Monster Java Chai Hai

This is the second review of the day for me. Jeff and I picked up the Chai Hai at out local market today, and we thought that maybe we could do a "Double Review." Basically, it will include both of our opinions and thoughts on the drink for the amount of one review. So here's my part.

This is the drink I've been waiting to try since we started Canned Reviews. This drink is called the Chai Hai, a blend of spices and tea. If you've ever tried a Chai Tea Latte, you might know what this will taste like. I, personally, love tea and coffee, so I am really hoping that this will be a powerful Monster blend. This can has a Chinese background consisting of faded green stone artwork. In front of the background, you see the usual Monster logo with its stained brown look and font carved by a sharp object. So far, this is Monster's best artwork yet. I am glad to finally try this drink and I know it'll be a winner in my book.

This is by far, the best smelling energy drink I have ever smelled before. I immediately smell a blend of spices, milk, and tea, similar to egg nog and chai mixed. This has a light brown, milky color as it hits the cup. Way lighter than the other Java Monsters. The taste is mouth watering...warm, buttery, silky smooth. You then feel a mix of cinnamon, green tea, and sugary sweet, creamy coffee. Once you taste this drink, you cannot put it down. I am constantly taking more and more sweet Monster coffee blend that doesn't get old and always keeps you hyped and alert. Sure, this drink is chuggable, but you really do want to...you need to savor the drink because I can almost guarantee that you will not find a better coffee/tea energy blend out there like this one. Obviously, this drink has no carbonation, no gumminess, and no nasty aftertaste you get in most energy drinks. Instead, you get that warm feeling you get at Christmas, or being inside a cottage with a hot fire during a snowstorm. Overall, if you want a drink either during the holidays, or you want a sweet, warm drink with no gumminess or artificial aftertaste, purchase this drink, and stay AWAY from Starbucks a few paces away. For a cheap average price of $2.00, you get this intense, flavorful drink. For a ridiculously expensive price of about $5.00, you get an overpriced Chai Latte which tastes the same, if not worse than this Monster. Which would you rather buy?

Okay, now the ingredients: I first see filtered water and reduced fat milk, standard ingredients for a Java Monster. Next, I see sucrose and glucose, an alterantive sugar substance to HFCS. Taurine, then comes in at number five, different than most energy drinks you'll see out there. Per can, you get about 2,000mg of taurine and 180 calories. Have you noticed the difference? That's right, the least amount of calories in a Monster product (except the Lo-Carb). You only get 28 grams of carbs as well, I think this drink is a message say "Hey, we want to make an energy drink low on everything, but not so low that we have to call it low...so, lets make it sweet, tea-like(for organic ingredients), creamy, and milky." So, overall, this was an amazing drink and I would for sure recommend this to tea lovers, coffee lovers, and energy lovers.

Taste: 10 - Incredible flavor and no aftertaste or gumminess
Kick: 10 - I am so focused right now...
Overall: 10 - You will never find a better tea-like energy drink out there

Reviewed by: Chan

As Jeff puts it...

This is Jeff, writing the second part of our Chai Hai double review. I have fallen in love with each of the Monster Java drinks I've tried so far. I haven't reviewed them all, but I know that every one is coffee, except this. Chai itself is not the tea leaf, but the beverage brewed with many aromatic spices. I'm expecting another quality drink by Monster, this time with intense flavor.

I opened the almighty Chai Hai through my dramatic can opening ritual. When I opened it, I got a whiff of cinnamon, nutmeg, mocha, vanilla, and it seemed hundreds of other spices and pleasurable aromas. It had the perfect sweetness and a creaminess to it that was insanely addicting. As you take a sip, you notice the silky smooth cream sensation and then slowly the warm and welcoming spices greet you along with the lovely and earthy tea. It reminds me of Christmas time and sitting by our imaginary fireplace in a comfortable chair. There's no nasty aftertaste you'd get from an energy drink, just liquid nirvana. The color, I forgot to mention, is a little lighter than the coffee Javas and is more tan than brown. This one is for sure the best drink out of all the tea drinks out there. I mean it's better than any Lipton brand tea drink you could find anywhere. There's not a trace of any artificial sweetener, which means there's no overpowering quality to it and it never gets old. I don't know what else to say but that this is simply amazing.

Now, don't forget, this is an energy drink, too. With the incredible taste, you also get 2000mg per can of Taurine, an energy ingredient, 400mg of Ginseng, and an overall 5000mg; or 5 grams of the Monster Energy Blend; including L-Carnitine, Glucose, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucuronolactone, and Maltodextrin. At a little over $2.00, I know this would seem like a way better value than any overpriced hot drink at any cafe. And knowing you'll get a real good boost is half the experience. If you're a calorie-counter or health freak, don't fret; there's no more than 180 calories in the can, with a mere 26g of sugar. That's around 5.4 tablespoons for the 15oz in the can. I'd say that's not bad, considering soda has a lot more sugar. After this, I feel really awake and aware, focused enough to do anything asked of me, like sweep the floors or prepare dinner. If you've got to choose between this and a Starbuck's Coffee, trust me, you will be far more satisfied with the Monster.

Taste: 9 - Incredibly tasting and thoroughly satisfying
Kick: 7 - Yeah, I got a boost
Overall: 9.5 - Worth every cent

Reviewed by: Jeff

Pit Bull

After a whole bunch of drinks coming in a large can, I've been looking for something a bit smaller and possibly more potent. On an energy drink excursion today I spotted this, the Pit Bull. In a small 8.4oz can, this one seems tiny to the huge BooKoos and other 24ozers. The can artwork is truly nothing special: it's a black can with "Pit bull" in red writing and, you guessed it, a pit bull on the front. It has the tagline "Attitude in a can!" and I really like how it's so descriptive about the taste in the blurb on the back. None of the other drinks I've had told me exactly about the taste. It's so lightly carbonated that, where you would see "carbonated water" listed in the ingredients, there simply reads "water." I'm glad it's not full of carbonation, because recently, all the extra carbonation in the drinks I've had has held me back from enjoying the full experience. This one, I'm hoping was meant to be chugged. But because I have to get the taste nailed in this review, I'll take a few sips first and chug it after.

I opened the can and got splish-splashed with the drink all over my shirt. I saw at the opening that the can was absolutely filled to the brim. I guess you get what you pay for here. The color is almost clear except for a very faint gold-tan tinge, presumably from the ginger. The flavor starts out exactly like Sprite and morphs into a bitter ginger, ending in a neutral aftertaste. I'm taking four ounces to get the flavor right and now, I'm about to test its chuggability. CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! Ow, my throat! Those liars! It is, too, carbonated and not as lightly as I had hoped. I guess this is just a fun one to give to your friends so you can watch their facial expressions as they chug. I'm telling you that you don't get any while you chug; it's like taking in mineral water. I'd say that this one is a fail unless it can prove to me it has the power to get me going like no other. I'm going to do some jumping jacks; I'll tell you what I think after.

Okay, after 60 jumping jacks in less than a minute, I still have to say it's not what I was expecting. I'm a little let down but glad because at least we got this out of the way. On the ingredients, it seems pretty weak, with 500mg per serving, which is the whole can, and 50mg of Inositol. It bothers me a little bit that this can has a whopping 28 grams of sugar and yet little or no sweetness. It's a complete let down that I'm ingesting all that sugar and not tasting it. This drink is just pretty disappointing and I don't recommend it at all.

Taste: 2 - Extremely light and nothing special; like having mineral water
Kick: 3 - I believe it's the same kick I would get from a banana
Overall: 2 - Don't buy it, plain and simple

Reviewed by: Jeff

BooKoo Zero Carb

This drink is likely not found anywhere in your local store, but I found it in the way back cooler shelf, all by itself, at my local market.The last review by me this moth, aside from the Monster Chai Hai, will be the Bookoo Zero Carb. I have heard praise for the Bookoo by many energy drink fans nationally. However, I have also heard that Bookoo has stopped making this particular energy drink for a few years now. I dont know about you, but this-I dont want to say scared- mabye worried about trying this drink. This can consists of a large yellow font 'Bookoo' all along the front side of the can. Around the logo, you see orange tribal flame design which goes well with the black background. Above the logo, I notice the words "Zero Carb"; and below the logo, I see the spread out words, ENERGY. After much thought, I am somewhat excited to dig into this 24 ounce behemoth.

As I pop open the lid, I smell a strong lemon-lime scent with a hint of orange and citrus. As it hits the glass, this Bookoo is clear with a slight brown tint. This drink taste similar to a Propel, expect with a lot of carbonation. At first, you get a powerful punch of lime and orange, then fades to sort of a citrus flavor, and then to nothing. However, if you take small sips, you taste a sweeter, almost sugary type taste to it. This has so much carbonation, that by the time you have about 5 ounces, you find it too hard to take large sips and/or 'chug' it. Just so you know, there is no way possible that any human can chug 3 or more ounces of this crazy mix. I would also like the mention the amount of gumminess, simply intense. This is the kind of drink that you want to keep coming back for more until there's none left and you freak out.The taste almost exactly resembles that of a Diet Mountain Dew, with a hint of orange. I can honestly say that this one drink you want to eventually try in your lifetime because there is no words to describe the intensity of this drink. I can't sit still or even type correctly so I recommend you try this drink before a hike or light exercise. Overall, even though you might not be able to find this drink on the market, Bookoo Zero Carb packs an intense kick and different flavor than your usual Monster, Rockstar, or Amp.

It can be fun sometimes to look at the ingredients of low carb/calorie energy drinks, because you never know what you will find. This time, I found sucralose, an alternate name of Splenda. Taurine, surprisingly, comes in at number 8, being that I am totally hyper with this drink. Another surprise, this drink has no calories, whatsoever. I'm sorry this is so short, but I can't think straight due to this drink's power and energy, mabye something else, but I'm pretty sure it's the kick. Unlike, a lot of other drinks, this will not give you a possibly painful stomach ache. As of right now, I feel like jump and down and run wildy along the floor for 3 hours. If you want something that'll grab you by the horns and won't let go untill you fall down on the ground and shout mercy, this drink is perfect for you.

Taste: 8.5 - It had an intense flavor, but the gumminess and the carbonation threw me off
Kick: 9.2 - You should know how insane the kick is by now...
Overall: 8.8 - It was pretty good, in my terms

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Zero Carb

As you might know, Rockstar isn't my favorite line of drinks out on the market. However, I haven't tried all of them. This time, I was given the Rockstar Zero Carb energy drink. I had this one mixed up with the Rockstar Sugar-Free. I hope this one doesn't end up being as painful as that one was. The can has a detailed blue diamond plating background with Rockstar's logo in front of it, a silver star. The star, which, if you recalled I mentioned in my last Rockstar review, is surrounded by the words "Bigger, Stronger, Faster." So I've said enough of the outside of the can, let's get inside...

As the lid opens, I smell a tea-like scent with a hint of some passion fruit, similar to the Full Throttle Mother. The drink comes into the cup a glassy, rosy red color. In other words, this drink is close to the color of cranberry juice. The whole thing is refreshing taste as it hits your mouth and goes down your throat. I can really taste the green tea extract in it as well as a bit of Yerba Mate tea leaf with a bit of apple-raspberry flavor to it. One thing about this drink is its aftertaste. You basically go from intense flavor, to almost nothing in just a few seconds. It seems most of the low carb or calorie drinks out there turn out that way, because of the fact that there's less sugar in them. I like that this is a particularly light drink because it doesn't have all the added glucose and sucrose to weigh it down. If you want to get more of a feel about how this drink tastes like, I can say that if you add the Lo-Carb Monster with the Full Throttle Mother, you get a sweet, natural taste that greets your mouth. After about 10 minutes, I'm noticing slight bitterness, but it doesn't stop me from drinking it. I also notice gumminess building up in the back of my mouth. It's bugging me a little because I had the impression that zero carb drinks don't contain much sugar to produce that much gumminess. This Rockstar contains quite a bit of carbonation, so I advise you not to chug it, or you will not be happy a few seconds later. It throws me off, however, because when I poured it into the cup, I didn't notice a lot of fizzing. Overall, if you are tired of all those artificial low carb/calorie energy drinks out there, head over to purchase this drink, you won't regret it.

This is going to be fun explaining these ingredients: first off, I see that Taurine comes in at number two, despite the fact that it only contains a standard dosage of 2,000mg. Next I notice "Natural Flavors," but who knows what Rockstar gets away with. After that, I see green tea extracts, which gave this drink its organic, sweet, tea-like taste. I then see Yerba Mate leaf extract, which along with the Green tea, imparted a tea-like taste to the beverage. extract deliver its tea-like flavor. One more thing in the ingredients list, sucralose, the killer. Sucralose is the true name for Splenda, a "not-so artificial" sweetener. I guess it isn't that noticeable in this drink, so that's pretty a good job done by Rockstar. Per can, you only get 20 calories and of course no table sugar or carbs as well as 2.54g of energy blend. All in all, this is one drink worth spending your money on, and in return, you get a low carb blend of natural tea and fruity flavors. It leaves me wondering: why isn't every other Rockstar this good?

Taste: 9.5 - Intense flavor, packs a punch
Kick: 9 - I am feeling a greatly noticeable amount of energy
Overall: 9.5 - Best Rockstar I've had so far

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Juiced

Here I am, writing up another review. This time (and I swear, this is the last of the month), I've got a 16oz Rockstar Juiced. The can's pretty slick with the orange diamond plating behind the normal Rockstar logo. I'm eager to try it because of the tropical fruit flavors and the 150mg per serving of Ginkgo Biloba Leaf extract that last time, in the Rockstar Roasted, gave me some intense concentration. I just can't wait to open it.

After my dramatic can-opening ritual, I came up close for a sniff. The smell confused me a bit, because at first, I thought the mango smelled like acetone, or nail polish. When you smell it, mango really takes center stage, with the passion fruit and the orange coming in after. I poured the drink out, and my eyes became fixated on a cloudy, yellow-orange liquid. When it entered my mouth, I was hit with some bitterness before it got to the mango and flowery passion fruit. It's not exactly irresistible, but I'm hoping to find a groove somewhere in the drink. It seems also that there's not quite enough sweetness to carry the flavor of the fruit, and there's a large amount of carbonation making me burp more than I'd like. The only thing to look forward to now is a big boost and some crazy concentration, I guess.

For the drink's energy ingredients, there are 2000mg of Taurine per can, 160mg of Caffeine, 50mg each of Guarana, Inositol, L-Carnitine, and Panax Ginseng. With that, I see 300mg total of Ginkgo Biloba, and 40mg of Milk Thistle Extract thrown in. I'm glad it's sweetened with Sucrose and Glucose instead of HFCS, but it doesn't seem to make a large difference, considering the whole thing still tastes dull. I suppose this one is worth it if you're looking for concentration, but the flavor makes me sick and just isn't that special. I would much rather have the Rockstar Juiced Pomegranate; it was much better tasting and the best thing is it was in a 24oz can for just 99 cents. It's just a much better value than this disappointing Rockstar Juiced.

Taste: 4 - Boring, and tasted a little nasty, like acetone
Kick: 5 - Fine, but not worth drinking the whole can
Overall: 3 - My recommendation: get the Rockstar Pomegranate instead

Reviewed by: Jeff

Monster Java Nut Up

In my hands I hold the Monster Java Nut Up, one of the many newly released coffee Monster energy drinks. I am really looking forward to this one because of its supposedly nutty taste. The only thing that makes me really wonder whether or not this drink really differentiates from the other Javas is the blurb on the side of the can. It's the exact same blurb from the Mean Bean, and mentions nothing to do with nuts. Anyway, here I go, tearing into another drink.

The can's artwork is really very beautiful, I think, with the dark brown woodgrain and the carved-in "M." Thank the graphic artists at Monster for this magnificent design. When I pop open the can, I get an intense nutty and coffee smell rushing towards me. I might've been wrong when I suspected this was just like the Mean Bean. The color is the same light, creamy brown in all of the other Java Monsters. Going for a sip, I get an incredibly creamy and satisfying coffee with a significant nuttiness, I must admit. Monster did this one right, that's for sure. I can't resist the smooth , creamy, and nutty elixir coming out of this can. Honestly, this is probably the best drink I've ever had. It's much smoother than the Rockstar Roasted Mocha, I'm guessing because Monster goes for Arabica beans instead of the bitter and rougher Robusta beans, which are much cheaper. And that would make sense; there is absolutely no bitterness in the drink, which makes is so easy to drink. A non-coffee drinker, like myself, could fall in love with the drink, having never enjoyed coffee itself. Monster just does it so well. I'm glad I got the fancy glass cup, or there would probably be nothing left. I am extremely satisfied with this drink; there is no carbonation, no gumminess, no bitterness, no artificial sweeteners. Just a magnificently crafted drink with a zingy nut aftertaste as the finish.

Now, I expected from the start that the ingredients would be up to standards, and they are, with the regular dose of 2000mg of Taurine per can and a whopping 5000mg of the trademarked Monster Energy Blend, consisting of L-Carnitine, Glucose, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucuronoloactone, and Maltodextrin; all the good stuff. It don't got Ginkgo Biloba, like the Rockstar Roasted's, which I admit was a nice addition, but I can safely say I feel pretty focused anyway. Along with the energy ingredients, there's Sucrose and Glucose acting as natural sweeteners and all of the vitamins you'd expect, but more. I'm feeling a good zing and an awakening from the drink, and I was expecting no less from a Monster.

* I picked up the can to test my jitteryness, and I laughed, seeing my hand jerk around randomly. Ha!

** Oh, I forgot to mention that there are only 100 calories per serving in this drink. I'm not kidding! And only 16g of sugar! Compare that to the Amp's 29 grams. That is just amazing, if you ask me.

Taste: 9 - You can't beat that perfect coffee-nut flavor
Kick: 8 - I got a solid kick, and I don't know if I'll get to sleep tonight
Overall: 9.5 - A must-have drink, no matter who you are

Reviewed by: Jeff

Full Throttle

I decided today to get an original Full Throttle from my local market, seeing as we've done a few other Full Throttles and haven't tried the original. The can design is interesting but a little bland, featuring the words "Full Throttle" in big font, and the words "original" in slightly smaller font. In even smaller font, the words "energy drink" are portrayed above a cult-like symbol in red. This is surrounded by somewhat corny looking flames, and look like some product from about 2 decades ago. On the side, a definition for Full Throttle is given, and some long saying which would be a little aimless to type here considering its length. Here we have an interesting saying of "Go Full Throttle or Go Home." This is also a product of coke, competing with Pepsi's "Amp". It's obviously a racing themed drink, with the name and whatnot. Let's go at Full Throttle into this this energy drink!

I snap open the can at full throttle, and no, I'm not done with the puns. I discover a light green drink, similar to a Mountain Dew. My first impression of the smell was that it reminded me, strangely enough, of green gummy bears, and upon tasting was like carbonated lime juice. It's made from citrus and I found that it started off slightly bitter and then went to a more sweet-themed flavor. In fact, after a while, it gets very sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. I also noticed a sweet aftertaste of Grapefruit, contributing to the bitterness overall, especially if you drink a large amount at once. There was a good amount of carbonation, and not good, like, a lot, but good, like, the right amount. The drink was somewhat cumbersome to chug as the sweet flavor really gets kind of old and you won't want much more. There was gumminess at full throttle (pun) and I deduced that as a product of the high sugars. There is quite a large amount of sugar in this can, but I'll elaborate later. It strongly resembles a very sweet Sprite. The lime isn't strong, but pretty sweet. I think that Coke did an okay job producing the flavors and although not very impressed, I mildly enjoyed the drink flavorwise.

I'm so far, even after only having the drink about 30 minutes ago, experiencing a mediocre kick, but I hope it goes up to (Guess what?) full throttle over the next 30 minutes or so. Scanning the back, there's a box next to the ingredients describing the (This isn't a pun, this is seriously what it says) Full Throttle Energy Blend. There's a whopping 3000mg of the blend, which includes caffeine, guarana, taurine, carnitine, ginseng, and sucrose. I found some info: Here we have 1194 mg of taurine, 177mg of ginseng extract, the carnitines turn out to be 28 mg, and you also get 1.3mg of guarana extract. I was a little surprised in taurine, as there is about 800mg less than in most drinks. Like I said earlier, (if you were paying any attention whatsoever) there's a lot of sugar, 57g infact, which greatly contributed to the amount of gumminess you will experience if you partake in the consumption of this drink. I also notice 220 calories and double the daily recommended values for vitamins B6 and B12, as well as the whole recommended daily value of niacin. An average amount of caffeine, 141 mg. This is all providing, as i write it and scan the ingredients, an average kick. I felt vitalized, but not really hyped up, and I did notice some jitteryness, which is kind of slowing down the time of me typing this review, what with all the mistakes I have to fix.

I wasn't really all that happy with this drink, and I would rather spend the same amount for a Monster, No Fear, or many other drinks that were actually better than average. I'll never get this drink again, not because it was bad, just because it wasn't better than other drinks on the market.

Taste: 6 - Whatever, I'll stick to better stuff
Kick: 5 - A sugar high, and a little bit of jitteryness
Overall: 5.5 - Full Throttle and Coke continue to phail.

Reviewed by: Chris

Sobe Power Fruit Punch

As I was out today, I saw this, the Sobe Power Fruit Punch. I guessed from the name "Power" and the words, "Flavored Beverage with a blend of Proline, Guarana, & Taurine," that this was made to give energy. So, thinking it was worth a try, I decided to get it and save it for later. I know Sobe makes pretty high quality drinks, so I'm interested in seeing what this has to offer. Let's crack it open.

I didn't forget to shake it this time, so it's well mixed. At the opening of the clear glass bottle, I got an amazing trademark Sobe scent. Incredibly pungent fruitiness with a sour bite, but nothing that will make you pucker. It's like a bolder version of Hawaiian punch bringing some stronger and more citrus flavors into the mix. It's just a little gummy, with 30 grams of sugar, but overall, the gumminess isn't nearly as bad as some of the other drinks I've tried. As I tear further into this beast, I can tell it gets a little overpowering, yet it is still addicting at the same time. It makes me keep on coming back for more and more. In fact, by the time I finish this paragraph, I'll be nearly done. You may like this one more than the other popular drinks, because there's none of that "bubble gum" flavor, characteristic of energy drinks. It's just a smooth, fruity ride, yet I have to admit it tastes very sugary.

In terms of energy supplements, I see there are 50mg of Taurine, 50 mg of Guarana, and 25mg of L-Proline, pretty weak to energy drink standards. But I discovered something interesting about the last energy ingredient, L-Proline. L-Proline is an amino acid, found in your DNA, characteristic of Sobe soft drinks. It's the cause of that peculiar sweet aftertaste. It's unique to Sobes and I find it to be interesting. Moving right along, there's Caffeine, but it seems a very small amount, otherwise it would be listed in the Nutrition Facts. And, oh look! There's a whole day's recommendation of Vitamin C! Well, I'm set for half the day, now, with this drink. I don't feel much more energized, but a little. It seems this Sobe Power is more something to improve vitality, rather than energy, just like the Vitamin Energy. It's fine if you like Sobes, but I'm not really a big fan of this drink.

Taste: 5 - Unique and bold, but not insanely good
Kick: 3 - Weak on ingredients, I feel vitalized but not hyped-up
Overall: 6 - Fine if you like Sobes, but it's just not for me...

Reviewed by: Jeff

Monster Java Mean Bean

We are getting close to having reviewed all of the Monster Javas here on Canned Reviews. This time around, I purchased the Mean Bean without hesitation. I had recently tried this coffee about a month ago and really enjoyed it. This can has a light brown wooden background with its stained brown Monster logo in front of it. The font to this energy coffee seems to have been carved in with a sharp object, like all Monster Javas are. If you have ever noticed, the Java Monster can designs all look similar except for the background which are different shades of brown. So far, every Java has really convinced me that they can pack a powerful punch and and an incredible flavor. So, without further ado, let's review this beast.

As soon as the lid is popped, I smell an intense, chocolaty aroma that fills the whole room. As I pour the milky coffee into the cup, I notice a thick, dark brown color with some light areas in it. So far, I am very happy with this drink, now comes the taste test. I am very impressed... I taste a sweet coffee and cream mix with a hint of chocolate. After about 5 ounces into this drink, I notice the cream has taken over the drink. This coffee is creamy and incredibly sweet which goes down really smooth. There is no aftertaste whatsoever as well as no gumminess, so you will most likely find this drink easy to swallow and enjoy. The thing with the Javas is you should not chug them because, like me, you will get a major stomach and possible head ache. Overall, if you want a drink that'll get you through the part of day you drink this in with no bitter aftertaste and you want a sweet, creamy coffee, this is definitely your drink.

Okay last but not least, the ingredients: as you know, this drink contains filtered water and reduced fat milk, like all other Javas. Surprisingly, taurine comes in at number 5, different than other Monster products. Next, I see sucrose and glucose, added sweeteners in most energy drinks around. I love the energy drinks that contain guarana seed extract because it is a natural ingredient added in the drink. Per can, you get 200 calories and only 32g of sugar, pretty low. You also get 2,000mg of taurine, a standard dosage in most energy drinks as well as 5,000mg of energy blend. I really enjoyed this drink, by far the best Java Monster out so far. I highly recommend you purchase this drink and you will enjoy it, trust me.

Taste: 9 - Always a pure, sweet, and robust combination makes this drink just right...
Kick: 8 - A great burst of energy you'll find in just about every monster
Overall: 9 - Definitely ranks up there with most of the other Monsters

Reviewed by: Chan

Glaceau Vitamin Energy Dragonfruit

Well, here is my last review of the month of March. This time, I had planned on trying the Ace Juiced, but before I got to it, I found this, the Vitamin Energy. It seems to be by the makers of Vitamin Water, so I expect quality. The little blurb on the back of the drink about the future and your teen years is pretty interesting and keeps me thinking this just has to be good. Even the simple can design and color scheme just has me wanting to try it. It looks like a Tylenol pill, but I'm not worried. It's not meant to cure a headache, but rather to give me some serious energy.

I don't remember ever tasting dragonfruit before, and I'm interested. The color out of the can is a rosy-pink, I guess the color of dragonfruit. I take a sip and think, "Wow!" This is unlike any fruit I've had before. It's tough to describe, but I'll say it is a little like sweet apple and some peach with sourness mixed in. In the background, I sense some tea-like taste. It is very light, with just enough flavor and not too much to be overpowering. The carbonation, also, as always, takes away from the sweetness, making it seem about as sweet as a Gatorade. I was a little sad because I thought I'd get an irresistibly exotic and savory drink, but I guess there was not so much emphasis put on flavor. The second time around, however, you'll think this is simply an amazing drink. I am really hoping for a big boost now.

I skimmed the ingredients list and found the standard energy ingredients taurine and caffiene. Wait, not just caffiene, natural caffiene. And, guess what, this drink isn't sweetened by HFCS, glucose, sucrose, surcalose, aspartame, saccharin, or anything. It's instead sweetened with crystalline fructose. With thisLovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drink new term, I had to stop and run a search. To my dismay, I learned that crystalline fructose is actually simply crystallized corn syrup. Basically, it's like HFCS in its dry form. It doesn't help the taste at all, and makes it duller than I bet it could be. To continue, there's the normal 2000mg of taurine in the whole can and "Bioenergy Ribose(TM)" Note the trademark. I remembered Ribose from Science class in 7th grade that Ribose is part of your DNA, and to put simply what Lovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drinkit's for, it's essential to the body. Overall, the ingredients are pretty standard, except the Ribose, which I think is a nice addition. I actually feel really good right now, and I think I can say it's because of the Ribose. If you are simply looking for a pick me up that's not sugary and that won't make you crash, pick this one up

* Oh, no, now I find strawberry to be in the mix. And maybe some melon. I'll just have to recognize this as dragonfruit.

** That's right, the back of the can did say that it wouldn't give you a crash. That could be the reason for so little sugar.

Taste: 7.5 - Refreshing exotic taste that takes some getting used to, but is quite good
Kick: 7.5 - I don't get an amazing kick, but I feel overall quite good
Overall: 7.5 - Lovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drink

Reviewed by: Jeff

Red Bull: Sugar Free

I got a Sugar Free Red Bull today, and I can not wait to try it, but first I have to go through all this explaining and whatnot. I looked at the can and saw it was very similar to a regular Red Bull can, except the darker blue on the regular is replaced by a lighter, sky color on the tab and the sections of the rectangle on front. It says it big red letters, "Red Bull", and underneath, "Sugar Free", which is to be expected considering the drink is, after all, sugar free. It features the yellow circle and and bulls butting heads. The can design is nice and pretty much the exact same as the regular, except for the color. The can isn't very eye catching however. And unless you've been living under a rock for a while with connection whatsoever to the outside world, you'll know that the Red bull is the leader in the energy drink market, and I like the slogan, "Red Bull gives you wings!" Now I shall begin my dramatic can opening ritual.

I experience a green apple smell similar to a normal Red Bull, also with a slight hint of a blue raspberry scent. I noticed there was no real sweetened just more of a bitter smell. It poured out as a beer color. There was a lot of fizz as it landed in the glass. Like in the smell, no sweetness present as it hits your mouth. There is gumminess even though there is absolutely no sugar present and I'm really not sure why. This tastes like if you take out the blue raspberry taste in the original Red Bull and just leave the apple. Taken in large sips it's almost unbearable, with the strong carbonation and incredible bitterness. In small sips it's okay, but I attempted a chug just out of interest and I was overpowered by fizz and bitterness. Drink Responsibly. By that I mean: Don't chug it, or you'll definitely regret it.

I thought the ingredients were impressive. I saw taurine at number 3 and caffeine at number 5, which is higher than in the regular Red Bull. There's a lot of vitamin B and niacin, and although the amounts weren't listed, I'm assuming a lot considering the very high price. There's a little bit of protein which is very common in energy drinks. Unless you didn't see the title or the many times I said it, there's no sugars. There's glucuronolactone, which is used to speed up metabolism.

Just as a reminder, there's a high price tag on all Red Bulls, costing about twice as much as other energy drinks.

Overall, Red Bull is satisfying and I can easily see why it's at the head of the market.

Taste: 7.5 - Very bitter, but much better in small sips
Kick: 8 - I felt a strong kick and I'm focused
Overall: 7 - A very good drink, but the price tag brought it down

Reviewed by: Chris

Red Bull

Hurray, it looks like we almost have all the basics done. As I am browsing at the store, after much hesitation, I purchased the Red Bull and hurried home to start reviewing this beast. If you have ever seen the Red Bull, you know that the can consists of a diagonally-cut box of gray and blue. In front of that, you also notice the words "Red Bull Energy Drink" in a red font and two red bulls ramming into each other highlighted by a yellow circle. I can't help but notice the phrase at the bottom saying "Vitalizes body and mind." This drink is different than many others because it comes in not just an 8 ounce can, but a 12 and 16.8 ounce can. So, I'm ready to tear into this drink.

As I open this can, I immediately smell acetone, an ingredient in nail polish remover. Other than that, this drink smells a bit similar to Monster. This drink surprisingly, comes out like a beer color, you know, with a lot of fizzing as well. In other words, this drink is a dark yellow in color. This is a tough one to describe...I can say that this drink is bitter as it hits your mouth then goes away after about 3 seconds, then leaves you with a semi-sweet aftertaste. Alright, I think I've got the taste; it has a green apple-like taste with a hint of blue raspberry. The carbonation, is powerful, which holds you back from chugging this drink. The bitterness almost exactly resembles that of a green apple and the sweetness is similar to that of a blue raspberry. Another thing that holds you back from consuming large sips is the amount of major gumminess. Overall, if you are looking for a drink that relieves stress or improves performance such as playing an instrument or riding a dirt bike/atv, head over to the energy drink aisle and purchase this drink.

Now for the ingredients: This drink contains sucrose and glucose, an added alternative to HFCS. If it does not contain HFCS, then why is it so gummy? Because it contains 39g of sugar, now that's a lot. Taurine then comes in at number 5, just about average for an energy drink. I next notice caffeine coming in at number 7, thats pretty incredible as well. Per can, you get 160 calories of this goodness, similar to a regular soda. One disadvantage this drink has is its price. For a typical 8 ounce can, you're going to pay about $2.00. For a 12 ounce can, you're going to pay around $3.00. And finally, for a 16 ounce can, your gonna pay around $3.50. Lastly, I would like to applaud the makers of Red Bull for their job in creating such a powerful, tasteful, drink.

Taste: 7 - Not too sweet and not too bitter, just right
Kick: 8 - Nearly perfect kick, much energy is given
Overall: 7.5 - I was pretty happy with Red Bull, next comes the Red Bull Cola!

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Sugar Free

This is the 3rd and final review of the day for me, and I would like to finish it off by doing the Sugar Free Rockstar. As you might know, I am not too fond of Rockstars, so I do hope that this will please my taste buds, and hopefully yours if you try it. This can is exactly similar to the regular Rockstar, but colored white. You see its logo, a golden star with the words " Bigger, Stronger, Faster" surrounding the site. My least favorite slogan, " Party like a rockstar" is placed at the bottom of the can. I don't care too much for it because of that hit rap song which has nothing to do with being a rockstar. If anything, that song is about being a rapstar... Oh, wait, there's no such thing. Rap sucks. So, let's hope we find something good in this drink.

As I crack open this can, I notice a pungent, mango-like scent. The color out of the can is an amber color, similar to Monsters. I have began to notice that Rockstar seems to copy Monster's idea in drink color and taste. This drink tastes nothing at all like Monster's idea of sugar free, or "Lo-carb."I notice a taste similar to that of a tropical fruit. First, you get a strong raspberry flavor. Then you get a sweet mango and strawberry combination to form a pleasant aftertaste. So far, this drink has minimal gumminess and I find it quite refreshing after a little exercise or any other activity. I can already notice the artificial sweetener, sucralose, or Splenda. It's a little nasty, if you ask me. Other than that, I enjoy the flavor it has to offer. There is not a lot of carbonation, which makes this drink easy to chug. Overall, compared to all the other sugar-free drinks out there on the market, this drink is just alright. There is nothing really that major that is wrong with it, but there's just better drinks out there.

Let's talk about ingredients now: I notice that taurine comes in at number 3, pretty amazing being that it's a Rockstar. Per can, however, you only get 2000mg of taurine, standard dosage. I also notice that drink contains Ginkgo Biloba, a leaf that improves concentration and focus. Too bad that this drink contains sucralose because I can really taste it. I am very disappointed to see that this drink doesn't have any sucrose or glucose, just sucralose. The caffeine amount in this drink is a whopping 160mg, also pretty impressive for this drink. Lastly, I notice, like most energy drinks, that this drink contains guarana seed extract. This drink got old real quick and I hope Rockstar will improve their energy drinks in the future because I have found Rockstar's products to be quite nasty. Enough said.

*Now that I have food in my stomach, this drink isn't as bad

Taste: 4 - Actually, a very dull drink
Kick: 4 - Not much, yet
Overall: 4 - Wouldn't recommend this drink...

Reviewed by: Chan

AMP Energy

Alright! My second review for the day and part two of my Double-Header. I am glad we finally get the Amp energy drink reviewed here on Canned Reviews. This drink is easily known because of its makers: Mountain Dew. I like Amp's new cover idea, it has shades of mixed green with a glossy touch to it. In front of it, you see the Amp logo, a disfigured 'A', as well as its name in all lowercase letters. On the back of the can, you see Dale Earndhardt Jr.'s picture as well as his car and signature. Amp is his new sponsor in NASCAR racing now. I have tried Amp many times, but this is the official review. So, I'm fueled up and ready to go and review.

As soon as I pop the lid open, I smell a tangy, lime-like aroma. This scent makes me want to drink it over and over again. The drink comes out the can a clear, bright green color with a lot of fizzing. This drink is refreshing as it enters your mouth and goes down your throat. However, there is a lot of gumminess that builds up in the back of your mouth after a few minutes. Although, it has a green tint to it, this drink tastes like a fresh squeezed orange poured into the can with a little bit of sweetener and some carbonation. The main reason why I purchase this drink is because of its refreshing lime and orange flavor as well as its major kick and all natural tasting ingredients. This is one drink, folks, that you do not chug or you will pay the price. As of right now, I am slowing down the process of drinking this because of its major gumminess. As we all should know by now, this drink does contain HFCS. Overall, if you are looking for a sweet way to boost you day, head over to this drink and enjoy; it is worth every penny.

Ingredients talk: Let's see...as I go down the list I see...oh no, HFCS. Anyone who drank this can predict that this drink contains HFCS, a sweetener made from corn. Next I see orange juice from concentrate; yeah it has a pretty stable amount of OJ in it. Alright, cool, I see guarana seed extract as well as natural flavor. Surprisingly, taurine comes in at number 13, lower than most energy drinks. Per can, you only get 20mg of taurine, but 142mg of caffeine, that's a lot. However, I notice that this drink contains 220 calories per can, that's a little much for an energy drink, if you ask me. Lastly, I would like to say that once again, I am very pleased with this drink and would highly consider purchasing it, If you had to choose between say Amp, Monster, and Rockstar, you would be better off with an Amp in your hand and eventually in your mouth.

Taste: 8.5 - Ahhh, nearly perfect
Kick: 9 - Very pleasing, not jitteriness and much focus
Overall: 8.7 - Not much else to say but I love this drink.

Reviewed by: Chan

Monster Java Loca Moca

I am very happy to finally get another energy drink in after a leap of absence. This time around, I have the Monster Java Loca Moca. I wonder where they get that name from, it could be Hawaiian. However, that's not too important to me right now. If you have ever seen the Java Monsters, you know that they have the light brown wooden background with the tainted brown Monster logo. The font seems to have been carved into the can with some sort of sharp object. I am aching to get an energy drink in me, so without further ado, lets review.

As I pop open the can, I notice a strong coffee-like scent, like most Java Monsters out there. The coffee drink comes out of the can a thin, milky light brown color, like I expected it to come out. Suprisingly, the room is filled with a strong coffee scent, pretty unusual. This drink is smooth and light going into my mouth with a delightful, milky taste. You can say that this drink tastes like a basic iced Java Monster, except more chocolaty . The aftertaste is a strong alcohol like taste, with a hint of Monster! I get that apple-raspberry like taste in my mouth with a strong flavor, real tasty, but definitely not one to drink fast. This is incredible! I haven't known Monster to make such a strong drink like this. There is minimal gumminess which also goes down smoothly and problem-free. After awhile, however, this drink gets a bit bitter, which leaves you calling for more of its sweet, buttery, milky coffee flavor. This is by far the oddest coffee energy drink I have reviewed here on Canned Reviews. This drink tastes somewhat similar to the Java Monster Russian and the Rockstar Roasted Latte because of its warm and buttery and strong taste. Now that I think about it, this drink seems to have the flavors of all Java Monsters, in one can. If you are craving something sweet and strong, please purchase this drink instead of that overpriced Starbuck's coffee down a few aisles.

Okay you know whats next: Ingredients. We start out with filtered water and reduced fat milk, normal ingredients in the Javas. Next I notice glucose, an added sweetener, instead of HFCS. Taurine, as usual in Monsters, comes in at number 6 in this high-powered energy drink. Per can, you get 2,000mg of taurine, a standard dosage in most energy drinks as well 5,000mg of energy blend. The calorie count in this drink is 200, pretty suprising compared to how sweet this drink is. This drink also contains sucralose, an added sweetener otherwise known as Splenda. Overall, this drink wasn't bad at all, but I think Monster needs to work on this drink. It's general taste was incredible, not inly because I like Java Monsters a lot, but I think Monster made this one to kinda mess around with flavors.

*Side-effect: Lightheadedness

Taste: 8 - I really enjoyed its multiple flavors
Kick: 9 - This one's gonna give you something
Overall: 8 - It had nice and smooth flavor, but I think it's a bit too strong for my liking

Reviewed by: Chan
Revisited on April 27, 2008 by: Chan

Nitro2Go FU: Firepower Unleashed

I came across the Nitro2Go FU at the local dollar store for the price of about 2 bucks. It seemed to be the only thing they had there, so I decided to pick one up and test it. The can features a nice grungy "FU" above the words "Firepower Unleashed" in a the same font. It's a simple and interesting design, with the black can and the energy ingredients written across the top. I can hardly guess what the flavor might be, but from the red on the can, I'm thinking it's got some sort of citrus flavor. We'll see...

At the opening of the can, I can tell that it smells similar to a lot of other energy drinks, with that generic Apple/Berry flavor. I still can't imagine what the color might be. When I pour it out into a cup, the color is amber-gold, like a Monster, but darker. This color is also popular with many energy drinks on the market. The smell and taste is pretty close to the Jones Energy, with kind of a sweet, bubble gum-like flavor, but there's more of a generic taste. When you drink it, you won't immediately think of any one fruit. It's pretty much just sweet. The thing I don't like about the drink is that on the first pour, I get tons of gumminess and some bad carbonation. I believe it's about the same amount as in a soda. It's not one to chug, or even very good to take large sips with, which is bad because it's just the kind of boring taste you'd find in many drinks meant to be chugged. The carbonation just holds you back.

Looking at the ingredients, I don't see many great ingredients but Caffeine and Inositol, even though on the top of the can it lists Tauine, Ginseng, and Guarana. The amount of Taurine is standard, at 2000mg per can, and there's the normal B Vitamins in the mix. I'd say there's nothing special about the ingredients, or the drink. I'd rather have a Monster instead. Or even an 8oz, $0.50 Mad Croc. At least the Mad Croc really tastes similar to a Monster, with that crisp taste and smoooth texture. I really am looking forward to it.

Taste: 3 - Just your average everyday sweetness
Kick: 3 - I'm probably looking at a sugar high for a little while
Overall - 3 - I'd say don't waste your time and money on this one

Reviewed by: Jeff

Sobe Adrenaline Rush

Hurray! I got an energy drink today, thankfully. I'm interested in this one because it has the name Sobe in it. Should be good. And fruity.

First of all, I like the can, with the orange-red burst and the metallic white around it. Very appealing, with the lizard design laid over it. From what I read below High Performance Energy Supplement, this thing contains the energy ingredients L-Carnitine, D-Ribose, and Taurine. A quick Google search reveals that L-Cartinine aids in the metabolism of fats. Now I think I'm ready to open the can. My sense of smell isn't so great today, but I'll do my best.

Yes, it's true, I can hardly smell anything, but I sure can taste. I'm guessing from what I get, that there is a tinge of bitterness in the aroma like grapefruit along with some pretty organic-smelling orange. Pretty pleasing overall. The color of the beverage in my clear cup is, interestingly, a very yellow yellow, like the yellow Gatorade. It leads me to believe that this is more of a grapefruit flavor than I thought. When I go for a sip, I am delighted with a pleasant and non-artificial orange flavor. It's like I'm eating a real orange, with some grapefruit thrown in. And just like fresh-squeezed orange juice, there's minimal gumminess. Further along, I find in this drink, the grapefruit gets stronger, and seems to become a little more synthetic-tasting, like Squirt. I think I prefer this grapefruit flavor over the orange, since all I've had recently is orange. It's like a change in pace. In terms of texture, the carbonation is moderate, but I'm finding now that the gumminess has been building up in my mouth and is a little hard to ignore. Maybe this would be best with a glass of water by my side. Yeah, I'll try that.

Back from the water cooler, I think I'm ready for another swig of this drink.

Aha! Much better. When you try this drink, have some water standing by. It helps.

Now, for the ingredients. I just want to say now, that I am pretty sure I can taste those B vitamins. In the ingredients list, I see -oh no!- HFCS. I guess that's fine, since it doesn't really make this drink taste so dull as I might expect it to. Vitamin C in the form of Citric Acid is high on the list, next to D-Ribose and Taurine. and all the basics. There are some more interesting ingredients here, like Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, and Gum Arabic, but I'm not worried. Overall, this is a nice drink, but I see no big reason to have it, when there's Monsters and other high-quality drinks available.

* Mmm... do I sense pineapple? Maybe trace amounts.

Taste: 6 - Pretty pleasing overall, but not too exciting
Kick: 5 - I think I should expect something in a minute. I'll let you know if I can't get to sleep.
Overall: 6 - Interesting, but why, when there's other drinks?

Reviewed by: Jeff

Extreme 6-Hour Energy Shot

All right, I have been waiting so long to finally review one of these. I received this while I was recently out of town. This is not a can, but a two ounce bottle. The bottle reads: "Extreme Energy 6-hour Shot. World's most extreme energy shot. Works blazing fast, No crashing, Zero Sugar. The background consists of flames along side a black color. I am a little nervous to try this, but I will anyway. So, let's get down to business.

As I untwisted the cap and peeled off the wrapper, I noticed a sweet, nectar-like scent. I got in for a closer smell; it smells like a super-sweet gatorade. As I pour this drink into a cup, a thin blood-red color caught my eye. This drink Is super bitter and does not go down easily. I can't put my finger on the taste. I think it is a mix between raspberry, cranberry, and blueberry. However, it is not how you would expect it to taste like. Imagine having all of those flavors in your mouth, but having the sugar taken out of it. I am glad that was a shot because I cannot bear the bitterness and aftertaste. Remember, this drink is to get you energized, not give you flavor and sweetness. This is extreme on kick.

Alright, this could be irrelevantly short, but here comes the ingredients: surprisingly, purified water comes in as the main ingredient. Next comes the organic ingredients: green tea and acai extracts are found in this drink as well as 1.6 g of taurine. I am happy to declare that this drink clocks in at 5 calories per bottle and 1 g of carbohydrates. Oh, and lastly I see that this drink has sucralose in it, most likely similar to sucrose. I noticed that this drink will get you focused instead of making you shaky and hyper. Overall, if you want a major kick and not a lot to drink, I recommend you try this shot.

*Disclaimer: As you may have read the comments below, this particular energy shot may produce some gnarly side effects such as: high-fever, vomiting, increased heart rate, nausea, severe stomach pain, and in some cases, violent shaking. However, some consumers, like myself, feel no side effects whatsoever. Drink with caution, and take the proper steps if you feel any or all of these side effects.

Taste: 3 - Once again, not meant for taste
Kick: 10 - I would give this at least a 25, but I know we have to be realistic
Overall: 9 - Awesome kick, but not good enough for a perfect score

Reviewed by: Chan

Sobe No Fear

I'm currently out of town in Las Vegas, but I definitely won't forget reviewing. This time around I thought I'd swing by a local market and pick up a basic energy drink, Sobe No Fear. I'm pretty sure it's different from the regular No Fear because Sobe has their logos on it and posssibly, it's their version of a No Fear. The can design is really cool, having a just black, red, and silver colors to it. I like it's black background with the silver outlined red flames. No Fear is pounded on to the can in what appears to be steel as well as the two lizard logo. Since it does say "Super Energy Supplement", I'm expecting a nice kick; I hope they live up to that phrase. I'm pretty eagar to crack this one open and determine the difference, but right now, I'm going to predict a flavor. I'll go with a regular No Fear flavor, with a twist of lemon-lime, or possibly a Monster clone. Sobe is a great company and I know they'll impress me with a great drink, why don't we find out now?

As the can is opened, I smell an intense guava aroma wafting through the air, similar to the regular No Fear, but having more of a zing to it. When I pour the liquid into a cheap plastic hotel cup, I see a wine red color with a brownish tint to it and some strong fizziness shortly following it. This taste is different... It seems like a mix between energy drinks I have tried, probably due to the multi-flavored guava. First, I tasted a strong guava with just a little bit of bitterness. Then, I taste a smooth apple and prune ensemble with a lot of all-the-sudden bitterness and barely any sweetness. The aftertaste is an unbearable bitter apple-guava and now I need to drink more, just to even out the bitterness. However, I believe that this drink isn't too bad because the type of bitterness shows the natural flavors in this drink, which is really enjoyable. The carbonation adds more to the flavor and makes up for the bitterness, I was wrong, it's not that carbonated. It's pretty gummy, kind of like that gumminess you get after eating some fruit, not bad, but a nuisance. Overall, it tastes like a better version of the Rockstar Juiced Guava, as well as many other guava energy drinks out there on the market.

As for ingredients, I see an unfortunate high fructose corn syrup, a cheap and common sweetener made from corn. Next, I see grape juice concentrate and ''fruit extract,'' meaning that the artificial flavors are no where to be found. Taurine comes in at a shocking number four, which is different than many other energy drinks. Per can, you get only a basic 2000mg of taurine, not bad, but I'm yet to find an energy with more. You get 260 calories per can as well as 66 g of sugar, way to high for my standards. It's another drink where the excess sugar kills the drink, although it's not really that sweet. Overall, this can of No Fear had a pretty nice flavor, the HFCS didn't do well, nor did the amount of sugar, bumping it down to just an alright drink. Maybe, you would appreciate the flavor more if you were into natural-tasting energy drinks, but to me, HFCS isn't that natural.

Taste: 7.4 - I would make some sweetener improvements, if I had the opportunity
Kick: 7.5 - The kick is standard, having only standard energy ingredients
Overall: 7.5 - An above average drink, I would buy it again, just to see how much better it would be the second time around

Reviewed by: Chan

Sobe No Fear Gold

I waited a while to review this, I had it for a couple days and never got around to drinking it. This is a product of Sobe, as you can tell from the can.

This is not as heavily carbonated as some other drinks I've had, and that gave it more of a juice feeling. I opened it and found a guava like smell, somewhat like what Chan experienced with his regular No Fear. It's quite sweet and with relatively little gumminess, I was impressed. There was no real change in the aftertaste compared to the actual flavor except for a slight bitterness. There is, though HFCS, although I wouldn't have known.The flavor really kept me coming back for more because of the sweet then slight bitter taste, and the guava really overwhelms. If you like guava juice, this is certainly a plus for you. The flavor was a clear amber, but I'm just gonna have to say again how much the guava and assorted citrus flavor were appreciated.

I have to say I think the ingredients are nice, but the HFCS, no matter what little effect it added to the taste, really made me wonder what they were thinking by putting that in there.

Here we have the usual 2000 mg of taurine per can, and there's some vitamin B and C, actually, quite a lot. There's a ginseng, Grape seed, and Guarana extract, along with some Carnitine and Arginine. This puts down a good kick, nothing extraordinary, but it didn't disappoint.

Taste: # 9- I really enjoyed the guava
Kick: # 7- Nothing amazing, put passable.
Overall: # 8- It was better in flavor than kick, but still great.

Reviewed by: Chris

Full Throttle Mother

Two drinks in one day, hurray! I am eager to find out what this Full Throttle has in stock for me today. First, the can design is the same kinda boring Full Throttle logo, with one exception: It mentions that "Nature is One Bad Mother." There is a green background and hmm...I noticed that this is a product of major brand Coca Cola. At the top of the can I noticed it mentioned that it has "Energy From Natural Sources" I guess that means it's organic. Well, I for one, want to find out what this product will give me. Shall we?

Hmm...Immediately, I smell an herbal tea-like taste. Who would have known? This product comes out of the can a dark amber color, similar to Monster. I am not too fond of the scent so far, but I haven't tried it yet. I have to keep sipping on it until I get the flavor. I cant quite put my finger on it...Okay, I think I've got it. As soon as it hits your mouth, you immediately get a minty taste, due to they herbs. I believe this drink could possible be made to give you a kick, not a great taste. I don't think this gives you any other flavor but mint. After awhile, the flavor just seems to fade away. No aftertaste or anything...I am pleased to report that there is minimal gumminess. You know what? This drink is not strong at all but has a not so pleasing flavor. However, I am not downgrading this drink because I am certain that this is NOT their best drink so far.

Okay, let's talk about the ingredients: The main ingredient is apple and pear juices from concentrate...interesting. Next, comes sucrose, an alternative to HFCS. After that, I see blueberry juice from concentrate. Put together, all these juices added into the drink cancels all its flavor out, welcoming in a minty flavor. Since this is an organic drink, I am not to suprised that this is free of taurine. Per can, you get 230 calories of good, organic energy. This is giving me a huge kick so far. I think you should know that this drink has 40% juice and is fully organic. That's all I have to say about this drink...

Taste: 8.5 - Most unique drink I've ever had, with a woody tea and acai taste
Kick: 7.5 - The Full Throttle kick
Overall: 8 - I think this is a must try, enough said.

Reviewed by: Chan

As Jeff puts it...

"As I perform my dramatic can-opening ritual, I get a blast of and herbal tea scent. Pretty enjoyable, and dare I say, almost soothing. The color of the drink must come from the rosy Acai berries. The carbonation is moderate, as in all Full Throttles. At the first sip, the flavor is slightly minty, branching out into a tea-berry flavor. Nice and pleasing, but not necessarily boring. And with minimal gumminess and no aftertaste. The sweetener itself is interesting and tastes good, that being Sucrose. I think I can taste the woodiness as if there were a whole twig mixed in the beverage. ...Makes me feel like I'm connecting with Mother Earth herself. I suggest this if you are interested in an organic, woody flavor in your beverage."

Monster Java Russian

I am very glad I get to finally try the Russian. I have been looking forward to trying this and reviewing it all week long. The first thing is noticed is its red background and the 'M' logo printed in a brownish coffee-like color. The whole can is decorated in what is recognizably Russian artwork such as flags and birds and castles. The words " Russian" are printed on the top as well as a leaf like wraparound. I am very intent to try this drink... are we ready?

My first approach at this drink was the smell. I noticed the regular smell of coffee, like all the other Java Monsters. I've noticed this with all the Javas. This drink comes out of the can very milky for some reason. This Java comes out darker than the other Javas, however, it looks smoother... creamier... more interesting. I cannot explain this, it hits me in the face with a hammer. I instantly noticed the creamy milky smoother taste going down. Then, I noticed the sweet coffee flavor with a buttery molasses flavor as well. Last, of course, is the aftertaste. Its a bitter alcohol taste with a hint of gumminess. Unfortunately, there is gumminess but not a lot. I can imagine a warm flavor along with it for some reason...

Alright, now the ingredients:
As I mentioned on my other Java Monster reviews, reduced fat milk is added for the experience of a smooth coffee, after all, they are coffees too. I forgot that this is a product of Monster because I am not used to Monster making these beverages. I am very happy to know that this drink is free of HFCS; instead you get sucrose and glucrose. Taurine comes in at a whopping number 7 on this ingredient list. Per can, you get 2000mg of taurine, a standard dosage for energy drinks like these. Per can, you also get the normal amount of energy blend, 5000mg. coming in at 200 calories, I am very pleased to have that low of calories due to the explosion of many flavors. Overall, this drink isn't too bad, but I would not recommend it to beginners to coffee.

Taste: 8
Kick: 9.5
Overall: 8.5

Reviewed by: Chan

Full Throttle Fury

After a quick visit to my local market, I found the drink I was looking for: the Full Throttle Fury. That's the red one, in the picture. I know I once had this before, and I remember how the flavor blew me away. So I decided it was worth reviewing, here on Canned Reviews. The can design is very basic, with the rugged Full Throttle logo, and some edgy yellow flames. Other than that, there's little to look at. I am looking forward to trying this beast, regardless of the dented can.

Ooh, the smell is very berry. Or orange. Or a combination of the two. More surprisingly, the red color I predicted from the start turns out to be a bright, almost flourescent orange. Appetizing. When I take the first sip, I am met with a simple orange flavor, which the color hints at. Then, there is strong, overpowering carbonation, that I think takes away from the flavor. And, sadly, I believe the sweetness is too little for this kind of drink. Maybe it would be better as a refreshing, subtle, uncarbonated drink. I'll like it better when it goes flat. So let me shake the can, releasing the carbon dioxide.

Ahh, well now, here is the experience I was looking for with this beverage. A light orange with no carbonation, and little sweetness. But I still can't overcome the eminent gumminess. I hardly recommend this to anyone, except as a cold, light, refreshing drink.

Now, the ingredients: From beginning to end: Water, HFCS (groan), Citric Acid, Taurine, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Ginseng Extract, Caffiene, Carnitine Fumarate, Yellow 6, Caramel Color, Niacinimide (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Guarana Extract (finally...!), and Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12). Pretty uninteresting and lame. I only expect a sugar high from this, if anything.

Taste: 6 - Boring and weak orange flavor
Kick: 4 - Haven't felt anything yet, but I am bound to at least get something from the sugar
Overall: 5 - Not the most interesting energy drink I've had

Reviewed by: Jeff

Monster Java Irish Blend

I purchased this Java Monster today with much hope for a great taste. I admire the color of the can for its minty green color with elaborate artwork along the sides. The 'M' logo is a wooden brown color, which is very fitting with the rest of the can.

I popped open the can and almost instantly I could smell a strong aroma of iced coffee and a little bit of alcohol. Of course, Monster did not put alcohol in it, but added a little alcoholic flavor. As I pour it into the glass cup, out came a light brownish color liquid. At first, it tasted like normal coffee; however, it was not strong at all...then came the aftertaste. I guess you can you can call the aftertaste similar to when you drink alcohol. All the sudden...POW! This drink is mysterious to me; I love how its flavor comes out, and as I type this I am getting a huge kick. I recommend you do not take large sips if you're not looking forward to a stomach ache and a headache.

Now the ingredients list: I first noticed the #1 ingredient was filtered water. I'm not too surprised since it's not carbonated. After is reduced fat milk, common in many iced coffees. One of the ingredients that is not present is HFCS, which I am happy is not. Instead you get glucose and sucrose, two natural sweeteners. As usual, the taurine count is 2000 mg per can as well as energy blend. Well, all I know is I am fully attentive and energized from this drink. This is by far the best energy drink i have had in a long time.

Taste: 9.5
Kick: 10
Overall: 9.7

Reviewed by: Chan

Monster Lo-Carb

Monster debuted two different energy drinks in 2002, one being the Monster Lo-Carb, which I'm reviewing now. I would first like to mention how this Monster Lo-Carb has 10% of the calories of the regular Monster, yet it has an awesome taste. This can has a scribed ragged blue "M" here, instead of the regular Monster green. The background, as in many Monsters, is just a plain and simple black. I love how Monster designs their cans; just a basic 'M' and a black background, it fascinates me. Back before Canned Reviews started, I would drink these Lo-Carb Monster every day, and stayed away from the regular Monsters, because I loved it's flavor. Honestly, Monster did a good job making a low carb drink, perhaps it's better than the regular Monster. Opening up a can of Lo-Carb Monster will be the same thing, but it's just a matter of analysing it's flavor. So, are we ready to review?

At the opening of the can, I immediately witnessed a tame multi-fruit cinnamon aromal. Perhaps, it's some citrus, apple, grape, and a bit of raspberry. The fluid inside of the can came out an amber color, like pear juice and the same color as the regular Monster. Well, it's like a light, crystal orange with a hint of yellow. Now, the taste is almost the same as the regular Monster: a little bit of raspberry and apple, and a strong flavor of grape and citrus, way lighter than the original. I enjoy the fact that the stuff's not too sweet, like an energy drink shouldn't be, although it's sweetened artificially. This drink should go down pretty fast. only because it's flavor really ranks up there, and doesn't get boring mid-can, like some energy drinks do. I do see a noticeably larger amount of carbonation, more than other energy drinks I've had, but still, I let it bubble away. It's not gummy at all due to the fact that this Lo-Carb Monster is high fructose corn syrup free, but it does have sucralose, a nasty artificial sweetener known as Splenda. Overall, an insane drink, much better than most Monsters and Rockstars out there, don't miss out.

As for ingredients, Monster Lo-Carb has carbonated water, glucose, citric acid, ginseng, guarana, B vitamins, caffeine, taurine, sucralose, and some other basic ingredients. Since you saw that I didn't mention HFCS, you should know that this drink is free of that dull stuff. like all Monsters. Instead, you get glucose, a better sweetener, otherwise known as just sugar. Taurine comes in at #5, like every Monster, and most Rockstars. Per can, you get 2000mg of taurine, added into 5000mg of energy blend, after guarana, ginseng, and caffeine is added as well. I'm delighted to note that this only has 3g of sugar and only 20 calories. After a can of this Monster, I'm brought back to the times of not even looking at a regular Monster for days, I really did not want to waste my calories on a can of death trap. If you were smart, you know right away which drink to choose, no more wasting time deciding which low carb energy drink to get. For all you health conscious consumers, this drink is definitely for you.

Taste: 8.6 - A light blend of fruits really put this drink where it should be
Kick: 8 - I was pleased to get an awesome get, thanks to the caffeine and guarana
Overall: 8.5 - I never miss out on of these beasts when I get the chance to purchase one

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Roasted Mocha

This is the Rockstar Roasted Mocha, Rockstar's answer to the Java Monster. I have had quite a few Java Monsters, and each I absolutely fell in love with. I pray that this competitor to the Javas can live to its expectations.

This is a pretty nice coffee, and of course, the color is a light, milky brown. The taste, I'll mention, differs from that of the Monster Java. The sweetness, chocolate, and milkyness hit you sooner than the coffee's bitterness. The taste of the coffee is actually stronger than that of the Javas, and it really resembles a frappichino from Starbucks. I could cope with this if I felt like more coffee flavor, but it hasn't become my go-to drink until it proves to me that it is somehow significantly better than the Javas.

As I get lower in the drink, I think I taste a slightly disgusting vitamin taste. I keep forgetting to shake the can! Either way, the energy supplements in there should still give me a boost.

...Thirty minutes later, I am totally hyped-up and focused. I am loving the high I get from this coffee. It's causing no ill effects; all I get is insane alertness and focus.

Now, for the ingredients. I expect caffiene, since this is a coffee. The energy blend is in the same dose, with 1000mg of taurine per serving, which there are two of in this drink. Also, Inositol, Guarana, Ginseng, Milk Thistle, and Ginkgo Biloba. Very cool ingredient list; I like the use of Ginkgo Biloba, a supplement for memory and concentration. I think I really do notice it, seeing as how I am so focused and concentrated. This might after all be my favorite iced coffee from now on.

Oh, and as for the picture, know that it was taken earlier, when I was jittery with another beverage. If I were to retake this picture, you might not be able to tell it apart from a professional's work.

Taste: 7 - Smooth and basic coffee flavor
Kick: 10 - The perfect kick with extreme concentration and no jittery-ness
Overall: 8.5 - I love the drink mostly for its effects, which is not something I do often

Reviewed by: Jeff

No Fear

Okay readers, enjoy this next review on the energy drink, No Fear. I would first like to point out the logo, an odd one. For some reason a skull with wings interested me; it catches your eye, or it did mine, I really wonder who would of thought of that can design. I then see "No Fear" printed in white with a red outline above the skull, pretty cool. The colors No Fear uses really makes the can, just a simple black, red, and white. I've never tried No Fear before, so I have no clue to what to expect, perhaps just another Red Bull clone, I'm eager to find out soon. I hope that No Fear has made an energy drink that energy drink fans would enjoy. Let's find out, shall we?

Wow, I cannot overcome the aroma of this drink. As soon as I popped the can open, I immediately smelled guava and a blend of grape and some mixed berry, this is a powerful scent. The color of this drink is a cherry reddish color, kind of like wine, but a bit lighter and more depth. I tasted this drink and the light guava flavor with the grapefruit surprised me. I predicted wrong, but ,hey, it's really tasty. It's not a bad drink at all, the aftertaste is a smooth grape flavor, with some lingering guava mixed in. It's prefectly carbonated, very light, and meant for easy enjoyment. The gumminess is also pretty stable, not going over the limit of a bad drink, but pretty nice. I also wanted to mention a thing about that, it's pretty bitter, but I think that's what makes the whole drink good. Overall, I really tasty drink, I could drink it all day every day if I could, but just watch out for the bitterness mixed in, coming from the grapefruit. I was fond of this drink, espicially being that they aren't made for making energy drinks.

Now, the ingredients list: unfortunately, this product has HFCS, which, we all know, isn't that good, tasting dull and cheap.Taurine comes in at a usual#4, which means a standard energy boost, although not proven to do anything. I am reading that there is grape juice concentrate and grape seed extract, giving it that smooth grape taste. I guess its made with grapes, eh? Well, hey, that's good for you antioxidants. Per can, you'll get 2000mg of taurine and 260 calories. It's really sweet and contains a lot of carbs, so you may want to stick with the low sugar alternatives, you'll find one you like on this vast website. You can tell this is making me jittery just from the picture above, don't worry, I'll try and get a better one. All in all, it's one drink that anyone will like, just slowly introduce them to it and they're sure to be hooked, jackpot fish there, enough said.

Taste: 8 - I really enjoyed the smooth guava-grapefruit combination
Kick: 8.4 - I was wide awake later that night
Overall: 8.2 - No Fear has made an energy drink different than that of a Monster, perhaps a better taste too

Reviewed by: Chan