Bartender Mike Gulley was on a mission to quench his thirst. Four years ago he looked around Cleveland for a local, all-natural soft drink to use in his craft cocktails but came up dry. "So I started making ginger beer in 16-ounce bottles [using] yeast," he says. Today, Gulley owns and operates Old City Soda, where he brews up creative carbonated concoctions ($9 per four-pack) such as hibiscus, grapefruit and, one of his personal favorites, a cinnamon soda made with two kinds of that spice. Using traditional homebrewing techniques, Gulley simmers each mixture at low heat for several hours, allowing the flavors to infuse overnight. He then sweetens and carbonates it in kegs for three days before bottling. "I make them without extracts and oils," he says, "and try to make them the most authentic, legit ways." facebook.com/CLESODA
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