You only turn 250 once, so I don’t mind the red, white, and blue wave of products on shelves as we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. Among them are several energy drinks, including this Bang American Berry Energy Drink.

With the can being red, white, and blue, I thought this would be another rocket pop-flavored energy drink. But after thinking about it for a few seconds more, I realized that wouldn’t make sense because rocket pops tend to have lime, and last time I checked, it wasn’t a berry. So I had to drink it to find out what American Berry actually is.

The liquid has a sweet, fruity candy aroma, but it doesn’t help identify which berry flavors are involved. And because Bang energy drinks have no color, pouring this into a clear glass won’t reveal anything either. Only my taste buds could figure out what my nose and eyes couldn’t.

It turns out that Bang should’ve called this flavor something like American Starberry, because I taste a lot of strawberry in it. It tastes different than another strawberry-flavored energy drink I’ve tried, Monster Energy’s Ultra Strawberry Dreams, and I actually prefer Bang’s version slightly. It’s a bit tart, but its fruitiness tastes a bit more natural and reminds me of a slightly overripe strawberry. Beyond that, I couldn’t discern any other berries or fruit. But that’s okay, because I enjoyed its flavor so much that I felt like saluting it.

After putting down the can, I wondered if strawberries are indigenous to North America. A quick Google search revealed that the strawberries we know today are from France, another country with a red, white, and blue flag. Is Bang available in France? If so, I have a great idea for a flavor called French Berry, I mean, Berry Français.

If you need something sweet and tasty in a red, white, and blue can to help keep you awake for a Fourth of July fireworks show, the 300 milligrams of caffeine in this Bang American Berry Energy Drink will help.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Bang. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: Received from Bang
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of protein, and 300 milligrams of caffeine.

When Bang’s Lime Pop Drop was dropped off at my door by UPS, I expected it to be a heavily caffeinated lemon-lime-flavored energy drink that would be reminiscent of such sodas as Sprite, 7Up, Starry, Mist Twst, or Sierra Mist.

Because I live under a rock apparently made of new Monster Energy, breakfast cereal, and ice cream releases, I hadn’t even heard of this drink before it ended up on my Welcome mat. But after tasting the sample Bang sent me, I quickly found it didn’t taste at all like those lemon-lime sodas. Instead, the energy drink had a way better flavor.

Much like other Bang Energy Drinks, a can of Lime Pop Drop has 300 milligrams of caffeine, has zero sugar, and zero calories. Plus, it has the usual “performance supplements,” like Ultra COQ10 and essential aminos.

After cracking open the can, an alluring lime mixed with cotton candy aroma rose from it, hitting my nostrils as if I walked into a Bath & Body Works. As I took my first sip, I instantly wondered, “Wait. Is this the lime version of Bang’s Any Means Orange?” That drink, which came out last year, was an orange-creamsicle-flavored delight, and this Lime Pop Drop tastes like a lime-creamsicle-flavored cousin. It was such a pleasant and delicious surprise that I had to physically restrain myself from chugging the entire can in one go. I don’t know how my body would respond to consuming 300 milligrams of caffeine within a few moments.

I also got strong key lime pie vibes, but imagine that key lime pie was drowning under several extra-generous dollops of whipped cream. But there’s also a candy-like aspect to the lime that makes the citrus flavor sing. It definitely won’t be confused with any lemon-lime soda.

I enjoyed Lime Pop Drop every bit as much as Any Means Orange, which I gave a very high score, and I hope Bang keeps it around and never drops it.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Bang. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz can
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 300 milligrams of caffeine.

Bang Any Means Orange is my first experience with a Bang Energy Drink, and ever since I’ve consumed it, my heart has been racing. However, I don’t know if that’s because I’ve fallen in love with this energy drink flavor or because of the 300 milligrams of caffeine the beverage has.

Any Means Orange is probably the most random-sounding energy drink flavor name ever, but I assure you that there is meaning behind it. The flavor is a collaboration between Bang and Any Means Possible, or AMP for short. They’re a collective of online streamers.

I know some of you wordsmiths are thinking, “If their group is called Any Means Possible, why wasn’t this Any Means Pomegranate?” Well, I’m going to be honest, probably because pomegranate is so (insert whatever the kids say instead of “uncool” here), and there’s something Weird Al Yankovic-ish about that name.

However, I am extremely thankful that it ended up being orange-flavored because my fondness for how Any Means Orange tastes is as high as this energy drink’s caffeine content.

First off, this isn’t just straight-up orange. While the brand says it’s “Refreshing orange with a zesty kick,” I swear it’s orange creamsicle-flavored. So it really should’ve been, “Refreshing orange with a creamy kick.” That is as clear as the beverage when poured into a Pyrex cup. It hits the citrus and cream flavors so well that I’m surprised this isn’t liquid from an ice cream truck with broken freezers that’s sitting in the middle of the desert. It’s so delicious.

Much like I’ve experienced with Monster Energy’s Ultra line, this zero sugar energy drink doesn’t taste like there’s no sugar in it. (Oh, for those who don’t follow energy drink companies like sports teams, Bang’s parent company, Vital Pharmaceuticals, was purchased by Monster in 2023.)

If you’re a fan of orange creamsicle-flavored energy drinks and want 300 milligrams of caffeine, pick this up by any means necessary.

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary product samples from Bang. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz can
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 300 milligrams of caffeine.