I am moving and I have a bunch of left over energy drinks, stickers, shirts, and other such stuff... If you live in the Denver area, I am looking to get rid of it. If you are interested in grabbing a bunch of full energy drinks and shwag for like $20 bucks shoot me a email or give me a call...

303-495-3565 (ask for Dan) or danmayer(@t)gmail(d0t)com

I am also selling my entire empty can collection (200+) on craigslist check it out at:
http://denver.craigslist.org/clt/661397654.html

Check out pictures of a bunch of the Energy Drinks:
http://picasaweb.google.com/danmayer/EnergyDrinksForSale

Java Monster Russian
Cost: $2 for 15oz
Active ingredients: Taurine, Ginseng, Guarana, Caffeine, L-Carnatine, Glucuronolactone, A,C & B Vitamins
Rating: 5.89 out of 10
Calories: 100 per serving (2 servings per can)

OK I like white russians, I really do in fact one of my favorite adult beverages if I had to say. This well, is not really as good as a real white Russian. So yeah it doesn't have a coffee taste very much, it definitely has the cream taste but some weird creme in a can doesn't quite taste right. So yeah I think if your old enough to make your own, I recommend a real white Russian. The cream just needs to be fresh and not from a can and it might taste better. Anyways it was a really interesting attempt at an energy drink, but not really working out in reality. I have to give some mad credit to Monster for trying some very creative drinks. I hope they try some new crazy fruit drinks cause I was always a fan. I did have some friends that are real coffee fans and they all thought the drink tasted fruit and just gross in general. So yeah I think this one gets fairly bad marks all around. If you like frapacinos maybe this will interest you but the other flavors are better in my opinion.

website: Java Monster Energy

Pro Player - Endurance Formula
Cost: $2 for 16oz
Active ingredients: Green tea extract, Choline, folic Acid, Acetyl L Carnatine, Taurine, Ginko Biloba, caffeine, B3, B5, B6, B12
Rating: 8.13 out of 10
Calories: 120 per serving (2 servings per can)

After drinking both pro player party and regular pro player, I don't think there is any difference. So why is there a different rating for the drinks, well I just didn't like it as much this time. It was pretty good and does have a better taste than many of the drinks with green tea extract, but I just really like so many other energy drinks flavor better. This does has a pretty long lasting burst of energy, which is nice. It also has a good taste, but nothing that much about the average. I also just like party better because I have way more fun partying in Vegas than I do playing poker there... So yeah pro player can go after both sides of Vegas and you can clearly see the side I am on... The crazy night clubs, dancing, drinking, and amazing dinners, shows, and constant stream of pretty people... That is my kind of Vegas, or at least it used to be I haven't been there in awhile, I just don't feel much need to go back lately... Oh well no worries. So if you like the gambling part of Vegas you can give Pro Player a try and kick it with this energy drink.

website: Pro Player

Michelatos Mixed Beer (not at all energy) Drink
Cost: $?
Active ingredients: Dried Apricot, Salt, Beer, Booze
Rating: 1.3 out of 10
Calories: Only Spanish Speaking Gods know

Alright, I know this isn't an energy drink. I am aware it doesn't even come close. In fact since it just has beer and no energy related ingredients it is probably just a depressant and anti energy drink, but I HAD TO REVIEW IT! So what the heck is this? To tell you the truth after drinking it, I am still shocked it exists, let alone is popular.

So my girlfriend and I decided to hit up Mexico for a little bit while she was on spring break. We went to San Felipe, and while out buying drinks and snacks, we noticed this cup with ingredients and instructions on how to make your mixed Michelatos beer drink. We decided we had to try it out, cause when in Rome, apparently drink any nasty fluid they give you. So we made the drink before walking to the beach. It has a ton of spicy tomato salt, you add ice, and add beer. To be complete it also has a dried salted fruit (apricot I think). Stir it all up and you have a blood red nasty beverage to drink. Why? who knows? We drank about half of it and it became so salty we just couldn't bring ourselves to finish it. We threw it out and decided no real Mexicans could possible drink this crap... We were wrong, over the next couple days we saw tons of locals drinking these weird beer mixtures. Apparently it was actually really popular around there. This weird beer mix blew my mind.

So I will provide my special fake recipe to make this on your own in case you can't find the mix kit.

1. Eat half a can of diced tomatoes
2. get out a bunch of salt and measure 1/4 a cup of salt
3. vomit tomatoes into bowl and drain the tomato vomit juice into the salt mixture
4. Find a piece of dried fruit (preferable from between your couch cushions)
5. Add to a tall 24 oz class and fill the glass with ice
6. Pick your favorite light beer to destroy pour into class leaving some room
7. add dried fruit and tomato vomit flavored salt
8. Stir

Now you can enjoy the horrible and salty flavor of this mistake of a beverage anywhere, anytime! Haha, we did have a blast in Mexico though and get some sweet margaritas as well as strawberry Pina Colada served in a pineapple. Rock on for adventures in traveling.

5 Hour Energy Decaf Citrus Flavor
Cost: $? 2 oz
Active ingredients: Taurine, L-Tyrosine, Malic Acid, L-Phenylalanine, N-Acetyl, Choline, B6, B12
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 4

Wow who would have thought of a decaffinated energy drink? I guess we have seen the completely caffeine free energy drinks. So this drink has half the caffeine of a cup of decaf coffee. Does it give you energy? Yeah some, it got me going pretty well after lunch. It has no sugar and it doesn't even taste horrible. It doesn't really taste good either, but it just doesn't taste horrible. It is kind of a salty sweet taste to it. I am not a huge fan of the drink or the taste, but I had to give them some extra points for cleverness. The decaffinated energy drink just kept cracking me up, it also seemed that it might actually appeal to some people who just don't like caffeine or are really sensative to it, but still would like a little boost. So if you fit into one of those caffeine categories give this decaf energy drink a shot.

This company just better hope no one ever puts out a product called 6 hour energy. It is one whole extra hour of energy!

website: 5 hour energy decaf

Pro Player - Party Energy
Cost: $2 for 16oz
Active ingredients: Green tea extract, Choline, folic Acid, Acetyl L Carnatine, Taurine, Ginko Biloba, caffeine, B3, B5, B6, B12
Rating: 9 out of 10
Calories: 120 per serving (2 servings per can)

I have yet to review this version of Pro Player energy drink. I actually don't think I ever reviewed the original pro player. I know another reviewer on this site did a write up, pro player energy drink review. I don't kjnow what has changed or what is different with this version. It seems based on the design and the slogan, "100% pure party" that this energy drink is going for the clubing and bar scene, which energy drinks certainly are big players. As many people that like to say not to mix energy drinks and booze (some drinks even contain warnings not to), it is clearly a popular drink when out on the town. Pro player has a pretty nice flavor for an energy drink and would mix well I am sure. It has a lighter and fruiter taste than redbull. It has about the same sugar per serving as redbull (29g).

This lightly carbinated fruity beverage has a pretty good energy kick to it, it will keep you going for awhile, and tastesw better than many of the drinks that contain green tea extract, which I like, but often gives drinks a bitter taste. If your looking for something that packs more than just caffeine and taurine and has a longer lasting effect, this might be the energy drink for you. I am not quite sure what partying has to do with poker, but I guess long as your in vegas you might as well enjoy the clubs after you gamble the day away

website: Pro Player Energy

Bump Energy Drink
Cost: $? for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: B3,B6,B12,B5, Valerian Root Extract, Rose Hips Extract, Melatonin
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 110 x 2

Haha hilarious, the anti energy drink. I know there has been some other chill products as well, but not that many. The weirdest being the Tiger Balance pills that would pump you up or chill you out. Anyways, I really needed some sleep, it had been a rough week. So I drank down my Anti-Energy Drank beverage and played some video games. I started to get tired, I started to yawn. I went to bed about 45 minutes or more after having the drink and fell into a deep wonderful relaxing sleep. So hell yeah for the antiness of the anti energy drink. I sound pretty happy and enthusiastic right?

Well then why stop at giving it an 8, well cause the drink tastes like purple. Yes PURPLE! Seriously one dude made a stupid flavor which was a horrible fake grape flavor and here decades later people still make shit that tastes like that fake ass grape purple flavor. I won't even call it grape cause that is insulting to grapes. It tastes like water down dymatap, and it taste medicine just because it reminds me of that flavor. I hate the pruple flavor and all that is stands for. If you have an energy drink and want me to review it, I warn you that if it is colored purple and tastes anything like the crappy purple popsicles I will tear it up! So next time you need to collapse and rest seriously give the horrible and weirdly named Anti-Energy Drank a drink, because this stuff works!

website: Anti-Energy Drank

Bump Energy Drink
Cost: $? for 10.5 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, Caffeine, b6,b12, Acetyl L-Carnitine, L-Arginine, Green Tea Extract, Inositol, Glucuronolactone
Rating: 3 out of 10
Calories: 240

This beverage is supposed to taste like pomegranate, but I think this energy drink tastes like battery acid. It tastes highly acidic to me, and tastes really salty and dark (for lack of a better) word. The taste of energy drinks is completely subjective this can be proved by me thinking this is one of the worst tasting drinks while another reviewer is considering adding Bump energy drink to thier top 10 best tasting energy drinks. Part of this might be that I don't really like Pomegranate, but I really think this just sucks.

Some people talk about the cans and the design, so I will mention that I really do like the name, but I don't really like the design. The attempted speed bump looking lines, just don't look that cool to me. I do like the hard yellow on black colors of the design if that helps any.

Well OK maybe it tastes like crap, but does it pump you up? Yes, yes it does! This drink will hit with about the power of 2 redbulls. They did cram a bunch of energy into their can I will give them that. There is also a ton of sugar (53g) which is an insane amount in a 10 oz can. With allt he sugar I would expect it to taste good, but damn I was run. Each sip of this drink leaves my mouth angry and wanting something to wash the taste away. Bad Bump, bad taste in my mouth. I imagine if I am ever killed by posion that the posion would taste like Bump. So yeah it has energy but I still just flat out am not a fan of the flavor. This drink has been bumped off my list of of beverages to allow in my life.

Web site: Bump Energy Drink

Ginseng Plus (The I am not sure it is an energy drink review)
Cost: $? for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: 2,000mg Red Ginseng
Rating: 6.8 out of 10
Calories: 50

So I never really know if I should consider the Ginseng drinks energy drinks or just some herbal beverage. I guess many beleive Ginseng promotes all sorts of healthy things and gives energy. So here I am reviewing a Ginseng drink. As far of energy it is not loaded with caffeine so lower the energy expectations. This doesn't give you a jolt like the Rebull's we have come to know and love. It isn't full of sugar (only 13g) so it doesn't make you crash either, it is just a tasty healthy way to get a slight boost, which isn't really a bad thing. I love the taste a orange creme soda flavor. I enjoy the light smooth taste, and the light carbonation. I don't think I would be downing these every day but it is a nice refreshing change of pace from the all to often sugar overloaded drinks we have in the energy drink business. If your a bit of a health nut looking for a light energy buzz, this might be the kind of drink you would enjoy, if you are looking for a hard core caffeine buzz, don't waste your time.

website: Ginseng Plus

QuickStrike (QuickStrik3) Energy Drink
Cost: $? for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, Ginkgo Biloba, caffeine, b2,b3,b5,b6,b12 Acetyl L-Carnitine
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 110 x 2

This energy drink is marketed to hardcore games. I guess that makes sense since a ton of gamers drink energy drinks to stay up all night playing games. The thing is a ton of the game competitions are already sponsored by energy drink, many already have an unofficial gaming energy drink that is mentally associated for people. The primary flavor of the drink is citrus, holding a slightly less sweet Orange Crush flavor. It probably has just as much sugar as crush (28g), but tastes slightly less sweet due to the energy ingredients which are bitter so more sugar is added to cover their taste. Anyways the drink is pretty tasty since I like crush. QuickStrik3 energy drink has a Matrix like can, and gives off a decent amount of energy but it falls in the pretty normal energy specs, being the equivalent to any of the average power energy drinks you have likely already tried. Since so many Orange soda flavored energy drinks have already come and gone on the market I am surprised to see another trying that with out much new or interesting. The drink isn’t bad, but it is just boring.

Web site: QuickStrike Energy Drink

I haven't been writing reviews for awhile, and I am about to come back, but I figured I needed to quickly get my barrings and see what all has changed. It seems there are a bunch of new energy drinks that have been reviewed some with good scores and few low scores. Anyways since the best of list includes all the scores and reviews from some of the other reviewers, I figured maybe I should create my top 10 best energy drinks list.

I know my list contains older drinks, but I have to get out there and try a bunch of the newer drinks before any of them can break the ranks into my top 10 list. So if you have a drink that I haven't reviewed and it isn't on my list contact me because I want to give it a shot.

1. Orange Tangerine Jeff Gordon 24 Energy
2. Go Fast Energy Drink
3. Monster KHAOS
4. Monster Assault
5. CL-ONE
6. Lo-Carb Monster Energy
7. SoBe No Fear
8. Rumba Energy Juice
9. SoBe Essential Energy Berry Pomegranate
10. RedBull Energy Drink

Java Monster - Loca Moca Energy Drink
Cost: $2.50 16oz
Active ingredients: Taurine, Ginseng, Guarana, Caffeine, L-Carnatine, Glucuronolactone, A,C & B Vitamins
Rating: 7.9 out of 10
Calories: 100 per serving (x2 servings)

He's back? What Dan "energy" Man dropping in to lay out a review. In this case for Java Monster Loca Moca energy drinking, or as they say Coffee + Energy. So what the hell is this coffee doing in my energy drink? We looks like we are appealing at the starbucks and frappacino crowd. By the tastes of it they are doing a pretty good job too. Sadly I guess all the energy drink companies are hoping on the premium coffee bandwagon, those office drones sure like to buy coffee products every day so I guess it makes sense. I was hoping the energy + Juice fad would stick around long enough for some really crazy juice drinks.

So I am not a huge coffee fan, but my girlfriend has been slowly getting me more into it. Also, lets be honest this is more sugar and cream than coffee. It is actually pretty light one the sugar compared to many energy drinks but it still tastes closer to some sort of chocolate milk than coffee which is great because that is just the way I like it. So if you like to play in the adult coffee world once in awhile this is a good tasting chocolaty version of coffee. If you really like the true redbull, rockstars, and other ultra energy sodas I doubt this will really appeal to your tastes. I just can't really see some extreme sport kid gulping down a can of coffee + energy before riding a half pipe on his snow board, but what do I know I guess coffee energy drinks are here to stay.

Web site: Monster

Arizona Caution Low Carb Energy Drink
Cost: $.99 for 8.3 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, guarana, caffeine, and panax ginseng, milk thistle
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Calories: 10

We found it curious that Arizona hangs onto the "Low Carb" moniker since the Atkins diet has been dead/on life support for the past few years. It may make more sense to change the text to feature "Sugar Free". However, Arizona knows a thing or two about marketing beverages, so we'll move on to the review.

The flavor of this energy drink is very nice, due in part by the fruit juice it contains. The label indicates the drink contains only 3% fruit juice, but it tastes like alot more than 3%. We did not experience any artificial sweetener aftertaste that can be so prevalent in a low carb drink. Overall, we liked what we tasted.

The 8.3 oz. can is rather uninspired in its approach. In other words, it ain't that interesting. Arizona stays with just a few colors on the can-primarily black and white with a little gold, green and red thrown in for good measure. Arizona has embraced the concept of value pricing (i.e. $.99) and unfortunately, the packaging reflects this concept as well.

The energy bump is modest. After consuming the entire can, we felt a moderate rise in energy, nothing too overwhelming.

Web site: Arizona

Rockstar Roasted Latte Energy Drink
Cost: $2.69 for 15 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, guarana, ginkgo biloba, panax ginseng, milk thistle
Rating: 9 out of 10
Calories: 280

We had to hold ourselves off of reviewing all of the Rockstar Roasted energy drinks at one time (what kind out review site would we be if we bunch them all together?!). After having let some time pass since the previous review, we agreed it high time to try the latte beverage. Damn, is it good. The Rockstar Roasted beverages are sure to give Monster's coffee/energy hybrids a run for their money.

The 15 oz. can is classic Rockstar, complete with the Rockstar "star" logo, company logo, and text describing the beverage.

We fell in love with the taste of this energy drink from sip number one. The coffee taste is prevalent but not overpowering. The milk and sweet flavors typically associated with a latte provide a nice compliment to the coffee. Rockstar Roasted latte is not carbonated, making it different from Rockstar's other energy drinks but consistent with their Roasted line.

The boost in energy was above average. We were not sent into an energy fit nor were we disappointed. We found the energy provided quite pleasant.

Our only reservation is that Rockstar Roasted latte boasts 280 calories per 15 oz. can. This may not be an issue for those 18-30 years old, but for some of us, this may be too many calories for one drink.

Web site: Rockstar

Mini Thin Rush Energy Shot
Cost: $2.99 for 2 oz
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, eleuthero root
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: N/A

We are seeing increased introductions of the energy shots hitting the market. We recently saw a report that indicated more and more people are embracing energy drinks/shots over their tried and true coffee....great news for all of you current brand owners or those seeking to join the energy drink/shots segment. Mini Thin Rush is marketed as a sugar free, low carb, instant energy shot offering 6 hour energy. Lets find out if Mini Thin Rush is all its cracked up to be.

The 2 oz. plastic bottle comes wrapped in an attractive sleeve label which also serves as a tamper evident seal. The front of the package is crowded with images of those pursuing an active lifestyle...tennis and basketball players, cyclists, and divers.

The liquid itself is pink in color which is the first time we have seen an energy shot choose pink as their color of choice. We found the flavor to be close to a fruit punch, but with a definite artificial sweetener aftertaste. Overall, the flavor did not linger too long in our mouths.

As for the energy rush, yes we did feel it. The energy buzz rose gradually versus hitting us all at one time, but we did feel it. We are on hour two of the proposed 6 hour energy boost and we still feel it.

Web site: Mini Thin Rush

Wired Diet Berry Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 16 oz
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine
Rating: 5 out of 10
Calories: 10

Just when you think you've tasted some truly horrible energy drinks, a new one comes along. Yes, dear readers, Wired diet berry energy drink is one of those drinks.

The 16 oz. can is similar in scope and design as Wired's other energy drinks featuring Wired's trademark racing flames and company logo against a white background. Nothing too outrageous or creative here.

Wired diet berry starts out quite pleasant and flavorful. However, the taste quickly moves on to a strong medicine/artificial sweetener flavor that seems to coat one's mouth and linger for a long time. Not at all what we wanted to experience in an energy drink. We wondered aloud how this energy drink made it out of the formulation lab.

The energy kick is pronounced, primarily due to the beverage coming in a 16 oz. can.

Web site: Wired

Cuba Orange Passionfruit Herbal Energy Drink
Cost: $1.69 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, yerba mate, panax ginseng, green tea
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 100

It is winter across the U.S. and our thoughts often wander to sunny, sandy locales where the days are hot and the nights hotter. We hoped a can of Cuba's orange passionfruit herbal energy drink would, at least temporarily, transport us to a place of palm trees and energy.

The 12 oz. can is attractively adorned with oranges, the company logo, and an image of the island of Cuba. We liked the understated approach Cuba takes on their can.

When we opened the can, we were greeted by an enticing aroma of oranges, pears, and passionfruit. The flavor matched that of the aroma and was nicely sweetened to boot. The fruity flavors would create a refreshing drink to be sipped at poolside or on the beach either by itself or mixed with rum or vodka.

We experienced a slight boost in energy; nothing too dramatic or too weak. We also did not experience any jitters, either.

Web site: Cuba

Exclamation Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, guarana, panax ginseng
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 180

For those of you old enough to remember, 7UP marketed itself at one time as the "uncola". This was at a time when Coca-Cola and Pepsi were at their zenith's and 7UP need to draw a distinction between cola-oriented soft drinks and 7UP's lemon-lime soft drink. If 7UP was the "uncola", Exclamation should be the "unenergy" drink. What?!, you say? Read on...

Yes, Exclamation energy drink contains energy-enhancing ingredients (caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana) and makes no mistake about being an energy drink. However, this beverage does not taste like a typical energy drink...it offers a carbonated, sweet, pear-like flavor which we found appealing. Exclamation also contains a fair amount of vitamins C, B6/B12, niacin, folic acid and biotin.

You are not hit over the head with Exclamation's energy claims because, well, the only one that exists is their subtle tagline-"Exclamation needs no explanation". In fact, the 12 oz. can features a lone exclamation point as their logo against an orange and yellow background. The drinks name appears on the back of the can.

We liked the energy boost we received from Exclamation. Okay, this was very much like an energy drink. We give Exclamation credit for not trying to be like everyone else.

Web site: Exclamation

Hydrive X Triple Berry Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 15.5 oz.
Active ingredients: Caffeine, taurine, green tea, ginkgo biloba
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 30

Hydrive recently released their "X" line of energy drinks. Hydrive was one of the first (if not the first) companies to market themselves as using spring water in their energy drinks. We saw several flavors of the "X" line available and picked up the triple berry for our review.

The package is attractive beginning with the actual beverage providing the purple/red background (due to the transparent plastic bottle). We have liked this approach in the past because it tells us the beverage has nothing to hide...its all there for your eyes to see. Hydrive places its logo, with a shining sun, in the center of the bottle and touts the 6 powerful antioxidants provided in the beverage. The only minus we spied regarding the package was that the words "Better Energy" was placed near the top of the bottle, but the text was too subtle, we saw it almost by accident.

The flavor can be best described as berry sugar free Kool-Aid. Strange, we used this same flavor description regarding another energy drink within the last two weeks. Perhaps this is yet another trend...tapping into the tastes of yesteryear. We would've liked to have tasted more berry flavor. With a name like triple berry, we expected more. We did see ingredients for the health conscious: EGCG, ginkgo biloba, apple polyphenols, grape seed extract, selenium and zinc.

We discovered the energy bump as middle of the road. We knew we drank an energy drink by the rise in energy. However, the energy offered was moderate. We did not feel any jitters nor crash.

Web site: Hydrive X

Mamajuana Energy Drink
Cost: $3.99 for 2 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 20

First, Mamajuana has our vote as the most intriguing name for an energy drink in 2008. According to the Mamajuana website, Mama Juana is a drink that hails from the Dominican Republic and is created by soaking rum, red wine and honey with tree bark and herbs. Many natives view Mama Juana as an aphrodisiac increasing everything from sexual drive, desire and the male libido. Lets find out how Mamajuana fares.

Mamajuana is available in a 2 oz. brown plastic bottle. The thought that first ran through out collective minds was-how many good thinks come dressed in a brown plastic bottle? The company logo, featuring a palm tree, beach and sun had a Carribean influence to it.

The flavor of Mamajuana was rather intense with what reminded us of dark berries and cherries. We found the drink to be quite sweet as well. Although this beverage is non-alcoholic, we understand why native Dominicans are drawn to it.

The burst of energy we experienced was just that...a burst of energy. The energy rose gradually and lasted quite awhile. None of us experience a sugar crash...true to Mamajuana's claims. As for the sexual enhancement...check back with us later.

Web site: Mamajuana

Shark Sugar Free Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 8.4 oz.
Active ingredients: Natural caffeine, taurine, guarana
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 10

The Shark sugar free energy drink can states its been "Energizing The Planet Since 1965" which must make Shark one of the original energy drinks. Think about that for a moment...Shark has been around for 42 years...quite an accomplishment. With all of that experience under their belt, we wondered if that translated to a successful sugar free energy drink. In our opinions, it does.

The 8.4 oz. slim can is similar to its brother/sister regular energy drink placing the shark logo front and center, surrounding the logo with simple text and nutritional information against a silver background. We like that Shark does not attempt to overpower the consumer with lots of claims/boasts/threats.

We instantly enjoyed the taste of Shark sugar free. It does taste similar to Red Bull's sugar free energy drink, yet is slightly sweeter and has no artificial sweetener aftertaste. We also found the flavor as pleasant and not too strong.

Shark sugar free's energy boost was very nice. We did not feel like we were hit over the head with an onslaught of jitters, just a smooth rise in energy and no crash.

Web site: Shark

Zizzazz Cherry Lime Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 0.25 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, ginseng, green tea
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 20

Zizzazz is targeting the growing niche of convenient, enjoy-it-anywhere-you-are powders that can be either added to water/another beverage or eaten straight. Zizzazz also brings together low calories with a proprietary vitamin blend, delivering the benefits of health and wellness to the energy powder. Zizzazz also contained something called rhodiola rosea extract, an ingredient we've never heard of before seeing it in Zizzazz.

The package is quite basic (how much can do with a packet that measures approximately 1" wide by 5" high?) featuring the Zizzazz logo, what appears to be fireworks, and nutritional information.

We found the flavor to be one of the better powdered energy drinks we've reviewed. We tried the cherry lime drink and tasted quite a bit of cherry and little to no lime. We expected an artificial sweetener aftertaste, but it never presented itself. The cherry lime beverage is quite sweet and reminded us of the Kool-Aid we made for ourselves when our Mom's were not looking. Overall, a tasty treat.

The energy bump left a little to be desired. Yes, felt a slight buzz that lasted for a couple of hours, but nothing too dramatic. True to their claims, we did not experience a crash later, either.

Web site: Zizzazz

OC Energy Insane Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 2 oz.
Active ingredients: Caffeine, taurine, guarana, panax ginseng
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 40

OC Energy's Insane energy drink is yet another entry into the energy "shot" category. Many energy drink marketers are extending their core brands by introducing what appears to be concentrated versions of their energy drinks in compact and convenient 2 oz. containers. Lets find out how OC Energy's Insane fares.

The 2 oz. plastic bottle features both an interesting label and shape. The label is very colorful with brown/yellow/gold/red tones in the background and three silhouette's of fit individuals. The bottle shape was consistent with OC's other beverages which clearly separates it from the multitude of other energy shots joining store shelves every day.

We found the taste of OC's energy shot to be most similar to cranberry cough syrup. We did not detect a strong medicine aftertaste, however, cranberry cough syrup it was.

The energy supplied by this drink was significant and swift. It seemed like only after a few minutes we were more energized than before we had taken our first few sips. The burst of energy we experienced did not come with jitters or a subsequent crash...not bad for 2 oz. of energy drink.

Web site: OC Energy

Jetset Diet Original Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 10.5 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, guarana, ginseng
Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Calories: 4

We have seen or heard about Jetset for quite some time, but had not had the occasion to sample it. Finally, we decided to give Jetset a try.

Jetset's can is both simple and attractive with their logo set vertically against circular patterns of white and silver. The coolest part of the can was an arrangement of clocks near the top of the can showing the time for cities around the world...Dubai, Paris, Miami, Tokyo and Ibiza were a few listed. We liked the fact that Jetset chose to go this route to create the imagery of travel and on-the-go-energy. It would have been far easier (and cliched) to choose an airplane on the package.

The taste of Jetset diet original can best be described as a watered-down sugar-free Red Bull. This is not to say we did not like the flavor provided, we did. The taste was light with no diet aftertaste. We see Jetset's diet original appealing primarily to women. We would bet this energy drink would mix well with alcohol, too.

For a 10.5 oz. energy drink, the energy kick impressed us. We initially saw Jetset as more of a lifestyle beverage, but if you are looking for a pronounced energy boost, you will like what you experience here.

Web site: Jetset

Marquis Platinum Vitality Energy Drink
Cost: $3.99 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, natural caffeine
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 45

Over the past few days, we wondered aloud what was going to be the next niche to be explored by an energy drink. Ironically, Marquis Platinum vitality drink put our musings to rest (at least temporarily...we will continue to tirelessly be on the watch for the latest and greatest energy drinks!). We came to discover Marquis Platinum as attempting to address a few niches, in fact, with one energy drink.

We viewed the package of Marquis Platinum as attracting the lifestyle niche. The 12 oz. can provides a luxurious appeal by combining black and silver striping as a background with a royalty-inspired logo and additional text. We imagined this beverage in exclusive clubs and bars...it would fit right in next to high-end vodkas, rums, tequilas, etc.

The contents of the can appear to be targeting another niche, that of the health and wellness crowd. Marquis Platinum provides copious amounts of antioxidants and value-added ingredients such as green tea, EGCG, aloe leaf, COQ10, pine bark, and others. The taste of the drink is difficult to pinpoint...perhaps a very lightly carbonated, slightly sweet watermelon with an earthy aftertaste. This is not the best energy drink we've tasted...but with all of the healthy ingredients included, we took it into consideration.

We felt a slight boost in energy. On a scale of 1 to 10 we'd give it a 5...not too much...just enough to know we've recently drunk an energy drink. Thankfully we did not experience a sugar crash several hours later.

Web site: Marquis Platinum

Recoil Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 8.4 oz.
Active ingredients: Caffeine, taurine, ginseng
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 5

Recoil came to us and is marketed as "an integral part of the Samantha Lyle Fitness Plan." We were unfamiliar with Samantha Lyle and, according to her website, she lost a bunch of weight and provides a program that allows you to continue to enjoy eating while losing/maintaining weight.

The 8.4 oz. can is wrapped in a label that features the company logo, four gold military stars and the sexy legs of a woman dressed in camouflage, military boots, holding a rifle. We did not get the connection between the military-esque imagery and Samantha Lyle, but it was cool all the same.

We found the flavor to be similar to many low-calorie/sugar-free energy drinks. However, the sweetness quotient was higher in Recoil with little to no aftertaste. Both were a nice surprise.

The jump in energy was quite pronounced. The women in our group were impressed with the boost in energy they felt coming from 8.4 oz. of energy drink. Even the men in our group commented on the blast of energy they received.

Web site: Recoil

Cuba Pomegranate Cranberry Herbal Energy Drink
Cost: $1.69 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, yerba mate, panax ginseng, green tea
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 100

Cuba herbal energy drink positions itself as a lightly carbonated fruit juice with ginseng and green tea. We were curious if Cuba could be both healthy and tasty (a rather challenging task). The quick answer is yes...and here is what we found:

We were drawn to the clean and simple approach Cuba herbal energy drink took regarding their package...images of pomegranates with the company logo in the center of the 12 oz. sleek can plus a subtle image of the island of Cuba. Nothing too complicated or busy.

We found what was in the can clean and simple as well with cranberry being the first flavor to hit our palate, slight carbonation and pomegranate being the second and third. The fruit flavors were quite juicy and pleasant. Since Cuba sweetens their beverage with fruit juice and nothing else, we did not experience any artificial notes.

The energy bump was moderate. We did not feel the typical sugar crash which was a welcome change. We experimented with Cuba by mixing it with vodka and rum and it held its own quite nicely. (The woman in our group enjoyed these alcohol combinations very much and contemplated more research over the next weekend.)

Web site: Cuba

1in3 Trinity Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 8.4 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, ginseng, ginkgo biloba
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Calories: 10

According to the literature that accompanied 1in3 Trinity energy drink, the brand is positioned to appeal to core energy drink consumers as well as the Hispanic and faith-inspired/Christian population. As energy drink marketers attempt to find new ways to separate their beverages from the many energy drinks that enter the market on an almost daily basis, it was only a matter of time before a faith-based energy drink hit store shelves.

1in3 Trinity's packaging is directs and lacks frills...the company name and logo are placed in the center of the 8.4 oz. can surrounded by words such as "goodness", "joy" and "patience" against a dark blue-green background. We found the gothic-tinged imagery basic yet interesting.

The jump in energy was average in comparison to other energy drinks. We did experience a slight crash several hours after consuming the drink.

The overall taste of 1in3 Trinity was disappointing. The beverage started out fruity and sweet, but the flavor did not stand up for very long. We also sensed a bit of a medicine aftertaste. The drink provided several ingredients (pomegranate, grapeskin extract) that pointed to health benefits. Unfortunately, we did not taste the pomegranate which may have added a more sustained fruity appeal.

Web site: 1in3 Trinity

Amplifire Spiced Energy Drink
Cost: $3.99 for 2 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Calories: 68

How many times have you tried a spiced energy drink? None? We hadn't either. When we first saw Amplifire spiced energy drink, we simply had to drink it, right then and there. Here is what we experienced.

The aroma is a rather pleasant fruity/rose essence, something we had not expected. The flavor was pleasantly unique as well-we tasted pepper, ginger, orange and cranberry. Again, not what we had expected. We also experienced a bit of a nice tingling sensation after drinking the beverage, probably from the pepper.

We reviewed the ingredient panel and were impressed (and curious) about what we saw: aronia berry, organic agave, ginger, rose, ylang ylang (?), neroli (?), geranium, frankincense, tulsi (??), rosemary, to name a few. These are not all of the ingredients in the drink, just a few that stood out to us. Amplifire positions itself as a natural energy source, providing antioxidants and organic plant concentrates. Not too bad for a 2 oz. shot.

The small, compact package features the Amplifire logo, complete with a flame image and leaves to complete its earthy ingredient approach.

We did not receive much of an energy boost compared to other energy drinks. We felt a slight rise in energy, but if you are looking for a solid rush before that big presentation or workout, you may want to look elsewhere.

Amplifire spiced energy drink will not appeal to everyone...but if you like what you've read here, you are certain to enjoy the beverage we drank today.

Web site: Amplifire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi Ball Sparkling Grapefruit Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 10 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, caffeine, ginseng and taurine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 10

Hi Ball extends their favorable streak with the sparkling grapefruit energy drink. We have reviewed two of the supporting flavors in the Hi Ball family of drinks (lemon lime and wild berry) lately and have enjoyed much of what we have seen/tasted.

The packaging and labeling of Hi Ball sparkling grapefruit is consistent with their other beverages-clean, simple, and with a retro appeal. The color of the label appears more of what you would expect to be associated with a peach-flavored beverage over a grapefruit drink. That will be an issue if and when Hi Ball looks to create a peach drink.

The flavor is pure grapefruit. It is not overpowering...it is subtle yet unmistakably grapefruit. The carbonation, too, is moderate which would provide just the right amount of sparkle if you decided to use this beverage as a mixer with alcohol.

For a 10 oz. drink, Hi Ball sparkling grapefruit delivers a fair amount of energy. We would put this drink up against several other 16 oz. energy drinks and believe it would outperform.

Web site: Hi Ball

Inked Maori Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine and caffeine
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 180

We observed Inked Maori energy drink, the second (as far as we know...there may be more) beverage under the Inked energy umbrella at a 7-Eleven. We were rather impressed with the Inked Chikara energy drink and curious if the second iteration would hold up as well. Unfortunately, it does not.

We did find the graphics presented on the can unique and engaging. Inked Maori
is, just like its Chikara sibling, marketed to appeal to those involved or simply interested in the popular tattoo culture. Inked Maori borrows several consistent themes (colors associated with sunrise/sunset, tattoo-influenced text) introduced by the Chikara brand. Again, we were confused as to why the label featured both English and Spanish languages (doesn't the tattoo culture appeal to a wide array of consumers, not simply those that understand English and Spanish?)

We were most disappointed by the taste contained in this beverage....it tastes like a watered-down Red Bull. We expected Inked Maori to have its own unique flavor to be paired up with its unique marketing position.

We were also disappointed by the energy boost that was not delivered. Sure, shortly after we drank this beverage, we felt a moderate buzz, but not in keeping with what we buy energy drinks for...energy.

Web site: Inked

All City Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Taurine, caffeine, panax ginseng, inositol, guarana
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 200

All City energy drink keeps Arizona's rich tradition of packaging innovation alive and well. If only what was contained in the package matched up with what was on the outside of the can, Arizona may have a winner. We guess consumers may give this drink a first try, but not be drawn back based on flavor.

The can is adorned with a great glossy label designed by Vincent "Fact One" Ficarra, delivering graffiti-influenced images of an urban environment. The label explains that the name "All City" refers to a term used to describe New York street artists who have made their mark in all five boroughs. The label also indicates the can is part of a limited edition series which was appealing to us. Many different beverages have taken the limited edition route to create interest and its refreshing to see an energy drink do the same.

The taste leaves something to be desired. Staying with Arizona's familiar formula of beginning with a tea base and adding other flavors, the beverage comes across as mildly fruity and not much more. We expected more green tea/fruit flavor, but the drink came across as rather thin. We gave Arizona credit for creating an energy drink with no carbonation...but a bolder flavor would've been great.

The energy charge we received was rather strong. We usually do not equate the Arizona brand with energy, however this beverage did give us a big jump that lasted quite awhile with no crash.

Web site: Arizona

Rockstar Punched Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 16 oz.
Active ingredients: Caffeine, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo and taurine
Rating: 9 out of 10
Calories: 260

We were quite excited when Rockstar Punched arrived on our desks recently. We have enjoyed Rockstar's products in the past and were curious if Rockstar could keep their streak going. The simple answer is a strong yes.

The package does not stray from the Rockstar formula which in our opinion works. The star logo and trademark company name are featured prominently. We liked the fact that energy + punch was clearly spelled out indicating what made this drink different from other available energy drinks. No guessing here.

The taste of Rockstar Punched can best be described as wow. A pleasing sweet tropical punch flavor is the main experience to hit your palate. We did not taste any bitter or medicine aftertaste which added to our enjoyment of this drink. Although this beverage is carbonated, the effervescence is light.

We found the energy bump to be in line with the other Rockstar beverages...not overwhelming and not wimpy.

Our only drawback would be on the calorie count. Rockstar Punched contains 260 calories per
16 oz. This is not a big deal if you are young and active, but may be a concern for those sitting behind a desk and watching their waistlines.

Web site: Rockstar

Hi Ball Wild Berry Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 10 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, caffeine, ginseng and taurine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 10

We have been invited to an inordinately high number of parties within the last several weeks. The cocktail reception talk eventually turns to "what drinks should I be enjoying?" Our answers vary depending on who's asking, designated driver or not, and several other variables. We believe we have an answer in Hi Ball wild berry energy drink.

Not only do we like the classically simply packaging, but we also like how versatile this drink can be. The wild berry flavor is quite tasty and true to form. This energy drink is a good option for the party participant who wants to enjoy lively conversation without the sugar or calories. Hi Ball wild berry also mixes well with alcohol. If you are a vodka or rum fan, you will find Hi Ball is a flavorful substitute to plain seltzer water plus adds a solid energy punch.

Web site: Hi Ball

Wired Passion Fruit with Calcium Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 16 oz
Active ingredients: Green tea, caffeine
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 20

Wired created a fair amount of confusion with this beverage. How, you ask? Wired passion fruit with calcium is obviously targeting women with the ingredients and flavors they've chosen yet adopted a masculine approach with its packaging.

The beverage tastes quite nice with, you guessed it, a generous amount of passion fruit flavor. With all of the healthy ingredients included (green tea, calcium, vitamin D, aloe vera, and B vitamins) we were curious if any off-notes would be present...they are not. We did detect an artificial sweetener aftertaste which was unfortunate.

The graphics are similar to the other Wired beverages we've reviewed, but with a slight feminine tone. The familiar racing-influenced flames are now replaced with thinner, pink imagery against a black background. We would have expected a lighter background in order to better appeal to women. In addition, we would have liked to see the product packaged in a 8.4 or 12 oz. sleek can versus a 16 oz. can. The can does a good job of clearly point out that a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of the beverage will help to find a cure for breast cancer.

The energy rush provided by Wired passion fruit with calcium is one of the stronger by an energy drink targeting women. This is not a beverage for the average soccer mom unless the soccer mom wants to jog to the soccer game and play forward as well.

Web site: Wired

Caribou Coffee Regular Iced Coffee
Cost: $1.99 for 12 oz
Active ingredients: Caffeine
Rating: 7 out of 10
Calories: 120

We are well aware of the fact that this is not technically an energy drink. However, we love coffee, and coffee delivers energy, so we decided to give this beverage a try. The drink is produced as a result of a partnership between Caribou Coffee and Coca-Cola.

The best component of this product is the packaging. It incorporates an attractive aluminum bottle/can which also features a resealable cap. We like the bottle/can for two reasons-1. it looks unique versus an ordinary aluminum can and 2. when chilled, it seems to keep the drink colder than other package types. (This may be an illusion, but we are sticking with it.) The graphic imagery shows off the Caribou Coffee logo (a running caribou) and coffee beans.

The taste is not what we expected. We were looking forward to a creamy (not so much), sweet (so-so), and strong coffee (average) decadent treat. We figured since Caribou Coffee has built its business on coffee, that coffee would be a solid flavor in this drink, but it is not.

We did not feel too much of an energy blast after drinking this beverage. We wondered aloud if this drink had as much of a lift as drinking a cup of coffee...we doubted it.

Web site: Caribou Coffee

Sol Mate' Lemon Lime Energy Drink - Just Energy, No Jitters
Cost: $2.00 for 10 oz
Active ingredients: Mate' extract, caffeine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 90

Sol Mate's other energy drink takes their original flavor (see our recent review) and adds lemon lime. The good news is that Sol Mate' stays true to form with their great clear glass bottle, simple graphics and organic ingredients (mate' extract, cane sugar, lime juice, caramel color, and lemon oil). We especially like the fact that Sol Mate' is sweetened with organic cane sugar since it provides a pleasant sweetness with no aftertaste. The lemon lime beverage does not stray too far from the original product, which we saw as the downside. Sol Mate' has a solid opportunity to create a divide between the two products by amping up the lemon lime flavor. We tasted very little, if any, lemon lime flavoring in this drink. Perhaps we were expecting too much, but when a label clearly states "lemon lime", thats what we want. The overall flavor presentation is clean, crisp and refreshing.

The energy kick is slight to moderate with no crash afterward.

Web site: Sol Mate'

Hi Ball Lemon Lime Energy Drink
Cost: $2.00 for 10 oz.
Active ingredients: Guarana, caffeine, ginseng and taurine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 10

Hi Ball arrived at our local chain grocery store in the newly expanded natural and organic beverage aisle. We were not familiar with the brand...even more reason to give the drink a try. We were glad we did.

For no other reason than it was the first one we picked up, we examined the sparkling lemon lime beverage. The package has a retro look and feel from its clear glass bottle to its simple green dot logo. Yes, it does come in a glass bottle, giving it a completely different approach to many of the other energy drinks on the shelf. We liked the fact that the clear bottle stated that it had nothing to hide. The words sugar free, taurine, guarana, ginseng and B-vitamins stood out clearly as well.

The taste was quite unique. The best way we can describe it would be a sparkling, very light lime flavored seltzer water. It not at all what we expected, yet tasty all the same. This drink will not likely appeal to teens and young adults, but more to mature audiences.

The energy we received from the beverage was bigger than we have experienced from energy drinks in larger packages. This is not an energy drink that will deliver the one-two punch many of us have grown to enjoy, but if you are looking for a more upscale energy drink, Hi Ball has you written all over it.

Web site: Hi Ball

Inked Chikara Energy Drink
Cost: $1.99 for 12 oz.
Active ingredients: Caffeine and taurine
Rating: 8 out of 10
Calories: 180

We went to our local 7-Eleven to check out what was new in the beverage vault and came across a new energy drink, Inked. The more we investigated, we found this to be 7-Eleven's latest private label energy drink. Based on what we observed and tasted, we think they have a winner.

Inked is packaged in the 12 oz. sleek can which has gained in popularity among beverage marketers. The graphics are attractive and eye-catching using tattoo-influenced images and mellow orange/yellow/black colors to create the appearance of a setting or rising sun. One component that had us scratching our heads was the fact that the entire label is bi-lingual, featuring English and Spanish, yet contained the word "Chikara", which is the Japanese word for power, capability, influence.

The flavor reminded us of Squirt (anyone remember Squirt...a soft drink that tasted like a sweetened carbonated grapefruit) which we like very much.

The energy kick was average. You will not be bouncing off the walls with jittery energy after consuming Inked, however you will feel an energy bump.

Inked stands up solidly on its own and would do well as a mixer with alcohol. <