Stopped on a Friday afternoon to get a case of Ski and ended up with 2 cases of a variety of sodas. The young dude working was super polite and a big help. I'll bet he enjoys the Ski as much as I do. I live 40 minutes from Breese so it was a nice little road trip that I plan to do again in a couple months. Popped open a bottle of Ski from the trunk when we had lunch at Wally's... it was a good day... read more

I love the loud taste ... It's been years since I've tasted a good soda in a glass, without the watered down ice which makes the soda now stale . I've found love when tasting the various flavors they offer. Workers , staff and owner(s) hats down to you all for making this happen , may you all be blessed tenfold . Thank you read more

Wow how fun! Great experience with Mr Curt. He showed the boys around and gave us some bottles to drink. The boys had a great time. Very friendly staff! read more

Excel Bottling - Fun!! - Beverage Store Near Me - Breese, Illinois

With our takeout dinner, we got a selection of bottled sodas. One of them turned out to be Frostie's Root Beer. It was excellent. I don't usually drink soft drinks because of the sugar or the aspartame. However, I was very pleased to see that this root beer was sweetened with Splenda. So I enjoyed my first soda in over a year. The root beer had a nice and strong vanilla flavor with a hint of anise. Sweet but a good compliment for the flavor of the ribs and brisket that it accompanied. And with zero carbs and zero added sugars, a perfect drink. I'll be on the lookout for Frostie Root Beer! [Review 14452 overall, 1778 of 2020, number 93 in Illinois.] read more

Excel Bottling - Excel Root Beer - Beverage Store Near Me - Breese, Illinois

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One of my favorite places! My favorite pop! Frostie Rootbeer, Ski OG and Ski Cherry, and Excel Black Cherry, Pineapple, and Blue, and Lucky Cola are the best, no contest. Their craft beers are top notch! Try the Citrus and Grapefruit brews. Don't get the chain store chemical pops, go local and get real ingredients and cane sugar! read more

#500! After five years and two months of my first Yelp review, I have proudly reached the milestone. For my 500th review, I had to think of something special - so I figured, why not review my favorite local soft drink and its makers? Here it is. Ski soda, as well as some other fizzy drinks under the Excel label are made and bottled in the small town of Breese, Illinois. The company has some interesting history, and you can find out all about it on their website and by actually visiting the bottling plant. I did it one day (on a Wednesday) and it was regular operation hours. Normally they only do tours on certain days, but as one curious guy that just happened to drop by, the big guy in charge got out of his big chair in his office and happily gave me a guided tour of the facility. I got to go in rooms where the bottling took place, and I got to see the chemicals room, where they are carefully tested by lab professionals. It was a cool moment, watching all the happy workers go about their business and doing their thing, while making things happen for those who await drinking the good stuff. At the end of the tour, they have a little shop where you can purchase all kinds of Excel sodies. Free samples are also provided as well! Most Excel products are found at independent restaurants in the St. Louis and Southern Illinois area. Ski is sold at some gas stations, along with the Diet kind. read more

Excel Bottling - Beverage Store Near Me - Breese, Illinois

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Ahh the simple times of soda Real returnable glass bottles Real sugar Two types of ski From the old line with less carbonation New ski with non returnable bottles and more carbonation Real staff they will offer samples. Some many other flavors to try Great products, great people, great small town. read more

Excel Bottling - the front of a brick building - Beverage Store Near Me - Breese, Illinois

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Great local bottler of beverages. So glad they are producing Frostie Root Beer! I grew up in the 60s and have fond memories of my dad treating me to one when we went to the service station. It really is the best root beer. I just tried their small batch lemonade and love that too! Keep up the great work, Excel! read more

We have loved Excel bottling for a long time! Always a great place to go, even now with easy curbside pick up during Covid. My husband loves their beers! They have several barrel aged beers that taste great! We bought the following beers- Bruja- pumpkin ale aged in tequila barrels. Jedi Brewing- Gold fusion Ale. Double Barrel- Aged in high rye bourbon and rum barrels. Grapefruit radler- wheat beer. Saison- 3rd anniversary ale aged in Chardonnay wine barrels. read more

Excel Bottling - a variety of beer bottles - Beverage Store Near Me - Breese, Illinois

This place is so cool and old-school and a true step back in time. You go through the creaky front door that's located on the side of the building and step inside, and a unique soda shop awaits you on the left. Bottles of empty Ski bottles and some old equipment are on your right, and as you go into the shop, you're quickly disoriented if you've never been there before. What do you do? Where are the prices? What flavors are you going to get? How many? It's pretty easy to catch on- choose if you want "throw-away" bottles or "returnables," and then you should be good. Get a box for throw-aways, fill up and mix/match, and you're good! If you want returnables, you do the same thing but you'll have a $10 deposit fee for the bottles. I got a case of each plus some cans, and had a great time here. Can't wait to come back!! read more

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The place to get the original ski in the bottles. The staff is always friendly and helpful! read more

Tried their frostie rootbeer randomly at a restaurant, didnt even know what brand it was but when I drank it, I needed to know. Its the best darn rootbeer I ever tasted. I craved it every day after trying it for the first time. Then, i tried the r-pep and same thing. Beyond delicious. I'm so excited to try the ginger ale, the orange. Great soda! They make it so well! Such a smooth taste and perfect carbonation. read more

I was in Carbondale and a small grocer had this beer on the shelf. Bought a 6 pack of stout and really enjoyed it...so much that I decided to visit the brewery on the way home. There's not a lot to it. There is a cooler with 6 packs that you can mix/match if desired. You can also buy pop. There is no tasting room so you can't try anything. Also make sure you bring a cooler as all the beer is refrigerated. read more

This place has great tours and our guide was a great lady. We bought $20.00 of soda and to be honest it was so worth it. Place has a great story behind it and I appreciate how it kept its old roots. Really great place overall. read more

I love this place. I believe it's the last bottling operation within hundreds of miles that still uses returnable bottles. They offer a variety of different sodas, and for 8 bucks you can get 24 returnable bottles in a mix of any variety you choose. There's a one time $10 deposit on the crate and bottles, but as long as you return them, you get it back. The place is very old school. When you walk in, the bottling line is on the right, and the room with stacks and stacks of soda to choose from is on the left. I only get through Breese once or twice a month, but I always make sure to bring my empties with me when I'm going through. read more

So cool. I didn't get to, but I read they have a tour of the factory. Soda is cheaper than buying at the store. If you get recycled bottles it's even cheaper but you have to start out with an additional balance. You basically get it back but you have to bring the bottles back. read more

All the Hipe about Darkest Hour Black Cherry soda. Media coverage, and pats on the back. I went to Straub's and much to my disappointment there is a CHEAP PLASTIC bottle for $1.79 which looked like something from the gas station. REALLY?????????????? read more