REVIEW OF I AM ENERGIZED

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 150 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.5 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.4 OUT OF 10. 


     Due to the fact that this site currently has upwards of 300 reviews, it becomes a difficult task to try and locate new products to try. Simply Google searching "new energy drinks" won't bring much success. Thankfully, there are review sites like Possessed By Caffeine, which have over 850 reviews. While I was browsing the site, I happened to notice a product called I Am Sleepy. I instantaneously headed over to the manufacturer's site and sent them a quick email. After a couple more emails were passed, I was fortunate enough to receive samples of all 4 I Am varieties. Obviously, I went for the I Am Energized version first.

     Each variation of I Am comes in a white, 2.5 ounce bottle that is clean and clutter free. The shots were at room temperature so I popped one in the freezer. After waiting about 40 minutes, I took it out and I realized I may have put it in there too long, since there were some noticeable ice chunks. Of course, these melted away and I poured the shot into a glass. After gazing at the brown-ish liquid for a few moments, I proceeded to chug away. This energy shot has a very unique flavor, yet it is pleasing to the palate and a chaser is not required. It is listed as a berry flavored drink, but I even detected some hints of tea. It is certainly unique, but it still managed to please my taste buds.

     Lurking inside each bottle of I Am Energized, you will find an amalgamation of ingredients that make up the so-called energy blend. This one has 200 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 8,000 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 100 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. It also contains an energy blend worth 1,150 milligrams. This includes black tea leaf, yerba mate leaf, natural caffeine, and guarana seed. Each bottle contains 150 milligrams of caffeine. This blend is decent, but it could use a bit more ingredients such as ginseng or gingko biloba.

     Whether or not this energy shot does need a few more energy enhancing ingredients under its belt, the effect I received from it was definitely adequate. With roughly a large coffee's amount of caffeine running through my veins, this has enough to increase my alertness and get me out of my morning slumber (which happens to be around 12 to 1 PM). Defintely a solid performance from the I Am Company.

     The first version of I Am that I have tried is turning out to be a pretty solid drink. The flavor is very unique, being a berry-based beverage with subtle hints of tea. The energy blend could use some touching up, but the caffeine content is definitely adequate. And this energy shot also provides a decent amount of effectiveness. While I cannot tell you whether or not this will be in convenience stores across the United States in a few years, I can report that I Am knows how to make a well-rounded energy shot.

REVIEW OF BLACK BLACK

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 5 MILLIGRAMS PER PIECE.

Courtesy of Review Busters

RATING: 3.1 OUT OF 10.

     It may have been apparent to you that my reviews of slackened off. I've been reviewing them through notes, so I can just slap it together anytime I want. My notebook is kind of full, so I'm making room by knocking out some of these older reviews. Black Black isn't a hardcore product, but I have expressed interest in it for a while. ChemEvo finally allowed me to try it, so I was pretty happy. Let's see if it impresses me.

    The taste is a very strong mint of some sort. It is really just a common gum in its flavor, nothing more. My favorite aspect of this is that it clears up my sinuses when I chew it. It really is a miracle worker on that front, but is hardly outstanding in taste. I do have to commend it for what it does for me, however. It is a great product to carry when you have nasal congestion.

     Not really hardcore with mere 5 mgs of caffeine in a stick. I didn't expect it to be though. Not really much more I can say on its behalf, as I am not one to sugar coat a review. A simple overview: It is weak.

     To be honest, it is a bit of a letdown. I only had high aspirations for the taste, but that fell a bit short, unfortunately. I do recommend it for its sinus clearing abilities, though. If any reason stands out to spend money on this, that would be it.

Reviewed By Dylan

REVIEW OF RELAX AND SLEEP

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

RATING: 7.4 OUT OF 10.

     Although this site's main focus to provide reviews of various caffeinated products, relaxation beverages still remain one of my favorite products to review. And despite only reviewing about seven or eight of these products, I can safely say that Better Life Beverages is taking a new approach to the world of anti-energy drinks. Unlike most of these drinks, Relax and Sleep utilizes an herbal blend, rather than hiding behind a few milligrams of melatonin. It's time to find out if their new approach works, or if it falls flat on the floor.

     Relax and Sleep utilizes the same bottle shape that made 5 Hour Energy so popular. It's the easily recognizable 2 ounce container. On the front, I noticed that the flavor was listed as "lemon drop." After giving it a few shakes, I popped the top and inhaled the fumes that escaped the beverage. I was hit with a calming herbal scent. Intrigued, I guzzled down the contents of the bottle with ease. While I am not disappoint with the overall flavor, I do believe that the flavor is incorrectly labeled. Relax and Sleep had more of a herbal flavor than a lemon drop flavor. Of course, the herbal-ness was expected, especially when you take a closer look at the relaxation blend.

     As I stated previously, Relax and Sleep uses a special botanical blend to promote relaxation and calmness. In all, the blend totals a whopping 4,640 milligrams. In that blend, we have organic violet leaves, organic English lavender flowers, organic rose buds, organic nepeta cataria, blue lotus leaf, organic California poppy seed, organic passion flower leaf, and organic hops flower. There is absolutely no question that these are some interesting ingredients.

     After I consumed the contains of the minuscule container, I waited patiently for the effects to kick in. After approximately 20 minutes of waiting, I was struck with an adequate amount of calmness. Keep in mind, Relax and Sleep is designed to give you a relaxed feeling, with an added benefit of lulling you to sleep. That being said, I managed to feel more relaxed, but I had no trouble keeping my eyes open.

     Relax and Sleep's unique approach to relaxation is a tad risky, but it actually works. Yes, the flavor is incorrectly labeled, but it is still palatable and easy to consume. The ingredient list is filled with several organic herbs, which all promote serenity and tranquility of the mind. And while the effect isn't perfect, it does do an ample job at putting me in a calm state of mind. All things considered, I believe Better Life Beverages has created a solid product.

REVIEW OF 8 HOUR ALERT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 10.

     Typically, when I am asked to review a product that comes in a pill format I kindly turn them down and accept the energy drink instead. However, I have over 3 years of experience and reviewing a caffeine pill is about as dangerous as your favorite No-Doz. While it is easier to overdose on caffeine this way, you know what the golden rule is: Everything in moderation. That being said, let's check out the first pill ever reviewed on this site, the MHP 8 Hour Alert.

     Inside each small, blue bottle of 8 Hour Alert, you will find just 14 bi-layer tablets in a bottle that could probably fit 40. Why they choose to leave so much air space is beyond me. I opened up the container and shook a pill into my hand. The tablets are elliptical in shape, with a white and yellow hue. Each pill is two-thirds of an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide. That being said, these are some adequately sized tablets. I popped one in my mouth, and the flavorless pill was effortlessly washed down with a glass of orange juice.

     8 Hour Alert is not identical to your standard No-Doz, because it has a lot more energy enhancing ingredients. Starting off, it contains 150 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, and 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12. It also contains an energy blend worth 655 milligrams. In that, we find taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, l-theanine, malic acid, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, and phosphatidylcholine. Of course, they hide the caffeine content under this statement: Contains caffeine comparable to a 12 ounce cup of the leading premium coffee.

     Even with that statement, I still have absolutely no idea how much caffeine is contained in one of these pills. My best guess is somewhere around 200 milligrams, although I could be off by a substantial amount. And it does seem like this is the case, because after I consumed the bi-layer tablet, I felt little to no effects from it. That's right, this failed to lift me out of my lackadaisical spirit. I must say, my first caffeine pill didn't have the same effectiveness that I predicted.

     Taking everything into consideration, I must conclude that 8 Hour Alert is a mediocre energy pill. They use your basic laundry list of ingredients, an undisclosed amount of caffeine, and cram it into a medium-sized pill. It all sounds fine and dandy, but I just wish it worked on me.

REVIEW OF MONSTER REHAB GREEN TEA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 170 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

Courtesy of What I Drink at Work

RATING: 8.4 OUT OF 10.

   During my college orientation program, I didn't think I would get the chance to compose any reviews for quite awhile. After all, I live on campus now, and getting energy drinks is a difficult task. Thankfully, my mother was kind enough to pack me with not only an energy drink, but one I have never tried before. It comes from my favorite energy drink line-up: Monster Rehab. This happens to be the green tea version, so let's dive right in this refreshing review.

     Based on the performances of the previous Rehabs, I had very high expectations for green tea. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. Rehab Green Tea struck my palate with a refreshing blend of juices and the unmistakable flavor of green tea. As usual, it was non-carbonated so the contents went down smoothly. While the original Rehab still remains my favorite, this version still has an immaculate flavor.

     Of course, with a Monster Rehab, you're going to receive a laundry list of energy ingredients. Here they are, in full: 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 400 milligrams of panax ginseng, and 6,400 milligrams worth of glucose, black tea extract, green tea extract, maltodextrin, caffeine, concentrated coconut water, prickly pear extract, quercetin, l-carnitine, inositol, glucuronolactone, guarana, goji berry extract, and acai extract. Once again, Monster goes the extra mile to create an outstanding list of ingredients.

     I don't think I could have consumed this drink at a better time. I had received very little sleep the previous night, and I needed the extra boost to get me through the rest of the day. Therefore, I took one out of the refrigerator and guzzled it down. In approximately 15 minutes I was hit with a medium level of effectiveness, common for drinks with this amount of caffeine. It was just enough to get me through the rest of an exhausting day.

     In an aforementioned statement, I said that I still preferred the original Monster Rehab over this green tea version, and I will stand by that. While Rehab Green Tea does provide a solid level of effectiveness and an impeccable energy blend, I still enjoy the classic lemonade and iced tea flavor just slightly more than this one. But by all means, don't hesitate to purchase any Rehab flavor. I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

REVIEW OF ZOMBIE BLAST

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 6.5 OUT OF 10.

     A few of my fellow reviewers are suckers for themed products, which are generally made by Harcos. After all, they did manage to extract Charlie Sheen's Tiger Blood and sell it for a decent price. However, this themed product doesn't come from the folks at Harcos, it comes from Zombie Blast LLC, and as you may have guessed, it's zombie themed. Oh, and the bottle looks like a shotgun shell. If you aren't intrigued yet, you probably don't like Zombies. Or shotguns.

     After a brief struggle I managed to rip off the entire label to reveal the plastic shotgun shell container. I thought the packaging was a great homage to one of the best zombie killing weapons. I found a shot glass and began to pour in the contents. It surprisingly came out a deep red color, as opposed to the faint pink I'm used to. I expediently guzzled it down and was hit with a sweet berry flavor with a bite at the finish. Once again, the cornucopia of berry flavors halted me from discerning which berries I was actually tasting. Nevertheless, it was easy to drink and it didn't require a chaser.

     Inside every bottle of Zombie Blast, you get 100 percent daily value of riboflavin, 150 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, 8,333 percent of vitamin b12, and 100 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. Of course there is also 2,620 milligrams worth of taurine, d-glucuronolactone, malic acid, n-acetlyl l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, d-ribose, caffeine, yerba mate extract, cognizin, citicoline, ginseng extract, and guarana extract. The only caffeine content information provided is the cup of coffee nonsense, but despite this downfall it is still a respectable blend with plenty of herbal stimulants.

     Each time I had Zombie Blast, I wasn't necessarily blasted in any way. The effect it provided was decent at best, probably due to a low caffeine amount. After all, an employee did say that they were shying away from caffeine and leaning toward vitamins and herbs. Still, caffeine is what really makes energy drinks work, and it doesn't seem like their is a lot of it in this drink.

     This is one of only two zombie themed products that I have had the pleasure of reviewing, and while Zombie Blood is more authentic, I thought that Zombie Blast stepped up nicely to the plate and delivered a unique and tasty energy shot. Pick this up if your into the whole zombie thing or if you just want a decent energy shot.

REVIEW OF FACEDRINK

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 140 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.5 OUNCE SHOT.

Courtesy of Vocus PRW Holdings

RATING: 4.9 OUT OF 10.

     Harcos puts out a bunch of cool novelty items, generally enjoyed by the reviewing community. I really haven't been to impressed with their tastes, even though they do have nice appeal. Facedrink is an attempt to mimick Facebook, an attempt I'd prefer for them not to have released. They should stick with their potions and powders. This idea is rather silly, and in no way do I like it.

     The taste is merely ok. It is a sloppy fruit flavor, but more like a generic energy drink minus carbonation. I was hoping it'd be

more on level with the Love Potion, but I am very disappointed. I would not add this as a friend of tastebuds.

     140 mgs of the ever so wonderful caffeine is pretty good. While it isn't blow me away good, it is on par with what I expect out of a novelty item. Of course, most people who buy this would probably buy it for its novelty status, so this caffeine level is very adequate.

     Facedrink surely isn't on my friends list, but I think others will enjoy the idea. It doesn't accomplish as much in terms of energy, but it just another silly concept from Harcos, one that I'm sure will sell.

Reviewed by Dylan.

REVIEW OF XYIENCE XENERGY MELON MAYHEM

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 184 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.9 OUT OF 10.


     It isn't too often that I receive an offer to try a brand new energy drink from a large company, but when I do, I never turn it down. In this case, it's two Xyience flavors: Melon Mayhem and Tangerine Twister. Today I will be focusing on Melon Mayhem, so without any further time to waste, let's head right into this one.

     As you probably know by now, Xyience is the official energy drink of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. When I cracked the seal and took my first gulp, I had a very tough time describing the flavor. Obviously, it's just one big amalgamation of melons, and there is a lack of caffeine bitterness, which is always nice. And despite having Sucralose and acesulfame potassium, it still doesn't have that unpleasant artificial flavor.  While I can't tell you exactly what melons I was tasting, I still found this flavor of Xyience to be pleasing to my palate.

     What powers the official energy drink of the Ultimate Fighting Club? Well, it has 200 percent daily value of niacin, 500 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 160 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,000 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, and a mixture of taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, guarana extract, ginseng extract, l-carnitine, and inositol. That's a solid blend, but I wish they gave amounts on everything.

     With 184 milligrams of caffeine along with a host of other ingredients, Xyience does deliver nicely in the kick department. I drank this after an early dentist appointment and it got me out of my morning state. This drink also has no sugar, so that means a crash is non-existent. I would put it's effectiveness at just above average.

     As I previously mentioned, it isn't too often that I get an opportunity to try a brand new energy drink from a major company, and this one didn't disappoint. The only real downfall is a slightly unpleasant aftertaste, but other that that it's a very solid drink. I am looking forward to trying the other flavor.

REVIEW OF STACKER 2 XTRA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 7.8 OUT OF 10.

     Yesterday evening, I strolled into Meijer in search of some new energy drinks. But instead of hauling over to the beverage isle, I popped over to the health food section. Here, I found some of the most powerful energy drinks you can find. I noticed Endorush, and the infamous Redline. So what did I settle for? A 1 dollar energy shot from Stacker 2. I decided that eventually I would review Endorush, but that will be at a different date.

     From what I've heard, Stacker 2 does not make any tasty energy shots. Thankfully, it appears that I purchased one that doesn't taste like rat urine. When I twisted off the cap I noticed that it had the same pinkish hue as 5 Hour Energy. I checked the bottle and discovered that it was indeed a berry flavor. I was suspecting another 5 Hour clone. Was I correct? No. Stacker 2 is sweeter than 5 Hour Energy, and it tastes better too. It still utilizes that same artificial berry flavor, which tastes nothing like berries, but nevertheless it is still a palatable drink.

     Hiding inside this energy shot are several energy enhancing ingredients. Here's the full list: 100 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000% daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and an energy blend worth 2,125 milligrams. That includes taurine, malic acid, caffeine, glucuronolactone, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, and l-phenylalanine. They also managed to throw in a small enzyme blend totaling 1 milligram. That has amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, and lactase. Not bad, Stacker 2. Not bad at all.

     Since Stacker 2 decided to hide their caffeine content in an energy blend, I truly have no idea how much caffeine this thing has. That being said, I would say it does pack a decent punch. I would put the effectiveness at a medium-high level that tapered off without a crash, thanks to the absence of sugar.

     For just 1 dollar, Stacker 2 Xtra is truly a bargain. It tastes good enough to not require a chaser, and it kicks just as hard as some of the other energy shots that cost almost 3 times as much. I say, if you can find this anywhere, don't be afraid to pick it up. You'll probably enjoy it more than the 3 dollar shot you were looking at earlier (5 Hour Energy).

REVIEW OF TANGO

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 170 MILLIGRAMS PER 15.5 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.1 OUT OF 10.



     During my Big Lots raid, I discovered two very similar energy drinks that have always amused me. The first is Tango Energy Juice, and the other is Samba Energy Juice. There is a third flavor called Rumba, but I have already had the pleasure of reviewing that. For this review, I'm going to check out the Tango version, so let's get cracking.

     At first glance, I can immediately see that this drink is made with 100% juice. Judging by the color, I assumed that this drink would be grape flavored, but my prediction proved to be inaccurate. Tango is a blend of 6 juices from concentrate: apple, orange, tangerine, acai, elberberry, and guava. As for the flavor, this drink goes down smoothly and quickly due to the lack of carbonation. As a consequence of having 6 different fruits, it was difficult to distinguish what fruits were more pronounced. However, this drink pleases the palate and I was left very satisfied.

     Powering this juice is a very familiar energy blend. How familiar? Well, Tango Energy Juice is made by Hansen Beverage Company. That's right, the same people who make Monster are making this delicious concoction. Here is that Monster blend once again: 191 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 191 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,910 milligrams of taurine, 382 milligrams of panax ginseng, and 4,771 milligrams worth of glucose, caffeine, guarana seed extract, l-carnitine, glucuronolactone, inositol, and maltodextrin. As you probably know by now, Hansen does know how to make a pretty nice blend.

     Inside each can of Tango, you will find 160 milligrams of good ol' caffeine. Couple that with the multitude of other ingredients, and this provided a pretty decent kick in the pants. Unfortunately, there is a drawback. This drink has 60 grams of sugar, so consequently I crashed pretty substantially. I hardly ever crash after an energy drink, but I actually felt lethargic after the effect wore off.

     With a delicious amalgamation of fruits and the same blend as the original Monster Energy, you really can't go wrong with this drink. I also really enjoy the fact that it is 100 percent juice, and not something that is 50 percent or lower. I can't find a single reason why you wouldn't want to pick this up, and at 70 cents from Big Lots, that's quite the deal.