REVIEW OF SPEED FUEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 186 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.4 OUT OF 10.


     Let's dive into the first drink in the line-up of Speed Energy Drinks. These drinks are your typical energy drinks with standard 16 ounce cans and edgy packaging. Speed Energy is endorsed by Race Car Driver Robby Gordon. Gordon has been all over the board with racing, but as a NASCAR driver he had questionable success, earning only 3 wins and 39 top tens in his 18 year career. And contrary to popular belief, he is not related to 4-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon. But enough about NASCAR, let's dive into this bad boy.


     The "description" of the flavor is called Fuel, but other reviews have led me to expect an orange soda flavor. As it turns out, this does taste just like orange soda, and a good one at that. As far as full-on, sugar-laden energy drinks go, this nails the flavor aspect. I'm a fan of orange soda and this worked perfectly. There was also no aftertaste which is extremely rare in energy drinks.


     Robby Gordon's Speed Fuel Energy Drink packs some V8 power under the hood. In other words, it has 260 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 540 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 1,000 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 1,811 milligrams of taurine, 186 milligrams of caffeine, 114 milligrams of inositol, and 111 milligrams of glucuronolactone. It also sports 60 percent daily value of vitamin c.


     So, the ingredients are similar to your typical energy drink: chock full of b vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and sugar. As you would expect, the effect is also similar to your typical energy drink. The caffeine content is slightly higher than a Monster (186 versus 160 for a Monster), and I would say it worked just as well. I experienced a satisfactory level of effectiveness from this drink with no signs of jitters or uncomfortableness. 


     Overall, Robby Gordon's Speed Fuel Energy Drink is pretty solid. It's strong point is clearly its orange soda flavor. I recommend you give this drink a try, just for the flavor alone. The energy blend and the drink's effectiveness also get the job done nicely. 8.4 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ROCKSTAR RECOVERY ORANGE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.3 OUT OF 10.

     In this review, I will be diving into another flavor of the Rockstar Recovery line-up. The other two flavors, lemonade and grape, performed rather well in the taste department, but lacked in the kick aspect. Anyway, enough of the bull crap, let's dive into the taste.

     As previously mentioned, the flavor is described as "orange", and since this drink is non-carbonated, I was expecting an orange flavor similar to an orange Gatorade. My prediction was partially accurate, but since this drink is made with 3 percent juice, it tasted more like orange juice than an orange Gatorade. The only drawback to the taste was the taste of artificial sweeteners. Other than that, Orange is another killer Rockstar Recovery flavor. 

     As far as energy blends are considered, Rockstar has a great one. Here's the full list: 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 100 percent daily vitamin b6, 250 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 160 milligrams of caffeine, 100 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 100 milligrams of prickly pear extract, and 40 milligrams of milk thistle extract.

     To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting much from this drink, and it's a good thing I didn't expect much, because this drink failed to do anything. That's right, Rockstar Recovery Orange had hardly any noticeable effect, and I might-as-well have been drinking orange Gatorade rather than an energy drink. This is just another reason why I am so incredibly eager to try Kymera Freakish Energy Shot, which is an energy shot with an unfathomable 325 milligrams of caffeine. If that doesn't send me to the next universe, I don't know what will. 

     Overall, Rockstar Recovery Orange is just like all the other Rockstar Recoveries (go figure), it has a great flavor profile and it also has a nice energy blend. The kick is a bit lackluster in my opinion, but if your caffeine tolerance isn't as high as some people, you might want to give this a try. I think you might like it. 6.3 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ZENERGY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 7.1 OUT OF 10.


     While in the midst of trying to locate my lost cellular communications device, I figured a nice stress reliever would be to post another review, this one being another energy shot. It's called Zenergy, and I have been holding off a review on this drink for quite some time. The first thing that caught my eye was the unique packaging. It is very eye-catching and uses some Chinese letters and symbols to draw the buyers attention. Unfortunately, there is no flavor listed on the package, so I had no idea what I was getting into.


     Generally, when an energy shot does not disclose a flavor, it usually means that it has a typical energy shot flavor, which is basically a medicinal mixture of berry flavors. However, Zenergy did not taste like a typical energy shot. It had a sweet flavor that is extremely difficult to describe, because I can not compare it to anything. It is sweet but it also has somewhat of a bite to it. It has a very interesting flavor profile, and I do not recall an energy shot that tastes like it.


     So, what on Earth did I put in my system today? Well, Zenergy has 100 percent daily value of thiamin, 100 percent daily value of riboflavin, and 249 milligrams worth of natural caffeine from green tea, caffeine, gamma-amino butyric acid, guarana leaf extract, and l-theanine. The caffeine content is unknown, but the package says it "contains caffeine equivalent to 12 ounces of the leading premium coffee." Based on that statement and the energy blend, I'd put the caffeine content between 150 and 200 milligrams.


     I consumed this energy shot before doing some yard work, and I was pretty tired when I drank it. My father needed help removing leaves from our yard and I was in no mood to help. After consuming Zenergy, I was hit with a medium-level buzz that seemed to help me with my yard work. It was smooth and completely jitter free, just like it says on the bottle. However,  I would not agree with their claim of 5+ hours of energy. 


     Overall, Zenergy Energy Shot isn't bad at all. The only thing I would change would be the energy blend. Having a 249 milligrams energy blend with 5 ingredients won't cut it. Most energy shots have a much larger energy blend with more ingredients. Still, Zenergy makes a pretty decent energy shot. 7.1 out of 10.

REVIEW OF 5 HOUR ENERGY EXTRA STRENGTH GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: ~250 MILLIGRAMS PER 2 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.2 OUT OF 10.

     The product I am reviewing today comes from a company that I have never really liked, despite raving about in in 2009. Yes, it is 5 Hour Energy, and my first experience with it was most likely a placebo. To be honest, it wouldn't be anywhere near my top 10 now (it is 7th on Addicted 2 Energy's Top 10 Highest Rated Energy Products). I also do not like their commercials and their marketing techniques. It is just something about their whole image that I really don't enjoy. Nevertheless, I am back for round 3, this time the bottle is sporting an extra strength label and a grape flavor. I must say, I really like the packaging, it is extremely simplistic but also quite cool. But, of course, packaging isn't everything. Let's see how it fairs in the taste department.

     When I first saw that the flavor was grape, one taste came to mind: cough syrup. Since some cough syrups are grape flavored, and some energy shots can be quite medicinal, it was only fair to think that it would not have a pleasant flavor. As it turns out, I was completely wrong. This does not, in any way, taste like cough syrup. In fact, it actually has a pretty good flavor and went down the esophagus with no problem whatsoever. So, I will give props to Living Essentials for making a tasty energy shot.

     It's been a long time since I took a gander at 5 Hour Energy's list of energy ingredients, so let's see what I got myself into today: 200 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 2,000 milligrams worth of taurine, glucuronolactone, malic acid, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, caffeine, and citicoline. The caffeine content is officially unknown, but it is estimated at being roughly 250 milligrams per 2 ounce bottle. 

     Even though this does have "as much caffeine as a 12 ounce cup of the leading premium coffee", I have to say I didn't really feel a lot of effectiveness from this drink. I had high hopes that this would be the drink that would restore my liking for 5 Hour Energy, but unfortunately that was not the case. I received a mediocre boost in energy, but nothing like the buzz people talk about when the have a 5 Hour Energy. 

     Overall, 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength Grape is not a bad energy shot by any means, even if it isn't as effective as some of the other shots I have tried. The grape flavor is pretty nice and does not need a chaser to wash it down. And the 5 Hour Energy Blend isn't bad either. Basically, it's just the kick that needs work, at least in my opinion. 7.2 out of 10.

REVIEW OF NEURO FUEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 128 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10.


     I know, I've been slacking a little bit and I haven't written a review since October 25, but honestly who cares when my last review was. The point is, I am here now and ready to give you guys and girls another energy drink review. But before I get to that, it's time for some brief site news. If you are familiar with the site Energy Fiend, please check out my review of Relentless over at that site, which is right here. I really want to thank Ted from Energy Fiend for giving me the opportunity to post a review, and hopefully this review will be posted as well, albeit in its own Energy Fiend style.


     Now, let's get started with this review. Today I have a drink that isn't your typical energy drink. It is called Neuro Fuel and it is marketed as a mood boosting energy drink, something you don't see very often. Anyway, the flavor is not described on the front of the can, so I had no idea what I was getting into. Upon taking the first sip, I noticed the drink had a traditional, impossible-to-describe energy drink taste. IT wasn't necessarily a Red Bull clone, but it just had a certain medicinal flavor to it. Personally, I don't mind the traditional energy drink flavor, but if that isn't your idea of tasty, I suggest you move on.


     The energy enhancing ingredients list features a potent blend of mood boosting and energy boosting ingredients. They include: 100 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 4,765 milligrams worth of taurine, caffeine, l-carnitine, dl-phenylalanine, glucuronolactone, piracetam, choline, caffeine, and inositol. Piracetam is an ingredient that I had never seen before, so I researched a little to see what I could find. As it turns out, Piracetam improves memory and boosts concentration, and enthusiasts say it "wakes-up the brain." 


     So, does it work? Yes, and no. Yes, the drink does do its job as an energy drink and provided a decent uplift to my energy levels. On the other hand, it failed to improve my mood one bit. At first I thought it did, but throughout the course of the day I could tell that first instance was only a placebo. And that basically summarizes my experience with Neuro Fuel. Ok for an energy drink, not so good for a mood booster.


     Neuro Fuel is an interesting beverage, and I have to say I wasn't really that impressed with it. Yes, I do like the traditional energy drink flavor, but I would have loved for it to be flavored something different than that, possibly blueberry or grape. You can always tell I am not particularly fond of a drink when I am struggling to figure out what to say about it. So I will stop trying and give it a rating: 7.3 out of 10.