Athletes are encouraged to learn more regarding what and when to consume beverages during strenuous activity.
From the article:
Virtually everyone recognises that energy drinks can be more effective than water in endurance sport, but you also need to know how much to
(Note: Could not find full paragraph for this item)...
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Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is one of the thirty Attorney's General to press federal officials to require clear and appropriate labeling on energy drinks that also contain alcohol.
From the article:
Often referred to as alcoholic energy drinks, the beverages are coming under increased scrutiny by state officials and others who believe manufacturers are using the appeal of such drinks among teens and young adults to market the alcoholic products...
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bHIP Energy Drink
Cost: Unavailable for 9.3 gram packet
Active ingredients: Guarana, green tea, ginseng
Rating: 5 out of 10
Calories: 24

bHIP energy drink is another entrant into the energy-drink-in-powered-form category. We understand the appeal of what bHIP and others bring to consumers...energy in a compact, convenient format that can be mixed with water (or juice, tea, etc.) and enjoyed on the go. bHIP brings both some upside and downside to their product.

The packet offers very little in the way of graphic appeal-what seems to be a splash of water plus their logo and tagline (try it...feel it...share it) against a white background on one side and nutritional information on the other.

bHIP includes a broad range and potent mix of ingredients. Under the potency column bHIP offers big doses of vitamin C, niacin, vitamins B6 & 12, and folic acid. The broad range column includes an amino acid blend, maca root, quebracho, white willow bark, acai, stevia, and aloe vera. After mixing all of these (and several other ingredients as well) together, you have one bad-tasting energy drink. The beverage begins with a slight berry flavor with a strong sweetness. However, the sweetness turns quickly to a mildly bitter and medicine taste. Unfortunately, the bitter and medicine notes lingered in our mouths for awhile and took several gulps of water to dilute.

We found bHIP to pack a big energy punch. The directions on the packet indicate mixing half of the packet contents in water for a moderate boost; the entire packet for maximum energy. We only mixed half of the powder in water for this review and were impressed with the jump in energy...imagine using the full packet. We did not experience any jitters or crash, either.

Web site: bHIP

Effect energy drink prepares to compete with Red Bull and others in the UK market.
From the article:
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Pepsi's Gatorade has felt the competitive pressures as consumers more frequently choose functional beverages, energy drinks, and enhanced waters.
From the article:
Each offensive comes at an important time for Chicago-based Gatorade, a division of New York-based PepsiCo. The sports-drink market slowed over the last year as beverage alternatives, from energy drinks to flavored waters, proliferated. And sales seem to have particularly cooled at Gatorade...
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Burn Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, arginine, glucuronolactone, panax ginseng, guarana, caffeine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 260

Burn energy drink has alot going on. First, their tagline (Chill it. Shake it. Drink it like you stole it.) made us stop and chuckle. We liked the simplicity and the image the tagline created in our heads...consumers drinking Burn like they stole it. Second, the ingredients in Burn-arginine, Endurlac and more had us curious. Anyway, on to the review.

The 16 oz. can is attractive with a combination of light yellow and orange in the background with a darker orange Burn logo (and of course, the tagline). Burn devotes quite a bit of space to the nutrition panel and well it should; Burn puts many energy-producing ingredients in their beverages (some we've heard of before, others that are new to us). We were curious about arginine and glucuronolactone specifically. Click on each of these links to learn more.

We found the flavor of Burn to be sweet, tart and citrusy at the same time. Overall the taste was pleasant as was the amount of carbonation...not too much and not too little, just right.

The energy kick was impressive. After consuming the entire can we felt a strong and gradual increase in energy. The bump in energy remained with us for several hours and did not let us down with a crash. We observed on the can that Burn proclaims at 199mg of total caffeine per can, thats more than Monster and Rockstar. We could tell.

Web site: Burn

Politicians in Australia aim to alert consumers to the dangers of overindulging in alcohol and energy drinks.
From the article:

THE mixing of caffeine-laced energy drinks with alcohol verges on "legalised drink spiking", South Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck has warned...
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AG Barr adds to its beverage portfolio by acquiring a sports beverage company.
From the article:
"Customers are tending to purchase good quality brands, and in some cases they're going into smoothies or fruit juices or sports and energy drinks. Our objective is to be able to offer our customers something in every sector," White said. "The traditional core carbonated soft drink is still going to be the very largest and by definition of biggest interest. But areas where there's larger growth from a lower start point are of great interest to us."...
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Rockstar Roasted Mocha Energy Drink
Cost: $2.69 for 15 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, guarana
Rating: 9 out of 10
Calories: 200

We have made mention in past reviews that we are big fans of the original energy drink, coffee, as well as the energy drinks Rockstar has created. It was with great anticipation we popped the top of the Rockstar Roasted Mocha energy drink for this review. Ladies and gentleman....Rockstar has another winner.

The package is unmistakably Rockstar, complete with the familiar star logo, gold-colored text against a dark brown background. Rockstar tends to use up every inch of the can with logos, graphics and nutritional information, yet it does not seem crowded.

The taste is a delightful combination of coffee/vanilla/caramel. We found the coffee flavor pleasant versus too weak or too overpowering. As with other coffee/energy beverages, there is no carbonation in this drink.

The boost of energy we received after drinking all 15 ozs. was very nice as well. The rush was rather gradual and did not leave us feeling jittery...simply energized.

Monster introduced three flavors of coffee combined with energy in 2007 and after trying Rockstar's drink, we wonder who may be next?

Web site: Rockstar

School administrators and politicians educate parents to the dangers of alcoholic energy drinks packaged in a similar fashion to energy drinks without alcohol.
From the article:
By Michaela Kennedy The School Committee learned that new lines of alcoholic beverages are packaged to look like energy drinks at its Jan. 17 meeting.
(Note: Could not find full paragraph for this item)...
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Max Velocity Energy Drink
Cost: $2.09 for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine
Rating: 6 out of 10
Calories: 120

Retailers from Circle K and 7 Eleven to Aldi have jumped on the energy drink bandwagon by introducing their own brands of beverages. Albertsons is no exception since stocking the Max Velocity line of energy drinks on their store shelves. Being the ever-curious creatures that we are, a question burned in our collective brains...could a retailer out-maneuver their branded counterparts? Lets find out.

The package is rather plain (even dull) featuring their logo and a charging cheetah against a brown background. The 16 oz. can provides a great deal of real estate that goes to waste. (Why not include at least a few "tastes great", "more energy", etc.?)

The energy kick was not all that great. We figured if we drank 16 oz. of energy drink, we are going to get 16 oz. of energy buzz. Not the case here.

The taste was average as well. It starts out sweet and citrusy with a pineapple/strawberry combo to boot, but quickly vanished from our tongues. The carbonation was just so-so, too.

We agreed the Monsters/Red Bulls/Rockstars of the world have little to worry about.

Web site: Max Velocity

Concerns are raised based on energy drinks containing alcohol frequently promoted in a similar manner as those energy drinks without alcohol, causing much confusion.
From the article:
Ask the parent of any teenage kid, and they're probably familiar with high energy drinks.
But what about energy drinks with alcohol? Some companies are now marketing alcoholic look-a-likes...
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Shark Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 8.4 oz.
Active ingredients: Natural caffeine, taurine, guarana
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 140

Shark energy drink is a product we have seen and tasted at a variety of industry trade events over the past several years. According to the literature that accompanied the drink, Shark energy drink has been in existence since 1965, making it one of the original energy drinks. The fact that its been around for such a long time, coupled with our curiosity surrounding the brand, we were quite enthusiastic when we popped the can top for our first sips.

The taste that greeted us was delicious. We tasted pleasant citrus and more interesting to us, a sweet juicy strawberry flavor. The men in our group liked the flavor overall, the women loved it. All of us agreed this energy drink would stand up well paired with alcohol. (We each saved a can for later tonight or for the next available weekend.) The carbonation quotient was firmly in the middle...not too much or too little. One ingredient in Shark energy drink that caught our eye was the inclusion of choline bitartrate which is touted to support liver function.

The package is attractive and does not attempt to confuse. In other words, the straightforward 8.4 oz. can delivers the Shark logo, a modest amount of promotional text, nutritional information against a silver background.

We found the energy boost to be gradual and pronounced. The energy kick lasted for several hours and did not result in any sort of crash.

Overall, we enjoyed what we saw and tasted in Shark energy drink. We also noticed that Shark offers a sugar free energy drink (no surprise). We will be reviewing that beverage in the coming weeks.

Web site: Shark

PepsiCo has identified Amp energy drink as one of its "mega-brands" and will invest significantly to market the brand to the masses.
From the article:
Pepsi is making a big bet that Amp, which saw sales double last year, will become the choice of goal-oriented males 18-34. "Amp is about bringing your 'A' game whether it is going 200 miles per hour on the race track or going to your meeting," said Maurice Herrera, Amp's marketing director. "Energy drinks were about getting jacked up for the night. Now it's about busy people who want a boost of energy."...
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Pepsi bottler serving the Philippines sets its stock price for upcoming IPO. The bottler will use the capital to expand capacity for soft drink, energy drink, and sport drink production.
From the article:
Pepsi is the licensed bottler of PepsiCo beverages in the Philippines. Its products include juices, iced teas, sports and energy drinks. Its beverage brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Light, Pepsi Max, 7Up, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Lipton Iced Tea, Tropicana, Propel and Sting...
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Parents and minors are urged to exercise caution when purchasing energy drinks; they may contain alcohol.
From the article:
Ask any parent of a teen and they're probably familiar with energy drinks. But what about energy drinks with alcohol?
Some energy drinks containing as much or more alcohol than a can of beer look a lot like the energy drinks that are popular with teenagers and the college crowd. ...
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Health experts voice their concerns regarding pre-teens and teenagers consumption of energy drinks.
From the article:
A lot of teenagers and even kids are getting pumped up on energy drinks. Cardiologists warn they may be spiked with a lot of caffeine and other ingredients that can be dangerous for youngsters. ...
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Mad Croc Energy Drink - Energy With A Wild Bite
Cost: $1.89 for 8.4 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine and caffeine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 120

Mad Croc energy drink may be one of the better energy drinks to take a similar approach as Red Bull in several ways yet separate itself at the same time in others. We will explain what we mean.

Mad Croc comes is an 8.4 oz. can similar to Red Bull. The main differences are the usage of a solid black background to draw attention to the company's logo featuring a red crocodile complete with its mouth wide open, teeth flashing.

We found the taste of Mad Croc quite good with a sweeter flavor than many other energy drinks. Mad Croc does taste similar to Red Bull and offers approximately the same amount of carbonation and no aftertaste.

The energy jump we received from Mad Croc seemed slightly stronger than what we would typically feel from drinking a Red Bull. We also did not experience a "crash" in energy several hours afterward. We have seen Mad Croc priced anywhere from $1.50-$2.00 per can. If you like a tasty energy drink that delivers a good boost of energy at a moderate price, Mad Croc may be your beverage.

Web site: Mad Croc

An elementary school in New York has asked parents to be aware of the effects of young children consuming energy drinks while at school.
From the article:
Red bull, Monster, energy drinks are very popular. But should these drinks be in the hands of young children? A local school is taking steps to prevent it...
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Health claims made by the marketers of protein drinks, fitness drinks and energy drinks may be more fiction than fact.
From the article:

Among the multiple displays of bottled protein, calcium and energy drinks are claims to create a slimmer, smarter, sexier and healthier consumer...
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Arizona Caution Energy Drink
Cost: $.99 for 8.3 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, guarana, caffeine, and panax ginseng
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 120

We have been longtime fans of the ready-to-drink teas Arizona has been producing for years. We have especially been drawn to the creative and attractive packaging used with the Arizona products. We saw the Arizona Caution energy drink in a local convenience store and decided to give it a test.

We found what was in the can much more interesting than what was on the can. Arizona Caution energy drink is a lightly (very lightly) carbonated beverage that contains 10% juice (pear, apple, peach, mango). We were surprised to learn after repeated sips that this drink contains only 10% juice...it tastes as if has much more juice content since the fruit flavor is so full. This beverage has a sweeter profile than most other energy drinks. We would imagine Arizona Caution energy drink would mix well with vodka/rum for a tropical alcoholic energy drink combo.

The energy kick was simply so-so. We felt a slight boost of energy shortly after drinking the beverage, but it was not what we would have expected. (It is an energy drink after all.)

The packaging of the drink is middle of the road, too. The can has two themes that jumped out at us: yellow and black graphics that reminded us of roadblock signs as well as a medical cross with the letters Rx in the center. Perhaps we had higher expectations of the packaging of this product; it just did not appeal to us like so many other Arizona beverages have in the past.

Web site: Arizona

The pros and cons of an energy drink marketed as premium as well as supporting a healthy lifestyle.
From the article:
Cost, availability: Syzmo carbonated organic energy drink, $2.79 for a 12-ounce can at Whole Foods market.
Key ingredients: Organic blue agave; caffeine; coffee fruit; guarana, green tea and yerba mate extracts, and vitamins C, B2, B3, B6, B8 and B12...
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A Malaysian energy drink producer explores listing itself on the U.S. Stock exchange.
From the article:
Rhino Two Horns (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian manufacturer of sports and energy drinks, is eyeing a flotation on a stock exchange in the US.

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Hi Ball Sparkling Orange Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 10 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, caffeine, ginseng and taurine
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 10

Hi Ball Sparkling Orange energy drink came across our desks over the weekend which seemed like the perfect time to taste this drink...both by itself and mixed with our favorite alcoholic beverages.

When drunk straight out of the bottle, we noticed the orange flavor was very faint, almost to the point of where the aroma of orange was stronger than the flavor of orange. We then mixed the energy drink with both rum and vodka and found that the carbonation was the the most prominent component Hi Ball brought to the drinks. We were surprised by the lightness in orange flavor based on the fact that the other Hi Ball energy drinks we've reviewed provided a noticeable fruit flavor. We suggest Hi Ball try to match the flavor formulation of their orange drink more closely with their grapefruit, lemon lime and wild berry energy drinks.

The packaging is consistent with the Hi Ball line of energy drinks: clean, simple with a retro aura.

The energy boost, too, is in line with the Hi Ball family of energy drinks. We felt a steady and growing rush of energy shortly after drinking the beverage which lasted for a few hours and did not leave us with that let down or "crashed" feeling.

Web site: Hi Ball

The American Heart Association released a report indicating energy drinks may increase more than energy.
From the article:
People with high blood pressure need to be careful about consuming today’s so-called “energy drinks,” according to a report published by the American Heart Association...
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The risk of being injured rises when consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks.

From the article:
with energy drinks - a popular way of boosting energy levels to...
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Crave Energy Drink
Cost: $.75 per serving
Active ingredients: Taurine, guarana, caffeine, vitamin C
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 9 per serving

We have been inundated with requests to review Crave energy drink. Crave energy drink is being promoted and sold through the multi-level business model, similar to how A.C.T. and Verve have been marketed. Independent distributors have sent samples to us to give Crave a try. We think you will like what you see and taste.

Crave is packaged in a .18 oz packet and comes in powdered form. We found this convenient since we could easily take Crave wherever we go and enjoy it when and where we want. We were also intrigued by the choice of packaging since the "green" movement has been a hot topic and Crave will appeal to those looking to keep their waste to a minimum.

According to the label, each packet is designed to provide two servings. We following this advice and found the powder mixed fairly well in a glass of cold water. (We saw a few clumps in the glass, but they were easily dispersed with a few stirs.) The drink has a green color and a slight citrus/floral aroma. The taste is pleasant and sweet, quite a bit sweeter than many other energy drinks. We saw from the ingredient panel that Crave contains stevia, a sweetener which has been in the news recently based on the fact that Cargill and Coca-Cola have enter into an agreement to produce and market a stevia-derived ingredient.

We found the energy kick to be quite strong initially and was sustained over several hours. We did not experience the typical energy crash, either. We must admit we were surprised at how much of a punch such a small package could deliver. We learn something new every day...

Web site: Crave

An energy drink aimed at young children has parents concerned.
From the article:
"He came home. Came running in. He was excited. He was like,'Mom, Mom can I drink this Power Up?' and I said, 'I don't know. Let me see. What it is it? He said, 'It is an energy drink.' I said, 'You are 6 . You don't need an energy drink. Let me see that.' So he shows me this and it has a picture of Super Mario Brothers on it and I was like, 'They are making energy drinks for kids now?'" Villalobos said...
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A powerful antioxidant, CoQ10, is being included in more energy drinks.
From the article:
Six new energy drinks containing the antioxidant were launched in the country last year, and although the figure is still relatively low, it reveals a gradual but strong increase from previous years.  ...
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Wired Berry Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 16 oz
Active ingredients: Caffeine, taurine
Rating: 6 out of 10
Calories: 200

Wired (based on our unofficial, unscientific research) provides one of the more expansive and innovative line-up of energy drinks by a beverage company. From 8.4 oz. cans of extreme energy drinks to 16 ozs. of sports isotonics to 24 ozs. of triple caffeine energy drinks, Wired has attempted to satisfy many wide and varied consumer needs. We give them credit for that. Unfortunately, in their desire to satisfy the wishes of energy drink consumers they sometimes miss the all-too-important flavor mark.

Wired Berry energy drink should be renamed "Red Bull with a little grape flavoring" energy drink. Prior to tasting the beverage we discussed our expectations based on what was described on the package. Our minds were filled with ideas of juicy, sweet berries, perhaps some tartness, and a smooth finish. Instead we tasted grape with strong citrus flavors and a slight bitterness we typically associate with a diet energy drink. The bad news is that Wired Berry is not a diet energy drink.

The energy kick left something to be desired as well. We were braced for an energy rush after consuming the 16 ozs., but all we felt was a moderate jump in energy. We are happy to report an energy crash did not follow several hours after drinking Wired Berry. Finally some good news.

Web site: Wired

University students in Dubai rely on energy drinks to boost their performance during exams.
From the article:
As exams approach, many Dubai students admit to increasing their intake of energy drinks. They believe that it enhances their capacity to study for long hours but are unaware of the health risks associated with excessive consumption...
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A registered dietician profiles ingredients commonly used in energy drinks.

From the article:
In 1997, with the introduction of Red Bull, energy drinks began as a significant category in the US market. Since then, the market has grown by 50% almost yearly, and the energy drink market now totals more than four billion dollars. Clearly, this indicates that many Americans are consuming these caffeine laden trendy beverages, but are they really that good for us?...
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Caribou Coffee Iced Coffee Plus Espresso
Cost: $1.99 for 12 oz
Active ingredients: Caffeine
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 100

We have been interested in the many ready-to-drink coffees that have entered the market. Starbucks Frappucino has been around for awhile plus both Monster and Rockstar have introduced their own versions. Caribou Coffee Iced Coffee Plus Espresso is not positioned to compete as a typical energy drink, however, it does contain the original energy component of coffee (caffeine) which told us to look at the beverage.

We were disappointed in the taste overall. We were looking forward to a rich and creamy flavor profile and were instead were treated to a rather flat and uninspired drink. We do understand the difficulty of how to market this product...is it a high-calorie indulgent treat, an energy pick-me-up, a coffee beverage to be enjoyed daily? We were impressed with the fact that sugar is used which comes through with a genuine sweetness that is lacking in many beverages today.

The package is attractive and utilizes an aluminum bottle-can with recloseable cap. Graphics are kept to a minimum with only the company logo, descriptive text, nutritional information and coffee bean images shown.

We felt very little in the way of an energy jolt. Since this drink contains espresso, we expected to receive quite a jump in energy, but this was not the case.

Web site: Caribou Coffee

An energy drink that is marketed to those that cannot enjoy beverages sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup is examined.
From the article:
• The pitch: Energy drink that diabetics and hyperglycemics can enjoy because it's sweetened with natural blue agave, not glucose, high fructose corn syrup or sugar...
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A brief overview of the energy drink category, their target consumer and explosive growth since 2001.
From the article:
Image GalleryLucette Moramarco photo.Two of the energy drinks pictured contain alcohol: (from left) Monster Energy, Sparks (contains six percent alcohol), Red Bull, Rock Star 21 (contains six percent alcohol), and Rock Star Juiced...
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Amp Sugar Free Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, caffeine, taurine, panax ginseng
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 10

Okay, raise your hand if you like 16 oz. of an energy drink that tastes similar to a Mountain Dew, provides a big jolt of energy, and contains only 10 calories. If your hand is still up, we found a drink for you.

The aroma once you open the can is all Mountain Dew. (We must admit, we like both the regular and sugar free versions of the flagship Mountain Dew sodas) We knew immediately we were drinking a beverage that had its base firmly set around Mountain Dew's unique flavor. The familiar citrus/lime taste was quite present. We also experienced more carbonation than in many other energy drinks, which we found refreshing. We did not taste any bitter or medicine aftertaste frequently associated with sugar free energy drinks.

The can was decorated in simple, yet attractive graphics. The Mountain Dew logo is included on the can, but not in an overpowering way. We did find it curious that the beverage is identified on its label as a "Low Calorie Energy Supplement".

The energy kick we received was great. We purposely drank the energy drink at mid-afternoon (when we typically need a little pick-me-up) and got the energy we were looking for. After several hours we did not feel any crash, either.

We were impressed overall with Amp Sugar Free; the gurus at Pepsi did their homework on this one.

Web site: Amp Sugar Free

Hansen Natural's stock is predicted to rise in 2008.
From the article:
I'm sure a good portion of you have heard about this company, but for those of you who haven't, Hansen is a beverage business and sells beverages in three categories - energy drinks, juice, and carbonated beverages. The company's top product is Monster, an energy drink that seems to day in and day out grab market share from the energy drink leader Red Bull. Energy drinks are the fastest growing category in the beverage market, and Monster is the second largest in terms of market share in the category, behind Red Bull. I find Hansen extremely attractive at these prices because the upside for Monster continues to grow big time...
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The death of a 35 year-old athlete prompts questions into possible links with food supplements and energy drinks.
From the article:
The Celtic and Scotland defender Gary Caldwell has called for investigations into the potential side-effects of food supplements and energy drinks after the death of Phil O'Donnell, the 35-year-old Motherwell captain...
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The Beast Zero Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 8.3 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Calories: 10

We usually review the regular or fully sweetened version of an energy drink first and follow it up later with a review of the sugar-free beverage. We figured with it being the start of a new year, we would veer from the norm and try The Beast's Zero energy drink first. We hope their regular version is better than the sugar-free drink.

The Beast Zero's package is attractive with its red and black background, prominent logo and the large word "Zero" clearly announcing this is a zero carb/sugar-free energy drink. The Beast's label also communicates it is "Made in Austria" and offered nutrition facts in both English and Spanish which we found a bit odd.

We found the flavor of the drink to be rather plain and flat. The taste contained hints of many other energy drinks, but was not full at all...it started out with promise and fell short. We did not, however, detect a medicine aftertaste as can be associated with sugar-free beverages.

We did not experience a significant rush of energy; the boost in energy was simply average.

It was difficult for us to understand the positioning of The Beast Zero as well. Was it a drink designed to appeal to young adults, those pursuing an active lifestyle, people that engage in the club scene, or simply individuals tired of Red Bull? We had no idea.

Web site: The Beast

A Los Angeles media outlet takes a brief look at a few energy drinks.
From the article:
LOS ANGELES -- KNBC put some energy drinks through tests to see which ones are the best...
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