Remember the 90’s Soda, Surge? It’s Back, Thanks to a Guy from Minnesota

Here's a Throwback Tuesday for you: Surge, that caffeinated citrus soda from the 90's that was discontinued over 10 years ago, is back-- thanks, in part, to a guy from right here in Minnesota.

Yes, Surge, the Coca-Cola citrus soda that was developed as an alternative to Mountain Dew (in fact, Coke staffers referred to it as 'MDK,' for Mountain Dew killer) first hit shelves in 1996, but never really caught on. Thanks to declining sales, Coke pulled the plug on Surge in 2003. But Surge fans never stopped campaigning for its return. Which is where the Minnesota connection comes in.

According to BringMeTheNews.com, "Matt Winans is a hero in his hometown of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. And it’s because of the 26-year-old and two other dedicated soda drinkers that select stores have once again started carrying Surge, the highly caffeinated citrus drink that CocaCola nixed more than a decade ago."

The story goes on to say that Winan began campaigning for the return of the soda back "in 2011 with the founding of The Surge Movement, an online grassroots campaign that sought to persuade Coke to bring back the once popular beverage, the Fergus Falls Journal reports." 

His efforts paid off, apparently, as the story notes Coca-Cola is once again selling Surge at various spots here in Minnesota. "The drink is now sold at participating retailers in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and about two dozen other states in the eastern U.S., according to the official website," the story says.

So, drink up, Surge fans! It's 1996 all over again, and your favorite soda is back. (And here's a brief look back at the official Surge history, too...)