What Does Irn-Bru Taste Like? A Detailed Answer

You recently heard about Irn-Bru, the famous beverage called Scotland’s other national drink.’ You wish to give it a try but are you hesitant? Do you want to know, “what does irn-bru taste like?”. I have a whole article and we are going to talk about just that.

Irn-Bru has a distinctively sweet, tangy taste. Many describe the taste of Irn-Bru in different ways. Its taste is similar to that of a blend of banana, orange, and bubblegum. It has a creamy flavor similar to that of citrusy cream soda. The deep flavor of blackcurrant makes it perfect for pairing with other flavors.

Irn-Bru has a bright orange color and has a separate fan base for its unique flavor profile. Curious to know more about Irn-bru and its taste? Let us hop on a journey to the Land of Cakes, Scotland.

What Is Irn-Bru?

Irn-Bru is a Scottish carbonated drink made of carbonated water, sugar, acid (usually citric acid), flavoring agents such as caffeine, quinine and citrate and sweeteners such as aspartame and preservatives. It was initially named as ‘Iron Brew’ by the manufacturer AG Barr. Owing to the fact that it was not actually a brewed drink, Barr dropped most of its vowels and renamed it to Irn-Bru.

“Made in Scotland from girders’ was the tagline of Irn-Bru. It is not accurate per se – although a tiny percentage of ammonium ferric citrate is listed as one of the ingredients in Irn-Bru. The drink has its own tartan and only three people in the whole wide world know its recipe!

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What Does Irn-Bru Taste Like?

Let us now get to the main point and talk about the taste of Irn-Bru. It is difficult to assign one particular taste to Irn-Bru. It is not easy to describe since it is made using 32 different flavors! *whoa!* But, whatever..let me do the job for you in giving the best description of its taste.

Irn-Bru has a sweet and deep flavor to start with. It has a taste that can be deemed as an amazing blend of banana, orange, and bubblegum. It has an acidic, metallic taste with subtle bitterness. You can expect a creamy taste as that of a cream soda but with a less intense sweetness. 

What Does Irn-Bru Mean To Taste Of?

Since the actual recipe is a guarded secret, we can only keep playing the game called “Guess The Taste of Irn-Bru?”. Shall we start playing then?

Irn-Bru has a neat flavor profile, but it is damn hard to categorize it into a particular taste. Irn-Bru can taste like a bitter, acidic citrus cream soda. It also tastes similar to bubblegum and banana since banana is one of the flavoring agents used in its preparation. It also has a subtle sweet citrus flavor.

Does Irn-Bru Taste Good?

The extent to which you approve of the taste of something is solely determined by your taste buds. That is, all of us have unique taste preferences based on which we deem something to be good or bad.In the case of Irn-Bru, it is entirely a matter of preference.

Irn-Bru has a mixed but deep flavor profile with notes of sweetness, bitterness and acidity. It does taste good and ranks as one of the best-selling soft drinks in the global market. In fact, in Scotland, Iceland, Peru and the Middle East, it even dominates the position of Coca-Cola.

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Metal?

Irn-Bru has a mixed flavor profile and many opine differently about its taste. Does it taste like metal? Let us find out.

Irn-Bru has a metallic taste to it and a rusty flavor apart from the tasty notes of many other things (remember, there are 32 flavors in this drink!). Irn-Bru has this metallic taste since it contains a minor amount of iron hydroxide in it. There is also the notion that Irn-Bru tastes like girders with reference to its advertising slogan, ‘Made in Scotland from girders.’

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Lucozade?

If you are new to Lucozade (as I was), you need a proper understanding of it before we find out if it tastes similar to Irn-Bru.

Lucozade is a British brand of soft drink manufactured by Suntory. It is made of carbonated water, glucose syrup, acids such as citric acid and lactic acid, acidity regulator, flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners and caffeine.

Lucozade has a refreshing orange flavor similar to that of orange soda. Irn-Bru has a subtle sweet citrusy flavor similar to that of a citrusy cream soda but tastes different from Lucozade, which has a deep orange flavor. 

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Girders?

Irn-Bru has had its fair share of its time with some impressive and famous advertising slogans. One among them is ‘Made in Scotland from girders.’ Does the statement bear testimony to the taste of girders? Let us find out now.

Irn-Bru has a complex flavor profile with notes of sweetness, bitterness and acidity. Let me put it very clearly; it is a matter of taste buds. Many believe that the taste of Irn-Bru has nothing to do with the advertising slogan that claims that it is made from girders. But, there are many, Scotch especially, who believe that Irn-bru indeed tastes a bit like girders. 

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Cream Soda?

Cream soda is a classic carbonated sweet soft drink that has a taste based on an ice cream soda. So, does Irn-Bru taste like cream soda? Let us find out. Cream soda is made of carbonated soda water, vanilla extract, and a sweetener of any choice. It has many flavor variations and is a drink that is enjoyed worldwide.

Cream soda has a vanilla flavor similar to that of vanilla ice cream with subtle smokey and woody hints. The taste of Irn-Bru can be described as that of a blend of orange soda and cream soda. Irn-Bru also has a creamy flavor similar to that of creamy citrus soda. 

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Ginger?

Ginger is one of the most prominent flavoring agents used in the culinary world. Is Irn-Bru reminiscent of eating an inch of ginger that has a pungent, peppery aroma?

Irn-Bru has a deep flavor profile with tasty notes of several flavoring ingredients. The taste of Irn-Bru has a mild, gingery flavor in it. In fact, Irn-Bru is cited as a citrus-flavored, which has an engaging gingery kick in it. The taste of Irn-Bru is similar to that of ginger and cream soda. 

Does Irn-Bru Taste Like Beer?

Irn-Bru often gets this question – “are you anything like beer?”. If you are an ardent beer drinker, you might be wondering if Irn-Bru tastes like beer. Time to find out!

Irn-Bru has a mild sweet taste which is complemented by an acidic, metallic flavor. It has a subtle creaminess similar to that of a creamy soda. Beer, made of grain, hops, yeast and water, has a malty flavor along with a bready, nutty taste. Therefore, Irn-Bru does not taste like beer. Being a carbonated drink, it tastes differently from beer which is an alcoholic beverage. 

6 Different Irn-Bru Flavors And Their Different Tastes

Irn-Bru comes to us in six different types. The following table will give you an idea about those types and their taste.

How To Drink Irn-Bru?

It is imperative that you have a fair idea of how to drink Irn-Bru so as to fully relish its taste and flavor. Irn-Bru is a soft, carbonated drink that is best enjoyed alone. However, its delicious taste makes it a perfect pairing with other flavors. Irn-Bru has a mild, sweet, fruity, citrusy flavor similar to that of bubblegum and an orange soda.

Irn-Bru pairs well with many flavors and can be enjoyed in cocktails. Gin and Irn-Bru is one of the perfect ways to drink Irn-Bru. Apart from gin, Irn-Bru can be mixed with whisky and tequila. Malibru, Tartan Tremble, Spicy Bru, Jaeger Irn Bomb, and Iron Monkey are some of the famous cocktails using Irn-Bru.

Where To Buy Irn-Bru?

Irn-Bru can be found at major supermarkets such as Sobeys, Co-Op and Walmart. Great Scot International has been the only importer for Irn-Bru to the US since 2002. It is also available in online shopping stores such as Amazon and Flipkart. 

Health Benefits Of Irn-Bru

Irn-Bru contains 120g of caffeine, 36g of sugar, and additional vitamins. There is also the version of Irn-Bru that is devoid of sugar as well. Irn-Bru is comparatively healthier than other soft drinks, which are produced using various chemicals and formulas. 

• Irn-bru has the right amount of caffeine which makes you feel energized. 
• Consumption of Irn-bru can improve your energy levels and boost the metabolic activities of your body. It can help reduce fatigue as well.
• Excessive consumption of Irn-Bru (due to the content of caffeine and sugar) can cause weight gain, cellular aging, heart disease, vomiting and drowsiness. 

Nutritional Content Of Irn-Bru

In a 100ml serving of Irn-Bru, the following nutritional values are observed:

Final Word

That was all about Irn-Bru and its taste. I hope the article gave you a fair idea of what Irn-Bru and its nearly impossible-to-describe taste profile. It has a sweet, fruity flavor similar to that of bubblegum and orange soda. It is the top-selling carbonated soft drink in Scotland, even beating the world’s best-selling Coca-Cola. 

So, are you hesitant to try Irn-Bru even now? Go grab a bottle and let me know what you think of its taste in the comments section below. See you soon with another article!

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