Welcome to the World of Coca-Cola
The World of Coca-Cola is a museum dedicated to the company by the same name that produces a wonderfully refreshing carbonated beverage that is loved the world over, by both young and old (and especially by college students). The museum is located in Atlanta, Georgia, home of my friend, Malinda. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, and as anyone who knows me could have guessed, this was the number one most important thing for me to see during my time there.
It was a very grey and rainy day, that Saturday in January, but as we found, that made it all the better, for the museum was not as crowded as one would normally find it. This made seeing the exhibits and tasting the sodas that much easier!
Now, I had not mentioned this fact before, and perhaps you were not already aware of it, but at the World of Coca-Cola you can taste about 50 different beverages produced by the Coca-Cola Company. Obviously, not all of these products are sold here in the U.S., in fact most of these were for consumers overseas. But for any true Coca-Cola fanatic, this is heaven — the opportunity to drink all of the Coke you can stomach (and yes, restrooms are nearby) for just $6 (admission price to the museum).
Perhaps you’re already beginning to understand the name of this web site… but not so fast! First you must learn that Beverly is somewhat of a legend amongst my friends and me. One by one we have visited Malinda and she has taken us to the World of Coca-Cola and we have each been able to experience Beverly for ourselves, first hand. Thus, this was an event which I too had to experience. It’s a wonder that we don’t think Malinda is evil by now (evil grin), but then again, she did warn us!
Have a look around…
The museum itself is very new, and thus pretty darn modern. The entrance way feels much like the opening ceremonies to the Olympics — extremely international with Coca-Cola paraphernalia where ever one turns. (Hey, I didn’t say that this was a bad thing, now did I?)
I won’t give everything about the museum away (this will give you some additional incentive to go there yourself), but I will mention some of the really cool and interesting things…
Lots of old Coca-Cola stuff… Old Coca-Cola bottles (did you know the Coca-Cola bottle shape is patented?), old machines that were used to make Coca-Cola, old advertisements… gotta learn the history, ya know.
An old fashioned soda fountain… Complete with a soda jerk! No, really, he was nice guy, you can ask Malinda! They actually have some poor soul in a room, fashioned to look just like a 1930’s drug store/ice cream and soda parlour, and this person plays the part of the soda jerk, the person who used to dispense Coca-Cola. They won’t let you drink what they make there, but you can make your own just as easily at home. Stop by any drug store and ask to buy some Coca-Cola syrup… then mix it up at home with whatever you like. With a little water and a few ice cubes, it does wonders for an upset stomach. (How do you think that I got hooked at such a young age?)
20 minutes of commercials… Normally that’s not something to get excited about, but in this case, I think it is. Have a seat and watch TV advertisements for our favorite beverage, going back to the 40’s or 50’s. Malinda and I were disappointed that they didn’t have the more recent remake of the “I’d like to teach the world to sing…” commercial, but even still, it was a chance to relive childhood experiences.
Other stuff… More memorabilia and history than most people could possibly want to see. For me, on the other hand, I found myself overjoyed when I discovered that within their vast collection they did not house my favorite piece of Coca-Cola advertising — a Max Headroom Coke watch! I have retained this little gem for years (though it stopped working shortly after I received it in the mail, 8-12 weeks after having ordered it) and briefly thought of donating it to the museum… but then figured that if they really wanted it, they could offer me lots of money or a lifetime supply of Coke. That probably won’t happen, so I’ll be keeping it. Had enough of this? I have! Just go there already and see this place for yourself! Moving on…
Time for a taste test
So this is it! Here we are! I felt like Charlie in the Wonka Chocolate Factory. Coca-Cola shooting through the air, into my little plastic cup, refreshing and delighting me and the other patrons. *burp*
One by one I tasted… some I liked, some were OK, some were just blah… but none were like Beverly!
First, it is important that you study the beverage now, before arriving at the museum. You must know how to recognize it in order to successfully avoid it.
At left we see a sample of Beverly, a clear-ish (more white) carbonated beverage. It looks harmless enough, perhaps like Sprite. I recommend that you use your sense of smell and sniff the beverage prior to tasting it. Even if you have allergies and are extremely congested, as I usually am, you won’t be able to miss the distinctly rancid smell of this drink.
However, if you have no sense of smell, you can at least read. (Yes, I am assuming that since you are looking at this web page that you can read it, and that you would also be able to read the label on the soda fountain.)
Anyway, if you read the label above Beverly, you will discover two things: first, that Beverly is sold in Italy (though truthfully, I never saw it any time I was there), and second, that its flavor is that of a bitter aperitif!
If nothing else, this should mean something to an American, especially those with very American-like, dull taste buds! A more appropriate description would be the most bitter and disgusting, antiseptic-like bug-killer, but safe for human consumption, carbonated (so that it regurgitates in your system, allowing you to experience the taste throughout the day) liquid. How’s that?
Yet even still, you may be daring enough to try. Perhaps, like me, you’re such an ardent Coca-Cola fan that you feel compelled to try every single flavor, no matter what. Or perhaps you like bitter drinks, or aperitifs (which a normally bitter, to my knowledge), and think you can withstand this watered-down, carbonated sissy drink.
OK, I warned you. There is nothing more I can do at this point. Nothing other than to show you photos of…
Beverly’s Victims
[Psst… have pictures of your own to share? Join the Beverly Group on Flickr and upload yours!
Didn’t I warn you? Now you’d think that people would have stopped drinking Beverly, after seeing Malinda and I standing in that area for a good half hour, laughing at and with people, and me taking pictures of people. I think that even the museum employees didn’t know what to make of us after a while. But human nature is dominant here… everyone feels compelled to try the drink for themselves.
Well, this is the end of the story… sort of. There is one last thing which Malinda and I would like to share with you…
We made it out with a cup of Beverly!!!!
Thanks for reading and enjoy your trip to The World of Coca-Cola!
20 comments
Meghan stopped by on January 4, 2007 at 11:37 AM EST and had this to say:
i actually loved beverly! i want to buy some, have it shipped over to the US! (well, in an ideal world where this wouldn’t cost a fortune. anyway, AWSOME narrative, it brought back fond memories of my trip!
Maureen Goosen stopped by on February 2, 2007 at 6:20 PM EST and had this to say:
Here is a picture we took of one of Beverly’s victims on Saturday, January 27th, 2006.
JMarie stopped by on March 21, 2007 at 6:30 PM EST and had this to say:
After living in Italy, I LOVE Beverly Aperitif. It’s truly an acquired taste. In Italy, it’s served on the rocks with a twist of lemon and is usually accompanied by regular salted potatoes (like Regular Lays). An apertif is used to cleanse the palate before dining. Likewise, after dining, a digestivo is served to help digest the meal. It’s also a strong, sometimes bitter, drink. I wish I could order some Beverly!
Justin stopped by on April 8, 2007 at 10:00 AM EST and had this to say:
I was daring enough to accept a Beverly chugging challenge with my friend. We eached chugged three glasses of Beverly, and minutes later violent vomiting ensued on my part. this is a picture of the clean up site.
Todd stopped by on May 18, 2007 at 12:10 AM EST and had this to say:
Watch these video’s of the Beverly Challenge!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyE096Xkczg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6TTzy1qdeQ
Paolo stopped by on May 29, 2007 at 10:45 AM EST and had this to say:
I am Italian, born, raised and educated, but I never had Beverly in Italy (I will inquiry though). I had the pleasure to try Beverly during my first visit to the Coca-Cola museum, several years ago, and LOVED IT! I loved it so much that I made a point to return to the museum as often as my schedule permits it!
But you have to understand that bitters are a way of life for Italians. See the most famous aperitif “Campari”, and the specialty vermouth like “Punt & Mes”! And the refreshing drinks like Chinotto! Not to mention the after meal digestive Fernet Branca! Non of these products would appeal to an American, but to a TRUE Italian, they are like the nectar of the Gods! Try it, you’d like it!
Joshua stopped by on July 8, 2007 at 2:11 AM EST and had this to say:
The first time i tried Beverly I thought it was awful but for some reason I just kept wanting more. Now I love it.
Malinda stopped by on October 25, 2007 at 1:22 AM EST and had this to say:
I love these pix.
Beverly came up during a discussion of Diet Coke Plus tonight, and I shared our Beverly experiences. Of course, then I had to link here! :)
Malinda stopped by on October 25, 2007 at 1:23 AM EST and had this to say:
P.S. Kimmie calls me “evil” because I can drink that lemony kerosene without wincing, thereby luring more tourons into complacency and then to their DOOM!
Mua ha ha.
gran stopped by on October 31, 2007 at 9:51 PM EST and had this to say:
my friend puked his guts out after i payed him $5 to drink 2 full glasses
Rick stopped by on December 20, 2007 at 9:03 PM EST and had this to say:
Why people don’t like Beverly I will never understand. Whenever we visit the World of Coca-Cola I walk straight to the Beverly drink dispenser and consume several cups of the wonderful aperitif before the amazed eyes of those who’ve tasted the drink and poured it out. My second favorite drink there is something called Tangawiki (sp?), a sweeter version of Beverly. I wish I could import Beverly to the U.S. to mix with vodka as an after-work drink at home.
Skip all the high fructose corn syrup sodas and go straight for the Beverly!
Louis stopped by on January 19, 2008 at 12:03 AM EST and had this to say:
Ah, the infamous Beverly. I have never been to the World of Coke museum, but they also have it at the Coke exhibit at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. It’s fun to watch the people as they taste it. I much prefer the orange drink from Japan I think. It’s like orange soda without the acid. I wish they sold that in the US.
Luis B Castro stopped by on February 9, 2008 at 5:44 PM EST and had this to say:
I just visit the World of CocaCola in Atlanta Georgia, my kids tasted the Soda Beverly and it was terrible. Jan 2008
Lydia Waite stopped by on February 19, 2008 at 11:28 PM EST and had this to say:
My family and I visited the new Coca Cola museum in Atlanta yesterday. I first heard a visitor tell his family ” don’t taste this - it’s terrible”, so of course we all had to taste it! And yes it was TERRIBLE, very bitter ,like the most bitter tonic water you can imagine. It took a few sips of other drinks just to get the taste out of my mouth. Then of course I had to linger to witness others try it. Every one I saw spit it out immediately! There is a drink in the same area called “Bitter Lemon” , which was actually very good and not really bitter at all.
All in all , it was an amazing experience to taste drinks that the rest of the world must like as much as we like our sodas - some were very strange indeed.
Jeremy stopped by on April 4, 2008 at 2:24 AM EST and had this to say:
I just got home from the World of Coke museum and myself and my friends were excited to taste the Coke products from around the world. After traveling through the different continents, we made our way to the Europe section. I tried the bitter lemon and found to be tasty, and then the Beverly caught my eye. I read that it was from Italy and was interested in tasting it. As I walking towards the dispenser and young boy in front of me turned around and said “You should try the Beverly, it’s really good”. As I was already going to do that, I said “Thank you young one” and proceeded to the dispenser. I filled my cup full and then took a sip and what came next rivaled any experience in my life as the worst. It tasted like rhino bile and something you would use to kill large rodents in an industrial construction site. Then I noticed the small child pointing and laughing, and realized I had been had. My friends then refused to taste it and would have no part in my pain. I right this in response to the weird people who have posted on this saying it tasted good and was delightful. Heed my warnings and stay away from the Beverly at any World of Coke exhibits.
Jon stopped by on April 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM EST and had this to say:
Like others who have posted here, my family visited the World of Coke while in Atlanta and sampled many of the sodas from around the world. My brother-in-law suddenly had this look on his face like he was about to vomit, or pass a kidney stone, or perhaps have his insides ripped open by an emerging Alien creature. He said, “OHMIGOD! What is this?” We all of course had to try the delightful Beverly he has just sampled. One by one, our entire family went through the same procedure: (1) Study the liquid carefully in the glass, (2) take a small sip, (3) experience the painfully bitter taste going down, (4) experience the positively nauseating after-taste that hits about 4 seconds later that simulates something like regurgitating up a mixture of bile and gasoline, (5) frantically look for some strong drink to wash it down (an Estonian fruit soda worked well for me). Positively ghastly stuff.
KB stopped by on May 12, 2008 at 10:21 PM EST and had this to say:
Similar experience at the World of Coke in Vegas this weekend. Four of us tasted it, three with violent reaction. But one guy couldn’t taste the bitterness AT ALL. Drank the whole thing comfortably. Is there some chemical that a few people can’t taste? Maybe the people who like this?
shaniqua shepherd stopped by on May 13, 2008 at 9:06 AM EST and had this to say:
after tasting bev… i thought i would die so i gave it to a friend crule trick right?? we tried to get rid of the taste with like 8 other pops it didn’t work it stuck with us almost all day
zoe chadwick stopped by on June 13, 2008 at 5:43 PM EST and had this to say:
i was at the world of coca cola two days ago with my friends.i really like Italian food so i thought i would like Beverly since its from Italy.so i filled my small sample cup to its edge,took a sip and nearly blued it all out.i poured it out FAST.then i left to find something sweet. i was in line for regular coke and all my friends thought i had barfed.
Donny stopped by on June 19, 2008 at 9:56 PM EST and had this to say:
I tried Beverly at Epcot and I actually liked it.