Dr Pepper Enthusiast John Green Taste Tests Dr Pepper and Its Misbegotten Pretenders

Join the Awesome Socks Club: awesomesocks.club/johntw
In which John tries to guess which Dr Pepper is actually Dr Pepper, and along the way shares some ideas about what makes Dr Pepper so deeply and truly extraordinary.
Yes, this video is over 4 minutes long. Is it educational? Probably not. Does this mean that I technically owe nerdfighteria a punishment? Probably so.
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[@vlogbrothers]

Sign up for the awesome socks club: awesomesocks.club/johntw Also, big thanks to @thecalucita for giving me this idea in a Dear Hank and John patreon livestream! For those who are new: Vlogbrothers videos over 4:00 long are genuinely deemed to violate "the rules" (which we made up in 2007) and therefore result in some kind of punishment. The only exceptions are if the video contains a montage or if it's educational. Is this an educational video? I mean, probably not. So I probably owe you a punishment. But I will listen to your comments in case you would like to argue that maybe it IS educational, because it contains vital information about the illustrious taste and history of Dr Pepper. -John

[@butallislost]

I learned about the origins of Dr Pepper, very educational!

[@ryn_young]

I’m gonna deem this educational based on my HIGH credentials in well, vlogbrothers? Anyway long live John!!!

[@Symphing12]

I think it is educational, since I didn't know anything about Dr. Pepper until I watched this.

[@knaughta.masso-kist5944]

Sorry John, I think this is punishment-worthy.

[@rubag223]

I think a punishment is in order! Loved the video thank you! First thing I thought was i wonder if this counts for a punishment!

[@UnkillableJay]

"2 doctor have told me that if I drink it I'll die, but they died first" she's an absolute legend

[@Nofxthepirate]

I wonder if she's friends with that guy who smoked cigars all day and lived to be 112

[@FishnWithWilly]

@@Nofxthepirate that’s her husband

[@Woahitsaturtlegynecologist]

@@FishnWithWilly W couple

[@jenjenoz]

My granny drank it religiously and died in her 90’s and I drink it too 😂

[@jeffc5974]

I'm pretty sure she's still going to die.

[@bekah9344]

It's so emotional to watch someone do something they're truly good at. And John is good at two things: drinking Dr Pepper and shameless self promotion

[@vlogbrothers]

Hey, while I've got you here, the awesome coffee club is ALSO accepting new subscribers: awesomecoffeeclub.com -John

[@stanley9868]

Now THAT self promotion takes true talent

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

Badum chhhhhhhh

[@Calicido]

@@vlogbrothers And can it be shipped from the EU warehouse yet?

[@nechma13]

@@Calicido i believe they recently added EU to the sock club

[@MadiEvett]

the amount of stress john has while being completely correct really speaks to me lmao

[@misteryA555]

Relatable king

[@coagulantLegume]

i feel it so much. i switched a class to pass/no pass in college because i thought i was gonna get a C and lower my GPA. i got an A. and this happened twice.

[@DonMachado]

Hmm, I wonder who set up his blind taste test...

[@omranhashim1028]

@@coagulantLegumemaybe you perform better with less stress.. or maybe not, I don’t know you I’m just making an educated guess 😄

[@telanis9]

@@DonMachadoHis wife.

[@light-master]

Blind taste tests should definitely be done with identical straws. If McDonald's really wide straws have taught me anything, it's that the flow rate of a drink hitting your tongue can absolutely change how that drink tastes.

[@GigaBoost]

Get out, weirdo

[@TheDougSpot]

And they should actually be blind taste tests. You can’t convince me that he didn’t set this whole thing up himself, and that he doesn’t already know which is which.

[@GigaBoost]

@@TheDougSpot there's no way to set this up so that we as the audience are convinced that it's an actual blind test though

[@TheDougSpot]

@@GigaBoost There is, but I don’t feel like going through all of that

[@GigaBoost]

@@TheDougSpot unless you get a trusted third party verification, no there's not. Anything they show or explain in a video can so very easily be faked or worked around.

[@spacey-sam]

I love how John went on a legit full minute rant about how bad the Zevia is only to immediately taste it again after tasting the real deal to confirm how bad it is

[@vlogbrothers]

So bad. It offends me. I am offended that they dare to call it a "Dr" soda at all. It is at most a Mr. soda. -John

[@smivan.]

@@vlogbrothers Bachelor Soda

[@kevinconrad6156]

@@vlogbrothers Please add regular colored socks to the awesome sock club. I live in the SW and the only time I wear socks is work and that is a uniform and I must wear white, black or brown socks only.

[@holup977]

@@kevinconrad6156 what is the SW? First thing that came to my mind was Switzerland and then Swaziland. Bu both of those seem wrong somehow. So where is "SW"

[@Sarikiscool]

@@vlogbrothers I don't hear you curse or swear ever. Hearing you exclaim "JESUS CHRIST that's bad" was somehow like hearing my mother say "shit". It shocked me, and it was hilarious.

[@Violuminescence]

I think I learned a lot more than I bargained for

[@vlogbrothers]

So you're saying it's educational. -John

[@Symphing12]

@@vlogbrothers yes

[@sylvy16]

@@vlogbrothers I don’t know if it is. If there were more information about the history of dr pepper, like talking about hot doctor pepper or about their ceo foots clements, then it might be educational.

[@gulplastgaffel]

I (still) don't know what dr pepper tastes like and that seems like kind of important if this was educational 😅

[@cloudyview]

You must be new here

[@galacticboy2009]

I feel like I'm seeing John Green as the person he truly is, for the first time. Like this is how he acts in everyday life with his friends. This is charming.

[@noam3561]

I always mix all the sodas in a soda fountain and I'm always surprised how much it tastes like dr pepper, so that origin story makes so much sense

[@missm2925]

Doctor pepper truly is soda

[@DoodleChaos]

This is more impressive than any wine connoisseur’s palette

[@Flk0217]

Unrelated, but your videos are the nice little incentive I show my elementary students and you will never understand how much my students will flip their ever-loving s**t for them. You even have a "Doodlechaos" day at my school when they string together ten music lessons on task.

[@iblame_nargles]

@@Flk0217 Love this comment.

[@WarriorDudePerson]

Wine wasn’t made by a chemist either

[@DoodleChaos]

@@Flk0217 WHAT?!? That’s incredible, I am honored ❤. Hope my Line Rider videos are helpful with getting them interested in classical music!

[@StuffandThings_]

@@DoodleChaos ngl I found a few classical pieces I liked from your line rider videos years ago. P.S. you should really try a sync with some Joplin pieces, there's so much possibility there

[@T1J]

i love this because this is the type of video that could go viral but john insists on making perhaps the least clickable title possible

[@ImDaRealBoi]

I'd argue the blatant title makes it more clickable

[@bucca2]

If a video has “misbegotten pretenders” in the title I’m already sold

[@bubblegumplastic]

@@bucca2 I agree with you but it's not the norm I think

[@Nathanael_Forlorn]

That title is great! Informative and to the point. I don't get what is wrong with the world.

[@illustrious-j]

I appreciate that as a feature of John Green, actually. Bad at marketing, but likeable as hell. I'd be worried if he changed things up too much now. He might be filling in for Hank in some capacities for their various endeavors, but his passion for Dr. Pepper feels very off the clock 😂

[@requiembeeblebroxx]

This is the John Greenest video I have ever seen, and the sheer poetic quality with which he describes the differences between the beverages has me in stitches.

[@anonymouscantor7036]

That Whitman quote was impeccably placed. Well done.

[@buffienguyen]

I think John's willingness to take a punishment just to make a longer Dr Pepper video is enough to spare him

[@karlmudsam2834]

OH SHIT FR FR?

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Dr Pepper videos are educational! /s

[@mkwatt_78]

I would argue this is educational content

[@Bea_Esser]

Agree.

[@annae4065]

I'm disagreeing just because I want to see a punishment. It's been too long since the last one

[@timmilgram]

I’ve never wanted a Dr Pepper this much

[@thndr_5468]

this is what I say everyday

[@andii64]

Right? And I don't even like Dr pepper

[@shereadsmysteries]

Nor have I really contemplated the mutitudinousness of Dr Pepper before and now I wish to 😂

[@AA123TD]

Live in SE Asia and try to find it 😭 3 years no DP

[@wholefttheydogatcentralpoint]

I have, because it's the best soda.

[@nitroxylictv]

There are 3 things you need in order to be a true Texan: A cowboy hat, some decent cowboy boots, and at least one 12 pack of Dr. Pepper in your fridge at all times.

[@HayTatsuko]

_Dublin_ Dr Pepper, if you can get it -- even though the cane-sugar sweetened version lost that name over 10 years ago. I miss being able to get Dublin Dr Pepper at Jason's Deli here in Alabama. It was so, SO GOOD.

[@OG_Wonder_Woman]

@@HayTatsuko I was just about to say it must be Dublin. When I get a case, it gets rationed out for the next year, like expensive champagne. Cases even get given out as christmas gifts in Texas! Surely someone has shared the ambrosia that is Dublin Dr. Pepper with John.

[@jackfrosterton2530]

After Jonestown, I don't feel right about stocking my fridge with beverages originating from Waco

[@nitroxylictv]

​@@jackfrosterton2530After Waco, I feel the urge to stock as much products from Waco as possible.

[@ghostpad]

Fun fact: on a school trip in Texas my friend ran across the street to a gas station. He came back with one of those cardboard boxes full of Dr. Pepper cans. He shared with nobody.

[@emmasullivan750]

I’ve never ever ever had the urge to try dr pepper until john advertises it

[@thicknavyrain]

That first "Oh..." of recognition at 0:45, that's when I truly felt John's sommelier-like talent for Dr Pepper-esque drinks.

[@jennmannhardt]

That followed by the “mm” and standing up for a better sip is the best moment of the whole video 😂

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

Tbh I was like slightly uncomfortable with the noises? But his rhapsodic joy was still pretty great

[@michellemah2674]

"This tastes like it is going for a taste, which is all wrong!" "You want to go for the way the human heart wants a soda to taste!" John is great 😆

[@Noneofyourbyisness]

Rhett sent me back here. As a pepper lover had to watch again. Great taste John! 😅

[@almanac4150]

The funniest part of this video is the Dr pepper creation rant and after having heard him talk about the history of Dr pepper I now understand why it is my favorite soda. It hits the essence of my soul as I minored in chemistry and therefore have that intrinsic desire for chemical perfection.

[@phoebelambdon7954]

I’m not even halfway through and the level of joy this video has brought me is indescribable

[@chocfudgebrowni]

+

[@miriam4235]

Right? 😆

[@sawyeraston8272]

Haha 😄 🤣 😂

[@Isabelle-ud2df]

+

[@karioke1944]

“That’s worse than water!” Lol

[@AverySuzuki]

John straight up taking a punishment on purpose because he was just so passionate about Dr pepper he couldn't squeeze it under 4 mins

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Maybe the Zevia was punishment enough.

[@cenedra20]

I was so entertained that I didn't even realize it passed the 4 min limit! By a lot!

[@Naomi.Fuller]

Educational videos don’t count, and I don’t know about you, but I learned a lot.

[@acctsys]

This doesn't make any sense to me, but I love seeing people being passionate about somethings.

[@smartereveryday]

Best video

[@Meatloaf_TV]

under rated comment

[@bendubz9000]

The lessons I learnt here: - I'm justified in loving Dr Pepper - I need to try Diet Dr Pepper to see how close it is - If I ever see Mr Pibb in the UK and no Dr Pepper is available, it's probably a reasonable substitute In conclusion, Educational video, no punishment

[@herranton]

Mr. Pibb is a _reasonable_ substitute. Not great. But it's not total trash either. Diet Dr. Pepper tastes like aspartame. If your sensitive to that, you probably won't like it. We do/did have a diet cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper in the USA that covered the aspartame pretty well.

[@unclejoeoakland]

Mr Pibb Is an acceptable stand-in, but diet doctor pepper just isn't worth it.

[@itskdog]

IIRC Mr. Pibb is the Coca Cola version in the US, as they don't have the right to Dr. Pepper there like they do in the UK. (or is that PepsiCo's one?)

[@herranton]

@@itskdog Mr. Pibb is coke. How you get Dr. Pepper in the USA varies quite a bit depending on what market (city) you are in. I think Pepsi does most markets in the north, and coke does most in the south, but in some places kdp (Keurig/Dr. Pepper) has their own bottling facilities. Also, the north/south thing isn't universally true. Just a generalization. Edit: also, keep in mind that soda bottlers aren't necessarily owned by the company for whom they bottle. Like in Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa/southern Minnesota, the Pepsi bottler is called Wispak. They are independent and not owned by Pepsi, but have exclusive rights to the market that they're in. It also means that they can choose to have flavors that other markets don't. In the wispak areas, the mountain dew selection is _really really good._ generally, every non exclusive flavor is available, some for a long time after the Pepsi owned bottlers have phased them out. Soda bottling is a weird business.

[@itskdog]

@@herranton In the UK it's all made by the Coca Cola Company, with their branding on the side and a different logo, in addition to being Sugar instead of HFCS. The product description above the ingredients calls it a "Carbonated Fruit Flavour Soft Drink". I have seen a couple of times the logo in the video, but that appears to be an import from Poland as there was Polish in addition to the English. Tasted very different as well, more sweet than the strong flavour I know Dr. Pepper for.

[@Flixterino]

As soon as we hit the history of Dr Pepper you could see the passion in John which would overrule all potential of a 4 minute cap. In that moment, we saw the true unbridled state of the man.

[@LeGrandColbert]

1:10 made this video worthwhile all by itself.

[@Danniellasg]

I've watched Vlogbrothers for 14 years. It never ceases to amaze me how much John and Hank build each other up and the modesty they both show. It's beautiful. Not to mention the " that'll be nice " along with the smile from John at the end. My heart is full. I've been a fan of both of you for 14 years. Long may it remain. I was 12 when i first watched you, I am now 26. You guys have truly been part of me growing up. Thank you. ❤

[@sarar4901]

John's punishment should be to make a full commercial for Zevia. Like, loving closeups, voiceover, slo-mo, the works. I generally don't enjoy punishments but that would be legitimately very funny.

[@livefrommylibrary]

It would be highly entertaining. I'm only concerned that Zevia does not deserve that level of support.

[@floorboardss]

++++

[@sarar4901]

@@livefrommylibrary I have immense faith in John's capacity to damn with faint praise. 🤣

[@marcusturner27]

+

[@ethanhoover9295]

What punishment? If this doesn't qualify as an educational video, I don't know what does.

[@lefishyfish]

The artistry with which John loves Dr. Pepper 😂 quoting Whitman’s multitudes quote. Love it.

[@thecomity1]

The geek in me LOVES that you went on a rant and provided the history of Dr. Pepper.

[@chrismoody1342]

I miss the days of Dr Pepper in a bottle. Can’t explain it but it’s just tastes better. Seriously I haven’t drank anything else but Dr Pepper since probably 1970. If forced to choose something else I’ll drink Mt Dew.

[@Zobeid]

Here in Texas it's still possible to find Dr Pepper in the glass bottles with cane sugar, if you know where to look. I see them in the coolers in some convenience stores. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to where they turn up. It's like a treasure hunt.

[@pemo2676]

no youre right, the containers effect taste! its even recognised by coca cola as a fact - theres even utensils out there with different textures, materials, and shape which contribute to slight changes in taste

[@LeoMajors]

Between this, the reunion videos, and Hank's signs video, I love how they're letting themselves screw around again. Feel like we haven't seen this level of simple fun since the pandemic, and it brings me joy.

[@chocfudgebrowni]

+

[@rutherfordip]

+

[@FlyingTurtle111]

+

[@viperion_nz]

And my axe!

[@m1chacha]

Exactly! I love the serious Vlogbrothers videos too because they always have such well thought out points that can often bring a lot of nuance and hope to the way I view the world, but there was a period there where it seemed like they weren't going to do any more fun videos, or at least not very often, and I'm glad that's changing, it seems like there's a real healthy balance now.

[@ingesexton811]

I almost felt like I should look away and give John a private moment, when he was tasting the diet Dr Pepper.

[@soumaya4960]

I felt that 😂

[@HeyitsLeaAnn]

If anyone reacts to me the way he reacted to Diet Dr Pepper, I’ll marry that person.

[@xtlm]

I straight up looked away lol

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

Man, pibb is almost it's own thing.

[@NoOne-sn2si]

Yeah, most of the fuks here are too young to remember when Mr Pibb was actually a good Dr Pepper knockoff. Less sweet and more carbonation version of DP. Unfortunate that they changed the formula to crap...

[@electricalife]

If I remember right, pibb has a cherry base and Dr pepper has a raspberry base.

[@biggreenfish3267]

So glad this was recommended to me. I barely drink alcohol, don't smoke, and have very few vices but I love a pop from time to time. Totally agree about the Zevia. Tastes like cherry flavored washer fluid. I would rather have water as it is an assault on my taste buds. Dr. Thunder isn't bad either.

[@violentblue355]

Honestly, any Zevia I myself have tried tastes like washer fluid.

[@b__w_4565]

@@violentblue355 i like it. we're all too use to pounds of sugar or aspartame that we don't know what the hell real flavor is. but zevia is great if you want real soda and not artificial garbage or prediabetes drinks, you feel?

[@thejesuschrist]

I love your love for Dr. Pepper. The sweet nectar that is my favorite modern sugar bubble drink.

[@scottanos9981]

Couldn't you just turn water into it? Or is that just for wine?

[@TheWastedAccount12]

Folks, you heard it here first

[@TheWastedAccount12]

how are you verified i'm crying

[@cbpd89]

Here I thought you were going to say "don't bring me into this" with the estevia trash. You clearly had nothing to do with that one!

[@letsgojkts]

Taste and see, taste and see, the goodness of the Diet Dr Pepper

[@davidfrend]

This is the kind of top tier vlogbrothers content I come here for! Also the idea of the box with straws is probably the best way I've ever seen a blind taste test done. Obscures the drinks from the participant, while revealing them to the audience without the possibility of them being mixed up by being moved around. It's genius

[@sarar4901]

I feel like I detect Sarah's hand there.

[@winstonchiang8666]

I think this format has been around. Not to take away, because this is clearly a sock commerical and has nothing to do with soda or doctors

[@VelociraptorousRex]

@@sarar4901 I feel tiktok's hand here

[@raishauntanner4206]

Mr. Pibb is one of my favorites 😂

[@ashacklett01]

Pibb Zero for the win. So flavory, so diet. 😂

[@arianasullivan]

THIS is how you do an ad! So entertaining, the ad is at the end and is short and engaging. I am convinced that the socks are the best because you built trust on your judgment through the soda experiment. Well done.

[@natalie7851]

the Dr Pepper corporation needs to start paying you for advertising, because i've never wanted a can of dr pepper as badly as i do right now

[@kayleighandhercat1351]

Same and I have some. I'm gonna drink it

[@bryanvickers]

...multitudes

[@DaisyByDesign]

I don't even like Dr pepper and now I want a Dr pepper 😂

[@john-carlosynostroza]

Totally. I'm so lucky because my girlfriend literally bought a 12 pack of diet Dr Pepper on Friday . I have a cold one in the refrigerator right now! Amazing life lol

[@yuvalne]

Gotta say, John making a totally random video in the middle of which and super nonchalantly he goes to vote is one of my favourite vlogbrothers traditions.

[@untappedinkwell]

+++

[@inthewindinthe]

+

[@alalessia]

He truly commited to the bit

[@jumpinjoint]

wow that was so nonchalant i didnt even notice it happened while i was tapping my phone and watching the video at the same time

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

++

[@viridianloom]

"Like two chords played at different octaves" is a beautiful analogy, omg

[@marcbarrett9767]

Every so often I come back to this video for a pick-me-up laugh, because this really is a hilarious video.

[@helloena]

John, leaning over the box to take a sip is somehow at once human, Anthropocene, heartwarming, and hilarious.

[@chaotickreg7024]

Human and anthropocene?

[@juneguts]

Human AND anthropocene.

[@littledipper3391]

People are saying youre trying too hard but I thought it was charming. Even if a little silly and grammatically incorrect :> "human, heartwarming, and hilarious" is quite the alliteration though

[@Hyperllam4]

@@littledipper3391 using words you don't know the meaning of to try and sound smart in youtube comments is charming?

[@rustyshackleford2007]

My grandma loved Dr Pepper too. When she was in the hospital dying all she wanted was a Dr Pepper, but the clinicians wouldn’t let her have it. I snuck her one. She was already dying, so why deny her something so simple?

[@Gogeta0110]

Too right, let her enjoy her final days. Dr P is amazing

[@catvids420]

Excellent work

[@MS-ns2pj]

Yeah, I had an old friend from our USMC days come down with cancer. Near the end he had maybe a few weeks left. He loved Snickers bars, but the hospital believes in sugar free and does not allow sugar in the hospital. I called bs on that and snuck in 2 king size bars. He loved them. ☺👍

[@High_Desert_Tanner]

I never understood that mentality (that of the nurses involved), and bless you for granting her that small comfort in her last hours...

[@ambergerhelper7852]

As a nurse, I love you. I wish more family members were like you.

[@ideologybot4592]

I would never hesitate like that in a similar test between Coke, Coke Zero, Mexican Coke, or any off brand. I know that taste like I know the driver's seat cushion in my car. But this was great, especially the clear recognition of stevia's awfulness in soft drinks.

[@love-ip7sz]

Thanks for reminding to go to Mexican markets just to look for Mexican coke.

[@kitsune0rei]

But true Coke still tastes slightly different via fountain, can, or bottle.

[@badbirdkc]

Zero hesitation for me as well.

[@ideologybot4592]

@@kitsune0rei all soft drinks taste different out of a plastic bottle, and not in a good way. Get glass or aluminum.

[@williamhardee8863]

@@love-ip7szDid you know they only do that for Mexican Coke’s sent to America? In 2013 they actually started using corn syrup for Coke’s in Mexico, but they still make the cane sugar version for Americans since it became somewhat of a phenomenon over here. It’s considered a part of their Coca-Cola nostalgia products.

[@ucantSQ]

I started drinking Dr. Pepper because no matter whether an establishment sells Pepsi or Coke, they'll probably have Dr. Pepper. Watching John geek out over it makes sense somehow. Even though I just accidentally started drinking it, I have to admit it's the best damn soda around. It's what coke and Pepsi wanted to be.

[@kamballerina7]

As a lifelong diet dr pepper enthusiast, I've never felt more seen than when he said "ugh, it's worse than WATER"

[@elainebelzDetroit]

That cracked me up, too! I loved the particular well water I grew up with, and I like our city water here in Detroit...but please, give me something with carbonation, Nutrasweet, and a bit of flavor! I'm not too picky, though - I'll take the store brand. I don't have money to burn.

[@Durmomo0]

100% this

[@Siansonea]

SAME. Diet Dr. Pepper is life.

[@7a996]

Degeneracy

[@crescentjester]

Dr. pepper is my favorite soda, but Pibb Xtra is the only off-brand Dr. Pepper I think can stand on its own merit.

[@schec1015]

The best line, in this whole video, is "that's worse than water." I burst out laughing at that. Because it implies that water is bad. But really, it just tells me that this man doesn't drink water.

[@michaelneufeld4515]

I didn't get that from the comment, to me it was "they ruined this to the point that it's worse than nothing".

[@zankaa8031]

Water is sometimes bad tbh, tap water where I live sucks and if I have to pay for bottled water then I'd rather pay for a soft drink and enjoy it more. Got a water filter tho and it makes a huge difference.

[@schec1015]

​@@zankaa8031 Except he didn't say "it's almost as bad as tap water." And we all know full well he wasn't talking about its health effects. He's testing soft drinks.

[@schec1015]

@@michaelneufeld4515 He almost puked, when he tried that soda. And followed with "That's worse than water." In what context, is that a positive thing? No one compares something negative to a "neutral" something, to show how negative that first thing was. When you say "worse than" it implies that the thing being compared to, is already bad.

[@rubymiller3551]

@@schec1015 I think you can, it’s like saying “I’d rather have nothing that drink this”

[@TommyP14]

I rewatch this every time it pops up. It’s just a feel good video

[@AcornFox]

same chord played at a different octave 🤯 that’s so perfect hahaha

[@charissabihl1731]

The Dr. Pepper/Leaves of Grass analogy was maybe the most John Green thing John Green ever said. I loved it. 💀 ❤

[@bluexroses414]

Only John could quote poetry while taste-testing soda

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Yeah, I really can't think of anything more John than quoting Whitman while drinking Dr Pepper. Maybe if he were to quote Dickinson while at an AFC Wimbledon game, or to quote Vonnegut while growing a bad mustache for a charity thing.

[@ElliotOwlight]

You sir… have won my subscription full heartedly …. The socks plug sealed it for me…. Bravo SIR!

[@gdp3rd]

I was in college in the Boston area in the 1970s, before the last, successful, "I'm a Pepper" ad campaign. Dr. Pepper was not to be found in any grocery stores near us, but we found out that the 7-UP plant in Wellesley, MA did bottle Dr. Pepper. So we took my roommate's car and bought cases of the elixir to bring back to campus. We put out the word to other Texas ex-pats, and sold it at a tidy profit -- keeping some for ourselves. Those Coors beer runners had nothing on us!

[@amyl3695]

As someone who has never tried Dr Pepper or any of its replications, this was highly entertaining

[@sexyscientist]

Is Dr. Pepper a very US (and Canada) thing? I have never seen it in any supermarket and I am a grocery store enthusiast.

[@NotSomeJustinWithoutAMoustache]

Same

[@speakp4ngolin]

@@sexyscientist more or less

[@Alice_Walker]

Same. I'm from Australia, I see it in specialist stores occasionally and next time I will definitely give it a try.

[@sparrow8072]

@@sexyscientist you can sometimes find it in Japanese vending machines but I’ve never seen it at a store there! I think the main market there is otaku (a Dr Pepper stand-in was used in a manga apparently) and Americans

[@lukaslambs5780]

I haven’t had soda in over 10 years and I can still taste and smell Dr. Pepper’s unique essence in my mind. It’s so vivid in my imagination, it’s as if it’s being described by a mini John Green in my brain.

[@xzonia1]

It is the best of all sodas. Canada Dry's Ginger Ale is second, imho. Wait, I take that back. The ginger ale is tied with Frostie's Root Beer for second (both are best when they use real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup).

[@Warlocktopus]

I don't think I have ever had it, yet I still feel like I know what it would taste like. I am going to buy a can to see if it matches.

[@rachelk4805]

When I have a soda (which is only every now and then) it is always Dr. Pepper. The Dublin Dr. Pepper is the BEST Dr. Pepper and the best soda ever to exist.

[@jumpinjoint]

@@xzonia1 any soda is acceptable as second best, but dr pepper is always The Best. my #2 rotates between cream soda or coca cola (NEVER. PEPSI.!!)

[@rossjennings4755]

@@xzonia1 Canada Dry (or really any ginger ale) has nothing on a proper ginger beer like Reed's. If you haven't tried one, you don't know what you're missing out on.

[@Tunda2]

“That’s worse than water” 😂😂 oh the freedom 😂

[@Rachiesx3]

I just finished your Dr Pepper chapter in the Anthropocene Reviewed yesterday and now watching the backlog of Vlogbrothers I have missed.

[@MJOLNIRchief90]

"Wow, that's worse than water." With one sentence John has made an enemy of an entire subreddit.

[@ZeroIsMany]

Not even. Every actual human being.

[@elainebelzDetroit]

To be fair, he probably means water with no cereal in it.

[@KonamiKonami]

hydrohomies

[@Chumpy819]

This is one of of my favorite videos you've ever made. Not because it was informative, insightful, interesting, or actually useful, but because your love of Dr. Pepper is so pure... like the 23 flavors that coalesce in to that magically carbonated elixir we all know and love.

[@rickkarrer8370]

I’m laughing at your analogies for Dr Pepper, especially the “same cord at a different octave”.

[@nucleargandhi2709]

More than anything else, I appreciate that this video recognizes crew socks as regular socks and ankle socks as the odd ones.

[@TheRavenfish9]

The long-standing love affair between John Green and Diet Dr. Pepper is truly epic. I feel like this video is a long time coming and I'm so glad it has finally been made.

[@CL-go2ji]

True. Still punishment-worthy! Come on, nerdfighters ... let´s hear some theme-matched ideas!

[@Angzarrr]

And that he managed to plug the socks!

[@CL-go2ji]

@@Angzarrr Maybe the punishment is to eat a sock? Hmm, bad idea ... wear a sock on his head all day? Drink Zevia out of a sock?

[@Clay3613]

Nasty, Diet Dr. Pepper is up there with Diet Coke and Diet Mtn. Dew for worse bastardization of a classic.

[@Angzarrr]

@@Clay3613 I don’t know how people like diet drinks. But they do.

[@jnecaise]

The reaction to the Zevia is absolutely the most visceral reaction I have seen from John. Never though I would see him scream "Jesus Christ!" after taking a sip, twice.

[@jamslam406]

Obviously not a believer lol

[@magdalynealtman2415]

haven’t seen a vlogbrothers video in years been binge watching but this is the first time i heard link in the doobly doo in a decade i’m going to cry and scream

[@MattnUska]

The whole video I was wondering 💭 “but how does this relate to socks?” And you answered it. Well done.

[@viviantompkins7925]

“It’s like the same chord played at a different octave” What a beautiful way to describe the difference between Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper 😅💙

[@BirdBrain1337]

I love the "I will retire and do something else with my life." As though John's real career has been "Dr. Pepper Afficionado" all this time. XD

[@gambit52]

From the thumbnail, it looks like John is standing at a podium. Made me think his was going to be a super official taste testing.

[@hookedonfandom]

I was in Waco for a project and went to the Dr Pepper museum. It was pretty great! Also every restaurant in Waco had Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper in their soda fountain, which I loved.

[@lanagomisc.6005]

What's eerily impressive is that John was 4/5 correct on which drink was which. He probably could have been a good poison taster for the king back in Medieval times.

[@Efflorescentey]

I would say 3/4…. You can’t count the last one if you know what it is

[@ToriKo_]

This feels like a backhanded compliment lol

[@Tazzer88]

I just love John's blind soda taste testing rig. Practical, but just the slightest touch of goofy with the different colors and sizes of straws. Also, it was no surprise to me about the viscerally negative reaction to the Zevia. The assessment of being 'worse than water' is only overshadowed by another famous online reaction to it saying it tasted 'like melted G.I. Joes.'

[@missushoneybee]

I like to think the colored straws are purposeful so he can better remember the taste associated with a color instead of "the second one from the left".

[@LtSMASH324]

How do we know it's not all rigged anyway? Get Mr. Pibb and Dr. K mixed up on purpose to make it seem like it's not rigged, boom.

[@oldvlognewtricks]

@@missushoneybee Found the visual learner ❤

[@mikebyars9463]

I think you mean “blind” taste test. He clearly set it up himself and made sure the camera shot was good before sitting down and pretending to not know which is which.. he even got one wrong on purpose at the end

[@oldvlognewtricks]

@@mikebyars9463 Or any number of people he lives with could have set it up for him. Insufficient evidence either way…

[@wedgatabo]

John, this video gave me great insight into who you are and that person is beautiful ❤ also it's a masterpiece - very effective advertising for the awesome socks club 😂 never before has my heart burst with happiness at the clever nature of a commercial;)

[@hydrazine_n2h4]

Being able to say "But they died first" is such a power move :D

[@mitdylan]

Even after 15 years of watching this channel, I'm still as excited to watch the videos now as I was back then, because I'm never quite sure what type of video I'm going to get. A quiet rumination on life and the idea of consciousness? Or a Dr pepper taste test.

[@michaelmicek]

+

[@knaughta.masso-kist5944]

The thought of getting a punishment after so long fills me with excitement lol

[@dukeofburgerz5225]

It's been AGES

[@katw2254]

Me too. But WhAT ShOuLD He BLenDeRizE

[@izzy4reel]

I'm awed to discover a kindred soul who shares my passion for the great Doctor.

[@choicedecision]

When I was in high school almost 15 years ago, I remember working after school in Yearbook club, where the supervising teacher allowed us access to the teacher’s lounge. There I had the great pleasure of discovering Dr. Pepper: Berries & Cream. I’ve never seen it sold in any grocery store ever, but I miss how delicious that novelty flavor tasted

[@MeggMegs]

I love that in hanks last video he leaned into the 4 min rule, and John said, “hold my Dr. Pepper!” 😂😂😂

[@ObviouslyBenHughes]

The FIRST FRAME of this video truly gave me such wild excitement, I LOVE A HIDDEN BOX CONTENTS BIT. This is the content we didn’t know we needed.

[@informatikos-pamokos]

So you would love Good Mythical Morning! They have a bunch of such games!

[@ObviouslyBenHughes]

@@informatikos-pamokos I already do! Rhett & Link are awesome folks

[@liamholmes8325]

I'll be honest this video resonates with me so deeply at 21 as TFIOS did when I was 12. Like, you're evoking the same feelings in me right now.

[@rk-dd5vl]

idk why this was in my recommended for months or whyi just now decided to click on it but now i understand why youtube wanted me to watch it so bad. he acts as if he gets it wrong he would get blown up or even worse, mocked as a fake dr.pepper fan for all eternity. and i love the "those are like the same chord played at a different octave" line like idk if you could make such a comparison in any other context this is truly life changing stuff

[@PokeRedstone]

My dad called me asking what I wanted from McDonald’s and I told him that my drink should be a sprite. I then immediately watched this video, and in my panic, called him back and told him Dr Pepper instead. Thank you for reminding me of the truth I knew all along, John.

[@HelloIAmJo]

I like how John has a 6:20 video on Dr. Pepper tasting, implying that he sees this as educational content, therefore it is not covered by the “under four minutes” rule

[@JohnDoe-kw4fl]

"They died first." 😂 Love that lady !

[@malachilining2730]

This video was 23x more interesting and flavorful than any Dr. Pepper ive ever had

[@shanleee]

you are two of the smartest and most positive influences on the internet and that’s great and all but there’s nothing like a green brother just being a dork for 6 minutes straight

[@xzonia1]

If only Dave would loosen up and join them in the dork-fest. :)

[@katw2254]

@@xzonia1 lol so true

[@ilatkeyou7722]

This is the level of silliness we were rallying for in the stream :') thanks for indulging us. Also your ability to do this is uncanny - I like to think I'd be able to do this with diet coke

[@untappedinkwell]

It really is! Perfect amount of silliness.

[@Dreamfounder]

I have a Diet Dr Pepper every day with my lunch so this brought much joy to my heart. Also although you didn't cover it here you have in the past so I want you to know that yesterday wanted a Diet Doctor Pepper, but I also was cold and for just A SECOND I thought "Should I have hot Dr Pepper?" Reader, I did not have hot Dr Pepper, but it did feel like a sliding doors moment.

[@Notzen238]

So happy to have found a fellow Dr. Pepper fan. Here’s an advanced challenge…distiguish between Texas all cane sugar Dr. Pepper and the standard HFCS. They have the same wonderful weirdness but with a different sweetness.

[@dorissaclaire]

I think we need a punishment special episode where Hank catches up on the punishments he owes us too!!

[@michaelnewell9662]

slushy race!

[@sarahmihuc3993]

Quadragocon 3?!

[@clue111]

Conspicuously no heart from the channel. It’s just been so long. There has to be some fun / playful punishments by now. No more are the days of blenderized happy meals or… face waxing…

[@RobOwenKing]

Anyone else feeling a Christmas special...?

[@untappedinkwell]

Most likely we'll get live P4A punishments and honestly? YES.

[@ERYN__]

I'm slightly worried John wouldn't think of as much of a punishment, but John's punishment could be watching a glass of Dr Pepper loose its bubbles. Yes, this is an allusion to an old punishment when John watched a pint of ice cream melt.

[@themasstermwahahahah]

He should watch it and also drink 5 glasses of warm flat diet Dr pepper that have been out for a day

[@earthtovesna]

The best ad I have ever seen. Both for Dr Pepper and socks

[@kelefane6233]

Dr Pepper and Big Red are the only two sodas a Texan needs.

[@man-throwing-thing]

Came to find out about Johns love of Dr Pepper, stayed for the history lesson.

[@SuperTrb0]

I’ve never heard someone talk so passionately about the differences between Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper, but yet I instantly understood and totally agree with the comparison.

[@imstillworkingonthename3663]

I came for a meaningless taste test, I got poetry and history. From to bottom of my jaded heart thank you.