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?

Monster Nitrous: Super Dry

The Nitrous Monsters are a unique bunch, I think. This specific one, the "Super Dry," which comes in the green can has a sort of citrus-y flavor that I can't quite put a finger on. The can is a 12 FL oz-er, so noticably smaller than the average energy drink can. And that's sort-of a turn off, I suppose... I like some girth to my beverages. I don't mean DUB girth, but... at least 16 FL oz.
As far as the can design goes, It's like the old Jolt cans (from before they had a pull-tab), only much smaller. It's got that aluminum screw-on cap that pops when you open it, issuing a cool white vapor that adds to the excitement I feel whenever I open ANY drink, let alone this one.
In the drink's description, they mention how nitrous oxide (not to be confused with NOS) has been added to the drink. Which in effect goes only as far as nitrogenated water. Basically just adds to the "fizz."




I don't knock Monster for doing something interesting with their drink. I find the Super Dry to be fairly pleasing to the tastebuds.
As far as the boost goes... I can't notice a whole lot. At least, nothing more than a regular Original Monster would give. So the kick is so-so.
Listed in the can's "energy blend" are the usuals... caffeine, L-carnitine, Glucose, guarana, and some ingredients that I don't see too often in energy drinks; Glucuronolactone, inositol, maltodextrin, and yerba mate.
in the health department, I see a lack in high-fructose corn syrup, and the can in its entirety is only 160 calories. A good call for those trying to cut down on calorie intake, in terms of buzz/calorie ratio, while still aiming for something mildly tasty.
Still, the can's got that "pregnant women/children/caffeine-sensitive indivuduals" disclaimer that I like on my drinks... makes me feel edgy. But for an average human being, the disclaimer is probably wise advice. They should probably add "people with heart problems," too. But that's just me...
My final verdict is thus: 8/10, for good flavor, good buzz, lacking a bit in size, at least for me, and healthier than an original Monster.