Why We Do It

La Merenda and Engine Company No. 3 are dedicated to creating food conceived from the philosophy of using the freshest most local produce we can.

This philosophy carries over to our sister Soda Company as well.

We wanted to get back to the root of soda and create a product that uses all natural fresh ingredients. We wanted to step away from the high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring that you find in most sodas and know what each ingredient you are consuming.

We are dedicated to bringing you a distinctive taste experience with each sip you take.

BrewMaster Larry Hanlon

My interest in beverage making began in college when I would frequent local brewery tours. Soon-after I started to home-brew beer in my cramped studio apartment.  After several years, dozens of batches, and much beer- induced plotting, I obtained the permits to open a beer brewery. The brewery never came to fruition, but around the same time I came across a collection of early 20th century home- made soda recipes.

Soda-making interested me for several reasons.
First, I could make a beverage that my young sons could drink. (As it turns out, I would even come to rely upon their opinions.)
Secondly, as a former history teacher, I found a nostalgic connection to the long- gone, home kitchen soda brewers of the past.
Thirdly, I wanted to make a soda that was pure and unadulterated: no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial preservatives or colors, and no fake flavors.

In 2012, I bid farewell to my job as a Spanish teacher and started a small soda company called 221 Natural Craft Sodas. I wanted to provide an artisan option for people who were fed up with the hyper-chemicalization and soul-less mass fabrication of sodas. The company led me to the like-minded people at La Merenda Restaurant, which has been the soda's home since the summer of 2013. The house-made soda fits right into La Merenda's and its sister restaurant, Engine Company Number 3's, mantra of local, hand- crafted, and high quality products. All of the soda recipes continue to use simple ingredients like sugar, spices, roots,  juices, extracts and oils; Naturally, they will always be free of artificial additives.