Tag: Energy Drink

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Code Red

Marvo 5 Comments

Mtn Dew Energy Code Red Can

It makes me feel old knowing that the original Mtn Dew Code Red is over 20 years old. It’s been on shelves for so long that I can type the following: The new Mtn Dew Energy Code Red is not your father’s Mtn Dew Code Red.

I feel like it was just yesterday when my mind was blown seeing another Dew flavor next to the original. At the time, the way the original green Mountain Dew and Code Red looked on the shelf together made it seem like Mtn Dew was celebrating Christmas.

Mtn Dew Energy Code Red is the latest flavor in the Energy Drink Formerly Known As Mtn Dew Rise Line. It’s also the flavor with the damn best looking can of the bunch. It features 180 milligrams of caffeine, vitamin C and zinc for immune support, has five percent juice, and zero grams of added sugar like all the Mtn Dew Energy flavors in less eye-catching cans.

Mtn Dew Energy Code Red Cup

With the first sip, it’s recognizable as the Dew with a rush of cherry flavor. But if you’re hoping for a taste that’s a carbon copy of the original Mtn Dew Code Red, thanks to the artificial sweeteners, you won’t get that. I guess it’s more like the Zero Sugar version. Although this isn’t completely sugar free. There’s a little bit from the five percent of white grape juice in it, which does a little to hide the sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. As someone who is used to energy drinks with artificial sweeteners from Monster, some of which are hard to tell if they’re sugar free, I don’t mind that this doesn’t have the same sugary bite as the original.

Despite being one of my favorite Dew flavors, it’s been a while since I’ve had a Mtn Dew Code Red, so it was nice to revisit it in this energy drink form. Although its flavor is not unique in the Mtn Dew Universe, this might be my favorite in the Mtn Dew Energy line, slightly edging out Tropical Sunrise.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 170 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar (including 0 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Ghost Energy Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink

Sean 4 Comments

Ghost Energy Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink Can

What is it?

Ghost Energy’s Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink is the second limited edition can and first athlete collaboration from the supplement company known for making calorie-free drinkable Sour Patch Kids. The collab is with Maxx Chewning, a fitness YouTuber and owner of the Sour Strips candy line, known for his love of deadlifting and, unsurprisingly, sour candy. Strawbango Margarita was released on Friday, September 9, as a Vitamin Shoppe and Ghost App exclusive.

How is it?

Ghost Energy Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink Pour

Spoiler alert: it’s freakin’ awesome. After my first sip, I exclaimed out loud, “oh man, this is good.” After my second sip, I started bobbing up and down around the room, repeating myself even louder, emphasizing the “GOOD” with even more juice. The can is beautiful, the taste is beautiful, and suddenly the day is beautiful… it is just caffeine, some vitamins, and nootropic focus ingredients in this thing, right?

Ghost Energy Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink Clear

If we dissect its name, the drink should have three things — strawberry, mango, and margarita — and it decisively has them all. Coincidentally that’s also the order in which I taste them. When it hits my tongue, I get a delightful sweet candy strawberry taste, followed by juicy mango, and rounded out with a bright, citrusy lime. When I think margarita, I think salt, and somehow I even get a hit of saltiness in the finish despite there only being 35 milligrams of sodium in the can. It may sound weird, but there’s also a touch of citrus candy, like lemon Pez, in the finish and on the nose, and it really makes the flavor addictive. The aftertaste left in my mouth when I (very temporarily) put the can down is 100% strawberry lime margarita, and it’s wonderful.

I was worried that this limited edition flavor would be too similar to the Ghost Energy Tropical Mango, but it’s very different. I just revisited that one two days ago in anticipation of this release, and this is much less mango-forward than the launch flavor from 2020. As a result, it’s much more complex and, for me, better.

Anything else you need to know?

I’m unsure if this was intentional or just my can, but the carbonation feels lighter than other Ghost Energy releases. The pop from the top sounded a bit underwhelming, and I’m not getting hit by the usual cascade of bubbles, but it works really well. Having less effervescence lets the sweetness really come through, and it feels even more like the adult beverage it’s paying homage to.

Conclusion:

Ghost Energy Strawbango Margarita Energy Drink Glass

This drink may not get you drunk, but it tastes so delicious it might just leave ya flyin’ high. The 200 milligrams of caffeine won’t hurt either, but this limited release is already soaring off of shelves (my store sold out of cases on the first day), so if it sounds good, run, don’t walk, to your nearest Vitamin Shoppe before it’s gone for good.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 16 ounces
Purchased at: Vitamin Shoppe
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 5 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: RYSE Fuel Kool-Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink

Sean

RYSE Fuel Kool Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink Can

What is it?

RYSE Fuel is on the rise in the crowded and growing sugar-free energy drink market. Following initial launch collaborations with Smarties, Ring Pop, and Sunny D, the brand is back at it, colliding with one of the most recognizable and nostalgic faces in the junk food world — Kool-Aid.

How is it?

RYSE Fuel Kool Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink Pour

Tropical Punch is my favorite Kool-Aid flavor, I’m an energy drink junkie, and I absolutely love this. From what I remember of tall sugary ice cold pitchers of the red stuff, RYSE bottled up this flavor beautifully. Fruity notes of cherry, orange, and pineapple take center stage with a little background flurry from lime. The taste is sweet but not aggressive, with a generous amount of bubbly bubbles that give a sharp and pronounced fizz.

The can packs 200 milligrams of natural caffeine for the stimulant energy rush, along with 500 milligrams each of choline bitartrate and taurine for improved memory and performance. It works well as a pick-me-up beverage without any intense pre-workout ingredients that might make you feel like your heart will explode. And, as an added bonus of pure fun, RYSE used natural coloring from vegetable juice to nail the iconic vibrant red hue.

RYSE Fuel Kool Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink Color

Anything else you need to know?

If I had one tiny complaint, it would be that the flavor could be a touch punchier. It’s great, but the flavor emulation from brands like Ghost with its Sour Patch Kids and Warheads collaborations nailed it SO hard it makes perfection difficult in this sector. Kool-Aid is very sweet, and while this drink truly brings the flavors of Tropical Punch to life, I wouldn’t mind even a touch more sweetness to drive the profile home amid the flurry of intense effervescence.

Conclusion:

RYSE Fuel Kool Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink Caffeine

RYSE’s Kool-Aid Tropical Punch Energy Drink is awesome. Whether you’re a fan of sugar-free energy drinks, riding a nice cool caffeine buzz, Kool-Aid, or all three, I can’t recommend grabbing a can of this enough. There’s a total lack of tropical punch from RYSE’s competitors, so this one is going into my rotation without hesitation. From the very first sip, it was “OH YEAHHH” vibes, and I might just have to go run through a wall with all of this excitement.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: Vitamin Shoppe
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1can ) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Baja Blast

Sean 1 Comment

Mtn Dew Energy Baja Blast Can

What is it?

Baja Blast has washed down Nachos Supreme with authority for nearly two decades. Introduced in August 2004 as the first ever fast food exclusive soda collaboration between Pepsi and Taco Bell, the fan favorite has been allowed to spread its bubbly wings over the past eight years. Not only can the popular pop be bought in 20-ounce bottles and 12-packs at Walmart, but in 2022 it expanded into the burgeoning low-calorie energy drink market via Mtn Dew Energy.

How is it?

Baja Blast was designed specifically to complement Taco Bell’s salty and spicy food, so the profile has always been kind of mild and admittedly isn’t a favorite of mine from the Mtn Dew lineup. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll get the Zero Sugar version anytime I get a fountain drink at Taco Bell, but on its own, it doesn’t pack a whole lot of “wow” factor compared to the original, Code Red, or recent limited editions like Spark.

Mtn Dew Energy Baja Blast Glass

The flavor is hard to pin down because it’s so mild, but regular Baja Blast is described by PepsiCo as “a tropical lime storm,” and that’s fairly accurate if we’re talking about a very mild and sweet storm, like a key lime storm. Take that bit of sweet key lime and collide it with the classic inevitable Dew flavor and some nondescript citrus, and you’ve got your Baja blanket. To go along with the mild flavor, the can delivers a low level of carbonation with fairly wide bubbles that I want a bit more presence from. Even though the smoothness may be preferable for some, I like a nice bubbly burst and think some tighter bubbles would bring out more citrus storminess.

Mtn Dew Energy Baja Blast Pour

Anything else you need to know?

One of the features of Mtn Dew Energy is its use of fruit juice, and that small 5% of fruit juice does have an impact here, and it’s not a good one. The use of white grape juice concentrate makes the Energy version of Baja a touch less sweet than its purely artificial-based counterpart, which is a detriment to the flavor as a whole. I even get some grape juice flavor in the finish that builds the more I sip, which isn’t surprising since it’s the second ingredient. It’s very drinkable, and I’m sure it would go swimmingly with a Crunchwrap Supreme, but as a flavor, it’s not an improvement over the original.

Conclusion:

Mtn Dew Energy Baja Blast Caffeine

Mtn Dew Energy remains a good but not great line, with only one or two flavors that really impress me. I could see myself repurchasing this if it was on a good sale but will likely reach for a bolder, punchier lime when I want my citrus craving quenched.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 180 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Monster Rehab Watermelon

Marvo 5 Comments

Monster Rehab Watermelon Can

What is it?

Monster Rehab Watermelon is the newest flavor in Monster Energy’s non-carbonated, electrolyte-filled, vitamin B-stuffed, botanical-infused, and caffeine-charged recovery beverage line.

How is it?

If you’re familiar with Monster Energy’s Ultra Watermelon, you’ll know how this tastes. But if not, it has a flavor similar to hard candy that’s artificially flavored to taste like the fruit but in liquid form. Comparing Ultra Watermelon with this Rehab, I’d have to say they’re very similar, although I think the fruitiness is slightly subdued in this one. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that if you’ve had one Monster Energy watermelon-flavored beverage, you’ve had them all. However, this is much easier to drink because it’s not carbonated. So if you dislike carbonation because the bubbles tickling your nose bothers you, and want a watermelon-flavored pick-me-up, then this is a great option.

Monster Rehab Watermelon Can Glass

Anything else you need to know?

I don’t imbibe the Rehab line often, and I can’t remember the last time I had one. I almost always reach for anything from the Ultra line because I like bubbles tickling my nose. Although, I don’t know if I’m the demographic for the Rehab line. It seems as if it’s for folks whose lifestyles are a bit more, um, glug glug the drinkie drinkie than mine. Apparently, the milk thistle and quercetin in Monster Rehab beverages have detoxification effects.

Also, for some reason, this variety has 150 milligrams of caffeine, while all the other Monster Rehab varieties have 160 milligrams. Ooooh, caffeine-gate.

Conclusion:

Monster Rehab Watermelon is a great tasting recovery beverage. So if you need to recover after a hard night of drinking, this may help. Although, if you got drunk from watermelon vodka, watermelon margaritas, watermelon mint mojitos, watermelon soju, watermelon shochu, or watermelon beers, you might want to pass.

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary product samples and some swag from Monster Energy. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 15.5 fl oz
Purchased at: Received from Monster Energy
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of sugar (2 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 150 milligrams of caffeine