Dirty Pop brings soda trend to Alliance

ALLIANCE, Neb. (KOLN) - A unique business in Alliance is bringing a Utah beverage trend to western Nebraska.

“Dirty Pop” serves dirty sodas and dirty energy drinks, which are sodas or energy drinks mixed with cream, syrup or fruit.

Owner Luanne Hancock said the concept started in Utah, where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began customizing sodas as an alternative to coffee.

“Mormons or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t drink coffee,” Hancock said. “And so I think they started just doctoring up sodas and making it kind of fun like people do with coffee.”

Hancock, who is from the Utah-Arizona area, said the shops are common in Utah and Arizona and are expanding to other areas.

The most popular drink at Dirty Pop is the “Truly Madly Deeply”, made with Dr. Pepper, vanilla and coconut cream. Customers can order from a menu or create their own combinations.

The shop also serves pretzels, churros and cookies, including sugar cookies, Scotcheroos and chocolate chip cookies, along with a cookie of the week.

Hancock said the building previously housed an insurance office and a transit building before being converted into a soda shop.

Dirty Pop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours extend to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer. The shop is closed on Sundays.

Hancock plans to open a second location in Scottsbluff this summer.

The shop is part of the Nebraska Passport Program, which begins in May.

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