VIB: Mango Lime

VIB Vacation in a Bottle Mango Lime.
I'll be honest, here. This drink is a lot like that Neuro I reviewed a few weeks ago. As in it's not an energy drink, but more of a health/relaxation beverage. And I'm okay with this.
The bottle states "The Happy Relaxation Drink." They weren't kidding. This has a tasty tropical feel to it, with the mango/lime combo they injected into it. It, like the Neuro I mentioned above, is lightly carbonated, so it is still technically "soda," but lacks many of the harmful ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, and stuff like that. And for that reason, I tip my hat the the gents at VIB for keeping their products shit-free.





The bottle is a tall aluminum can with a screw-on cap. Kinda like those aluminum Mountain Dew bottles that are like limited edition or something... I remember they sold the Halo 3 Game Fuel in the cans for a while...
But anyway, I can't say this beverage made me more energetic... because that's not what it's supposed to do. I DO feel relaxed a bit, but seeing as how I've got stuff I have to do today, I can't make an accurate measurement of how relaxed I get.


FINAL VERDICT: 6 6.5 out of 10.
It was good, but not THAT good. Wasn't too impressed. It was like drinking carbonated juice. Not usually my thing, but I'm okay with it for now.

However, having seen their website, and hearing the slow ska/reggae theme song they've got, that makes me rethink my verdict. I bumped it up from 6 to 6.5 out of ten.

Bawls: G33K B33R

The Bawls G33K B33R, upon first open, foamed like all good root beers do. The foam AND the vapor from the high caffeination is exactly what I like to see, and exactly what I expect from an offshoot beverage of Bawls' calibur.
The fact that the Bawls people added some 1337 5P34K into the drink's title makes me smile. I am a longtime nerd, and I like seeing the nerd in all of us brought out in mainstream products.
The flavor of the G33K B33R is awfully similar to an A&W Rooty. It's smooth-textured, and you can't even tell that there's added caffeine and guarana. The flavor is very nonchalant in that way.





The energy boost, like the original flavor Bawls, consists of simple, not-over-the-top ingredients. Mostly just caffeine and guarana. Not much else. But in this particular instance, less is more.
I should also point out that Bawls drinks are exceptionally hard to find unless you know where to look. In my last Bawls review, I stumbled on that in a gas station convenience store. This time, however, I was tipped off that G33k B33R was spotted in the wild at Fred Meyer for $1.89 a go (thanks, Kevin). MUCH cheaper than at that damn Kwik-e-Mart. While I was there, I picked up an original Bawls, as well, taking advantage of the opportunity as I saw it.


Final verdict: 9 out of 10.
While the flavor was delicious, and the bro sover at Bawls don't dissapoint, I thought it couldn't hurt to have done something more unique with the root beer flavor. True, it is an American classic flavor, but a little ingenuity and innovation is always nice.

Rockstar Energy Cola

Previously ignorant of this alternative flavor of the popular energy drink, the Rockstar Energy Cola was a run-of-the-mill cola, aside from a bit of an energetic kick. I detected a the smooth cola flavor first off. Tasted pretty much like any other cola, in my honest opinion. Did I mention that I think Coca-Cola and Pepsi taste the same? Same deal here. Wasn't too enthused, but at least it was pleasant. Unlike SOME drinks I've had in the past.
The 16 oz can was some kind of brushed aluminum. Not all shiny like most cans. But the black, silver, and gold color scheme made for a bit of eye-candy.






The energy supplement portion of is was insanely unoriginal, I thought. Guarana, taurine, caffeine, ginseng, and B-vitamins. Pretty usual, I suspect.
The energy this drink gave me was typical. I felt a little bloated, actually... and I think I may have some heartburn. I don't know that I can blame it entirely on the Rockstar, but it definitely played its part. "Double Strength" is right.
I DID find it odd that there's a little American flag on the can towards the back and in tiny letters it says "AMERICAN MADE." As if being made in America changed the flavor or anything...
Final verdict: 6 out of 10. It was tasty enough to keep me drinking, but I wasn't really impressed. Needs... more to the flavor.

Bawls

This stuff is exceedingly hard to find around here. Jesus.
Also, prepare for many immature double entendres.
But anyway... a haphazard trip to a dingy little gas station close to college led me to this appropriately colored blue-bottled drink. I knew of the big flavor Bawls packs, but I never could find it anywhere. I had looked far and wide for the 10-ozer with the name that's easy to make puns out of...
Bawls. Big, blue, tasty Bawls. So imagine my surprise when I walk into the little quick-e-mart sort of thing, and see a case full'o Bawls.
I grabbed two, paid for them (the five dollars or so seemed expensive, but it was worth it for such a rare and hard-to-find item), drove home, and popped one of thes Bawls open. All over into my mouth.
I gotta say... the first whiff of sweet Bawls smell was intriguing. But the flavor definitely lived up to its reputation. It was smooth, lightly carbonated (much like a Red Bull), and very sweet. Reminded me of beer if beer had less hops and more sugar. But tenfold. Definitely a unique blend. And not in a bad way.
The energy kick I'm getting from the drink is right around what I would call a standard. If such a thing exists. I'm feeling perky and alert, and typing a bit faster than usual. It would seem a majority of the energy-ness comes from high caffeine and guarana content. And that's about it. No Tauring, no L-Carnitine... just the bare minimum. And that may work to Bawls' advantage.





The packaging is very appealing to me. I would be funny if it came in a sack... a Bawls Sack... but a bottle is the tiptop classy way to drink ANY carbonated beverage. Bottled sodas rock. And Bawls is no exception.
120 calories per bottle... not bad. The "Ingredient" list was awfully short. I think that's probably a good thing. Less additives and such. So it's healthier than, say, a Rockstar. It DOES have a variation of the generic disclaimer... it doesn't go too in-depth, stating merely, "Warning: This product contains high levels of cafeine." Subtle, but sufficient.
My final verdict: 9.5 out of 10. This stuff is amazing. The presentation, the name, the flavor, the kick... I love Bawls. It's not PERFECT, but it's still pretty damn good. But it was a bit expensive. $2.39. Could have just been the gas station, but I dunno...

Sobe No Fear Super Energy Supplement

Ker-KLACK
Upon opening my black-and-red aluminum-clad beverage, a scent of pomegranate and maybe cherry found its way to my notsrils. The flavor of the No Fear Super Energy Supplement by Sobe was much more intense. I personally found it to be a bit over-the-top as far as flavor is concerned. It left a sort of tangy, sour aftertaste, which I don't care for. After a few more sips, the funky flavor became even more apparent, staining my tastebuds with that starchy "dry" feeling you get when you eat too much pomegranate. Or potatoes. Something like that.
The energy kick was good. Not spectacular, but at the very least noticable. The standard energy blend of caffeine, guarana, L-carnitine, taurine, and a mix of arginine and inositol kept me at least alert and energetic to a point.





Having been produced by Sobe, I expected something more along the lines of health and fitness and such. The original Sobe drinks were always a personal favorite, partially for their flavor and for the healthy aspect.
This drink manages to be about the same as a Monster, in terms of health. 260 calories, versus the usual 240 I see everywhere else...
I bought this one for $2.19 at the Chevron down the street. I don't know about you, but that seems a little spendy, to me. $2.00 seems appropriate. $1.50 is even better. But $2.19? Meh.

My final verdict: 6.4 for an all-around weird taste, unpleasant aftertaste, and for being just a tad too pricey for me.

NeuroBliss

Hm.
Interesting, to say the least.
This Neuro Bliss beverage I found in my college's book store had me a bit confused when I first popped it open. The Health factor seems to be this comestible's main focus.
Cracking the plastic sealed cap issued the telltale "puff" of a soda (or, to be more politically correct, carbonation). The steam/vapor liefted from the revealed mouth of the clear plastic bottle. THe flavor... not too impressive, to be honest. Not too sweet, or sour, or fruity... I suppose I could compare it to tea, in the flavor department. I was half-expecting (after that showy opening) it to be loaded with flavors to offset any health-beneficiary ingredients that wouldn't be as agreeable to the tastebuds. But I suppose I was only half right. There is SOME flavor, I just can't quite pin down what it is. It's something of a neutral bland flavor. In all honesty, I think some of the flavor may come from the carbonation itself.






But moving on, the ingredients on the bottle are what caught my attention. Acetyl-L-Carnitine, L-Phenylalanine, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, L-Theanine, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea, and ginkgo bilola. No caffeine. No taurine. No guarana, and no extensive sugar (9g in the whole bottle). And all for 35 calories per bottle. Yup. Definitely healthy. Which, let's be honest, it a good thing for me, personally. I've had so many of those Red Bulls and Full Throttles that my blood could very well make a delicious syrup for pankakes, waffles, and pastries.
The description on their website says "NeuroBliss is happiness in a bottle. Bliss promotes relaxation without drowsiness, relieves anxiety and enhances overall mood, allowing you to concentrate."
I can certainly say that their description is pretty close. I feel relaxed. Not energized as usual. Of course, either way I'm lazy as all hell, but...
Final verdict: 6.5/10 for keeping it healthy, staying true to the "relaxation" thing, but the taste... the taste took some gettng used to, and that's what knocked down the score. Oh, it was also pricey. Like $2.49, I think...

Venom: Death Adder Fruit Punch

The whole Venom experience is quite a departure from the generic "energy drink" persona. The Venom: Death Adder is no exception. I should point out how I really like the entire Venom line, just based on their originality. All their flavors are named after some sort of deadly serpent (Death Adder - Fruit Punch, Killer Taipan - Mango, Black Mamba - Original, et cetera). Their cans are thick aluminum with a legitimate screw-on cap. Not some chintzy aluminum mockery. But I digress...





The Death Adder variety of Venom is fruit punch-flavored. In all honesty, it tastes like that questionable fruit punch at that party you went to. Only, the punch hit up on steroids on the way to the party. Which, flavor wise, is a good thing.
The texture of the beverage (and all Venoms, really) is smooth and feels frothy, even though it appears to be a regular soft drink. I am a big fan of this.
The energy content of Venom, dubbed the "Venom Potency Pack" contains Ginseng Extract, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Guarana, Inositol, Glucuronolactone, and Maltodextrin, and caffeine. This stuff got me buzzing pretty hard.
They weren't kidding when they said "Piercing Energy that Strikes Back." That's for sure.
240 calories total, nothing out of the ordinary there...
Honestly, I don't have much else to say about this particular drink. The flavor is pretty rad (I prefer the original Black Mamba flavor, myself, but for the sake of reviewing...), the texture is a smooth, frothy one that must be tried to be believed. The energy was sufficient, and the price isn't exhorbetant. I've noticed that for 16.9 FL oz, you're actually paying a few cents less than a 16-oz Monster. Or so I have seen. May not be true in specific environments. But regardless, it's slightly bigger for about the same price (maybe less), and packs an "equal-to-or-greater-than" punch as compared to the Monster standard.
Final verdict: 9/10 for good flavor, good buzz, decent price, interesting texture, but what's up with the thick aluminum that I can't crush with one hand in a fit of testosterone-and-caffeine-driven victory?