | Often the best place to try a single can before buying a pack |
| Taprooms | A cooler option for anyone not drinking that night | Selection turns over fast |
| Farmers markets | Direct from the people who make it | North Union runs multiple Cuyahoga County locations through the season |
What to look for on the label
Sugar, in context
A typical cola runs about 39 grams of sugar per 12 ounces. Most craft sodas land lower, but "lower" covers a wide range. Reckon Cherry is 15 grams and 90 calories; Apricot is 12 grams and 80. Check the number rather than the adjective.
Where the color comes from
Red 40 and caramel color are cheap and stable, which is why they are everywhere. The alternatives are vegetable and plant based: black carrot, beta-carotene, and similar. Reckon uses black carrot for Cherry and beta-carotene for Apricot. More on this in our guide to what gives soda its color.
Tart versus sweet
This is the real dividing line, and it is the one most people are actually shopping on without having words for it. A sweetness-first soda coats your tongue and the fifth sip tastes worse than the first. A tart-first soda uses acidity to do work that syrup usually does. If you have been looking for sodas that are not too sweet, that distinction matters more than the word craft on the front.
A word on the Cedar Lee stretch
Lee Road between Cedar and Silsby is a genuinely good few blocks for this kind of thing: independent shops, a working theater, restaurants that have been there long enough to have regulars. Abundance Culinary at 1975 Lee Road is where Reckon samples get picked up. If you are making an afternoon of it, that stretch is worth the walk regardless of what you drink.
The short version
Read the back of the can. Check the sugar number instead of trusting the adjective. Look at where the color comes from. And if a soda is made by people close enough to ask, ask them. Local scenes stay good when the people buying from them are paying attention.
Not too sweet. On purpose.
More reading: What is tart craft soda? · Try both flavors
FAQ
What is Cleveland craft soda? Small-batch soda made or based in Northeast Ohio, sold mainly through independent grocers, cafes, taprooms, and farmers markets rather than national distribution. It usually means a shorter ingredient list, natural coloring, and less sugar than a mainstream cola.
Where can I buy craft soda in Cleveland? Independent grocers carry the steadiest selection, cafes and taprooms usually stock a can or two, and North Union Farmers Market locations across Cuyahoga County let you buy direct from the makers during the season.