REVIEW: Mtn Dew Overdrive

Mtn Dew Overdrive Bottle

Mtn Dew Overdrive is a Casey’s-exclusive flavor. What’s Casey’s? It’s a convenience store chain that isn’t convenient for anyone who lives outside the upper center of the United States.

According to its label, it’s a Dew with a blast of citrus punch. I assume that punch contains mango, raspberry, and lime flavors because there are images of those fruits on the label. The graphics also include a bunch of critters, like a beaver, turtle, catfish, duck, and what I assume is a moorilla, part moose and part gorilla.

Mtn Dew Overdrive Moorilla

(UPDATE: I am told that is Benny the Bearalope, and it’ll be touring Casey’s locations and the nightmares of those poor folks who lay their eyes upon it.)

Mtn Dew Overdrive Critters

If you’ve read my past Mtn Dew reviews, what I’m about to type is whatever the written equivalent of me sounding like a broken record is. Mtn Dew Overdrive smells and tastes very similar to another Dew (or a Dew offshoot) that exists or has existed, but I’m not sure which one. However, I know for sure that I have no idea whether it tastes like Mtn Dew Cyclone, the first citrus punch-flavored Dew that was a Speedway exclusive, because I’ve never tried it.

While it’s supposed to have mango, raspberry, and lime flavors, I only taste the raspberry and lime when I take a sip. I notice a bit of mango in the aftertaste, but I wish I could taste it with the other fruits. As much as I enjoy Mtn Dew Overdrive’s flavor, it’s not one I’d put in the uppermost echelon of my favorite Dew varieties. Of course, your taste buds may vary.

Again, Mtn Dew Overdrive is tasty, but I can’t help but think about how it’s a little disappointing that it reminds me of another Dew variety. If you live far outside the region where Casey’s stores are located, it’s not a flavor I’d drive over many miles to obtain.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: eBay (Casey’s exclusive)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) 270 calories, 0 grams of fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 73 grams of carbohydrates, 73 grams of sugar (73 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 91 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem

Mountain Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem Bottles

It feels like it’s been a Flamin’ Hot minute since I’ve done the Dew.

I’m jealous of all you hardcore Dew heads out there who manage to track down every flavor (I imagine you call yourselves “Dewds and Dewdettes,” naturally.) I know there are grinders out there who don’t let any regional release or store exclusives stand in the way of their doing of the Dew.

Me? I’m a big Mountain Dew fan, but at this point, half the names feel like fever dreams. Every time I turn around, there’s a new one on the market. It’s hard to keep track. The last Dew I had was red, but it wasn’t Code Red. You know the one! When was that released? Am I way behind?

Either way, I liked it. It was a headache in a bottle, but it tasted good. What can I say? I’m getting old, and the sugar rush goes straight to my dome. Actually, I think Mountain Dew could use that as a slogan. Mtn Dew: It’s a headache in a bottle, but it tastes good! Enter the two new Dew – Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem. Guess what? They’re no exception.

Baja Gold is pineapple flavored, while Baja Mango Gem tastes like mango, with zero gem flavor to be found anywhere. I can honestly say I’ve had maybe two pineapple sodas and no mango. Couple that with the fact I’ve been a fan of the Baja variants since the OG at Taco Bell, and I was fired up to try these.

Mountain Dew Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem Glasses

Well, what I can tell you upfront is, yeah, both of these are cloyingly sweet – too sweet if I’m being honest, but we all know what to expect from Mountain Dew. I couldn’t fathom drinking a full 20 ounces of either of these in one sitting, let alone both, but they were delicious in moderation.

Mtn Dew Baja Gold Label

Baja Gold tasted like the ripest chunk of pineapple you’ve ever had, inexplicably rolled in pure cane sugar. It’s essentially pineapple Life Savers in liquid form. My only real frame of context when it comes to pineapple sodas are Goya and Jarritos, and I think this stacks up pretty well in comparison. It’s vibrant, smells incredible, and has that tiny, almost peppery bite on the finish like the best pineapple usually has.

Pineapple is criminally underutilized by soda companies, and this lived up to the hype I built up in my head. I know Dew had a pina colada-inspired flavor at one point, and I’m really bummed I missed it.

Mtn Dew Baja Mango Gem Label

Baja Mango Gem didn’t pack as much as a punch, but it was equally good.

Finding super ripe mangoes near me is always a total crapshoot, so I am a big fan of dried mango, and this soda tasted just like that. It didn’t pop quite like Gold but had a nice sweet mellow flavor that really made me think of those little dried fruit jerky pieces.

Mango and orange aren’t exactly similar, but this had a similar sensation to a less intense orange soda. It kinda falls somewhere between the typical orange soda and those creamsicle-flavored novelty sodas. It’s not “creamy” per se, but sweet and smooth.

It’s admittedly dumb even to mention this about a Mountain Dew release, but they still caught me a bit off guard with the sugar content. The fructose corn syrup in these drinks is higher than Snoop Dogg.

In the end, both are really nice, but they’re a headache in a bottle. I say definitely do these Dews, but don’t be shocked if you polish off the bottle and have a stomach ache soon after.

Purchased Price: $2.29 each
Size: 20 fl oz bottles
Purchased at: Quick Chek
Rating: 7 out of 10 each
Nutrition Facts: 280 calories, 0 grams of fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 74 grams of total carbohydrates, 74 grams of total sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Typhoon (2022)

Mtn Dew Typhoon  2022 Can

Mtn Dew Typhoon is a Dew with a blast of tropical punch, and it’s only available online via the Dew Store. It’s a returning flavor that made its debut in 2010. A 16-ounce can six-pack will cost you $12 (not including $8 ground shipping). Plus, to purchase it, you have to be a Dew Nation HQ member, which I’m not sure comes with a membership card you can flash to access some auDEWtorium if you sign up. Is it worth spending an Andrew Jackson and sharing your email and birthday to get your hands on something that initially existed over a decade ago?

Well, it’s much cheaper and easier than building a time machine from scratch, let me tell you. But if you’ve already got one, go with the time machine because sodas were cheaper back then. If not, I think it’s worth getting the six-pack of Mtn Dew Typhoon because it’s a mid to maybe upper-mid-tier Dew flavor.

Here’s what I wrote about it back in 2010, when the flavor debuted as part of the DEWmocracy promotion: “While those who live in the western part of the Pacific Ocean probably don’t like its name, I thought its pineapple and citrus flavor was the best tasting and most unique of the three DEWmocracy flavors. Although, as much as I liked it, I wasn’t completely blown away by it.”

Mtn Dew Typhoon  2022 Glass

After tasting it again in 2022, that last sentence still rings true. It has a tasty fruit punch flavor with a noticeable pineapple kick, but it’s not so great that I want it available year-round or in brick-and-mortar stores. It’s been over a decade since I last had the chance to try Typhoon, and over that time, I haven’t really thought about it, unlike Mtn Dew Pitch Black, which I dream about multiple times a year.

With that said, I do like the idea of getting the opportunity to go back into Mtn Dew history and try flavors from its past, even if that involves creating a password for the Dew Nation HQ website. I hope this leads to the selling of other discontinued flavors. Can you imagine trying Johnson City Gold or Mtn Dew Pitch Black I AND II again? That would be awesome!

So, I guess what I’m saying is, buy Mtn Dew Typhoon. By doing so, you’ll be getting a fine tasting Dew, and we all might get the chance to wrap our lips around more discontinued Dew flavors in the future.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product samples from Mtn Dew. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz cans
Purchased at: Received from Mtn Dew
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 230 calories, 0 grams of fat, 65 milligrams of sodium, 61 grams of carbohydrates, 61 grams of sugar (61 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, 72 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Purple Thunder

Mtn Dew Purple Thunder

What is Mtn Dew Purple Thunder?

It’s a Circle K exclusive Mountain Dew flavor that combines the classic carbonated and caffeinated citrus soda with blackberry and plum flavors. It’s available in 20-ounce bottles and at Circle K’s Polar Pop fountains.

How is it?

It tastes like another Mountain Dew flavor that I enjoyed, which is odd because the press release about Purple Thunder says that it has “a one-of-a-kind blackberry and plum fusion.” I can’t recall which other flavor this tastes like because all the high fructose corn syrup I’ve consumed from trying every Mtn Dew variety might’ve made my memories hazy. But it’s probably one of the other berry-flavored Dew flavors I’ve tried. I guess you could say Purple Thunder is a DEWrivative.

It’s really the berry that has my taste buds experiencing flavor deja vu. I don’t notice any plum flavor unless the flavor scientists at Mountain Dew eat the same flavorless plums I sometimes end up getting because I have no idea how to pick good ones at the grocery store.

Anything else you need to know?

Its purple color makes me yearn for Mtn Dew Pitch Black. Now that I’ve typed that sentence, I want it even more. Give me a second. I’ve got to create an eBay saved search for unopened Pitch Black cans that are very-beyond-the-best-by-date. Come on, Mountain Dew! Bring back Pitch Black for Halloween this year! Heck, it can even be a reboot. Reboots are in now. Dew it!

Also, a zero-sugar version is not available. Sorry. Wait. Why am I apologizing? It’s not as if I influence what gets made and what doesn’t. Besides wanting Pitch Black back, I’d like Maui Burst to be released from Dollar General’s exclusivity. But just because I typed that doesn’t mean it will happen.

Conclusion:

Mtn Dew Purple Thunder Label

Even though it tastes familiar, Mtn Dew Purple Thunder is a fine release. It’s not even close to being in my top 10 favorite Dew flavors. But it is definitely in my top 10 favorite purple-colored Dew flavors, which I think there are less than ten, so there’s a chance it’s ranked higher than ten.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample (along with a bunch of swag I’ll never use) from Mountain Dew and Circle K. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 20 oz bottle
Purchased at: Received from Mtn Dew and Circle K
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) 270 calories, 0 grams of fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 73 grams of carbohydrates, 73 grams of sugar (73 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Can

What is Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift?

In March of 2021, PepsiCo released Mtn Dew Rise, a series of six Dew drinks marketed to morning coffee drinkers, loaded with 180 milligrams of caffeine, fruit juice, vitamins, and zinc for immune support. After losing a court battle late last year with Rise Brewing, a ready-to-drink coffee company founded in 2014, Mtn Dew was forced to drop “Rise” from its name and return as Mtn Dew Energy, bringing with it a new flavor — Cherry Lime Lift.

How is it?

My love of cherry lime goes way back to the Shirley Temple days. There was nothing quite like that Sprite mixed with cherry syrup when going out for dinner in the 90s before my caffeine addiction and ability to consume alcohol — the pinnacle of drinkable treats. In adulthood, I’ve remained fond of the flavor combo, so I was stoked that Mtn Dew would rise from the ashes with this winning duo, and they pulled it off well.

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Top

The flavor is a near perfect 50/50 split of cherry and lime, with distinct cherry candy sweetness on the front and crisp, citrusy lime on the finish. The carbonation is medium, milder and smoother than other energy drinks like Bang and Reign, and I prefer a touch more bubbles, especially when accenting sharp citrus.

The fruit juice plays a minimal role. In this case, it’s white grape, and I think it’s there more as a marketing ploy than to provide depth of flavor. If anything, the actual juice is less sweet than the artificial sweeteners that make up the rest of the ingredients and most products in this category, which pulls back a bit on the sugariness and punchiness of the cherry lime.

Anything else you need to know?

Mtn Dew Energy Cherry Lime Lift Red

In addition to the even split of cherry and lime, there’s a very distinct Dew flavor that rounds out the profile. If you’ve had any kind of Mtn Dew product, you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, well, then you need to try it to know! It’s in all the flavors from original to Baja Blast to this brand new Dew Energy, and it’s less of a specific flavor note than it is an underlining essence. You’ll know it when ya taste it, trust me. It’s not a bad flavor at all, I actually enjoy the familiarity of it, but it does slightly lessen the purity of the other key flavors.

Conclusion:

It may not take the throne from my two favorites of the original Rise launch — Pomegranate Blue Burst and Tropical Sunrise — but it’s a great addition to the Energy line and very true to its name.

Purchased Price: $1.79
Size: 16 oz can
Purchased at: Lucky
Rating: 7 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, less than 1 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.