Mug Is Debuting a First-Of-Its-Kind Root Beer—and We Tried It First

Soda seems to be as trendy as ever. Between returning brands and flavors that haven’t been seen in this millennium to “better-for-you” alternatives popping up on shelves, it’s impossible to escape new sodas.

With the annual National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show happening in Chicago this week, we already know that the pop news is only just beginning. Over the past few years, our favorite brands have debuted everything from Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Vanilla Canned Cocktails to Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut and the return of Slice Soda at the show—and this year promises to be no different. 

PepsiCo has already announced that it’s debuting two new sodas at NACS that are inspired by the dirty soda trend. Dirty soda was popularized on social media a few years ago, but became incredibly trendy last year with the release of Hulu’s series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

Dirty soda is simply a soda of your choice mixed with cream and flavored syrup for an extra sweet, creamy beverage. Brands have been capitalizing on the trend with new products, such as Coffee mate’s Coconut Lime Dirty Soda creamer, which is meant to be mixed with Dr Pepper and is now becoming a staple at the drive-thru. However, no brands had canned the dirty soda trend—until now. 

PepsiCo’s Mug is releasing a first-of-its-kind root beer flavor inspired by dirty soda. New Mug Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler soda is coming to shelves soon.

Mug Debuts New Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler Soda

Don’t worry, Mug isn’t adding cream to its soda, but the new root beer is meant to emulate the flavors and texture of a vanilla ice cream-filled float. The new indulgent flavor is the first innovation in the root beer category in nearly 10 years, according to Mug. The brand says Mug Root Beer is the fastest growing soda in the category, so it hopes adding a new flavor will drum up excitement among new fans.

The Mug Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler soda will be available at retailers nationwide in both a regular and zero-sugar version, sold in 12-ounce can multipacks, as well as single-serve 20-ounce bottles.

Mug Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler soda is one of three dirty soda-inspired drinks joining PepsiCo’s lineup, including Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream and Dirty Dew. The new Mug Root Beer won’t be hitting shelves until spring 2026, but, I tried the creamy, vanilla soda early and here is my honest review.

My Honest Review of Mug Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler Soda

Growing up, a root beer float was the ultimate treat that my dad would make for my brother and me. While my brother would suck down the float immediately, I would let the vanilla ice cream melt slightly and mix with the bubbly root beer for more of a milkshake consistency. 

Of course, Mug’s new Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler soda doesn’t have that same milkshake-like consistency, but it is unmistakably creamy. The brand has successfully put a root beer float into a can with this soda. 

It’s the perfect balance of root beer’s herby, licorice flavor with the creamy texture and flavor of vanilla ice cream. I couldn’t help but slurp down both the zero-sugar and full-sugar versions immediately—though, shockingly, as a Diet Pepsi fan, I liked the full-sugar variety slightly better.

I’m not entirely sure how I can wait until spring to have the Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler soda again, but I’m counting down the days until I can buy a case.