REVIEW OF AMP BOOST CHERRY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.2 OUT OF 10.

     If you are currently a high school student, you will most likely remember Amp Energy Drink as a product of Mountain Dew. It was essentially Mountain Dew on "steroids" with added caffeine and taurine, as well as a plethora of other energy enhancing ingredients. You might also recall that their were flavors such as Amp Traction, Amp Elevate, Amp Overdrive, Amp Relaunch and later on Amp Lightning. This was fine and dandy, but recently the Amp I came to know and love basically disappeared. Now we have the Amp Boost variety, which contains original, cherry, grape, and sugar free. Focus is the mixed berry flavor, and Active is the lemonade version. I decided to try the Amp Boost Cherry variety which is, more or less, a modernized version of Amp Overdrive.

     When I reviewed the original cherry flavored Amp, I concluded that it was the most delicious energy drink I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. That was back in July 2009, so I'm hoping that this new version called Amp Boost Cherry can be just as satisfying. First off, the can is a lot sleeker and more sophisticated than the Amps of yesteryear. That being said, I proceeded to crack open the can and take a few gulps. Surprise! Amp Boost Cherry has a distinctive cherry flavor. It's not exactly a shocker, is it? Nevertheless, the flavor is quite pleasing and it isn't too thick and syrupy, despite being laced with high fructose corn syrup. And that isn't the only thing it's laced with.

     Lurking inside each can of Amp Boost Cherry, you will find 200 percent daily value of riboflavin, 200 percent daily value of niacin, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 6 percent daily value of phosphorous, 295 milligrams of taurine, 264 milligrams of guarana extract, 160 milligrams of caffeine, 33 milligrams of ginseng extract, and 16 milligrams of yerba mate. Looking back at my review of Amp Overdrive, it appears that the blend has pretty much stayed the same. I'm certainly not going to call it a great blend, as it appears to be rather basic and low on taurine (the average is 2,000 milligrams per can).

     Amp Boost Cherry contains 160 milligrams of caffeine, which is the industry average for 16 ounce cans. Why? The answer is that Rockstar Energy created the first 16 ounce energy drink, that was double the size of Red Bull, making it have double the caffeine content. And pretty much every 16 ounce drink followed this trend. Baring that in mind, this energy drink did provide an adequate increase in alertness and overall energy. This should be satisfactory for the majority of consumers.

     Despite being pretty much a modernized version of Amp Overdrive, I was generally impressed with the performance of Amp Boost Cherry. The flavor is very palatable and could potentially be refreshing when poured over ice. The energy blend is probably the drinks weakest point, as it uses lackluster amounts of critical ingredients. And while it doesn't kick like a stubborn mule, it can still provide an AMPle increase in energy. You should have no trouble locating these where the original Amps used to be. Man, I really miss those original Amps.

REVIEW OF B63 (THE SODA JERKS)

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 8 OUNCE CAN. 

     Recently, I was given another opportunity to post a review on The Soda Jerks. Of course, I seized the opportunity and decided to review a drink from Switzerland. Here's a small sample for you to enjoy:

     I seldom receive the opportunity to review an energy drink from outside the United States. Off the top of my head, I can only recall Ubershot and Hype Energy Drink as the only foreign beverages I have had the pleasure of consuming. I am pleased to announce that they both did well, especially Ubershot, which is probably the 2^nd or 3^rd greatest energy shot I have tried. Now, the opportunity to review a foreign drink has presented itself yet again. This number comes from Switzerland, a beautiful country 4,000 miles from where I reside. Thankfully, the shipment was successful and I found it on my doorstep within a week or so....

Read the full review at The Soda Jerks website. 

REVIEW OF I AM HAPPY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

RATING: 6.1 OUT OF 10.

     The mood-boosting beverage has always been one of the most unique beverage genres on the market. If you must, you could consider it to be a sub-genre to the functional beverage, since it utilizes non-traditional ingredients to enhance emotional well-being and happiness. Sure, these little drinks are very intriguing from a reviewer's standpoint, but unfortunately their performance can be a bit lackluster sometimes. Just ask the people who created Be Happy. Hopefully I Am's attempt at making a mood-boosting drink doesn't end up in a deplorable result. 

     This minuscule bottle of I Am Happy is packaged in a yellow and white container that uses the same design and fonts as all of the other drinks in the line-up. Once again, I had to locate the flavor by examining the ingredients section. It appears that this is marketed to be a raspberry flavored beverage, similar to I Am Focused. Eager to try out this product, I quickly cracked open the bottle and guzzled it down. As with all of the I Am products, the flavor was smooth and not overpowering or harsh on the palate. I did notice a raspberry flavor, but it wasn't as tart as you might expect. Every single offering from I Am has a wonderfully smooth flavor, and this one is no exception.

     When you take look at the active ingredients inside a bottle of I Am Happy, you begin to notice some incredibly unique ingredients. Starting out with the ordinary ones, we have 150 percent daily value of vitamin niacin, and 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b12. Stepping into the realm of uniqueness, we find 125 milligrams of ashwagandha root and leaf extract. Furthermore, we have a Happy Blend worth 2,800 milligrams. Inside of that, we have l-tyrosine, english lavender flower, passionflower vines, lemon balm aerial parts, gamma-aminobutyric acid, chamomile flower, and l-theanine. These are definitely from very interesting and unique ingredients hiding inside this bottle. 

     After I gulped down this great-tasting shot, I was really hoping that my spirits would be uplifted and I would have a wonderful state of mind. Unfortunately, none of this actually happened. No matter how long I waited, I failed to recognize any change in mood or mind. Apparently, this drink is advertised to promote a clam, relaxed state of mind and to enhance emotional well-being. It's sad to say, but I did not receive any of those effects. It's just so unfortunate for a company that was doing so well on this site.

     Despite the fact that this drink had absolutely no noticeable effect on me, it still as its share of strong points. For instance, it still delivers a wonderful flavor, which has typically been I Am's biggest highlight. With supplements such as lemon balm and ashwagandha, the active ingredients list is quite a spectacle. I just wish that this little bugger had some effect on me, but sadly it didn't. All things considered, I must conclude that the I Am line-up gets my seal of approval.

REVIEW OF I AM FOCUSED

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 20 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.5 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.9 OUT OF 10.

     Functional beverages have long been a substantial part of Addicted 2 Energy's reviews, with the first review dating all the way back to June of 2009. While it is clear that I do enjoy these unique beverages, how we define them is not. Fortunately, Wikipedia has an article that attempts to define exactly what a functional beverage is. Simply put, functional beverages are non-alcoholic drinks comprised of non-traditional ingredients, generally to promote some sort of mental clarity or enhance cognitive function. As it turns out, the I Am Company manufactures its own functional beverage. They call it I Am Focused, so let's find out if I Am Satisfied.

     Of course, this company uses pretty much the same packaging style for every product they offer, and that's perfectly acceptable. Once again, a flavor is not presented on the front label, but a closer examination reveals the flavor to be raspberry. After I guzzled the shot down, I can successfully agree with that flavor. It does, in fact, have a raspberry flavor to it, but it isn't as tart as you might think. It's actually quite smooth and rather delicious. Judging by the two previous offerings of I Am, I can almost conclude that they really know how to make a tasty shot.

     The active ingredients list is always a pleasure to look at when you're dealing with functional beverages. Hiding inside each bottle of I Am Focused, there is 100 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 125 milligrams of ashwagandha root and leaf extract, 200 milligrams of alpha-glycerol phosphoryl choline, and 300 milligrams of acetyl l-carnitine. Not stopping there, it also has a focused blend worth 500 milligrams. In that, it contains gingko biloba, golu kola stem, organic yerba mate leaf, organic green tea leaf, and natural caffeine. There is no question that this drink definitely epitomizes the definition of a functional beverage. They really try to use non-traditional and obscure ingredients.

     One of the biggest issues that I have with these drinks is that it is very difficult to discuss what effect they had on me. It is very easy to simply ignore the supposed effects and consider it to be a placebo. That being said, this product is designed to help the consumer reach a sense of mental clarity and balance. Whether or not I truly felt more calm and collected is an unsolvable enigma. What I can report is that I was engaged a bit more in the topics presented in my courses. Does this prove that this drink provided cognitive clarity? No. But, I still thought the effects were decent enough and it basically did its job.

     Yes, it is true that functional beverages are extremely unique and perhaps even frustrating and confusing for us reviewers. However, there is nothing confusing about this drinks performance. For being a small shot, the flavor is palatable and certainly did not require any sort of chaser. Also, the ingredient list is one of the most unique that I can remember witnessing. I Am really went head over heels to locate some very interesting ingredients to try and increase mental clarity. Of course, I cannot prove that it does in fact do what it is advertised to do, but I can tell you that I enjoyed this tiny shot.

REVIEW OF I AM SLEEPY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.

RATING: 8.6 OUT OF 10.

     Yesterday, we took a drive down I Am lane to focus on the energy shot that the company offers. Today, we are going to take a closer look at their attempt to formulate a relaxation beverage. As always, I greatly looked forward to guzzling this little shot down and hoped that it would cause some serious sluggishness. Did it succeed in doing so? It's time for you to find out.

     I Am Sleepy is packaged in a very similar fashion to its energy counterpart, utilizing the same fonts and style. Although there is no flavor listed on the label, a closer examination will determine that the last ingredient is natural lemon flavor. Despite this, I did not detect any lemon flavor. Then again, taste is subjective, so you may happen to notice a substantial amount of lemon. As for me, I received a delightful amalgamation of various fruits and berries. What's interesting is that most of these relaxation shots actually have a relaxing flavor, and this is another example. The flavor feels calm and collected, not superfluously sweet and overpowering. All things considered, I Am Sleepy is a delectable concoction that was pleasing to the palate.

     The main ingredient in just about every relaxation beverage is melatonin. Each bottle of I Am Sleepy contains 3 milligrams of melatonin, but it also includes a plethora of other ingredients designed to promote relaxation. As a matter of fact, there are 2,420 milligrams worth of other ingredients. This includes chamomile flower, l-tryptophan, lemon balm aerial parts, passionflower vines, gamma-aminobutyric acid, hops flower, and l-theanine. As soon as I was finished perusing the ingredients that were listed, I instantaneously knew that this formulation would certainly do the trick.

     As it turns out, my prediction proved to be accurate. Within the initial thirty minutes after consuming the beverage, I was slowly hit with the feeling of relaxation and tiredness. The next hour, I became even more sluggish and decided to call it quits. The very instant my head came in contact with the soft cotton pillow, I immediately fell into a deep and restful sleep. I woke up about as refreshed as any college freshman could possibly be. As a matter of fact, I actually ended up rising before my alarm went off. As I predicted earlier, this little shot certainly put me in a relaxed state of mind.

     When I take a step back and soak in all of the great qualities of I Am Sleepy, I begin to realize just how fantastic this product is. It successfully hits all the right notes of a fabulous relaxation shot. The flavor is sweet and subtle, with hints of berry and fruit. Its relaxation blend provides an adequate amount of melatonin, as well as a plethora of other ingredients. Not to mention, this shot provides a phenomenal effect. If you happen to locate one of these fine specimens at any convenience store, please do me a favor and purchase it. Just don't consume it before you drive a vehicle or operate machinery. Imagine trying to explain that one after an accident.

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.