Wow. This craft beer boom train is getting full. Businesses are scrambling to jump aboard, whether they are breweries or not. Now Pepsi Cola company is riding the craft beer wave and they intend to launch a series of fountain craft soda. From Fox Business News

The maker of Pepsi-Cola and Mountain Dew sodas said Thursday it hopes to start placing a fountain machine in restaurants this summer carrying a new line of nonalcoholic, carbonated soft drinks called “Stubborn Soda” with flavors like “agave vanilla cream” and “black cherry with tarragon.”

PepsiCo also is trying to tap into the success of small craft brewers that have swiped market share from mainstream lagers like Budweiser and Miller with exotic offerings like cherry wheat ale and maple bacon coffee porter. The Stubborn Soda fountain machine will feature taps for eight flavors, including “lemon berry aç aí ,” that will be dispensed with levers resembling those used to pour beer.

The sodas will be naturally flavored and sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup at a time when more consumers are demanding natural ingredients.

PepsiCo declined to say if it has struck any agreements yet to place the machines in any restaurants. It plans to continue supplying its traditional machines carrying its major soda brands, which also include Sierra Mist.

Unlike in the beer industry, small soda makers have struggled to make big inroads and most Americans have continued to stick with mainstream brands like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Pepsi and Mountain Dew.

Considering our recent reports on the future of small breweries and the potential struggles they may face from illegal activities of larger breweries, the latter part of that report is quite insightful. The soft drink industry has not been kind to smaller drink makers. Perhaps craft beer should learn from that?