In 2025, nothing is sacred. Need proof? I have a couple cans of A&W’s new ice cream sundae flavored soda in front of me. That phrasing is important; this is not an ice cream flavored root beer. While you’d think “root beer float flavored root beer” would be an obvious choice from one of the most popular root beer brands on earth, A&W decided to go with an ice cream sundae flavored cream soda instead.
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, there’s also a zero sugar version of this ice cream-flavored soda. Let’s crack these open and see what the hell A&W is doing.
Pros: This is a very accurate hot fudge and marshmallow soda. I don’t specifically get ice cream out of this soda, but I definitely get “sweet dessert with hot fudge,” which is close enough. This is the most “little treat” coded soda I’ve had in a long time.
Cons: This is a hot fudge and marshmallow soda. I have no idea who the target market for this soda is. Every single person who tried this with me agreed that it is too sweet.
Pros: This is just as “hot fudge and marshmallow” as the full sugar version.
Cons: Oh brother, I don’t know how A&W is getting away with this alternative sweetener in 2025. This is the least convincing fake sugar soda I’ve had in a long time. We’ve made huge strides in getting rid of that fake sugar flavor—apparently, A&W has not gotten the memo. Take my advice and just stick with the full sugar version.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Rating:
4.5/10
Sporks
Where can I get these new A&W Ice Cream sodas for myself?
A&W Ice Cream Sundae Soda should be available wherever A&W is sold. I found mine at the store most befitting “dessert flavored soda” as a concept: Walmart. The full sugar version is available in 20oz bottles, 7.5oz mini-can 10-packs, and 12oz can 12-packs. The zero sugar version is only available in 12oz can 12-packs. This soda is only available for a limited time, so keep your eyes peeled to try the most unique cream soda I’ve had all year.
Griffin Parker is a writer, award-winning charity auctioneer, and "influencer in the beverage space" according to a few PR agencies. Please do not ask him about the cotton candy business he started right out of high school. When he's not contributing to Sporked or running the @SodaSeekers news pages, you can find Griffin espousing the virtues of Dayton-style pizza, Cincinnati-style chili, and Dolly Parton's Fabulously Fudgy Brownie Mix.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
I bought a 12 pack of the zero sugar version on sale for $3.98 at WinCo, hoping for a sweet treat that wouldn’t spike my blood sugar. I now see ads that Safeway is desperate to get rid of it for $2.50 for that same 12 pack. It’s taken almost 2 weeks, but I will power my through this box of hot garbage, just so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted the money. Whoever came up with this idea, and whoever approved it, need to lose their jobs.
I was so excited to try this. I bought a 12-pack and drank half of a can and threw the rest in the dumpster. Absolutely disgusting. Huge disappointment. A waste of $8 would not recommend
It’s a nostalgic taste of the long lost chocolate soda. Yes…they used to have those back in the day. So it appeals to us older, more adventurous, folks. It isn’t overly sweet to my taste, and I don’t really get marshmallow flavor, but I do think the chocolate fudge is more scent than taste.
Got one of the sugary ones yesterday and it was straight up gross. I like their cream soda but this was just nasty. The fake chemical fudge and marshmallow flavor is so bad. Sorry A&W but swing and miss.
I actually liked the zero sugar, and my husband likes the regular one. We both think they taste like tootsie rolls! I use mine as a mixer with vodka for a boozy adult treat 😋
Griffin Parker
Danny Palumbo
Jordan Myrick
I bought a 12 pack of the zero sugar version on sale for $3.98 at WinCo, hoping for a sweet treat that wouldn’t spike my blood sugar. I now see ads that Safeway is desperate to get rid of it for $2.50 for that same 12 pack. It’s taken almost 2 weeks, but I will power my through this box of hot garbage, just so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted the money. Whoever came up with this idea, and whoever approved it, need to lose their jobs.
I was so excited to try this. I bought a 12-pack and drank half of a can and threw the rest in the dumpster. Absolutely disgusting. Huge disappointment. A waste of $8 would not recommend
My family and friends been living the zero version of this. It taste like ice cream to me.
I dont know what’s wrong with me but, as a preschool teacher, I swear the full sugar version tastes EXACTLY how playdoh smells
It’s a nostalgic taste of the long lost chocolate soda. Yes…they used to have those back in the day. So it appeals to us older, more adventurous, folks. It isn’t overly sweet to my taste, and I don’t really get marshmallow flavor, but I do think the chocolate fudge is more scent than taste.
Got one of the sugary ones yesterday and it was straight up gross. I like their cream soda but this was just nasty. The fake chemical fudge and marshmallow flavor is so bad. Sorry A&W but swing and miss.
The hot fudge flavor is so fake tasting it’s gross.
They taste like a carbonated Yoo Hoo
The zero sugar version is awesome!!!
I actually liked the zero sugar, and my husband likes the regular one. We both think they taste like tootsie rolls! I use mine as a mixer with vodka for a boozy adult treat 😋