Rummy Grapefruit Soda (Fan Review!)

Rummy Grapefruit Soda comes in a cute retro bottle. As a grapefruit lover, I expected it to have a zingy grapefruit "whang," but I was incorrect. The flavor is soft and mellow, and the soda goes down easily. It is very refreshing for a hot day, and I love that it is made with pure cane sugar. Plus, it has only 170 calories per bottle! I think it is a tasty soda, but I still wish for a sharper, more "grapefruity" flavor. There is merely a whisper of grapefruit in the taste. It is a pleasant citrus soda, however.

R.K

Starbucks Refresher Raspberry Pomegranate (Fan Review!)

Starbucks is a name synonymous with high octane coffee.  Their outlets seem to scatter the landscape like buckshot.  Rarely stepping foot into any of their stores my knowledge of their product line is scant at best.  So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a product emblazoned with the Starbucks logo at my local petrol center.  Starbucks Refreshers Raspberry Pomegranate Flavor is the beverage at hand and it looked promising from its shelf.  I took the slim can from its glass encased perch and studied the label to see what the aluminum cased fluid is all about.  First the can tells me that this stuff is a “sparkling green coffee energy beverage.”  What is green coffee exactly?  I don’t know, but that is a good reason to buy the can and do a review.  So I make the purchase, trading green paper for the green version of something that typical resembles tar.

At home with my chilled can I resume studying the label and am greeted with the fact that this stuff is made with real fruit juice, promising indeed my friends, promising indeed.  It’s also made with the extract of green coffee beans, whatever that means.  So I open the can.  A strange scent greets my nostrils.  So I take a gulp.  A sickly sweet blend of raspberry and pomegranate lingers in my mouth like paste.  I don’t like that aftertaste one bit.  So I take another sip.  The taste grows on me somewhat, but the aftertaste traumatizes my mouth yet again.  So I set the can down disappointed that I wasn’t able to finish what appears to be a healthy alternative to the usual energy drink fare. 

C.W.

Dublin Vanilla Cream Soda (Fan Review!)

from Roy:

I like the retro bottle of Dublin Vanilla Cream soda. Also, I like the smell, and the color is good. I think it has the "proper" amount of sweetness and carbonation. I found the initial flavor very "vanilla-ey," with a lingering vanilla taste. However, over time, the flavor became mediocre. The vanilla taste seemed to fade a bit. However, it's a good soda. Buy a bottle.

from Becky:

The bottle of the soda is done in retro style, which neither attracts nor repels me. The soda is the color that I expected for Cream Soda...amber. The first sip nearly knocked my taste buds sideways. It was very strong...but I never decided WHAT was strong. I thought this fabulously cane-sweetened soda tasted almost artificially sweetened. After drinking a few more sips, I thought maybe the flavor was what tasted artificial. At any rate, *something* about the taste tasted slightly of chemicals. This was an "okay" soda, so I suggest that you buy a bottle.

Give Energy Pear Apple Cherry (Fan Review!)

While pursuing my adventurous ends I stumbled across an energy drink as yet, by me, untested.  What to do? Its name is Give Energy Pear Apple Cherry, and my distaste for combination flavors is boundless.  The label informs me that part of the purchase price will be donated to sustainable energy initiatives, great news for those who care.  I decide that I’ll buy the can and do a review and give a little of my time and money. Sometimes taking a chance pays off.

Back at my not so sustainably powered abode I pour over the can’s label to see what information I can glean.  Give Energy is made from pure cane sugar and other all natural ingredients, certainly a plus.  I am also told that Give Energy helps mental focus.  Great news for those who perhaps need that type of boost, I however do not. So I open the top.  A rather pleasant cherry smell greets my nose, so I take a gulp.  Delicious cherry and apple flavor serenade my taste buds like an orchestra. More gulps are taken and I soon find myself fiendishly quaffing the cans contents at a feverish pace.  The goodness overflows from my new aluminum friend like a bottomless Pez dispenser.  The bottom of the can is reached with a combination of disappointment and content.  Disappointment that I don’t have any more of this wonder juice, and contentment with the amazing experience I have found in a can.  The taste was seriously awesome and combined pear apple and cherry in such a way as to make each of the glorious sips different form each other yet remarkably alike.  I now feel confident that I made a wise decision by purchasing Give Energy and would suggest anyone do the same.

C.W.

Sippin' Syrup Purple (Fan Review!)

The shady gas station unfortunately named “Speedo” recently took some more of my money and life that can never be reclaimed.  This is due to the discounted price of gas that they charge.  So while dodging shifty patrons and a magazine rack that really needed to be in a more private location, I decide to make the most of my excursion and scan the beverage cooler for any hidden carbonated gems.  I quickly moved past the large space where items I’m sure cause long term liver damage to where the soft drinks where located.  The usual parade of mainstream fare presented itself, with one exception.  Sippin’ Syrup Purple beckoned me from is floor level perch, already chilled and ready for me to take home.  So with the as yet unrevised beverage in hand, I pay the price of products purchased and exit post haste. 

Now it is time when I describe what Sippin’ Syrup Purple is all about.  First it’s a relaxation beverage.  What that means exactly is answered by the label itself. “Euphoric thoughts,” “Extended relaxation,” and “Experience calmness” frame the scope of this beverage.  I do notice that the letter “E” seems to be a favorite of the Sippin’ Syrup label writers, but I digress.  A website is hustled, no way am I going there, and a detailed ingredients list tells me what’s inside.  After some time reading said ingredients list I discover that many forms of B vitamins and sugar make up most of the Sippin’ Syrup Purple formula.  Strange that a relaxation beverage has sugar in its formula, but perhaps the discontinuity is only imagined.    Also of note, never am I told just what “purple” flavor is supposed to taste like. That is mildly alarming, but Sippin’ Syrup Purple is a veritable explosion of red flags in the first place, so I’m prepared for whatever happens come what may.  Also a warning written in tiny font is splashed across the bottom part of the back of the label.  Am I surprised? No, but I will relay the necessary information contained therein.  First, I’m supposed to consume Sippin’ Syrup responsibly.  That means I can only drink two servings in a twenty four hour period.  Second, I can’t drink this if I’m a kid or pregnant.  The label never mentions crazy, so I’m totally safe.  The last thing listed is that I’m not supposed to operate a car or machinery after consumption.  Good to know this stuff is sold over the counter to anyone with a few dollars to spare.

So the top has been twisted off.  The scent is just a hare shy of offensive.  Disgusting synthetic grape smell smacks my unsuspecting nostrils like a UFC champ. The smell is bad enough to make me want to halt the review, but what would a review be if I didn’t at least drink a little of the beverage at hand?  So I take a gulp, bracing for what I’m certain will be a taste just as corrosive as the smell.  Folks, imagine the cheapest grape soda you’ve ever had.  Now multiply that unfortunate taste by a very high number.  As usual I take another sip to ensure I read the product correctly, and yes I did.  Gross, disgusting, and vulgar are the most polite words I could use to describe this stuff.  After the initial trauma of this drinks taste has worn off I begin to wonder how the company that makes this makes enough money to stay in business.  Sorry trash can, typically stuff much more valuable than Sippin’ Syrup Purple is placed within you.  

C.W.

Bob Marley Mellow Mood Berry Flavor (Fan Review!)

Bob Marley. The name invokes a smorgasbord of thoughts.  Amazing music, deep philosophical ideas and so much more, he was truly an icon.  His contribution to American culture cannot be understated.  So imagine my surprise when I stumbled across a new drink emblazoned with the striking musician’s likeness. Appropriately named Bob Marley’s Mellow Mood this drink is classified as a relaxation beverage.  Berry flavor is the variety I have in hand and I scan the label to see what ingredients lay inside the aluminum can.  Pure cane sugar, natural flavors, and vegetable juice comprise the list.  Not bad in my opinion.  A warning informing me not to consume more than one can is located on the back of the can.  To be honest I’m not surprised by this admonition and decide that I will indeed review this unique brew.  So I make the purchase and cart my new found gem home to drink what I hope to be a memorable concoction.  As I walk out the door I see note informing me that this beverage reduces stress and relieves tension, things I’m sure Bob Marley would truly appreciate.

I open the can and a light berry scent greets my nose, so I take a swig.  A really awesome berry flavor washes across my mouth like a hurricane across South Florida.  Eager to continue my experience 

I take a few more gulps.  Great flavor and carbonation repeat as they did before.  I really can’t place just what berry I taste but I know that it tastes great.  Also as I drink I notice two websites advertised on the can.  The first is: www.bobmarley.com and the second is 1love.org.  Both websites are dedicated to some excellent things and I suggest the reader visit both.  I finish the can and realize that I not only like Bob Marley’s music but I like the relaxation beverage named after him too!

C.W.

Super Rooster Booster Lite (Fan Review!)

What happens when I go to a gas station late at night in a different city while tired? I purchase a can of Super Rooster Booster Lite that’s what. With that being said I decided to take the plunge and drink something that would typically have me running the other direction fast.  Why would I stay away? Simple, the oversized can has a picture of a muscled-up rooster flexing his biceps.  But I’m a sucker for new beverages to review.  So I fork over the required paper for a can of what could something I might want to forget. The ingredients of Super Rooster Booster Lite include such things as Ginseng, Ginko Baloba, and L-Carnatine.  I guess those are good things, so I take a walk on a moon lit night and crack the top. Still debating if I should drink this clearly earth shattering new concoction I decide to sit on a bus stop bench.  This seems to be an appropriate choice in case I have some type of adverse health reaction caused by my new aluminum friend.  A quick reading of the bus schedule informs me that the bus service will resume three hours in the future.  Oh well, at least the bench is comfortable.  Also my can is hidden by a plain brown bag that will help me avoid any embarrassment from wandering eyes.

The can is opened and a cherry type smell greets my nose.  So I take a gulp.  A cherry flavor greets my taste buds.  It isn’t bad at all so I take another gulp.  The carbonation stays static and the cherry flavor remains constant.  The more I drink the more I notice that the flavor is overly sweet, but that is to be expected.  So I finish the can with more energy than I had before and am somewhat satisfied with my foray into the world of bizarre poultry.  Would I buy another can? Sure, no calories and a decent taste make this stuff at least worth a shot. Good thing is now there is about two and a half hours until the bus arrives, wait I spent the only cash I had on Rooster Booster!

C.W.

Team Realtree Outdoor Energy Blaze Orange (Fan Review!)

Fans of Outdoor Shows will recognize Team Realtree Outdoor’s logo on the bright orange can that I found perched on the grocery store shelf.  Blaze Orange is the name of the flavor and the camouflaged can is bright enough to be seen at night.  But if I didn’t review the drink, then who would? So I made the purchase and carted my new beverage back to my deer blind hoping I’ve found a prize buck.

Back at my abode I notice two things. First the can is made with thick plastic, a seemingly good choice for someone who might drop it from their perch in a tree or other high place.  Of course the thought does cross my mind that perhaps the heavy durable plastic may also be resistant to buck shot, but since I live in a heavily populated area I won’t be testing that hypothesis.  The second thing I notice is that the top is difficult to remove.  I should say it’s difficult for me to remove, but perhaps for an outdoorsman who is used to working with his hands this would be a cinch. After a few muscle exhausting moments I finally remove the top.  No discernible scent is present.  That is a good thing.  So I take a gulp.  A mild lemon-lime flavor washes through my mouth like a tornado though a trailer park.  It actually tastes good.  I eagerly take another sip hoping for the best.  The same results are produced.  The carbonation remains strong and I can’t help but admit that I am pleasantly surprised.  Team Realtree Outdoor Energy Blaze Orange has a decent flavor and doesn’t leave an after taste, not too bad if you ask me!  So I finish the bottle happy that the over-the-top orange label caught my eye.

If you need some pep in your hunting step, grab a can of Team Realtree Outdoor Energy Blaze Orange, it’s buckshot of decent taste at a decent price.

C.W.

Koma Unwind Sugar Free (Fan Review!)

Sugar free beverages are frequently a less than stellar version of their sugar laden equivalents.  With that in mind I received the sugar-free version of Koma Unwind to review.  Sweetened with Splenda, Koma Unwind contains Melatonin, Rose Hips, and Valerian Root to help one relax.  On the label the following statement is provided: “After a long day at work or a restless night of sleep, pop open a can of KOMA ‘Unwind’ and let its special blend of supplements CALM YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL.” An inviting text to be sure so I take the blue and silver container home to do a review.

With a chilled can, I open the top and am greeted by a somewhat artificial grape odor.  The smell isn’t offensive and it reminds me of the grape soda I drank as a kid.  A large gulp is sent down the old drain pipe in dramatic fashion.  The first thing that jumps out at me is the artificial sweetener.  It doesn’t taste bad by any stretch, but it does leave room for improvement.  An aftertaste is left in my mouth, but this is to be expected with most energy drinks.  The after taste is metallic and lingers far longer than I would like.  Another gulp is sent home with similar results.  The carbonation stays strong and is not overpowering.  The more I drink the more I become acclimated to the sugar substitute, but it doesn’t grow on me at all. 

The can is now finished and I take time to reflect on my Koma Unwind Sugar Free experience.  Koma Unwind is far better than any of the other “relaxation” beverages that I have tried in terms of taste.  I think that I do feel somewhat more relaxed, a good thing for me.  Overall I would try another can if I came across one.

Hey folks don’t let the name scare you away; Koma Unwind Sugar Free is a decent relaxation beverage.

C.W.

Rockstar Energy Punched - Tropical Punch (Fan Review!)

The world of consumer beverages has several failed attempts at flavors aimed at mass appeal.  Orange, grape, and fruit punch are just a few examples.  So imagine the pathos engendered by an energy drink flavored like tropical punch.  Rock Star Punched Energy+Punch is the name of that drink, and I had a decision to make. Review what quite possibly could be the fluid version of a multiple fatality car accident, or die wondering what could have been?  Yeah I’ll review the stuff.  If I don’t, then who will?

The tall chilled can opened quickly.  No scent was disenable, which is a good thing in my book.  So I take a long gulp.   A decent tropical punch flavor washes over my mouth like a typhoon.  Taken aback by the unexpected another gulp is sent home.  Yes this flavor is actually decent.  So I take another few gulp to be sure.  Tropical punch flavor done well greets my taste buds time and again.  Presently surprised I notice other flavors have been added.  These flavors include Ginseng and Taurine and actually add to the overall taste.   I finish the can and am happy with my flavor selection, who knew a tropical punch flavor would actually be something I want to try again?

Hey if you can’t go on a tropical island getaway you can at least send your mouth by drinking Rockstar Energy+Punch Tropical Punch flavor.

C.W.

Rooster Booster (Fan Review!)

Poultry on steroids just isn’t my thing, never has been.  That being said I noticed in the large glass case at a bustling gas station an energy drink named “Rooster Booster.”  On the front of the can a muscle bound rooster strikes a pose that would make the Situation proud.  What to do?  I don’t like gimmicks but I can’t resist such a sophisticated drink.  So I make the purchase, requesting a brown paper bag in a hushed voice.  Yeah If I’m going to drink some Rooster Booster, at least no one will know.

So back at my house with my bag of shame I open the cans top.  Okay no scent that is good.  So I take a gulp.  I think this stuff is supposed to be cherry flavor.  So I take another sip.  It indeed is supposed to cherry flavored, and it isn’t that bad.  But it isn’t that good either.  So I take a few more gulps.  The taste doesn’t really grow on me at all and it leaves a rather thick aftertaste.  So I take another few gulps and the taste doesn’t get any better.  So with about half the can consumed I halt the review knowing the creepy version of Foghorn Leghorn won’t be gracing my beverage menu ever again.

C.W.

Koma Unwind (Fan Review!)

What’s in a name? Plenty, and Koma Unwind is the name of the beverage at hand. Koma Unwind is a relaxation beverage that recently hit stores.  Relaxation beverages are a relatively new addition to the lifestyle beverage market, and I haven’t been impressed with the few I’ve tried. Drinks like Lean and Sippin’ Syrup have been the beverage equivalent of aluminum encased regurgitation in my opinion, and I have been all but turned off to trying anything similar.  Perhaps this time will be different.  With an open mind I grab my already chilled can and scan the blue and silver label.  “Calm your mind, body, and soul” is written at the top, a rather inviting phrase to be sure.  That phrase is mitigated somewhat by the slightly corny “chillaxation beverage” written in bold letters next to the ingredients list. A brief synopsis about what Koma Unwind is printed in a conspicuous location and I will repeat verbatim now:  “After a long day at work or restless night of sleep, pop open a can of Koma ‘Unwind’ and let it’s special blend of supplements CALM YOUR MIND, BODY,  AND SOUL.”  As a side note I did not add the capital letters. The ingredients include HFCS, grape juice, and gum acacia. I do find it ironic that a relaxation beverage is made with HFCS. What’s in store for me now? Only one way to find out, drink some!

So I open the top and a slight grape smell greets the air holes of my nose.  The smell isn’t bad or cheap, and leads me to take a stout gulp.  An above average grape taste explodes in my moth like pyrotechnics.  Eagerly I take another gulp which delivers another uppercut of delicious taste.  The carbonation stays constant and adds to the overall experience.  A slight aftertaste is left but that isn’t a big deal to me.  Sip after sip of yum juice is sent home until the can is finished.  After some thought I am willing to admit that I am impressed with Koma Unwind.  On its own it provides great taste and delivers some calming effect to help take the edge off. Compared to the other relaxation beverages on the market it is in a class of its own.

Koma Unwind is good buy, even for the catatonic.

C.W.

UberMonster (Fan Review!)

Monster Energy Drink has a tremendous amount of flavors on the market.  Bigfoot is easier to find than a variety of said brand that tastes good, but that’s my opinion and I digress.  While at my local purveyor of all things grocery I notice a bottle, and yes folks I do mean bottle, of the aforementioned Monster brand. Ubermonster Energy Brew is its name and it claims to be bio-activated and nonalcoholic.  Why would they have to tell me its nonalcoholic?  Either there are enough people out there who may get the wrong idea, or there is something about the production of this clearly highbrow beverage that may be indicative of an alcoholic content.  So I look over the label and find what may be the answer.  I have to relay what the label says in full here:  “Uber from the German word meaning superior, above the norm or ultimate.  UberMonster the ultimate energy brew from Monster. Produced using proprietary German brewing technology.  We ‘borrowed’ a German brewing process which uses a special microbe to ferment malted barley. The resulting ‘Bio Activated’ energy brew has a clean, crisp, taste without the alcohol.  No regular bottle could handle this evil energy brewski.  So we designed our own with the chugger friendly wide mouth we could make.  The big ass cap is a little hard pry off, but it’s sorta like if you can’t open it you shouldn’t be able to drink it!”  That rambling description is lame, patronizing, and full of contradictions. It makes me hate this stuff already.  But I make the purchase anyway and cart the fluid equivalent of a strait to DVD movie back to my house to do a review.

Back at my house I chill the bottle to a near freezing state.  The bottle opener is procured and the “big ass” cap is removed.   No discernible scent is present which is good so I take a gulp.  While certainly better than any of the other monster product I’ve tried this stuff leaves something to be desired.  It tastes like a sweet version of non-alcoholic beer, and I don’t mean that in a good way.  So I take another gulp.  The delicate taste is accentuated by some nuances that I can’t really put my finger on, but the sweetness more than overpowers anything else.  Hey if I wanted this much sugar I would purchase cotton candy, not Monster.  After about half the bottle is consumed I halt the review.  I’ve had enough.   After some reflection I finally realize what Ubermonster is lacking.  Things like a decent taste, decent ingredients, no aftertaste, a credible label, a decent name, the list goes on.  Hey Monster your Ubermonster Brew is garbage!

Folks, if you want something brewed that gives you energy try coffee or tea.  Not the uber mess in a green bottle known as Ubermonster.

C.W.

The Pop Shoppe Root Beer (Fan Review!)

Classic flavors abound in the soda world.  So with that being said I was somewhat skeptical when I came across a brand of Root Beer I haven’t tried yet.  The Pop Shoppe is the brand at hand and the red and white label looked inviting.  I looked over the necessary information to see if anything jumped out at me.  “Cane sugar” written in a unique font called to me from the front of the label and cemented the buy. So I dropped the necessary combination of dollars and cents on a polished counter and tucked my new found bottle away. 

Back at the humble space I call home the already chilled bottle was opened with an old school bottle opener.  Stock root beer scent wafted toward my nose holes and beckoned for me to take a large gulp, and gulp I did.  Tremendous root beer flavor graced my taste buds like fine wine.  Anther gulp ensued producing a fine symphony of amazing cane sugar sweetness combined with a taste uncommon to the root beer world.  Angelic harps of yumminess played in concert as this beverage was consumed.  The bottle was consumed leaving nothing but satisfaction and euphoria behind.  The Pop Shoppe has captured lightning in a bottle and produced a soda almost unparalleled in taste and quality.  Now all I need is another bottle of this amazing concoction!

If you are a fan of root beer, soda, or life then you will love The Pop Shoppe Root Beer.

C.W.

Virgil's Clementine (Fan Review!)

Clementine is the name of a variety of Virgil’s Soda I bought recently at a market stocked with a wide variety of gourmet sodas.  I was out of town and had wandered into an upscale all natural market catering to organic and all natural tastes.  The clear bottle containing brightly colored orange soda was quickly chilled back at my temporary abode.   To be honest there are a few flavors in the beverage world that I don’t find palatable.  Grape, apple, fruit punch, and orange round out the list.  So I was faced with a potential problem.  The Virgil's line of Soda far exceeds most I’ve drank in both quality and taste.  But this one is orange flavor, clementine to be exact, a type of flavor I have all but sworn off. There is only one way to find out if this stuff will be an exemption or yet another win for the Virgil’s line.

So I open the top and take a long swig.  A decent orange type taste greets my taste buds and is remarkably satisfying.  So I take another swig and am met with similar results.  The taste seems like it’s a mix of more than just orange so I scan the ingredients list to see exactly what this stuff is made from.  Water, juices from apple, pear, grape and clementine populate the juice end of the list.  It surprises me that so many flavors can be mixed together to form something so satisfying.  So I take a few more swigs and finish off the bottle.  I am happy with Virgil’s Clementine, now I can honestly say that I like at least one orange flavored soda!

Folks if you like oranges, juice, and soda you’ll love them combined in Virgil’s Clementine Soda.  This stuff is like stardust mixed with awesome... for your mouth.

C.W.

IZZE Sparkling Clementine (Fan Review!)

Sometimes I find a beverage on the supermarket shelf that appears different from any of the other drinks I have encountered.  Izze Sparkling Clementine is just that beverage.  A small 8 oz. can colored in bright orange informed me that it's contents are made from pure apple, white grape, orange, Clementine and acerola juice.  Quite a list to be sure, and after reading whats inside I decide to purchase a can for myself.  On the way to the register I read that this particular Izze product is made from 70% fruit juice and that the company producing Izze partners with a thing called the "Global Education Fund" which apparently helps to provide education for needy children around the globe.  So far all the signs seem to point to the fact that I've made a decent choice, so I proceed home and deposit the slim can in the ice box to chill.

A cold can is now in hand and the top opened.  A slight smell greets my nostrils, a smell which has slight orange overtones.  So a sip is taken.  A pronounced orange taste washes through my mouth like a deluge.  The taste is decent, slightly tart and mixed with carbonation I look forward to the next tilt.  So another gulp is sent home with similar results.  The taste and carbonation remain constant.  Impressed with what I've had so far I drink the remaining contents enjoying every sip along the way.  My can of the Izzie Sparkling Clementine is now empty and I think I have found something I actually want to try again.

Izze Sparkling Clementine is a decent version of a carbonated juice beverage and is worth a shot is you come across a can.

C.W.

Guru Energy Drink 2.0 (Fan Review!)

Sequels are typically a less than stellar follow-up of an original product.  So with that being said, I displayed some hesitation when I came across Guru 2.0.  What is Guru 2.0? Well it’s an organic and 100% natural energy drink.  The ingredients include Guarana, Ginko Biloba, and evaporated cane juice used for sweetener. Several other ingredients populate the list but I think the ones listed paint a decent picture of what comprises this mystery juice.  As a side note the label informs me that pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine should stay away.  Just for a moment I wonder what would happen to a pregnant woman if she drank this stuff.  I decided not to think about it for too long because I think I want to drink this stuff.  So, I make the purchase.

 I open the top and a somewhat sickly smell greets my nostrils.  The best way I can describe the smell is that it most closely resembles bubble gum.  That fact doesn’t bother me too much so I take a swig.  A light taste combined with light carbonation washes through my mouth like a tidal wave.  I take another swig.  Not bad, the slight bubble gum taste is muted and decent.  I finish the can and decide this can was worth the money.  I can’t say that it was way awesome, or wicked yummy, but I can say that this stuff was a pleasant surprise.   Guess I can chalk Guru 2.0 as a decent sequel to the original.

Guru 2.0 with all natural ingredients and a decent taste it is a reliable energy drink that far exceeds much of what’s on the market.

C.W.

Twinlab Energy Fuel (Fan Review!)

Health food stores are known for products not typically found at mainstream grocery outlets.  So on a recent trip to my local purveyor of healthy beverages I notice a drink that was ripe for review.  Twinlab Energy Fuel is its name.

Back at the house with chilled can I scan the label to see what's in store.  Twinlab Energy Fuel is made without sugar and has zero calories.  This fact gives me some pause as most sugarless drinks taste really bad.  Elsewhere on the label I am told that a high amount of B vitamins and several different types of herbal extracts are present in the drinks mix.  All told these elements sound cool, but they also sound like they could be a cosmic calamity. 

So the top has been cracked open and no discernible taste is present, good start.  So I take a sip.  The taste is a cross between citrus and water.  So I take a few more sips.  The more I drink the more I notice a strong metallic after taste coating my mouth like paint.  A few more sips provide me with stable carbonation and taste, but also provides me with the same aftertaste that has not only grown unwelcome but has also turned me completely off to Twinlabs Energy Fuel.

While the taste of this beverage may be decent, the aftertaste leaves much to be desired.

C.W.

Team Realtree White Buck (Fan Review!)

While at the local grocery store I noticed a can I had never seen before.  A white camouflage pattern ironically helped this product to stand out from the usual energy drink fare scattered around it on the overcrowded shelf.  Team Realtree Outdoor Energy is the name of the drink and White Buck is the name of the flavor.  A few questions enter my mind, I will list them now.  One, do outdoorsmen really need their own energy drink?  What exactly is White Buck flavor?  Does someone really need a can of something that needs to be camouflaged? Only one of those questions will be answered by me so I decide to take the plunge and purchase the Team Realtree product and cart it back to my proverbial deer stand to take a shoot at what this stuff is all about.

The can is now chilled and I try to open the twist on cap.  The cap is difficult to take off, but I finally extract the required piece and set about to taste the White Buck flavor inside.  Before I take a sip a rather sickly smell greets my nose.  It smells like weird cherry flavor.  I read the ingredients and find that HFCS and all sorts of other common ingredients are found inside.  So I take a gulp hoping that the taste does not resemble the smell.  A strange taste most similar to cherry flavor washes across my mouth like a tidal wave.  The carbonation is strong and I take another sip and am met with similar results. I don’t find the taste offensive and it seems to stabilize the more I drink.  After about a quarter of the can I have had enough and halt the review.  Now the reason why this can is camouflaged has become all too clear.

Folks there are several energy drink products on the market that not only taste great but are actually made with decent ingredients; Team Realtree White Buck Flavor is not one of them.

C.W.

Limonad (Fan Review!)

I work in Wheeling, IL, which is a suburb of Chicago. For some reason we have a pretty sizable Russian community here, not of whom, I am convinced, are involved in legit activities.

That being said, there is a supermarket here, Garden Fresh, which stocks all kinds of strange products from Russia, Bulgaria, Poland etc. including soft drinks.

I decided to give some a try, this is Limonad from Russia. OK, it’s got a little elf on the front and loads of medals and awards so how bad can it be? I used to drink Jic Jac when I was a kid. I took it to work and asked a Russian colleague to translate the name (because I can’t read it, obviously) and she said “it supposed to remind us of our childhood”.

A friend who saw it was a little troubled that I was going to drink it. “It’s yellow and it’s from Russia. Do you know what the color reminds me of?” It does resemble some samples I had taken to the doctor once for testing.

Undaunted, I opened the bottle to enjoy with my Rahmen noodles tonight. It has an odd smell, like some kind of medicine my mom used to give me when I was sick. When I took my first sip and my taste buds sent terrible signals to my brain.  It’s highly carbonated, not sweet at all, and has a bitter herbal taste, like anise if you’ve ever tasted that. It reminded me of some of the flavored schnapps I used to get in Sweden which had little twigs and leaves in the bottle but was “good for your health”. This, honestly, has to be one of the worst things I have ever had the misfortune of drinking, and I couldn’t even finish the bottle. It boggles the imagination to think that someone is brewing this stuff up, putting it in a bottle and people are spending their hard earned rubles to purchase and consume it.  So now I am trying to figure out what’s really up with smiling elf on the bottle and why it has won all those awards. Maybe it mixes well with vodka and can remove rust.