Tag: Monster Energy

Looking back at our Monster Ultra reviews, every single one has been positive. And, spoiler alert, I will give Monster Ultra Vice Guava another high rating. How high? You’ll just have to read on or scroll down to the bottom of this review.

Monster Ultra Vice Guava sounds like a video game collaboration between Fruit Ninja, Grand Theft Auto, and a Kaiju game. But it’s much better than calling it Ultra Red Orange. You see, before, Monster was all about using colors to name its zero sugar energy drinks: Blue, Black, Red, Violet, and Gold. But recently, it seems like a lot more thought has been put into them: Peachy Keen, Strawberry Dreams, Fantasy Ruby Red, and now this one.

Here’s what the can says:

“Miami has it all, mind-blowing Latin energy, premier racing from NASCAR to F1, and world class beaches with the hottest clubs right on the sand. Whether you’re an over-the-top partier or an undercover crime fighter in a pastel suit, T-shirt, and loafers-you gotta stay energized! From South Beach to Calle Ocho, looking good and feeling good is what it’s all about. With zero sugar to weigh you down, the fresh taste of perfectly ripened guava, and our world-famous Monster Energy Blend, Ultra Vice Guava has you covered!”

There’s definitely an 80s Miami Vice style going on with the can, thanks to the pink and teal colors and the graphics. What’s Miami Vice? It was a 1980s cop show that lasted for five seasons on NBC. I’m pretty sure it’s streaming somewhere. There was also a movie adaptation of the show in 2006 with the same name.

While the can’s design brings a very old show to mind, the drink’s flavor makes me think of Monster Juice Pipeline Punch, one of my favorite Monster Energy products of all time that has a mix of guava and passion fruit flavors. Vice Guava is straight-up guava, and if it wasn’t for its non-juice consistency, I might’ve been convinced this was part of the Monster Juice line based on its great tasting and natural flavor. Also, as I’ve experienced with other Ultra varieties, it’s hard to detect the artificial sweeteners.

Monster Ultra Vice Guava is another zero sugar energy drink winner, and it’s currently my favorite in the Ultra line.

DISCLOSURE: I wrote this review based on cans I purchased, but later received a free product sample from Monster. Getting it did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 370 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 2 grams of erythritol, 0 grams of protein, and 150 milligrams of caffeine.

Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey is a beverage I pick up when I want something big, cheap, and sweet, but not too sweet. I usually drink it when I want to relax after a long day of yard work or being in the sun all day. This Rehab Monster Green Tea, with its 160 milligrams of caffeine, might be the drink that I consume if I’m getting ready for a day of pulling weeds, cutting grass, and trimming trees.

Along with the caffeine from Monster’s energy blend, Rehab Monster Green Tea also contains electrolytes, B vitamins, coconut water, milk thistle, and quercetin. What’s quercetin? That’s a good querstion. It’s a food supplement that helps boost immunity.

Before trying Rehab Monster Green Tea, I expected it to taste like an Arizona Green Tea but with a noticeable bitterness from Monster’s energy blend. And that was what popped into my head as the amber-colored beverage went down my gullet. If Arizona decided to make a green tea energy drink, I imagine it would taste similar. But since that doesn’t exist yet, if I have a hankering for a caffeinated iced green tea drink, this would be it. It’s sweet and tasty, but I wish its bitterness was less noticeable. I guess it’s hard to hide it when green tea has a light flavor.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 15.5 fl oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 15 calories, 0 grams of fat, 70 milligrams of sodium, 7 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of sugar (including 3 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 160 milligrams of caffeine.

If Monster Ultra Peachy Keen with its peach gummy ring flavor didn’t exist, I could be convinced that this was peaches AND crème. But because they have similar flavor profiles, I question whether there’s any crème-iness. It doesn’t look creamy or have any flavor notes of something that could be considered “crème.” I hoped it would be there because Monster did it with its Reserve Orange Creamsicle.

If you’re unfamiliar with Monster Reserve, it’s basically the original Monster with a different flavor. The name makes it sound extravagant, like it uses spring water that’s been filtered through miles of volcanic rock or that it’s been crafted in gold vats by the most experienced energy drink brewers on Earth. But it’s just a way for Monster to come out with new flavors of its original energy drink.

Monster Reserve Peaches N’ Crème is basically a sugary version of Monster Ultra Peachy Keen, and that’s perfectly peachy keen with me. But would I drink this regularly over Ultra Peachy Keen? No, because if they’re equally enjoyable, why drink the one with more sugar? But that’s just me.

If you hate artificial sweeteners, you might think you’ll enjoy Reserve Peaches N’ Crème. However, I’d hate to burst your peach-shaped balloon, but this also has some sucralose, although it’s not noticeable.

Monster Reserve Peaches N’ Crème Energy Drink is a tasty addition to the Reserve line, even though it lacks a “crème” flavor.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 120 calories, 0 grams of fat, 360 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 28 grams of sugar (including 28 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 160 milligrams of caffeine.

I thought about starting this review using the lyrics for Duran Duran’s song “Rio.” Who’s Duran Duran, you ask? And that is why I decided against the reference. But much like I can’t get the song “Rio” out of my head when I bring it up, I haven’t gotten the taste of Monster Energy’s Rio Punch out of my mind ever since drinking it.

According to the description on the side of the can, Rio Punch is a blend of exotic fruit flavors with a hint of spice. Scanning the ingredients list shows it’s flavored with papaya and mango purees. The can also says Brazil is home to over 70% of all fruits ever known, but I’m too lazy to fact-check that. Something else I’m unsure of is that “hint of spice.” Is there a hint? If there’s a hint, it’s as much of one as r4lkfot4$v2jhi4t2 is a hint to my bank’s password because all I taste are the fruits.

When poured into a glass, its orange hue makes it look like it’s flavored with papaya and mango, but it smells like a red fruit punch. There’s definitely a tropical vibe going on with this energy drink’s flavor. At first, it also tasted like a fruit punch, but with subsequent sips, I started tasting the individual fruits with the papaya being stronger than the mango. I’m not going to complain about that because mango is a common drink flavor, while the equally as delicious papaya isn’t. The more I drank this, the more I enjoyed it. Although, there’s a bit of an artificial sweetener finish, which takes away from the tasty start.

Like Monster Energy’s Ultra line, I can’t think of being disappointed with any Monster Juice product, which continues with Rio Punch. It has a great tropical flavor that I won’t soon forget, much like the lyrics to Duran Duran’s “Rio.” Although, I much prefer Pipeline Punch and Pacific Punch over this new flavor.

Purchase Monster Rio Punch on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 180 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 33 grams of sugar (including 33 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 160 milligrams of caffeine.