Spicy pickle soda. Dirty protein soda. Cereal milk soda. These arent your standard mocktail offeringsbut thats exactly the point. On May 12, Olipop will launch its first-ever soda drive-thru in Los Angeles, offering an array of offbeat, internet-inspired drinks and limited-edition mocktails, with the first drink free to the public.
The pop-up event taps into the internets growing obsession with so-called beverage goblin culture, which has people cycling through multiple drinks at once for hydration, energy, and fun.
Theres just so much chatter around just these internet drinks and the whole like beverage goblin trend, where people have their hydration drink, their fun drink, and their caffeine on their desk, said Steven Vigilante, Olipops director of strategic partnerships. This is a reflection of that . . . Giving people an opportunity to actually do something, get out of the house and go try one of these for free.
The drive-thru mocktail menu leans into the experimental, including three different flavors. Theres the Cereal Milk Soda, which is an orange cream Olipop mixed with vanilla almond milk, rimmed with vanilla frosting, and topped with fruit cereal. There’s also the Dirty Protein Soda, which is an orange cream with Koias vanilla bean protein shake. And there’s the Spicy Pickle Soda, a mix of pickle and jalapeo juice with Olipops vintage cola.
While the novelty drinks are temporary, one fan favorite is making a permanent return. Olipops 12-ounce orange cream flavor, which first went viral in 2021, is officially joining the brands year-round lineup. Fans have been asking for its comeback on social media: Love this bestie but pls bring back orange cream, wrote one Instagram user. Another added, Next bring back orange cream pls . . . Ive never tasted anything better in my life. Starting April 29, its back permanently in the flavor lineup.
[Photo: Olipop]
The event also relates to the resurgence of soda culturespecifically, the dirty soda trend that blew up following the release of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in late 2024. The reality series highlighted the oversize soda drinks popular in Utah, where chains like Swig and Sodalicious serve highly customized soft drinks mixed with flavored syrups and cream. Olipops orange cream soda fits right in with the trend.
Creamy fruit flavors are the best for dirty sodas. They mix really well with the creamer. And we just thought this would be a fun way to do it. It’s like a kickoff this summer, Vigilante said. This is a beverage brand and a product that people need to try and touch and feel and taste.
Adding to the event, Olipop is teaming up with Crocs for a limited-edition merch drop. The collaboration includes bright orange Bae Clogs in an Orangesicle colorway and exclusive Jibbitz charms. The items wont be sold online or in stores, as only a limited number will be given away at the drive-thru while supplies last.
Attendees can also try a drink designed for the occasion: the Orange Dreamsicle Crocs-Taila mix of Olipops orange cream, half and half, vanilla syrup, whipped cream, and a branded popsicle.
For those unable to attend in person, Olipop will run a virtual version of the event from May 12 through May 19. Online participants can enter to win a drive-thru kit or a case of the returning orange cream flavor.
The event was originally planned for January, but postponed due to wildfires in Los Angeles. Now, it’s being used in association with the companys community-first approach.
We are using this drive-thru as a way to create a nice community event in L.A. and give back to some of the folks who were impacted by the fires, said Vigilante.
