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Where To Buy
Rip It Energy Fuel: Power
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I have to admit, as a 99¢ drink, I didn’t expect much from Rip It. However, the drink pleasantly surprised me all together. Rip It Energy Fuel is an energy drink by National Beverage Co, and can apparently be found at Wal-Mart, but I got it at Xoxide (it cost 1.09, but the 10¢ extra was worth it to not have to go out and look for it) and has a light greenish yellow color. Rip It has a strawberry taste to it, but the taste can best be described as ‘artificial’. You can tell Rip It uses HFCS because the strawberry flavoring is a little too sweet, and leaves a fairly nasty after taste. Other than that, this drink exceeded my original expectations! A 16 oz can of Rip It Energy delivers 180mg of caffeine, 2000mg of taurine and 20mg of guarana. While the energy blend as a whole is a little lacking in variety, 180mg of caffeine puts this drink ahead of your average energy drink caffeine wise. Rip It’s carbonation is also pretty nice, it’s not too carbonated, and it’s not flat, it’s the sweet spot right in between the two. The energy was surprising, while the ingredients show it’s not much more than a caffeine injected generic soda, the energy boost was actually pretty good, long lasting and more gradual than sudden. While Rip It energy is a little lacking in taste and ingredients, if you need a quick boost and only have a dollar, Rip It Energy is worth the 99¢.
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AMP Energy: Elevate
Mountain Dew has a brand of energy drinks called AMP Energy, and one of their varieties, Elevate, gets the spotlight today. AMP Energy Elevate promises to help you keep focused, connected and alert, in addition to make your reflexes more sharp. When I first opened Elevate, a familiar aroma over came me. AMP Energy Elevate smells just like Mountain Dew Revolution! So for those of you upset by the fact that Revolution is only going to last a short time, you can just get AMP Elevate. While AMP Elevate does taste a lot like Mountain Dew Revolution, it seems to taste a little more artificial, there seems to be a hint of a chemical taste (possibly the L-Theanine?), not bad, but noticeable. There’s not much of an after taste either, so you can only get the flavor while drinking AMP. This drink is a dark purple in color, the color being very similar to SuperNova. AMP Elevate has a nice kick though, 160mg of caffeine per bottle (10 mg caffeine per fl oz.) so it’s the average amount found in most energy drinks. AMP Elevate also contains Guarana, Taurine, Ginseng and, in addition, L-Theanine (has been shown to help boost T-Cells in immune system) in it. Overall, AMP Elevate delivers the benefits it promises, but the taste is mediocre, so it doesn’t stand out. As only one flavor in the entire AMP lineup, I can’t make any assumptions about the other AMP varieties yet, but I do look forward to the rest of them.
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Joker Mad Energy
Wow. Déjà Vu. Today we have Joker Mad Energy, an energy drink that only cost me 99 cents. I’m having a Déjà Vu moment because it seems like I’ve had this before. Oh, I know why - it tastes EXACTLY like Monster Energy, only sweeter. This stuff isn’t bad, although it seems really carbonated, although I can handle discomfort if I only have to pay 99 cents. It’s hard to describe the taste, it almost seems to have a hint of a vitamin (like the Finstones chewable ones) taste, but it’s not strong and it doesn’t taste bad. The kick is great too; it has an Energy Blend of Glucose, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucuronlactone and Maltodextin. That’s the same energy blend as Monster! This is too weird. It tastes like Monster, has the same energy blend, has the same warning label in the back, both drinks say ‘Ball’ on the back (the canning/packaging company I think) and they look the same too. A quick Google search revealed my suspicions: if you go to Beverage World you’ll read “Joker Mad Energy, a beverage born out of its [Circle K] partnership with Hansen Beverage Co”. Hansen Beverage Co is the company that owns Monster Beverage, meaning that Monster and Joker Energy are both owned by the same company. Okay then, Joker Energy is a lot cheaper and tastes the same, so why would any one buy Monster anymore? I’m also a little confused and disappointed that Hansen can’t come up with more than one flavor for it’s energy drinks, but that’s beside the point. Joker Energy is pretty good and delivers that kick that energy drinks should, its also cheap too! I’d recommend trying this, especially if you’re a Monster fan that doesn’t feel like paying as much, because it’s basically the same.
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AriZona Rx Energy Herbal Tonic [Updated]
I love AriZona Beverage Co and everything they make, and their Rx Energy beverage is no exception. AriZona’s Rx Energy isn’t like other energy drinks though, because the Herbal Tonic doesn’t contain carbonated water (or any carbonation for that matter) or artificial ingredients. This drink is made of: Green Tea, Mango (which gives this drink an amazing flavor), Pear and Lemon Juice, and Honey, so there’s no nasty aftertaste or weird chemical tastes in it like those low end, generic, energy drinks have. After drinking this stuff, I felt the effects of it right away. I became more alert, and was no longer tired. I became disappointed when I ran out of it, because the mango taste is absolutely amazing, and the fact that I cannot drink anymore of this until I go buy more upsets me. What makes this drink so great and interesting is the fact that it contains AriZona’s premium brewed green tea, which is found in their other products, giving Rx Energy a very distinct taste. Rx Energy comes in a 24 oz can, or in a 20 oz glass bottle (picture here) for .99 or 1.99, respectively. Buying the can is a much better deal, but the bottle is great if you are out and need to put it aside for a bit, which I would never do because I can’t not (hooray for double negatives) drink it. Herbal Tonic also contains Caffeine, Panax Ginseng and Siberian Ginseng, and Guarana, giving it the properties of an energy drink, which is why it’s labeled as a Tea and Energy Drink. I don’t know how much caffeine is in this, but I emailed AriZona earlier asking for the answer, so I’ll update this when they reply. A 24oz can of AriZona Rx Energy Herbal Tonic contains 90mg of caffeine (30mg per 8oz), which isn’t as much as some drinks, so it’s perfect for people that can’t handle too much caffeine that still want an energy boost. Arizona Rx Energy Herbal Tonic is absolutely amazing, it’s cheap, great tasting, natural, and delivers a good kick. This drink is something that everyone should try.
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Citrus CRUNK!!!
I’m probably going to pass out any moment here from the heat, but before my internal organs fry and my body shuts down, let me tell you about Citrus CRUNK!!! As I said earlier, its pretty hot here, so I picked up Citrus CRUNK!!! because it claims to contain real lemon lime. Hopefully, this will taste like lemonade and cool me off. After buying this drink at the local BP, I noticed something odd about the top half of the can. It reads “Energize - Replenish - Stimulate - Refresh - Invigorate - Arouse”. Yes. You read that correctly, Citrus CRUNK!!! has Epimedium in it, which allegedly has the properties of a mild aphrodisiac. Strange. The bottom of the can lists some of the ingredients, including “Ashwaganda - Horny Goat Weed - Ginseng - Guarana - Skull Cap - White Willow”. Now, is it just me, or do “Skull Cap” and “White Willow” sound like street names for drugs? (don’t worry, they’re not drugs, just plants) Nevertheless, I am going to drink this. Pop the top and it smells just like Gatorade Lemonade, and it keeps its promise with its twist of lemon lime. It’s a little on the sour side, but it tastes fantastic! It’s also great for you because there are no artificial colors or preservatives. The can states that the energy blend consists of 97mg of caffeine, but doesn’t state is it’s per serving or can. There’s two serving per can, so I’m guessing that there is 194mg of caffeine in the entire can. So far, Citrus CRUNK!!! is doing quite well in my opinion. The taste, smell, and kick are everything I could ask for. As for the aphrodisiac, I doubt there’s enough Horny Goat Weed in this to do anything (if it actually does anything at all) as last I checked, Pfizer has yet to acquire CRUNK!!! Energy. Either way, Citrus CRUNK!!! really hits the spot, especially on a hot day!
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Monster Heavy Metal
Earlier this year, Monster released Heavy Metal to their already expanding lineup of products. Heavy Metal is a limited edition drink and may already be out of production. Luckily, I stocked up on the stuff when it came out, and have had several experiences with their new product. Now mind you, this is not one of those weak, low caffeine, energy drinks that are marketed mainly toward young children that carry energy drinks with their cell phones and Hannah Montana merchandise in an attempt to look cool. So those of you that fall under this category should step back and let the true fans of caffeine have a go at this stuff. This hardcore drink has a toxic, bright green color and a very strong taste (rumors have it the drink is just bottled byproducts of oil refineries). The first sips might have you rethink your purchase, as it’s somewhat metallic and industrial tasting. If your throat hasn’t dissolved after the first few sips, you’re good to go and can enjoy the rest. Now, as for the kick this gives, look out! The first time I finished the 32oz Heavy Metal - same size as the Monster BFC (I’ll let you figure out what BFC stands for, but here’s a hint: B is for Big and C is for Can) - I got fairly wired. A quart of liquid and 320mg of caffeine (remember, caffeine’s a diuretic) didn’t exactly add to my comfort level either. According to my peers, I resembled a monkey with ADD during this incident, but some of my twitching was bladder related, not from the caffeine - I was on the highway and I had to wait quite a bit for the next rest stop, give me a break! I have had Heavy Metal since, and find it very helpful when I need a big kick anytime during the day. If you like energy drinks for the kick, and not just to look trendy, Monster Heavy Metal will not disappoint you, and if it does, who knows? Maybe it will double as a paint stripper too!
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Jolt Power Cola
For this update on Caffeine Guru, I’ve decided to try out Jolt Power Cola. It comes in a bright, shiny red can with big letters in an obnoxious font. How could anyone resist this?- their packaging screams caffeine. Jolt proudly boasts that its line of sodas (theirs some other flavors, I’ll review those later) contains “twice the caffeine of regular soda”. In reality, it packs a little more than twice. A 23.5 oz can of Jolt (pictured) contains 220mg of caffeine. Not bad! My first impression of Jolt Power Cola was that Jolt is just your average generic cola. It tastes a lot like a generic cola, a little flatter/bland than Coca-Cola or Pepsi, and a little better than the wholesale food market cola brands. So unless you’re a snobby, self-proclaimed Cola connoisseur, you’ll be fine (I do agree with Jolts saying “The Energy Drink that Actually Tastes Good.” it is tasty like I said). Jolt is also jam packed with caffeine, taurine, guarana and all the other good stuff energy drinks come with nowadays. Again, Jolt also comes in a variety of flavors, and you can check them out at the Official Site or buy them over at the caffeine friendly ThinkGeek Caffeine Department . Jolt is distinctive for its tall can with a screw on top, which is certainly a plus because it doesn’t make you have to drink it all at once and allows you to take it on the go without worrying about spilling. Most importantly Jolt certainly does it’s job caffeine wise. Its energy mix supplied me with plenty of energy (the equivalent of a little over 4 cans of Coke) without any jittering or twitching. So, if you want the taste of a soda, and the kick of a cup of coffee or two, head on over to the local store (or ThinkGeek Caffeine) and try a Jolt Power Cola.
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Rockstar PUNCHED
One of Rockstar’s newest products, Rockstar PUNCHED, well, it packs a punch. At 120mg of caffeine per 8oz, this can packs 240mg of caffeine. For $1.99 at the local Shell Gas station, this is a great buy.
Rockstar PUNCHED gives off the aroma and taste of your basic fruit punch (think Hawaiian Punch or Tahitian Treat) and its bright red color is just asking to stain your favorite dress shirt or oriental carpet. Rockstar’s basic energy mix is what gives this drink such a kick: Taurine, Ginkgo, Caffeine, Guarana and Ginseng combine to get your body and mind up and running. In addition, Rockstar PUNCHED is fairly fizzy so the carbonation factor keeps you from downing this drink quickly, you would be better off sipping this energy mix.
After downing my can of PUNCHED, I was very pleased. The energy mix got me awake and focused, without making me jittery like some drinks will. I was ready for the day ahead thanks to this new product. Because of its great taste, price and energy Rockstar PUNCHED is definitely one of the better drinks out on the market.
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