REVIEW OF BODY GLOVE SURGE TROPICAL BERRY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.5 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.8 OUT OF 10.

     I cannot even begin to fathom how long it's been since the last time I reviewed multiple flavors of one energy drink company. Nevertheless, I'm here to bring you my review of Body Glove Surge Tropical Berry. Yesterday I evaluated the grape flavor and was pleased with the flavor. Let's see if Body Glove can nail it again with this one.

     The packaging is almost identical to the grape version apart from the red portion on the right side of the bottle. Eager to discover what specific flavors would hit my palate, I screwed off the top and allowed the drink's contents to flow down my esophagus. I noticed an amalgamation of berry flavors, with no specific berry stealing the spotlight. This flavor profile is common among energy shots and energy drinks who advertise their flavor as being tropical berry. Once again, Body Glove did a wonderful job in creating a smooth energy shot that can be consumed easily.

    Naturally, you'll find the same energy blend that you'll see in the grape flavor. There's still a plethora of berry extracts, including uncommon ones like chokeberry and bilberry. In each bottle, you'll find 140 milligrams of caffeine, which would put it on par with most energy shots. Other than that, there's no other energy ingredients to speak of. As I mentioned in the previous review, Body Glove has decided to go the all natural route and leave out all of the ingredients you find in most energy shots.

     With the aforementioned caffeine amount, you can expect a decent uplift depending on your tolerance level. I happened to notice a moderate increase in energy and alertness that lasted for a few hours before tapering off.

     Once again, Body Glove Surge delivers another pleasant energy shot. Much like the last review, the flavor is this drink's strong suit. Although it does have less caffeine than 5 Hour Energy, if you're looking for a great tasting energy shot with some exotic berry extracts inside, I suppose Body Glove Surge wouldn't be a bad place to start.

REVIEW OF BODY GLOVE SURGE GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.5 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.

     The energy shot market, much like the energy drink market, has rapidly become more and more congested over the past couple of years. Over 254 million energy shots were bought in 2013, which means that not only is this a profitable business, it can be difficult for companies to remain competitive. On the reviewing table is an energy shot that is trying to do just that. It's an all natural shot that claims it has "more energy than the leading shot" (I'm assuming that's 5 Hour Energy). 

     The first thing you'll notice about Body Glove Surge is the design of the bottle. While it isn't totally unique, anything different than the 5 Hour Energy bottle shape gets a plus in my book. I'm not entirely certain why companies choose to copy the bottle shape of 5 Hour Energy, but I'm assuming it must be a cost cutting measure. The flavor advertised on the bottle is grape, which can be alarming since energy shots tend to have a medicinal flavor, and if you've ever had grape flavored medicine, you know how appalling the flavor can be. Thankfully, Body Glove understands how to make an energy shot that doesn't abuse your palate. While it still has that artificial grape flavor, it goes down smoothly and isn't hard on the esophagus. For an energy shot, this is actually quite pleasant. 

     The claim of being an all natural energy shot holds true when I examined the ingredients. There's no barely pronounceable ingredients you commonly find in Monster or Rockstar. There is 140 milligrams of caffeine from green coffee beans, which according to the Caffeine Informer, is significantly less than 5 Hour Energy. However, it appears Body Glove's claim is that by adding extracts of grape, cranberry, pomegranate, blueberry, apple, mangosteen, bilberry, chokeberry, and goji berry, these natural energy boosters will give you more of an uplift than the leading energy shot. 

     Unfortunately, I haven't consumed a 5 Hour Energy shot in quite a while, so I cannot compare the effects of Body Glove Surge to it. However, I can tell you that the uplift from this was well received. I did notice a moderate increase in alertness and energy, comparable to a lot of the energy shots on the market today. 

     Body Glove Surge is an energy shot that doesn't receive a standing ovation by any means, but I admire their efforts in creating an all-around solid product. It's rather pleasing when you come across an energy shot that you don't have to choke down, and while I do sometimes like a bunch of crazy energy ingredients in my drink, I'm also a huge supporter of going the all natural route. The only flaw is that their claim of it having more energy than the leading shot may not be justifiable. I mentioned earlier than it can be difficult to stay afloat in such a congested marketplace. If Body Glove to get proper distribution, they should have no difficulties staying in the game.

REVIEW OF STEEM

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 170 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 TABLESPOONS.

RATING: 7.7 OUT OF 10.

For those of you who have been hoping for a new review since January, you're finally in luck. I never announced it officially, but I had retired this project due to loss of interest and lack of new products. However, it appears that 2nd reason is completely illegitimate because I have received several emails from companies asking me to try their product. What's interesting is that none of them were actual energy drinks. Instead they were items such as caffeinated gum, energy shots, and even caffeinated peanut butter. It almost seems as if energy drinks are going out of style and the cool innovative products are here to stay. You see, when you've reviewed nearly 400 products, there's not much that surprises you. Unless it's something like caffeinated peanut butter. Apparently the folks at Steem thought it was a good idea to jack up peanut butter with some good ol' fashion caffeine. Let's see if they're right.

Judging by its initial appearance, Steem has gone for a fairly simplistic design, which fits well with their ingredients list, which I'll discuss in the next section. I decided that it would be best to use this product while making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but first I had to try it on its own. The texture of the peanut butter isn't quite crunchy, nor is it creamy. It's somewhere in the middle, like finely ground. It has a natural peanut flavor and isn't overly sweet like Jif. There is some caffeine bitterness peaking through, but that is to be expected and it isn't overpowering. As for being on my sandwich, I thought the peanut butter worked well with some raspberry fruit spread. So far, Steem has received the seal of approval when it comes to flavor. Can their ingredients do the same?

If you want taurine, glucuronolactone, guarana, and all that other stuff commonly found in energy drinks, you should look elsewhere. Steem provides a very simplistic ingredients list, which I find very satisfying. The only stuff in here is peanuts, salt, peanut oil, organic agave nectar, and caffeine. Specifically there is 170 milligrams of caffeine per 2 tablespoons. I commend Steem for using agave nectar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup. It really shows that they created a quality product.

I did not measure out how much peanut butter I put on my sandwich, but it was easily enough to completely cover 1 side of bread. At least 100mg of caffeine, probably more, was in my sandwich, and I must say the effects weren't too drastic. There was a slight increase in energy and alertness, but nothing too serious. Then again, the efficacy of this product depends on how much of it you consume. I could have slapped on a ton of it on my sandwich and gotten my socks knocked off.

The folks from Steem did a nice job here. I appreciate their efforts in making peanut butter that is of high quality. In fact, the only flaw is that there is some bitterness from the caffeine. Another complaint of mine is that I wish it was a bit crunchier, but that's just my personal preference. It's not very often I see a product that makes me think "wow, I haven't seen that before", but Steem has successfully pulled that off.

REVIEW OF KIRKLAND ENERGY SHOT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 180 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE. 

RATING: 7.1 OUT OF 10.

     I never thought it could happen, heck I'm even breaking out in hives as we speak, but a new review is being written on Addicted 2 Energy. As you may have noticed, I told you guys that this website might not have any new reviews, and that I had lost interest. To be honest, I have lost a lot of interest, and it seems as if most of my colleagues have too. Possessed By Caffeine hasn't reviewed anything since October 27th, Edjunkie is completely shut down, and Energy Heaven's latest review dates back to mid April. As depressing as it may be, the energy drink review blog is slowly dying. So before it can die any further, here's a review of a private label energy shot from Costco.

     Kirkland, which is the private label brand for Costco, has manufactured an energy shot to sell to the masses. The packaging isn't too striking, but I must admit it does pop off the shelf more than 5 Hour Energy does. Kirkland lists the flavor as Pomegranate which isn't a very common flavor among energy shots, so I was eager to give it a try. When you've reviewed hundreds of energy drinks, you kind of know what to expect when it comes to flavor. Energy shots are usually very medicinal and almost unpalatable at times. Not this one. There is some medicinal qualities peeking through, but for the most part it's a sweet and tart flavor profile. Is it better than a major label energy shot like 5 Hour Energy? I would say yes.

     Under the cap of this little 2 ounce slammer is 150 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. Well that's the vitamins and minerals side of things, as for the energy blend, we have n-acetyl l-tyrosine, taurine, glucuronolactone, malic acid, l-phenylalanine, caffeine, and alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine. The energy blend totals 2,150 milligrams, but none of the ingredients have specific amounts listed. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Alpha-GPC is used to enhance memory and cognitive function.

     Believe it or not, I've really cut back on my energy drink consumption over the past month or so, so this energy shot should have provided a decent effect. As it turns out, the effect was in fact decent, but nothing too spectacular. This makes a lot of sense, considering this probably doesn't have that much caffeine in it. The mild buzz lasted for about a couple hours and tapered off with no crash.

     I want to say it's good to be back, but I'm not sure if I'm officially back yet. I might go another month or two without reviewing anything, or I might not. It all depends. As for the energy shot, Kirkland provided a decent drink that is on par with pretty much every other energy shot. It doesn't set itself apart, but then again it doesn't try to. It's just your standard private label energy shot.

REVIEW OF SPORT MAX

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE. 

RATING: 5.9 OUT OF 10. 

     300,000. That's the number of pages that have been viewed on this site. Granted, it's taken over 4 and a half years to get to that milestone, but nevertheless I still thank you profusely. Anyways, let's get started with this review. Today I bring you yet another energy shot, except this one is slightly different. It still comes in that same bottle shape as 5 Hour Energy, but this energy shot is marketed as a liquid b12 booster. Sounds intriguing, so let's give it a go.

     First things first, if you've never had the opportunity to try an energy shot, you should be advised that not all of them are very tasty. As a matter of fact, most of them are decent at best. You do get some gems here and there. And then we have products like Sport Max that are on the opposing end of the spectrum. I'm going to be as honest as possible right now, regardless of how rude it might sound. Sport Max tastes awful. It's difficult for me to describe exactly what makes it so bad. I always try to be exceptionally kind to companies when I review their product, but this is just terrible in my opinion. Hopefully this provides a substantial amount of energy to offset the poor flavor profile.

     Before we get into its effects, lets take a look at what it's packing under the cap. Each shot has 200 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 75 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 300 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 250 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 67 percent daily value of vitamin b7, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b9, 16,666 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 250 milligrams of choline chloride, 50 milligrams of coq10, and 140 milligrams of caffeine. It also contains an energy blend worth 4,300 milligrams containing l-arginine, l-glutamine, taurine, beta-alanine, inositol, malic acid, and magnesium. I'm not going to beat around the bush, this is a wonderful energy blend. Sport Max has certainly gained back some of the points they've lost. Let's see if they can gain more in the effects section.

     You're supposed to consume Sport Max before working out, so I slammed the contents of the bottle down and headed to the gym. I have consumed workout-enhancement drinks before, so I kind of knew what to expect. What I noticed was a little bit more energy and drive, but I also noticed a bit more endurance. It was nothing too substantial, but it was still enough to be noticed. Does it gain back points it lost for tasting terrible? I believe it does.

     The clear downfall of this beverage is the flavor. Everything else is actually up to par or above it. The drink's strong point is it's comprehensive energy blend, which has every b vitamin known to mankind. This energy shot has some potential, but they just need to reformulate their flavor profile.

REVIEW OF MONSTER REHAB ROJO TEA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 161 MILLIGRAMS PER 15.5 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.

     I have tried over 350 energy products on this site, and hands down the best line-up of drinks I have had the pleasure of reviewing is Monster Rehab. Every drink in the Rehab line-up is refreshing, delicious, and a treat for my taste buds. Here we have another flavor of Monster Rehab. This time, it's the Rojo Tea flavor.

     This energy drink comes in a black and red 16 ounce can with the big Monster "M" claw mark on the front. I have yet to try a Monster Rehab flavor that doesn't taste spectacular, and this one doesn't disappoint. As the liquid reached my palate, I was hit with a light, refreshing tea flavor. A drink like this would be perfect for a hot summer's afternoon, and it is non carbonated so it goes down smoothly. What more is there to say except for the fact that this is another success by Monster Rehab?

     As with all Monster drinks, you get that wonderful Monster Energy Blend. Here's the specifics: 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. It also contains glucose, taurine, panax ginseng extract, caffeine, l-carnitine, glucuronolactone, guarana extract, inositol, and quercetin, A full can of this contains 161 milligrams of caffeine. Although I have seen better blends from Monster, this one isn't too shabby.

     As always, you can expect a decent increase in energy and alertness after consuming this drink. I personally receive a subtle increase in energy from this drink.

     Monster Rehab Rojo Tea is just another hit in the Rehab line-up. It has a crisp and resfreshing flavor, coupled with a decent energy blend. Even if this doesn't work for you, you can still drink it for its awesome flavor.

REVIEW OF 5-ALARM PEPPERMINT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 100 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE. 

RATING: 6.3 OUT OF 10. 


     Time and time again I receive samples from an energy shot company claiming to be different, when in reality it is just another 5-hour energy clone. They always seem to have the same medicinal flavor that is never too pleasing on the palate. Of course, there are some exceptions, including this product that recently arrived in the mail. It may have the same bottle shape as 5 Hour Energy, but this might just be the world's first peppermint flavored shot.

     Before we get into the flavor experience of a peppermint flavored energy shot, I'd like to point out that the packaging is relatively basic, and it does point out that a percent of the proceeds are donated to fire fighters for training and evidence. Being the first and probably only peppermint flavored shot, I really had to idea what I was getting into. As I twisted open the cap, I was hit with a refreshing peppermint scent. I proceeded to slam the contents of the bottle down and what happened next was one of the most unique flavor sensations I've had in awhile. I could feel a cool rush of peppermint around my mouth and my nostrils. It's similar to eating a handful of mints. Some may say it tastes like mouthwash, which really wouldn't be far from the truth. All things considered, this was an extremely interesting flavor experience. And I liked it.

     Inside each bottle of 5-Alarm, it has 125 percent daily value of niacin, 2,500 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and a 180 milligrams proprietary blend consisting of caffeine, n-acetyl-tyrosine, and glucuronolactone. I really think they could have added a few more ingredients to their proprietary blend, but that's just me.

     This energy shot isn't filled to the brim with caffeine and guarana, so the effects are pretty mild. I noticed a slight increase in alertness and focus, but nothing too substantial. I'm not suggesting they put more caffeine in, because I can tell that is not the main focus for this beverage. Overall, this should provide the same effects as an 8 ounce cup of coffee.

     Although it may be lacking in the energy ingredients department, the flavor is so unique that it makes up for it. Yes, it may taste similar to taking a big gulp of mouthwash, but obviously this won't make you sick. Besides, where are you going to find another peppermint flavored energy shot? Oh, and it's also pretty cool that they are donating some proceeds to fire fighters.

REVIEW OF RUNA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 120 MILLIGRAMS PER 8.4 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 6.9 OUT OF 10. 

     I'm not mysophobic by any means, but I do appreciate it when things are clean. And I think most people would agree. So when I heard of a company that sells a "clean energy drink" I had to see what all the fuss was about, and after a quick email exchange, I acquired some samples. So without further ado, here's what I think of Runa Clean Energy.

     The can itself is certainly very clean and sleek, with its silver 8.4 ounce bullet can. While I have seen better package designs, I do enjoy the simplicity of Runa. As I looked for a flavor on the can, the only thing I could find was the word "original" which leads me to believe that this could either be a Red Bull clone or something very unique. Thankfully, it was the latter. It's very difficult to describe the flavor of this drink, but basically it is an extremely lightly carbonated, lightly flavored beverage. As a matter of fact, you could describe the flavor as clean, like water. While it isn't big on flavor, it still manages to be a refreshing drink.

     With a name like Clean Energy, you'd expect it to have a very limited amount of energy enhancing ingredients, and you'd be right. It does have something called guayusa, which is an all-natural Amazonian leaf that delivers a "clean energy boost." I don't know how much guayusa is in this beverage, but it's enough to yield 120 milligrams of caffeine.

     So now that we know why it's called Clean Energy, the question now is, does it feel like a clean energy boost? I suppose what they mean by a clean boost is that there are no jitters or edginess. If that's the case, then yes, it did it's job.

     With all the lawsuits that are happening to the big energy drink companies, a drink like this is actually a smart idea. It doesn't really make sense for companies to cram in every single chemical that ends in -ine into their drink, so Runa just went with what works: Caffeine. From guayusa of course. In a nutshell, I like the drink, and I can't wait to review the other flavor they sent me.

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR SUPERSOURS GREEN APPLE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 240 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10.

      First of all, I'd like to apologize for not reviewing anything for nearly 2 months. I have been on quite a long review hiatus, but rest assured this site has not been discontinued. Not yet, at least. I won't review products nearly as often as I used to based on the lack of samples and the absence of new products at my local grocery store. However, I did manage to find one drink that I haven't evaluated yet: Rockstar SuperSours Green Apple. I enjoyed the blueberry flavor, so let's see if Green Apple can step up to the plate.

     If you've ever tasted any of the SuperSours drinks, the first thing you'll notice is an absence of any detectable sourness. Of course, you wouldn't want to drink anything sour so I could see the logic behind not making it a sour flavor profile. Nevertheless, it still has that sweet and tart green apple flavor reminiscent of Jolly Ranchers. If sweetness isn't your cup of tea, then I suggest you skip this one. On the other hand, anyone who loves an artificial green apple flavor will be jonesing for more of this stuff. Personally, I fall into the later category, so I happened to enjoy the flavor, even if it did taste like liquefied Jolly Ranchers.

     Inside a can of Rockstar SuperSours Green Apple we have 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 240 milligrams of caffeine, and an undisclosed amount of inositol, milk thistle, panax ginseng, and guarana. All things considered, this looks like your standard Rockstar blend, only with 50 percent more caffeine.

     After consuming one of these bad boys, you should feel a pretty hefty jolt of energy. With 50 percent more caffeine than your favorite energy drink (which is probably Monster), it will easily provide a much more potent effect. From my personal experience, I would say that this is definitely stronger than Monster or even the original Rockstar.

     While I don't fully understand the marketing tactics behind a drink that looks and tastes like only 13-16 year olds would consume it, I still believe that this is a pretty good energy drink. Sure, it does have some flaws, such as the flavor can get annoyingly sweet after you're 2/3rds of the way through the can. All in all though, I'd still give this drink one thumb up.

REVIEW OF FUGA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 135 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 6.6 OUT OF 10. 

     We're back. After a period of not being able to find any products to review, I have located several different drinks that I can evaluate. One of which was that Monster Ultra Blue, and another is this drink called Fuga. There isn't really anything too special about this drink, at least at first glance. Let's see if it can change my mind.

     The 12 ounce can is a nice touch, but the packaging is average at best. Of course, not only is packaging design subjective, but it doesn't affect the flavor of the beverage. Speaking of flavor, there isn't one listed on the can, so I expected yet another Red Bull clone. I cracked open the can and was relieved to see that the color inside was a pinkish-red. This was an immediate indication that this wasn't another Red Bull clone I was getting into. As a matter of fact, I found the flavor to be sweet, light, and fruity. I believe strawberry is the fruit I'm looking for. Anyway, I'm extremely happy that they decided to use a different flavor besides Red Bull.

     This drink also has a pretty nice blend as well. It's definitely a lot better than your basic blend of b vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and inositol. It has 29 percent daily value of riboflavin, 150 percent daily value of niacin, 375 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 150 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 150 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 135 milligrams of caffeine, 1,500 milligrams of taurine, 37.5 milligrams of panax ginseng, 150 milligrams of prickly pear extract, 900 milligrams of yerba mate, 15 milligrams of acai extract, 112.5 milligrams of glucuronolactone, 300 milligrams of gingko biloba extract, and 112.5 milligrams of milk thistle extract.

     While the energy blend is certainly better than the average energy drink, the caffeine content is very similar to a Red Bull. Granted it is slightly higher, but that wouldn't make too much of a difference. I only received a very mild increase in energy, but it should have a greater effect on people who haven't been trying energy drinks for over 4 years.

     I began this review by making an assumption that Fuga is an average energy drink. My assumption was partially right. Yes, it does have ingredients that you are included in some energy drinks, but for the most part are not ubiquitous across the energy drink industry. And while the flavor isn't Red Bull (thank God), it still isn't immaculate. So no, this energy drink isn't average. It's minutely above it.

REVIEW OF MONSTER ULTRA BLUE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.8 OUT OF 10. 

     Is Monster Energy ever satisfied with how many drinks it has? There are currently 13 Monster Energy drinks, 7 Java Monsters, 3 Muscle Monsters, 3 Extra Strengths, 6 Monster Rehabs, and 2 Monster Dub Editions. In total, that's 34 different varieties of Monster Energy. Today I'll be reviewing the 22nd Monster drink on this website: Monster Ultra Blue.

     This is the sister drink to Monster Zero Ultra, which is a smooth and light flavored energy drink. Ultra Blue has that same textured can, except this one is obviously blue. Sure enough, the liquid inside is also blue, and after taking a sip, I noticed that the flavor was smooth, sweet, and delectable. It reminded me of blue cotton candy in a way, but nevertheless it was pretty tasty. I've always found Monster drinks to be pretty tasty beverages.

     Another area that Monster consistently performs well at is the energy blend. This one has 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, and a Monster Energy Blend of taurine, panax ginseng extract, l-carnitine, caffeine, glucuronolactone, guarana extract, and inositol. The energy blend should be around 5,000 milligrams, but it is not indicated on the can. The caffeine content is 140 milligrams.


     That amount of caffeine should give an adequate uplift to the average consumer, and it certainly gave me a very slight boost. It's really nothing to run home about, but then again, this drink isn't made to knock your socks off.

     With 34 flavors, there truly is something for everybody at Monster Energy. Monster Ultra Blue is just another solid drink from them. It's very sweet and smooth on the palate, and the energy blend is pretty decent. The effect is a bit lackluster, but you can expect that with a lower caffeine content. Overall, I'd definitely buy this one again.

REVIEW OF MONSTER ZERO ULTRA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.6 OUT OF 10. 

     Monster is just one of those companies that is constantly coming out with new drinks. Unfortunately, about 50 of those are variants of Monster Lo-Carb, just like this one here. It's called Zero Ultra and I'm sure you've tried it before, or at least heard of it. It has one of the most unique can designs I've seen in awhile, so let's see how it performs.

     As I said, the can design is incredible. It's a white can with an intricate silver design on it. The design gives the can a rough texture, which I found to be very unique. What's even more impressive is that it tastes as good as it looks. As soon as I took a sip, the flavor instantly reminded me of Sprite. Not in the sense that it is lemon-lime flavored, but it has that same refreshing crispness that Sprite has. Not even artificial sweeteners can hinder the flavor of this beverage. Once again, Monster delivers well on flavor.

     One of the other categories that Monster seems to always deliver on is energy blend. Let's see how they do this time. We have 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6. 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and an undisclosed amount of taurine, panax ginseng extract, l-carnitine, glucuronolactone, inositol, and guarana extract. There are 140 milligrams of caffeine inside each can of Monster Zero Ultra. Overall, it's not a bad blend but I've seen better from Monster Energy.

     This does have slightly less caffeine than your standard Monster, so naturally you should expect a slightly weaker effect. I noticed an adequate increase in alertness and focus that lasted for a few hours. Not bad considering my high tolerance to caffeine.

     Despite the fact that this is yet another variation of Monster Lo-Carb, I am very impressed with Zero Ultra. The smooth, crisp flavor is definitely the drink's strong point, and the effect isn't too far behind. The energy blend could use a very slight bit of work however, but it's nothing major. Oh, and let's not forget about that intricately designed can!

REVIEW OF XYIENCE XENERGY + TEA HONEY GINSENG

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 155 MILLIGRAMS PER 15.5 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 7.5 OUT OF 10. 

     I'm not a very excitable person. That's just the way I am. But when Xyience gave me the opportunity to be one of the first people to try their new Xenergy+ products, I jumped out of my chair. Being one of the first to try any product is a humbling experience in itself, and being able to review it is even more spectacular. Being an avid fan of tea, I decided to consume the Xenergy + tea with honey ginseng first.

     The can design and labels are just about identical to any other Xyience beverage. The only notable difference is the lengthier warning label that explicitly states that individuals under 18 should not consume this beverage. This drink is also non carbonated, so expect a smooth texture when you're drinking this. You should also be aware that this drink is very tasty. The base flavor is a sweet green tea, with compliments of honey. The honey brings sweetness and life into the beverage, while the tea adds a hint of bitterness. It's a flavor profile that is too easy to pass up, so I recommend you give this a try.

     It's time to find out what energy ingredients Xyience put into this drink. First of all, we have 193.75 percent daily value of niacin, 484.375 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 155 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 968.75 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. It also contains 155 milligrams of caffeine, and undisclosed amounts of taurine, guarana, ginseng, l-carnitine, and inositol.

     This drink does have less caffeine than a carbonated Xyience, by about 45 milligrams, so you should expect the effects to equivalent to that of a Monster. I personally received an adequate increase in my energy levels, which I definitely needed after only 4 hours of sleep. If you're looking for a decent pick-me-up, this drink should do the trick.

     I still have yet to try the other Xenergy+ flavors, but so far I like where Xyience is headed. I've always been a sucker for non-carbonated drinks, and this one lived up to my expectations. The honey compliments the green tea very nicely and the whole package looks very professional. If you like, you can currently purchase these drinks at Xyience's website.

REVIEW OF MOUNTAIN DEW KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 92 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.4 OUT OF 10.

     If you have so much as glanced through an article on this website, you're probably familiar with a brand of soda called Mountain Dew. Mountain Dew has almost always been marketed to be somewhat of a cross between a soda and an energy drink. Personally, I have never been the greatest fan of the beverage and prefer a smooth root beer for a soda. So what has Mountain Dew crafted in their laboratories? It's basically Mountain Dew in a 16 ounce can with some added caffeine, vitamin c, and different flavors.

     Right off the bat, you will notice the large "Kickstart" text running vertically along the can. This particular flavor is fruit punch, so naturally the can is colored a vibrant red. Being a fan of sweet flavors such as fruit punch, I eagerly cracked open the can and took a few sips. My taste buds were  immediately hit with a sweet and sticky fruit punch flavor. Since this drink has 5 percent juice and only 19 grams of sugar, the flavor didn't seem as artificial as other fruit punch drinks. On the whole, this beverage has a solid flavor profile.

     Inside each can of Mountain Dew Kickstart we have 80 percent daily value of niacin, 80 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 60 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, and 92 milligrams of caffeine. It also contains 100 percent daily value of vitamin c for some added health benefits. For what it is, this isn't a bad blend by any means. The addition of vitamin c is why this is marketed to be a breakfast drink.

     Kickstart actually has the same caffeine content as a 20 ounce Mountain Dew, so it would be logical to expect the same amount of effectiveness. I happened to notice a mediocre boost in my alertness levels, but it was nothing too spectacular. If you're really searching for a powerful drink, look elsewhere.

     Mountain Dew Kickstart is a bit of a confusing beverage. The drink is not actually marketed to be an energy drink, despite having 92 milligrams of caffeine. I also don't fully comprehend the promotional strategy behind this. A soda for breakfast? That doesn't sound very appetizing. My advice would be to ignore what Pepsi says and just drink this like you would a soda. After all, the flavor is the highlight of this beverage.

REVIEW OF DOUBLE KICK HOT SAUCE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 12 MILLIGRAMS PER TABLESPOON.

Courtesy of Double Kick Hot Sauce

RATING: 5.1 OUT OF 10. 

     For a while I thought I'd never see a caffeinated hot sauce. That was until I stumbled onto Doublekick. As one of the unique products that I love being able to try, I was able to crack a smile when they agreed to send me samples for our review. Lets see how my first caffeinated hot sauce fairs.

     This sauce is thicker than most of the hat sauce than I am accustomed to seeing. Pouring it onto a spoon to try it straight, it comes out in a goopy kind of mess. Putting it into my mouth, I must say I was impressed. It has some heat, though not overbearing, and the overall taste is good. It works well on various foods as well, such as tacos and pork chops. Very solid hot sauce.

     The disappointing part is the kick. 12 mgs per every tbsp is hardly worth my time to review on an energy blog. The only reason it gets to be reviewed is because the bottle claims it to be 'Energizing'. Caffeine being the only ingredient, you'd have to have around 7 tbsp to get more caffeine than the average low budget energy drink.

     Despite the weak kick, Doublekick is a solid hot sauce that works well with your meal. I would only buy it just for the purpose of eating it with my meal. Other than that, it is not worth your time. I do appreciate the caffeinated hot sauce idea though, but wish I could find some of the other things I'd like to see caffeinated, such as whipped cream and doughnuts. Maybe in the future.

Reviewed By Dylan

REVIEW OF COYOTE TAMARINDO

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 200 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10. 
 
     I've gotten pretty lazy lately. I've gotten my reviews stacked up. One of the ones I have put off for quite some time is the tamarind flavor in the Coyote line. My previous encounters with their flavors were good, and I can say the same for this one.

     The taste isn't like my previous encounter with tamarind flavored beverages. The sodas I had bought from my local latino grocery store had a bit more profound taste compared to this Coyote drink. This one had a good taste however, but I wasn't sure how to feel about the apple taste I got with the tamarind. My least favorite tasting out of the three.

     The 200 mgs of caffeine here were well received when I chugged it down. I was drowsy and in a rush, and the blend it hit me and kept me going long enough to get through my hectic evening. The rest of the blend consists of 1250 mgs of taurine, ginseng, inositol, l-carnitine, and glucoronolactone.

     The Coyote line as a whole was a solid one. The Jamaica drink, which sadly wont be able to be reviewed in this go round, was the best of the three, followed by the mango, and this beverage. This Tamarindo flavor was a good one, and is easily worth the buy.


Reviewed By Dylan.

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR SUPERSOURS BUBBLEBERRY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 240 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10.
 
     If I had to choose which company makes the best energy drinks, Monster or Rockstar, I would have an extremely tough time making that decision. Currently, my favorite energy drink is Monster Rehab Original, but the Rockstar variant of that drink received the  Addicted 2 Energy award for energy drink of the year. For every drink one company creates, the other company feels the need to create a rival product. However, I would be surprised to see Monster replicate a drink like Rockstar SuperSours. When I first laid eyes on this drink in the supermarket, I had more questions than answers.

     My first question was, "is this drink marketed toward kids?" The packaging would have me saying "yes", but the caffeine content wouldn't. Let's just hope that Rockstar isn't irresponsible enough to market a highly-caffeinated energy drink towards children. My next question focuses on the flavor profile. They call it SuperSours, so does that mean the drink is sour? As it turns out, it isn't sour at all. Thankfully. The flavor is described as bubbleberry, or rather a mixture of bubblegum and berry. That kind of combination just screams "too sweet", but that just wasn't the case. This drink is smooth and sweet, and the bubblegum flavor is noticeable, yet subtle enough to let the berry flavor come through. All things considered, I think Rockstar did a fantastic job with such a unique flavor profile.

     Similar to their energy drink rival, Rockstar is also known for their potent energy blends. For this drink, we have 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 240 milligrams of caffeine, 50 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, 50 milligrams of guarana seed extract, 50 milligrams of l-carnitine, 50 milligrams of inositol, and 40 milligrams of milk thistle extract. Your classic Rockstar blend with 50 percent more caffeine. Can't go wrong with that.

     I may have a high tolerance for caffeine, but even 240 milligrams is enough to get me moving. This drink actually gave me a noticeable increase in energy, which is always wonderful. This is equivalent to drinking 3 Red Bulls, so make sure you drink this responsibly.

     This energy drink would easily get the award for "Surprise Energy Drink of the Year" if such a thing existed. I honestly thought that the flavor of this drink was going to be completely unpalatable and overly sweet. It still has 260 calories and 64 grams of sugar, so don't expect this to be too kind on your waistline. In any case, just make sure you don't feed your children this drink. Regardless if it is marketed to them or not.

REVIEW OF RED BULL RED EDITION

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 8.4 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 7.2 OUT OF 10. 

     Finally, my homework is completed and ready to be turned in on Monday, and what better way than to reward myself than to compose a review of another Red Bull flavor. Yesterday, I reviewed the Blue Edition, which I found to be very pleasing on the taste buds. The Red Edition is cranberry flavored, and I am certainly not the biggest fan of cranberry flavored drinks. Can Red Bull change my mind?

     Once again, we have the sleek and sophisticate packaging that we saw in the Blue Edition, expect this one is obviously red. As I mentioned previously, this edition boasts a cranberry flavor, so naturally I was curious to see how well they pulled it off. Pouring some out in a glass, this beverage has a vibrant and deep red color, just what I would expect. When I took my first sip, I realized that Red Bull had done it again. This cranberry flavored beverage has the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, mixed with an adequate level of carbonation. Despite not being a big fan of cranberry, I have to admit that this one is just as good if not better than the Blue Edition. So far, Red Bull is 2 for 2 on the flavor aspect of these drinks.

     There is nothing new here in terms of the energy blend. You still have 100 percent daily value of niacin, 250 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 80 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 50 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 80 milligrams of caffeine, and an undisclosed amount of taurine, glucuronolactone, and inositol.

     As I mentioned in my previous review, you should expect the exact same effect as you would get from any other Red Bull flavor. For most consumers, 80 milligrams of caffeine is enough to get them going, but for me it just doesn't cut the mustard. But I wouldn't drink these for the effect. The taste alone can satisfy me.

     In that case, what do I think is better, the Red Edition or the Blue Edition? This is an extremely tough call as both flavors are immaculate and very well-made. On one hand, the blueberry flavor is fruity and smooth. On the other hand, the cranberry edition has that perfect balance of tart and sweet. While the Blue Edition is very excellent indeed, I would have to give the edge to the Red Edition for being such an impeccable cranberry drink. I truly cannot wait to give the Silver Edition a try.

REVIEW OF RED BULL BLUE EDITION

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.

     Red Bull. It's the most popular energy drink in the world, selling 5.2 billion cans in 2012. Its main rivals try to keep up, but it is almost impossible to surpass Red Bull's sales. No matter where you are, even if you're in a place that shouldn't sell beverages, you'll find Red Bull. What's even more miraculous is that they have stayed at the top with only three flavors: Original, Sugar Free, and Total Zero. A few months ago, that all changed. Red Bull introduced three new flavors, named Blue Edition, Red Edition, and Silver Edition. I decided to go with the Blue Edition first. 

     Red Bull Blue Edition comes in a sleek, blue 8.4 ounce aluminum can. I found the packaging to have a simple, yet sophisticated design, and the rich blue will capture the eyes of the consumer. As indicated by the back of the can, the Blue Edition is supposed to be blueberry flavored. I poured some in a glass and out came a deep, blueish purple colored liquid. I took a sip and was instantaneously surprised at how delicious this tasted. The blueberry flavor is smooth and easy on the palate, and there is absolutely no hint of the old Red Bull flavor. The fruitiness is so present in this that I am surprised it doesn't have any juice in it. In any case, the Blue Edition is a lovely start to the new Red Bull line-up. 

     Ah, the classic Red Bull energy blend. It's what started it all. Once again, here's the list: 100 percent daily value of niacin, 250 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 80 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 50 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 80 milligrams of caffeine, and an undisclosed amount of taurine, glucuronolactone, and inositol. What can I say, this energy blend is the epitome of average. 

     In my opinion, Red Bull isn't an energy drink you would reach for if you want a massive increase in energy. However, it should provide you an adequate increase in alertness and focus, just don't expect to be bouncing off the walls. Personally, I didn't feel much of an effect from this drink, but that didn't surprise me. 

     Red Bull really, really took their time in developing new flavors, and judging by this Blue Edition our patience has been well-awarded. I'm also quite pleased that they didn't mess with the drink's energy formula. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. With that said, I am greatly looking forward to reviewing the other two flavors on Addicted 2 Energy.

REVIEW OF +RED POWER ELIXIR

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 150 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.4 OUT OF 10. 

     The energy variant of +Red comes in the same shrink wrapped matte black bullet can with the plastic lid like the Resuce Elixir, and like the Rescue Elixir, the shrink wrap makes it look more generic, and the plastic ring makes it frustrating to open. Other than that, at least they listed the caffeine content on this one.

     Tasting identical to the sister product is well received, considering I loved the taste of the sister product. That being said, there is really nothing to write about this flavor that wasn't covered in my review of +Red Rescue Elixir. Find it, and our other reviews in the link list on the side of your screen.

     Listing the caffeine for this drink makes it so much easier to review than the previous. 150 mgs of caffeine is on par with the standard, though coming up short of reaching the average. The overall blend consists of 1034 mgs of taurine, caffeine, l-carnitine, inositol, and the mysterious red superfood, which I assume is the name sake of this drink. Overall, I received a decent 2 and a half hour kick from this drink, which is pretty good.

     +Red's second beverage slightly outshines the second, by being tasty and delivering a decent buzz. I would spend a dollar or two if I found this in the cooler on at the gas station. I recommend for all to buy this if seen, namely for the impressive flavor.

Reviewed By Dylan