Pibb Xtra (previously sold as Mr. PiBB) is a carbonated soft drink marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. Introduced in August 1972 to compete against the popular drink Dr Pepper, Pibb has a small but loyal following in many parts of the United States, especially the South. Many hold that Mr. PiBB had a flavor distinct from and far more nuanced than Dr Pepper, with slight hints of both root beer and chocolate soda. A diet version was also available into the 1990s in some markets, notably Texas. Some Pibb soda cans were uniquely shaped; instead of the traditional cylinder, the can had faceted sides.
The Coca-Cola Company even held a "Pibb Girl" contest in 1980, where a girl who matched a predetermined face would have won cash and prizes. However, no one realized until later on that the girl had to be white to win. After protests, the contest was dropped.
Mr. PiBB's slogan in the late 1990's was "Put it in your head" and the can featured an odd cartoon head drawn in a squiggly scribble style.
In 2001, a new flavor called Pibb Xtra was introduced with added cinnamon and cherry flavor, replacing the original Pibb flavor in many parts of the U.S., although some regions had both variations for sale at the same time. Pibb Xtra is often described as "spicier" and more similar to Dr Pepper than Mr. PiBB.
In 2005, Coke introduced Pibb Zero, a sugar-free version of Pibb Xtra, in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Coke reports that there are no plans to introduce Pibb Zero to the rest of the U.S.
The product was mentioned in a well-received Saturday Night Live skit, Lazy Sunday on December 17, 2005: "Mr. PiBB and Red Vines equals 'crazy delicious.'"
Availability
Pibb Xtra is widely available in the southeastern United States and is also found in other areas of the country depending on the local Coca-Cola bottler. It can be found in both fountain form (in restaurants) or canned/bottled in vending machines or grocery stores. Pibb Xtra can sometimes be found in southern-themed food stores in those parts of the US where it is not widely available. Pibb Xtra is also available in the Mariana Islands. Shortly after the introduction of Pibb Xtra, Mr. PiBB was discontinued altogether.
Identity Crisis
Longtime fans who have always drank Pibb often refer to Pibb Xtra as "Mr. PiBB", even though it is a slightly different drink. This is largely due to habit and the longtime use of the Mr. PiBB moniker.